If you're one of those who likes to cling to faint hopes and won't concede anything until it's 100 percent guaranteed, you're in luck. Because the Nationals, despite their ridiculously long odds, are still mathematically alive in the National League pennant race. And pretty much everything they needed to happen Monday night around the league actually happened. The evening began with the Nats having no more margin for error. Their tragic number to be eliminated from contention was two, with...

In the bottom of the sixth in tonight's 5-1 Nationals win, third baseman Carter Kieboom was hit by a pitch on his left hand from a 95-mph sinker by Phillies starter Zack Wheeler. Kieboom went down holding his hand. He then walked over to the top steps of the Nats dugout with assistance from Nats director of athletic training Paul Lessard. Kieboom appeared to be attempting to flex his hand and Lessard checked the bones on the back of his hand. Manager Davey Martinez told his third baseman to...

When the Orioles made the American League playoffs in 2012, they ended a 14-season drought with no playoff baseball. On Sunday, the San Diego Padres clinched their first playoff berth since 2006. That ends a run of nine consecutive losing seasons and 13 straight seasons without seeing the postseason. O's fans can relate to how Padres fans must feel this year, ending the long postseason drought. Sadly for them, it comes at a time when they can't even go to beautiful Petco Park to watch their...

The Nationals took the field tonight knowing it could be the last time they do so this season for an officially meaningful game. Though they've privately conceded they aren't going to the playoffs for some time now, there was a chance they could actually be eliminated tonight, if they lost to the Phillies and the Reds beat the Brewers. Cincinnati did its part. But the Nationals did theirs, beating the Phillies 5-1 and surviving for at least one more day. Behind five effective (if elongated)...

The trade that brought right-hander Conner Loeprich to the Orioles organization was announced in the ninth inning of Sunday afternoon's game against the Rays. In the middle of the filing frenzy, when most of the beat crew is rushing to get its stories ready to post after the final out - and hoping that the score and stats don't require a late adjustment. César Valdez was in the process of retiring the side in order for his second save. Leadoff hitter Willy Adames smoked a ball to the...

Aaron Barrett's latest return to the Nationals bullpen came to an abrupt halt due to another injury. And James Bourque's first opportunity to pitch regularly in the big leagues has also been cut short due to injury. Barrett, who made national headlines last season when he pitched in the majors three years after breaking his arm while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, was placed on the 10-day injured list today with a right triceps strain, one of a flurry of transactions announced by the...

The Nationals return to D.C. to finish out the rest of the 2020 regular season with an eight-game homestand starting with a four-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies (September 21-23) and a four-game series against the New York Mets (September 24-27). Due to a previously postponed game against the Philadelphia Phillies, on Tuesday, September 22, there will be a shortened seven-inning doubleheader at Nats Park. Additionally, Saturday, September 26 vs. New York Mets will be an exclusive...

Manager Davey Martinez went over the offseason program he has been putting together for Luis García on Sunday, detailing work he wants the young second baseman to focus on. Martinez says similar programs are being assembled for pretty much everyone on the roster. "There are different programs for each individual player," Martinez said during the pregame Zoom video session with reporters. "We are going through all the stuff now, talking to strength coaches, trainers, trying to put together...

We have reached the final week of a most unusual regular season. Around these parts, that usually means a pennant race, a potential clincher for the Nationals and maybe a few days to rest guys up for the postseason. Not in 2020. Though the Nats are technically still alive, practically speaking they're done. Their elimination number, if you're wondering, is currently three, so the earliest they could be officially knocked out is Tuesday. (Update: It turns out they actually could be eliminated...

Carson Fulmer's stay in Baltimore was brief. The Orioles lost Fulmer today on a waiver claim by the Pirates after he made three relief appearances. He's headed back to the organization that lost him on a waiver claim by the Orioles two weeks ago. Reliever Cody Carroll was placed on outright waivers, cleared them and will remain assigned to the alternate camp site in Bowie. The moves leave the Orioles with only 37 players on the 40-man roster and 59 in the 60-man pool. Fulmer, the eighth...