It's been a ragged September for the Nationals, who despite hanging on to remain in strong position to reach the National League wild card game have gone 9-11. This is crunch time, of course, a time for the best players on the roster to step up and deliver in key moments to help lift their team into the postseason. Problem is, when it comes to the Nationals bullpen, the best players aren't the ones on the field in those key moments. If you had to guess, who would you think had made the most...

Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias spoke a blunt truth about the team's immediate future in 2020. He said, essentially, that wins and losses are not going to be critical next season, as the club's rebuilding is still in the early stages. This comes as common sense to some fans and rubs others the wrong way. We found out this year another truth: Rebuilding is hard, and some fans have a hard time dealing with mounting losses. Now those fans realize that next year...

MIAMI - Everybody in the Nationals bullpen has had his opportunity over the course of the season to prove he deserves the ball in critical moments. If anything, most of these guys have had so many opportunities they're now running on fumes as the final week of the regular season arrives. Until someone - or, more preferably, multiple someones - proves he can actually get the job done in crunch time, this team is simply going to have to find some other way to win the games necessary to reach the...

As if to remind us that his last start in Detroit was very much the exception and not the rule, lefty John Means threw another strong game today for the Orioles in the 2019 home finale. Chris Davis also took fans back a bit - to days when he hit important homers. He hit one today in the seventh to break a 1-1 tie as the Orioles beat Seattle 2-1. The O's are now 51-105 and completed their home schedule with a 25-56 record. They won a series for the first time since taking two of three from...

The status of other players on the roster didn't really matter today to Orioles manager Brandon Hyde as he wrote out his final home lineup for 2019. Mark Trumbo was playing. Chris Davis was playing. And he knew exactly how he wanted the crowd at Camden Yards to receive them. "They both have done so many good things in their career," Hyde said. "Had some really good years here and done some spectacular things with playoff-type clubs. I just hope (fans) show their appreciation for, these guys...

Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias stressed again today that wins and losses won't be a priority next season as the Orioles move through the rebuilding process. It's still about infusing talent into the organization. Rebuilds don't happen overnight or in one year. Elias covered a variety of topics during a 15-minute media session, including the expectation that Chris Davis will be with the team in spring training. He didn't offer any specifics about the coaching...

MIAMI - Asdrúbal Cabrera is out of today's lineup, the veteran second baseman dealing with a sore right ankle after he was thrown out at the plate during Saturday night's 10-4 10-inning win over the Marlins. Manager Davey Martinez said Cabrera is not scheduled to undergo an MRI and doesn't believe the injury is serious enough to prevent him from playing altogether, but he wanted to give the 33-year-old a chance to rest today. "I haven't talked to (director of athletic training Paul...

MIAMI - Hello one last time from Marlins Park, where the Nationals will look to continue their utter dominance of the local ballclub. The Nats are 15-3 vs. the Marlins this season - they actually lost the first two games way back in April! - and carry an 11-game winning streak into today's series finale. I don't care how large the disparity in talent is between teams, that's really hard to do. The Nationals sure could use one more win this afternoon, though, because with the Brewers doing...

The Orioles will begin their final home game this afternoon with Austin Hays moving up to second in the order. Renato Núñez is playing third base and Chris Davis is across the diamond. Mark Trumbo is the designated hitter in his final home game with the Orioles. He becomes a free agent after the season and likely won't be re-signed. He also could choose to retire. Dwight Smith Jr. is in left field and DJ Stewart in right. Trey Mancini and Anthony Santander are out of the lineup. John...

MIAMI - A lot happened during the course of the Nationals' 10-4 10-inning win over the Marlins on Saturday night, and much of it was covered in the game story. But let's make sure we give a few more significant moments and developments from the game their just due. ... * Asdrúbal Cabrera injured his right ankle. He hurt himself sliding while getting tagged out at the plate on a fourth-inning play that had plenty of folks up in arms, with third base coach Bob Henley waving the veteran...