Nationals right-hander Tanner Rainey was one of only two relief pitchers who did not appear in last night's 12-inning marathon against the Braves. The other was left-hander Ben Braymer, who had just been called up. Rainey had pitched in three of the last four games. But today we found out there was another reason why Rainey did not pitch. "He has a little tightness in his forearm, so we are going to give him a few days off," said manager Davey Martinez during today's pregame Zoom video...

After a miserable night of baseball - one that saw them lose 6-0 and 10-1 - the Orioles try to regroup today and gain a game on the Yankees as the series continues. It's the third game of a four-game series. The Orioles (20-24) have lost three in a row since winning six of eight games. They are 10-9 on the road and 11-16 versus American League East clubs. They begin play today tied with Detroit, 3 1/2 games behind the Yankees for the No. 8 AL playoff spot. New York (24-21) has won its last...

A late-night roster move following the doubleheader sweep, with the Orioles designating Mason Williams for assignment, illustrates how the club is placing more emphasis on pitching depth rather than the luxury of carrying an extra outfielder. The Orioles didn't make any subtractions from their bullpen. Couldn't really afford to do it. "Especially after a doubleheader and some games in a row here going forward, we definitely need the extra arm," manager Brandon Hyde said in today's Zoom...

The X-rays taken on Renato Núñez's left hand last night were negative and he's in today's lineup as the first baseman. The Orioles also will try to break their three-game losing streak with Pat Valaika at shortstop and José Iglesias as the designated hitter. Ryan Mountcastle moves up to third in the order, followed by catcher Pedro Severino. Dean Kremer is making his second major league start after holding the Yankees to one run and one hit over six innings in his debut last weekend...

The Nationals lost another lead Friday night to the Braves, but this time persevered into extra innings and won the game 8-7 at Nats Park. Michael A. Taylor's bloop single to right field in the bottom of the 12th scored Adam Eaton with the walk-off run. Taylor's winning knock was his third career walk-off hit and first since a walk-off double on May 22, 2018, against the Padres. On Thursday night, the Nats led 5-0 after two innings before succumbing 7-6. The Nats are 4-4 against the Braves...

Nationals relievers Kyle Finnegan and James Bourque managed to keep the prolific Braves offense off the board in extra innings in an 8-7, 12-inning win Friday night at Nats Park. Finnegan pitched two scoreless frames while Bourque earned his first major league win with a shutout 12th as the Nats prevented the Braves from coming back from a 5-0 deficit to win for the second night in a row. Finnegan walked the tightrope for two innings and managed to prevent the Braves from scoring a run even...

When young outfielder Ryan McKenna joined the Orioles as a taxi squad player in New York this week, he was a step closer to playing in his first big league game. As he looked around the clubhouse, not only was he reunited with former minor league teammates but he saw them thriving and leading the Orioles to wins. He was the Orioles' fifth pick in round four of the 2015 draft out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in New Hampshire. The Orioles' first two picks in that draft were DJ Stewart and...

They already played this game Thursday night. Seriously, tonight's contest on South Capitol Street felt like a perfect carbon copy of the one that preceded it, the Nationals jumping out to an early five-run lead, their starter fading in the middle innings, their bullpen asked to hang on for dear life the rest of the way. It didn't work out in the series opener against the Braves. It did work this time. But only after a ghastly blown save in the top of the ninth forced a game-winning rally in...

The Orioles don't know whether their spring training complex in Sarasota will be open and stay that way for spring training 2021. The world could throw them another curve, if it ever straightens out. Playing on the assumption that the team will reconvene at the Ed Smith Stadium complex, manager Brandon Hyde can resume a task that's likely to have been started in the offseason. How to make an excess of outfielders fit on an active roster. He won't work alone, of course. Executive vice...

The losses are easier for Orioles manager Brandon Hyde to stomach when his team is playing crisp baseball. When the mental and physical mistakes are removed from the equation. They were front and center tonight in the first inning in the second game of the doubleheader. The Orioles weren't charged with an error, but fielding data is influenced by other factors. So are outcomes. The Yankees responded to the latest DJ Stewart homer with four runs in the bottom of the first, chasing rookie Keegan...