Draw up a recipe for pitching trouble, and this is what you'd come up with: After last night's starter went 2 2/3 innings, and with 1 4/9 games on tomorrow's schedule, the Nationals knew they needed quality and length from Austin Voth in today's series finale at Citi Field. Voth often provides quality, but the length part still eludes the young right-hander. Which meant by bottom of the fifth this afternoon, Davey Martinez had little choice but to put a left-hander whose last competitive...

In today's series finale at Citizens Bank Park, the Orioles will be pitching a former Phillies farmhand and Philadelphia will be pitching a former Orioles player. Right-hander Thomas Eshelman (0-0, 3.68 ERA) starts for the O's and right-hander Jake Arrieta (1-1, 2.45 ERA) starts for the Phillies. The Orioles, who lost three one-run games in the Marlins series, have beaten the Phillies 10-9 in 10 innings and 5-4 over the past two nights. Anthony Santander, Rio Ruiz and Chance Sisco hit solo...

Rio Ruiz hit his fourth home run of the season last night, tying him with Anthony Santander for second-most on the team. Ruiz leads the Orioles in average exit velocity at 90.3 mph, according to Statcast data. But is he most proud of his work at the plate or third base? Where is he making the greatest contribution? "That's a tough one," he said. Of course it is. Ruiz had a sore shoulder that removed him from the lineup and exposed the Orioles at the position. His range, hands and consistency...

For all the issues they've got right now - and there are issues - the Nationals have a chance today to win a series against a division rival. A four-game series, at that. After taking the first two games at Citi Field, then dropping Wednesday night's not-so-pretty contest, the Nats go back at it against the Mets this afternoon for the finale. The forecast in New York (just like here in D.C.) isn't great, but they'll give it a go and hope for the best. The Nationals really need quality...

The Washington Nationals selected the contract of left-handed pitcher Seth Romero and placed left-handed pitcher Sean Doolittle on the 10-day Injured List (retroactive to Aug. 11) with right knee fatigue on Thursday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Romero, 24, was Washington's first round pick (No. 25 overall) in the 2017 First-Year Player Draft. He is the No. 13 prospect in the Nationals system and has the "Best Slider" among...

The Orioles already won their fourth series of the season. Today's goal is to complete the sweep in Philadelphia before returning home. Their last series sweep of the Phillies came on June 15-16, 2015 when they took two games at Camden Yards. The last three-game sweep occurred on June 19-21, 2009 at Citizens Bank Park. José Iglesias is the designated hitter today with Renato Núñez at first base and Chris Davis on the bench. Pat Valaika is the shortstop with Iglesias hampered by a sore...

Nationals manager Davey Martinez delivered news this morning from a rainy Citi Field, where the Nats hope to wrap up their four-game set with the Mets before they board the train for Baltimore tonight. The club announced that left-hander Sam Freeman has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a left flexor mass strain. He had a 0.00 ERA in five innings so far this season. The team activated right-hander Will Harris from the injured list following his recovery from a right groin...

The Washington Nationals reinstated right-handed pitcher Will Harris from the 10-day Injured List and placed pitcher Sam Freeman on the 10-day Injured List with a left flexor mass strain on Thursday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Harris, 35, appeared in two games prior to being placed on the Injured List on July 31 (retroactive to July 29) with a right groin strain. He allowed three runs (one earned) on three hits with two walks...

The Nationals are expected to get one key veteran back in their bullpen today, but they may be losing their only effective left-hander for a prolonged stretch. Sam Freeman, who had been a surprise revelation through the season's first three weeks, departed Wednesday night's 11-6 loss to the Mets after telling manager Davey Martinez and director of athletic training Paul Lessard he felt a "pop" in his elbow. The Nationals have initially diagnosed Freeman with a flexor strain in his left...

With as well as he is playing right now for the Orioles, on offense and defense, it can be easy to forget that third baseman Rio Ruiz spent some time in the minor leagues last year. It was just five games in late July and early August at Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk. And to hear O's manager Brandon Hyde tell it now, this was more about mind than body or any swing tweaks for Ruiz. On his postgame Zoom interview after last night's 5-4 win over Philadelphia, Hyde recalled the conversation...