TORONTO - After scoring 21 runs in the last two games, a lack of offense tonight led to an Orioles loss, and they failed to win two straight series for the first time since the first week of the year. In the rubber match at Rogers Centre, right-hander Jacob Waguespack blanked the Orioles over six innings and they lost 3-2 to the Blue Jays. The Orioles are 52-107 and heading to Boston for the final series of the year beginning Friday night. With the loss, the Orioles are locked into pick No. 2...

The day-after-clinch game is always a tricky matter. All the moreso when the team in question still has something left to play for over the season's final few days. The Nationals wanted to take it easy tonight, less than 24 hours after they clinched a spot in next week's wild card game. They also wanted to maintain their slim lead over the Brewers for home field advantage next Tuesday night. They found a way to accomplish both during a 5-2 victory over the Phillies. A game that started off...

As Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias makes a series of changes to the front office, player development and scouting departments, it's become clear that titles also can be altered or eliminated. It isn't just the individuals behind them. I've heard that the Orioles might do away with the role of minor league catching coordinator that used to be filled by Don Werner, who learned earlier this month that he wouldn't return in 2020. Elias said the following back on...

Phillies left-hander Drew Smyly has not allowed the Nationals a hit in the first three innings, striking out six. The Nationals have yet to get a runner on base. Nationals right-hander Aníbal Sánchez gave up a single to Adam Haseley in the second inning, but nothing else. He has struck out three. The first three innings took 40 minutes. Bryce Harper doubled to begin the fourth inning. Rhys Hoskins followed with an RBI single, snapping an 0-for-26 skid. Mid-fourth, the Phillies lead the...

For nearly six months, the Nationals couldn't afford to look beyond that night's game, recognizing the importance of winning every single contest to get back into a race after a 19-31 start left them staring up at a sizeable deficit in the standings. Now that they've clinched a postseason berth, they can finally afford to start thinking more about what's ahead next week than what's in front of them tonight. The Nationals are going to play Tuesday night in the National League wild card...

TORONTO - He was behind the plate last night for Dylan Bundy's strong seven-inning, two-run outing, so Austin Wynns is back catching again tonight as the Orioles wrap up the series in Toronto. "I liked the way he caught last night and he hit a homer," manager Brandon Hyde said. "So give him another chance to get back there. I like the fingers he threw last night (calling the pitches). I thought he and Bundy worked really well together and I thought he's done a nice job defensively with the...

As expected after clinching a postseason berth Tuesday, the Nationals starting lineup looked a bit different for Wednesday night's game against the Phillies with Trea Turner and Anthony Rendon getting the day off. But Juan Soto, Adam Eaton and Howie Kendrick remain in the lineup. "I still want to play these games to win," said Nationals manager Davey Martinez. "But we got to be smart about giving guys some days off. Today is no Anthony, no Trea. Both deserve days off, obviously. We'll see...

TORONTO - Orioles outfielder Dwight Smith Jr. calls the trade that sent him from Toronto to the Orioles on March 8 "the best thing that happened to me in my career." That is because the Orioles have given him a real shot in the majors this year. Over parts of 2017-18, he got a combined 104 plate appearances with Toronto. This season, he has gotten 384 with the Orioles. That number would probably be higher if not for two injuries. Smith got off to a hot start with the Orioles. Through May 12,...

Austin Wynns is behind the plate again tonight for the Orioles after hitting his first home run last night in Toronto. Austin Hays remains in center field and Chris Davis is playing first base. Dwight Smith Jr. is in left field after going 3-for-4 with a home run last night. Trey Mancini collected five hits last night and he's the designated hitter tonight as the Orioles close out the series. Mancini is batting .353/.412/.600 this month, with six doubles, five home runs and 19 RBIs. He has 30...

It's the day after a clinch, and that always makes for some, uh, interesting lineup decisions. Like Brian Dozier leading off. Or Asdrúbal Cabrera playing third base. Or Wilmer Difo starting at shortstop. All of those are true of the Nationals lineup tonight, and understandably so. Anthony Rendon and Trea Turner can definitely benefit from at least one (if not more) days off. Truth be told, this lineup has more regulars in it than you might expect under the circumstances. Including all three...