Some more things to ponder after a long, wild, ultimately successful Tuesday afternoon and evening at the ballpark ... * Yadiel Hernández's walk-off homer won it for the Nationals, but some unheralded bullpen work earlier made it possible in the first place. Even though he got a complete game from Austin Voth in the doubleheader opener, manager Davey Martinez said he was working with a depleted relief corps in the nightcap. Will Harris was unavailable after pitching Sunday and Monday. Kyle...

When you think about the Orioles offense in 2021 you think about getting Trey Mancini back and letting him hit in the middle of an order that includes a healthy Anthony Santander and a young Ryan Mountcastle playing in the bigs for a full season. It you can add in a healthy year for Austin Hays, that would be a real plus. If a couple of the players that have been here since the start of the 2019 season can get their bats going again, that would be a real plus as well. Those players include...

Orioles reliever Dillon Tate tossed a scoreless inning in Sunday's game at Camden Yards and showed no signs of an injury. Nothing happened at the ballpark that led to his placement on the injured list with a sprained finger on his pitching hand. A fall in his apartment the following day was responsible, the final blow in a 2020 season that brought pains and gains. Tate didn't have the best luck. He was struck on the right arm by a Pat Valaika comebacker during a July 10 intrasquad game at...

There are a few goals remaining for the Orioles as they fall out of the playoff race. Keep trying to win as many games as possible and have players and a couple of young starters leave on a high note. Keegan Akin opened the series tonight against the Red Sox in Boston. Dean Kremer will follow him on Wednesday. Bruce Zimmermann could resurface out of the bullpen. One more week of evaluations and providing opportunities to gain valuable experience. To get a bigger jump on spring training and the...

When he was sent down Friday, hitless in seven at-bats, Yadiel Hernández couldn't help but wonder if he had just blown his first and only chance in the big leagues. His first call-up didn't come until he was nearly 33. Would he even get a second one? "A lot of bad things ran through my head in that moment," the rookie outfielder said tonight, Octavio Martinez interpreting for him in a Zoom session with reporters. "Frustrated. And I felt like moreso I kept reflecting and telling myself:...

As the Orioles begin their final road trip of the season tonight, they have clearly played much better on the road in 2020 than in 2019. Of course, there have been many fewer road games to play. But last year's O's club went 29-52 (.358) and won just five of 26 road series, going 5-17-4. This year's club is 10-11 (.476) on the road and has won three of seven road series, going 3-3-1. The Orioles will play the next three nights at Fenway Park in Boston and will end the year over the weekend...

Orioles reliever Dillon Tate fell yesterday in his apartment and landed on the injured list. Tate "had an unfortunate accident where he tripped in his apartment yesterday," manager Brandon Hyde said during a Zoom conference call with the media. The accident occurred on the team's off-day. Tate came down on his hand and sprained his right pinky finger, and he's scheduled to undergo an MRI later today. The Orioles reinstated reliever Shawn Armstrong from the injured list as Tate's...

Well, the Nationals remain mathematically alive. They've won three in a row, including the first two in this series against the Phillies, and they'll try to pull off a doubleheader sweep here tonight and keep that dim flame from burning out. After Austin Voth tossed the first complete game of his career this afternoon, the Nats bullpen is as fresh as it could be. Which means they may not need to rely on too much out of Paolo Espino, who makes his first major league start since 2017. The...

Austin Voth again kept the ball down and mixed his pitches well for a second consecutive start, finally earning his first win of the season with a complete-game gem in Game 1 of a doubleheader as the Nationals dropped the Phillies 5-1 at Nats Park. Voth struck out a season-high seven batters and pitched a season-best seven innings, working his fastball with a dipping curveball and a slowdown changeup to keep the Phillies off guard. After losing five games to begin the season, Voth has bounced...

The Orioles have made an adjustment to their bullpen today by activating Shawn Armstrong from the injured list and putting Dillon Tate on the 10-day IL with a sprained right finger. Infielder Ramón Urías has been recalled from the alternate camp site in Bowie to fill the vacant roster spot after the Pirates claimed pitcher Carson Fulmer off waivers yesterday. Armstrong hasn't pitched since Aug. 22 due to left SI joint inflammation in his lower back. He's 2-0 with a 2.19 ERA and 0.892...