Alex Cobb took his turn tonight, the senior member of a rotation that's filling up with freshmen. A bend in a popular September storyline. If Cobb is going to impact the rebuild, it's likely to be as a mentor for the rookies. Maybe as a trade chip over the winter or at next summer's deadline. Or perhaps he lessens the pain of it with a standout 2021. He has one season left on the four-year, $57 million deal he signed in March 2018. He has one start remaining after tonight. He needs to take...

Fresh off an impressive 5-0 win over the Marlins in Game 1 of their series-opening doubleheader, the Nationals go for the sweep by sending right-hander Wil Crowe (0-1, 7.50 ERA) to the hill for his third big league start. The Marlins will pitch left-hander Daniel Castano (0-2, 3.32 ERA). Castano took the loss in the Nats' 5-4 win on Aug. 22 at Nationals Park. As the opener, Castano allowed two runs on one hit with two walks and recorded only one out, a strikeout. Crowe allowed three runs on...

If there's a primary goal for the Nationals during this final stretch of a disappointing season - beyond a miracle rally to reach the playoffs, of course - it's to leave 2020 with a positive impression of anyone who has a chance to hold a prominent role in 2021. Someone like Erick Fedde, who hasn't been able to make the most of his opportunity to stick in a depleted Nats rotation but might have one last chance to make his case in his final two starts of the year. And what Fedde showed this...

The Orioles completed one of their earlier summer trades this afternoon, receiving infielder Isaac De León from the Marlins as the player to be named later for left-handed reliever Richard Bleier. The Bleier deal was consummated on Aug. 1. De León is 18 and the type of player sought in the past by executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias. A young prospect to increase the talent level in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League. Elias acquired outfielder Elio Prado and infielder...

Orioles shortstop José Iglesias is out of the lineup tonight for the second consecutive game, which leads to the latest quiz. Is Iglesias on the bench because of his quadriceps, shin or all of the above? "All of the above," manager Brandon Hyde said during today's Zoom conference call with the media. "It's a well-deserved day off for him. He'll be available off the bench. He actually wanted to be available off the bench in the second game last night as well. But yeah, giving him a...

José Iglesias is out of tonight's lineup, whether due to a sore quadriceps muscle or shin. Andrew Velazquez gets the start at shortstop as the Orioles try to rebound from yesterday's doubleheader sweep. Ryan Mountcastle is the first baseman and cleanup hitter and Chance Sisco is the designated hitter. Bryan Holaday is catching. Austin Hays is in left field. Third baseman Rio Ruiz is on the field today for early work on his throws. Alex Cobb is making his penultimate start of the season....

With Adam Eaton out for the final two weeks of the season with a fractured index finger, the Nationals needed to figure out who's going to start in right field the rest of the way. Their decision: Andrew Stevenson and Michael A. Taylor. Stevenson was recalled from the club's alternate training site in Fredericksburg this afternoon, with fellow outfielder Yadiel Hernández optioned back down after a disappointing first week in the majors. The reason for that swap of left-handed-hitting...

The Orioles (22-29) have nine games remaining in the 2020 regular season. Their last home series of the year continues tonight as they host the Tampa Bay Rays (33-18) in the third game of a five-game series. The Rays swept Thursday's doubleheader by 3-1 and 10-6 scores. The Orioles fell to 3-4 on the season against the Rays. The clubs are 6-6 in the last 12 meetings. The O's lost the season series 7-12 to the Rays in 2019. The Orioles are 11-20 versus American League East teams this season...

The Nationals placed outfielder Adam Eaton on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a fractured left index finger, which effectively ended his 2020 regular season. Eaton hurt the finger on a bunt attempt in Wednesday's game against the Rays. After the injury, Eaton tried to shake it off, play defense and stay in the game. But the finger began to swell up and he could not grip the ball as well as he wanted to, hampering his ability to throw. "I've been playing pretty pissed off lately, so I...

Who's ready for a lot of baseball? I mean, a lot of baseball. Five games in three days this weekend in Miami, eight games in five days when you add the start of the Nationals' upcoming series against the Phillies in D.C. It's going to be quite a challenge, but at this point the Nats have nothing to lose. Might as well try to enjoy it. Tonight's doubleheader at Marlins Park will see Erick Fedde take the mound for the 5:10 p.m. opener, followed by Wil Crowe, who starts his third doubleheader...