Projected finish: Reds, Cardinals, Brewers, Cubs, Pirates. After missing the postseason for three consecutive Octobers, the Cardinals will defend their National League Central title without one of their best power hitters and questions about their run-scoring capabilities. The Cardinals finished two games ahead of the wild card Brewers in 2019 and their season ended when the Nationals swept them in the NL Championship Series. Their weak lineup was no match for Nationals pitching. Last season,...

Projected order of finish in 2020: Twins, White Sox, Indians, Tigers, Royals. The Twins slugged their way to an American League Central championship in 2019 with 307 home runs. Their lineup may even be more dangerous in this shortened season. The Twins signed Josh Donaldson, who hit 37 home runs for the Braves, in the offseason. Donaldson, 34, will be an upgrade defensively at third base over Miguel Sanó, who moves to first base after C.J. Cron (25 home runs) wasn't offered a contract. The...

The Nationals released Fernando Abad this morning, cutting ties with the veteran reliever, who had been among the group of players waiting the last two weeks to be cleared to participate in summer training. Abad, a non-roster invitee to big league camp back in the spring, had been a viable candidate to make the opening day bullpen, all the more so after Major League Baseball announced this abbreviated season will begin with 30-man active rosters. But the left-hander, a native of the Dominican...

Some news and notes for you on this Friday morning, the eve of the Nationals' first exhibition game against another club in four months ... * Though most of the attention - rightfully and deservedly - during Thursday night's intrasquad game was on Juan Soto and Howie Kendrick, there were other notable moments not involving the two big-name lineup regulars who made their summer training debuts after two weeks in mandatory quarantine. Patrick Corbin started for the home team and pitched four...

The Orioles are streaming players from their summer training camp site at Camden Yards to the facility in Bowie, offering some hints about their intentions at a couple of positions. Players aren't trapped inside Prince George's Stadium. The Orioles can bring them back as options for the opening day roster. But they've tumbled down the power rankings. While the Bowie camp is set up to keep guys ready in case a spot opens on the major league club later in the summer or to push along the...

Chris Davis sent a fly ball over the fence in right-center field tonight, a high drive off southpaw Wade LeBlanc in the top of the first inning. Fans could be heard cheering, though none were planted in the seats. DJ Stewart crossed the plate ahead of Davis after his walk and they tapped spikes instead of fists or elbows. Shoes are deemed safe. Davis was introduced by Orioles public address announcer Ryan Wagner and walk-up music played as the first baseman reached the batter's box. The ball...

The Nationals and the District of Columbia are engaged in something of a standoff, the team trying to convince local authorities to grant an exception of its strict COVID-19 quarantine rules and suggesting it may move games away from Nationals Park if the city doesn't comply, a source familiar with the situation confirmed. Though D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser granted an exemption to the team earlier this month to hold workouts and games at Nationals Park despite the city's Phase 2 law restricting...

Projected order of finish for 2020: Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Padres, Giants, Rockies. Since 2013, the Dodgers have averaged 96 victories a season in winning seven consecutive National League West championships. That consistency hasn't shown up in the postseason. The Dodgers lost to Houston in 2017 World Series and to Boston in 2018 World Series. Last season, the Nationals eliminated the Dodgers in the Division Series. The Dodgers haven't won a World Series since 1988, the year of Kirk Gibson's...

Projected finish for 2020: A's, Rangers, Astros, Angels, Mariners. After two consecutive seasons of 97 victories and wild card postseason losses, the Athletics are the favorites to win American League West this season. That's assuming Oakland gets off to a fast start, something that hasn't happened in the last two years. In a 60-game season, the Athletics can't afford another slow start. In 2018, the A's were 31-29 after 60 games, good for fourth place in the AL West. Last season, the team...

Juan Soto, Howie Kendrick and Luis García were cleared to participate in workouts at Nationals Park today after two weeks of quarantine required for those who either tested positive for COVID-19 or were exposed to someone who did. Soto and Kendrick were among the biggest names among the group of 11 Nationals players who had not initially been cleared to join the rest of the roster at Nationals Park when summer training opened two weeks ago. Second baseman Starlin Castro was cleared July 9...