Since the New York Mets' Michael Conforto made that incredible catch with the bases loaded against the Orioles in the sixth on Wednesday night, it seems not a lot has gone right for the club. Tonight, they got blanked in the first game by the New York Yankees, and then the Baltimore defense came unglued in the last of the first in the nightcap. The Orioles came up very flat twice tonight as they lost a doubleheader to the Yankees to start an important four-game series. The O's lost 6-0 and...

The Orioles headed to the ballpark this afternoon looking up at the Yankees, who were 1 1/2 games ahead of them for the last playoff spot in the American League. They glanced back and saw the Tigers, who trailed them by a half-game. A tight squeeze for a team that wasn't supposed to be anywhere near the race. The temptation to check the standings in the second week of September provides a strong dose of perspective, no matter how it turns out for the Orioles. They aren't sitting in the bottom...

Baseball clubs sign 29-year-old Cuban defectors with the intention of playing them in the major leagues as soon as possible. The Nationals, though, knew they weren't getting a sure thing when they signed Yadiel Hernández four years ago for the relatively benign sum of $200,000. The Nats liked the outfielder's left-handed swing and hoped he might make it someday. But they weren't touting him to be an immediate contributor the way other Cuban players who received millions of dollars were...

The Nationals have placed left-handed pitcher Sean Doolittle on the 10-day injured list with a right oblique strain and have called up left-hander Ben Braymer from the alternate training site. Doolittle appeared to injure his oblique on a pitch to Nick Markakis in the top of the ninth of Thursday night's 7-6 loss to the Braves and left the game. Manager Davey Martinez said Doolittle is seeing the doctor this afternoon and he expects to have a complete update after tonight's contest. With a...

After a difficult night at the ballpark, the Nationals return for the second game of this four-game weekend series against the Braves, hoping for better results this time. As always, they'll have to find a way to keep Ronald Acuña Jr. and Freddie Freeman in the yard. The good news: Erick Fedde managed to keep Freeman in the yard last week when he faced him in Atlanta. The bad news: Acuña led off the game with a homer off him, the first of three homers Fedde surrendered in 3 2/3...

Alex Cobb is staying with the Orioles beyond today's start, his status as the 29th man more of a procedural move. How the Orioles make room for him on the active roster is going to be decided after the second game tonight. Manager Brandon Hyde could check pitch counts after the doubleheader and gauge the availability of his relievers. Carson Fulmer, claimed off waivers from the Pirates, is out of minor league options. Cole Sulser still had three options when the Orioles claimed him from the...

The Orioles' 2015 draft class has been well represented in several of their recent wins. The club's top pick in that draft, taken No. 25 overall, was DJ Stewart. Then 11 picks later, the Orioles selected Ryan Mountcastle. Much later in round 13, with overall pick No. 403, they added Campbell University outfielder Cedric Mullins. The Orioles have won six of nine games to move into contention for the No. 8 American League playoff spot. And homegrown players including those three and pitchers...

The Orioles activated veteran right-hander Alex Cobb from the injured list leading into today's start in the opener of today's doubleheader against the Yankees in the Bronx. Cobb is the 29th man for the doubleheader. A corresponding roster move must be made after the nightcap, and it doesn't have to involve Cobb. The 40-man roster and 60-man player pools are full. Pat Valaika is playing first base and batting ninth, with Chris Davis on the bench. Davis hasn't played since the Orioles...

Sean Doolittle spent weeks trying to rediscover the form that made him one of the best relievers in baseball. And then just as he seemed to find it, the Nationals left-hander suffered an injury that could bring an abrupt end to his season. Doolittle injured his right oblique muscle throwing a pitch in the top of the ninth during Thursday's 7-6 loss to the Braves, manager Davey Martinez revealed after the game. Though the club didn't know the severity of it in the immediate aftermath,...

The Nationals offense rolled out of the gates with five early runs against the first-place Braves on Thursday night at Nats Park, scoring three in the first inning and two in the second frame for a 5-0 lead. Trea Turner tripled, Juan Soto doubled and Asdrúbal Cabrera tripled in the first against Braves starter Robbie Erlin. In the second, Michael A. Taylor doubled and Adam Eaton launched a two-run shot. It seemed like the Nats were going to score more after Erlin left when reliever Huascar...