In the Nationals' two-game sweep of the first-place Tampa Bay Rays to begin this week, a pair of recently acquired veterans played big parts in the club's success in generating offense. Brock Holt went 4-for-8 with two doubles and two runs scored. Josh Harrison added two hits, going 2-for-7 with a walk, a run scored and two RBIs as the Nats beat the Rays 6-1 and 5-3. On Monday, as Juan Soto, Luis García and Howie Kendrick sat out with injuries, manager Davey Martinez opted to put Holt in...

Step by step, Sean Doolittle is rediscovering the form that made him one of baseball's most effective relievers in recent seasons. And that's in part because of the near-step he's brought back to his delivery. After a summer of diminished velocity, gaudy stats and plenty of tinkering, Doolittle is finally starting to look like his old self again. He hasn't allowed an earned run in five appearances since returning from the injured list and a rehab stint at the Nationals' alternate training...

It is a scenario that probably the most enthusiastic and exuberant Orioles fans among you could not have imagined: The 2020 Orioles knocking the New York Yankees out of the playoffs. Remember before the season, when some fans wondered if the Orioles could contend in a shortened season with expanded playoffs? Well, those two factors have combined to see the Orioles indeed as contenders with 19 games to play. Through last night's games, every team that is playing .500 baseball would qualify for...

A season that was in danger of stalling before it could move forward, and with its COVID postponements, unique doubleheaders and occasional designations of home teams as visitors, is down to the final 19 games for the Orioles. The odds of getting this far didn't appear promising, but it's happened. The Orioles are in the midst of their penultimate road trip, with the last homestand beginning next week. And they remain in playoff contention, defying another set of odds. Tabbed as the worst...

Brandon Hyde isn't being coy or playing mind games with the opposition before his team hits the field for the actual competition. The second-year Orioles manager would like to post his lineup early - or at a reasonable hour. However, he has to wait until making the rounds in the clubhouse and during batting practice. Checking whether his day-to-day guys are full-go at night. Renato Núñez didn't play in the last two games due to a sore hamstring. Hyde was able to write in his name as the...

The Orioles just completed a 4-2 homestand where they hit well and pitched well for the most part. Both continued tonight as they recorded an impressive 11-2 win over the New York Mets. It was a strong start to an important six-game road trip. The trip began with the Orioles trailing the Yankees by 1 1 /2 games for the No. 8 American League playoff seed. But when New York lost 2-1 tonight to Toronto, the Orioles pulled within a half-game of a playoff spot with 19 games to play. The Yankees are...

These are not the 2019 Nationals. Not in name and not in style of play. Most likely, they won't finish the season like their 2019 version did, either. But for now, that's not worth stressing over. Instead, take a step back and just appreciate what this ever-changing 2020 Nationals club is now doing. They don't have the star power - or the offensive power - of their World Series champion predecessors. But over the last week, they're finally starting to play with some passion. They're...

The Orioles tonight begin their third and last stretch of 20 games that will complete the shortened 2020 regular season. They also begin their next-to-last road trip of the year. They play the New York Mets the next two nights at Citi Field, then move to Yankee Stadium for four games starting Thursday. The Orioles (19-21) and Mets (19-23) split two games last week in Baltimore. The Orioles won the series opener 9-5 and lost the next night 9-4. The Orioles have won three in a row and five of...

Chris Davis is back on the Orioles' active roster, but he isn't in their lineup for tonight's game against the Mets at Citi Field. Pat Valaika is playing first base and Renato Núnez is the designated hitter. Núñez has been receiving treatment for a sore hamstring and missed the last two games. José Iglesias moves up to second in the order after batting third this season. Davis hasn't played since Aug. 19 and has two hits in his last 23 at-bats. "Chris, the last few days, has...

The Orioles have reinstated first baseman Chris Davis from the 10-day injured list and designated utility player Dilson Herrera for assignment. Davis traveled with the team to New York yesterday after working out again at the alternate camp site in Bowie. He played in a simulated game on Saturday to test his injured knee. The Orioles placed Davis on the 10-day injured list on Aug. 21 with left knee patellar tendinitis. He was slashing .122/.173/.184 with three doubles, three walks and 16...