The Washington Nationals agreed to terms on a one-year contract with infielder/outfielder Brock Holt and optioned pitcher Ben Braymer to Alternate Training Site (Fredericksburg) on Saturday. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Nationals transferred infielder Starlin Castro (broken right wrist) to the 60-day Injured List. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements. Holt, 32, joins the Nationals after beginning the 2020 season with the...

Left-hander Sean Doolittle is back with the Nationals and is eligible to pitch tonight. His last appearance was Aug. 10. He was placed on the injured list Aug. 11 with right knee fatigue. Manager Davey Martinez said the club wanted Doolittle to rehab his sore knee and build some strength in his lower half in his two weeks at the alternate training site in Fredericksburg. "Just go down there and hone in on his mechanics," Martinez said during his pregame Zoom video call Saturday. "I think...

The Orioles have played three close games on this road trip, but lost them all. They began the trip with the best road record in the majors at 8-1. But they lost 4-2 and 4-3 to Tampa Bay and 5-4 last night in 10 innings to Toronto. Tonight they play the Blue Jays again in Buffalo in the second of the four-game series. The Orioles (14-17) have lost three games in a row and nine of 11 since they were 12-8. Of those nine losses, four have come by one run and one by two runs. They've lost the...

Manager Davey Martinez confirmed that the Nationals have agreed to terms with veteran infielder Brock Holt. The 32-year-old left-handed hitter can play almost every infield spot and in the outfield, bringing nine seasons of big league experience to the club. To make room for Holt on the 28-man roster, the Nats optioned left-hander Ben Braymer to the alternate training site in Fredericksburg. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Nationals transferred infielder Starlin Castro (broken right...

The Orioles have placed reliever Shawn Armstrong on the 10-day injured list with soreness in his lower back. Evan Phillips has been recalled from the alternate camp site in Bowie. Armstrong has a 2.19 ERA and 0.892 WHIP in 11 appearances, with three walks and 12 strikeouts in 12 1/3 innings. He hasn't pitched since last Saturday and the IL move is retroactive to Wednesday. The team is calling the injury "left SI joint inflammation." "It's just a flare up," manager Brandon Hyde said during...

Chance Sisco is catching tonight and Pedro Severino is the designated hitter as the Orioles continue their series against the Blue Jays in Buffalo. Hanser Alberto moves back to second base and Rio Ruiz is at third. Ryan Mountcastle stays in left field. The Orioles have lost three games in a row and nine of 11 and are 2 1/2 behind the Blue Jays, who hold the eighth playoff spot in the American League. They're three games under .500 for the first time this season. Alex Cobb faced the Blue Jays...

Right-hander Aníbal Sánchez is seeking his second win in a row and a series victory for the Nationals as they take on the Red Sox tonight at Fenway Park. The Nats have not won two games in a row since Aug 10- 11. Their last series win was Aug. 16 at Baltimore. With the conclusion of tonight's game, the Nats will officially be halfway through this abbreviated 60-game regular season. The last time the Nats won a series over the Red Sox at Fenway Park was a three-game series sweep from June...

Ben Braymer, like every young ballplayer, had always wondered what his major league debut would look like. He had conjured up some images in his head, perhaps imagining a start at Nationals Park against the Braves or Phillies. Or maybe he'd be on the road in a hostile environment like Philadelphia. But Fenway Park? In relief? With no fans in attendance? While wearing a nameless No. 42 jersey? None of that ever crossed the left-hander's mind until it all happened to him Friday night during the...

Grabbing defeat from the jaws of victory, the Orioles were an out away from a solid win last night. But they couldn't get it. An out that would have given them a close win during a string of close losses, would have given them their first win over Toronto and would have pulled them within a 1/2 game of the Blue Jays for the No. 8 American League playoff seed. By the way, I digress, but the New York Yankees have now lost seven in a row. They are just a half-game better than Toronto and three...

The Nationals offense stepped up early and kept the pressure on the Red Sox all night in a 10-2 runaway win to open their weekend series at Fenway Park. Juan Soto, Howie Kendrick and Josh Harrison hit home runs, part of eight extra base hits in the 16-hit attack. Trea Turner went 3-for-5 with two doubles and three RBIs. Victor Robles went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Three times in the game, No. 9 hitter Robles contributed a base hit in front of Turner that helped score a run or two,...