The Orioles have had five chances this year to win the final game of a series to sweep that series, and they are 0-5 in those games. Today, on the final day of the 2019 season, they get one last chance for a series sweep. They beat Boston 4-1 Friday night and 9-4 yesterday, and look for the three-game sweep this afternoon at Fenway Park. Once this year the Orioles won the opener of a two-game series but lost the second game. That happened Aug. 28 at Washington. They won the first two games and...

BOSTON - The final Orioles lineup of the 2019 season will be posted later this morning. We've moved past penultimate. The word is placed in storage until the next-to-last exhibition game unless someone is bold enough to break it out on the Wednesday of baseball's Winter Meetings. The lineup is going to include Mark Trumbo, playing his last game with the club and perhaps in his career. Anthony Santander is expected to sit again, having already completed his mission of getting back to the...

The Nationals raced out to a big early lead, then held off the Indians the rest of the way for a 10-7 victory over the Indians at Nats Park. The win guarantees the Nats home field advantage for Tuesday's National League wild card game. After starting the season 19-31, the Nats rebounded to go 72-38 (.655), and are now 92-69 with one game remaining in the regular season. Gerardo Parra crushed his second grand slam of the season, Anthony Rendon delivered a two-run double in a nine-run second...

When Jonathan Villar stole his 40th base in the sixth inning Saturday afternoon he joined a short list of Orioles who have recorded that many steals in one year. When Trey Mancini homered to right in the ninth in the win at Boston, he hit number 35 and joined a longer, but still pretty exclusive list of Orioles. Villar has sure filled up the stat sheet, batting .274/.339/.455 with 33 doubles, five triples, 24 homers and 111 runs scored. But with his 40th stolen base, Villar joins a list of six...

BOSTON - A season that again proved to be unforgiving for the Orioles, highlighting every deficiency while also sprinkling in the occasional reward in an ill-fated attempt to provide some balance, finally and mercifully has reached its 162nd game. The chance to make an impression, to perhaps have it carry through the cold winter months and into sunny Sarasota, Fla., is down to a nub. DJ Stewart, twice forced onto the injured list and engaged in a heated outfield competition that's expanding,...

Nationals manager Davey Martinez said Victor Robles was a late scratch for today's game, Game 2 of the series against the Indians, because his young center fielder was under the weather. Veteran Gerardo Parra takes Robles' place in center field, batting seventh. "He's sick. We got a lot of guys sick but he came in today not feeling good," Martinez said. "I didn't want to chance him because the way he play all of a sudden he's dehydrated and something happens. If he feels better I'd...

After a 4-1 win on Friday night, the Orioles play the second game of their series in Boston today and game No. 161 for the season. The O's won last night when Asher Wojciechowski threw six scoreless innings and Renato Núñez hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs. Lefty John Means (11-11, 3.54 ERA) today makes his 27th start. For the year, he's thrown 150 innings, allowing 133 hits with 36 walks and 116 strikeouts. He holds a WHIP of 1.127 and allows 8.0 hits per nine innings, with...

BOSTON - Orioles manager Brandon Hyde isn't ready to name his starter for Sunday's season finale, waiting to find out which relievers are used this afternoon. "It could absolutely be anybody," Hyde said. Meanwhile, left-hander John Means is wrapping up an impressive first season that could thrust him into the voting for American League Rookie of the Year. Means has proven to be one of the major's better success stories at 11-11 with a 3.54 ERA and 1.127 WHIP in 150 innings. "He's had an...

With a win today versus Cleveland, the Nationals will secure home field advantage for Tuesday's National League wild card game. They can also grab home field if the Rockies upend the Brewers again tonight in Denver. Former Nats left-hander Gio González starts for the Brewers at Colorado with first pitch set for 8:10 p.m. ET. So the Nats will know where they stand prior to that game getting underway. The Nats are surging again at the right time, winning six in a row and eight of their last...

BOSTON - The penultimate game of the Orioles' 2019 season includes Rio Ruiz batting cleanup today against the Red Sox and Stevie Wilkerson playing center field. Chris Davis is playing first base and Austin Wynns is catching. Austin Hays and Hanser Alberto are on the bench For the OriolesJonathan Villar 2BDJ Stewart LFTrey Mancini RFRio Ruiz 3BRenato Núñez DHChris Davis 1BStevie Wilkerson CFAustin Wynns CRichie Martin SS John Means LHP For the Red SoxJackie Bradley Jr. CFRafael Devers...