This is Nationals right fielder Adam Eaton's eighth season in the major leagues, but tonight's National League wild card game against the Brewers at Nats Park will be his first playoff experience. "I'm excited. Kind of wait your whole life for this," Eaton said. "Not just professionally (but) even in high school and middle school when you're 10, 12 years old. You dream about getting the big hit in the playoffs or just getting into the playoffs, getting on a big stage like beyond...

When spring training began for the 2019 Orioles, left-hander John Means appeared to be a pitcher who would get a brief look before heading to minor league camp to prepare for a Triple-A season. That never happened. He showed a velocity increase along with an outstanding changeup. He made the opening day roster. By April 9 he was in the rotation. In July he was headed to the All-Star Game, and with a strong finish he ended the year as the Orioles' best starter and a rotation fixture. He'll...

There are very few flukes in baseball. This sport requires every team to play 162 games, and after 162 games the best teams almost always emerge from the pack and prove their worthiness over others. Some clubs get off to hot starts, then are exposed over the long haul. Others need some time to come together before going on a sustained run. Some are fortunate enough to play at a consistently effective rate straight through from opening day to the season finale. Point is, after 162 games we know...

When he takes the mound shortly after 8 p.m. Tuesday, Max Scherzer will bear the weight of the Nationals' season on his broad shoulders. There are no do-overs. There's no chance to come back the next day and make up for whatever happened the previous one. The National League wild card game is their one and only shot to keep their season alive and advance to a full, five-game Division Series against the Dodgers. And they've chosen to entrust Scherzer with this assignment. That wouldn't...

Nationals center fielder Victor Robles was on the 2017 National League Divisional Series roster and played in two games against the Cubs, scoring a run in Game 2 and going 0-for-1 with a strikeout in Game 5. But Tuesday's National League wild card game against the Brewers will be his first postseason start. "It's the same game," Robles said via team translator Octavio Martinez. "Trying to maintain and contain my excitement inside and not let it get to me. I got out there any way I can to...

A big chunk of the early offseason work being done by the Orioles involves the construction of the minor league coaching staffs. A task that already was in motion long before the Red Sox's walk-off win on Sunday. Making outside hires and reassigning individuals to a higher or lower affiliate. Changing a few roles in order to keep people in the organization while also making room for others or eliminating the job as it previously had been defined. Sean Berry is expected to come back to the...

The Orioles have wasted little time in beginning their work on the 40-man roster. Less than 24 hours after losing their final game in Boston, the Orioles have outrighted pitcher Chandler Shepherd to Triple-A Norfolk after he cleared waivers, per multiple industry sources. That's one move. Shepherd started yesterday's game and lasted five-plus innings in a 5-4 loss to the Red Sox. He was charged with two earned runs and three total, the last scoring after Shawn Armstrong replaced him. Manager...

The Brewers won a playoff spot without the injured Christian Yelich, a 44-home run guy that was a candidate to repeat as the National League MVP. Now, they'll come to D.C. on Tuesday night to take on the Nationals in the wild card game with a former NL MVP, left fielder Ryan Braun, battling a strained left calf. It could be that the Brewers will be without center fielder Lorenzo Cain, slowed by a sprained left ankle. Cain hit .306 in September. The Brewers could go from a power-hitting team to...

The Brewers arrive in D.C. not at 100 percent. They're already missing their best hitter, Christian Yelich, who is out for the season. Now outfielders Lorenzo Cain and Ryan Braun are hurting from their series in Denver against the Rockies. But even with a sweep at the hands of the Rockies yesterday, the Brewers still finished September on an incredible run, going 20-7. On Sept. 5 they were 7 1/2 games in back of the Cardinals in the National League Central, but then came within one game of...

For the last month, the Nationals have been playing with an expanded roster, 36 players in total, which has allowed Davey Martinez to never run out of bats off his bench or arms in his bullpen. It's the luxury of September baseball - at least until next fall, when rosters will be reduced to 28 - but it's not allowed come October. Which means Martinez and the Nationals now must pare those 36 active players into a 25-man roster for Tuesday's National League wild card game. It's not as simple...