The Orioles had nine innings to score against Miami last night and could not. They had seven today in the first game of a doubleheader and could not score this time either. Miami's Brian Anderson hit a solo homer leading off the fourth off Alex Cobb as the Marlins blanked the Orioles 1-0. The O's have lost the first two games of this four-game series by 4-0 and 1-0 as they fall to 5-5 on the year, while Miami is 4-1. The eight day layoff has somehow helped the Marlins' pitching. The Orioles...

Alex Cobb was first out of the home dugout today, which later became the visiting dugout. Baseball in 2020 is funny that way. Cobb did a small hop before finding his stride, as every pitcher attempts to do during the game. There were a few stumbles in the early innings, which soon became middle innings due to the shortening under minor league rules. The four-pitch walk to Miami's Corey Dickerson in the first, his throwing error in the second after fielding Matt Joyce's roller near the first...

Max Scherzer threw 112 pitches in his last start, most by any major leaguer so far in 2020. Tonight, the Nationals ace threw only 27 pitches before departing with what appears to be a physical ailment. Scherzer was pulled after one laborious inning against the Mets, unexpectedly replaced by Erick Fedde in the top of the second. The Nationals didn't immediately announce a reason for Scherzer's departure, but he could be seen talking to a trainer in the dugout after his one inning of work....

The Orioles won't make a roster move today as they prepare to play the Marlins twice beginning at 5:05 p.m. Teams don't get an extra player for the doubleheader. The expanded rosters make it unnecessary, per Major League Baseball's 2020 rules. Who knew? John Means has been placed on the bereavement list. The club is saying only that he's "dealing with a family matter" and that it is respecting his privacy. The Orioles are allowed to replace Means on the roster, but they must reduce from...

Nationals manager Davey Martinez said Juan Soto will return to the lineup tonight for the final game of the two-game set against the Mets. The skipper was assured that Soto was ready to go. He will play left field and bat in the cleanup spot against Mets starter Rick Porcello. "I talked to him last night," Martinez said on the pregame Zoom video call. "He did everything yesterday and he felt good. He said he is ready. He took a bunch of swings yesterday. I know he ran, he did some outfield...

Juan Soto last came up to bat in an official major league game 280 days ago. You may or may not remember this, but he actually made the final out of the 2019 season for the Nationals, flying out to center field to end the top of the ninth in Game 7 of the World Series. He, of course, had drawn a critical walk off Zack Greinke in the top of the seventh and then delivered an RBI single in the top of the eighth, so it's not like there was any reason to remember that final at-bat. Tonight, Soto...

José Iglesias is the designated hitter today for the opening game of a doubleheader against the Marlins at Camden Yards, where the Orioles are tabbed as the home team. They're the visitors in the second game because it's 2020 and weirdness is the theme. Iglesias has been kept off the field due to a sore left quad, but he's 10-for-19 with five doubles and four RBIs. Austin Hays is batting sixth after collecting two hits last night to break an 0-for-15 streak. Renato Núñez is the...

The Orioles (5-4) will look to stay above the .500 mark with a win in the first game of a doubleheader today at Camden Yards. After losing 4-0 last night to the Marlins (3-1), the O's host Miami for two games today. Both games are set for seven innings. Right-hander Alex Cobb (1-0, 2.89 ERA) gets the start in the opener, making his third start of the season. Cobb has pitched 9 1/3 innings, allowing eight hits and three runs, with three walks and eight strikeouts. He gave up two runs in four...

Howie Kendrick had not played in a game since July 28. Recently, manager Davey Martinez said the veteran was dealing with upper back tightness, so the skipper decided to rest him. Following their game against the Blue Jays July 30, the Nationals had five days off because their series with the Marlins was postponed. Kendrick was able to get about four at-bats in during their intrasquad game Sunday. The rest and then a final warmup appeared to pay dividends for Kendrick on Tuesday night in his...

They have a depleted roster and had not played in eight days, but when you get pitching like that, you can win a ballgame. Right-hander Pablo López, 24, made a strong season debut as Miami blanked the Orioles 4-0 last night. If you can strike out Hanser Alberto twice in one game, you are doing something. López did that twice in his five scoreless innings last night, getting Alberto both times with changeups. This is a hitter that was batting .429 at game time and was 9-for-19 his previous...