MIAMI - When you think playoff race, you think Marlins Park. Right? Well, whether it fits the mold or not, this giant airport hangar of a ballpark is going to host three very important games this weekend. Important, of course, for the Nationals. Not the home team, which is trying to avoid 100 losses tonight. The Nationals absolutely must take care of business. They've gone 13-3 against the Marlins this season. Two of those losses came here in late April. It's never easy to sweep anybody, no...

The Orioles today announced that infielder/outfielder Trey Mancini has been voted the winner of the 2019 Louis M. Hatter Most Valuable Oriole Award by members of the local media who cover the team on a regular basis. He will be recognized for his accomplishments in an on-field ceremony prior to Sunday's home finale against the Seattle Mariners. Mancini enters play today hitting .286/.356/.536 (163-for-569) with 36 doubles, two triples, 34 home runs, 100 runs scored, 93 RBI, and 56 walks....

Chris Davis is playing first base tonight and Trey Mancini is the designated hitter for the series-opening game against the Mariners at Camden Yards. This is the final homestand of the season. Mancini was hit on the left leg last night, but he's staying in the lineup. He's just off the field. Anthony Santander is in left field, Austin Hays is in center and DJ Stewart is in right. Rio Ruiz is batting cleanup. Left-hander Richard Bleier is tabbed as the opener tonight, making his first major...

The Orioles today announced plans for Fan Appreciation Weekend, which will be held beginning tonight, Friday, September 20, through Sunday, September 22, when the Orioles host the Seattle Mariners for the final three-game series of the 2019 regular season. The weekend will feature exclusive giveaways and opportunities for fans to enjoy unforgettable experiences at Oriole Park. As a "thank you" to fans for their support throughout the season, the Orioles will surprise the most-spirited fans at...

Outfielder/first baseman Trey Mancini has been named Most Valuable Oriole by members of the media covering the team, an honor that he's collecting while in the midst of another hot streak at the plate. Mancini enters tonight's game with a .286/.356/.536 slash line, 36 doubles, two triples, 34 home runs, 93 RBIs, 100 runs scored and 56 walks. He's tied for second among American League outfielders in total bases (305), third in runs scored, tied for third in hits (163), fourth in doubles,...

MIAMI - Davey Martinez will be back in the Nationals dugout tonight. Martinez, who has not been able to manage the team since suffering from chest pain during the sixth inning of Sunday's win over the Braves, was cleared by doctors to travel to Miami and will rejoin the club in time for tonight's series opener at Marlins Park. Club officials were hopeful the 53-year-old skipper would be ready to return this weekend but were at the mercy of doctors, who had to clear Martinez for travel after...

The last two nights at Camden Yards, 24-year-old outfielder Austin Hays reminded us of the fantastic year he had in 2017. One that ended with him being named the Orioles' Minor League Player of the Year and one of five finalists as Baseball America's National Player of the Year. That season, Hays batted a combined .329/.365/.593 with 32 doubles, five triples, 32 home runs and 95 RBIs in 128 games at Single-A Frederick and Double-A Bowie. He joined Vladimir Guerrero Jr. as a finalist for...

Stevie Wilkerson keeps showing up at the ballpark each day unsure if he's playing and having no clue which glove he'll be using if he does. The Orioles gave Wilkerson 57 starts in center field this season and used him in 71 games. He's also played left and right field, second base, shortstop and third base and served as an emergency reliever on four occasions. It's assumed that Wilkerson also is viewed as an extra catcher if the Orioles somehow run out of them. The risk grew slimmer after...

35,000 FEET OVER THE EAST COAST - I'm flying from Washington to Miami this morning for the Nationals' final road series of the regular season. And what better way to pass the time than to engage in a Q&A session with you fine folks? There are 11 games to go, 11 games for the Nats to either complete an impressive turnaround from a disastrous start or suffer an even more heartbreaking fate. (It should be pointed out here, by the way, that the Brewers and Cubs only have nine games left...

There was no late lead that got away tonight. But there was a close game to be won and the Orioles bullpen once again came up short in trying to make that happen. After throwing a strong game and leaving with a man on second and one out in the seventh, Orioles right-hander Gabriel Ynoa saw the 'pen give it up again. Toronto scored six runs on four hits and three walks in the seventh to snap a 2-2 tie and beat the Orioles 8-4 tonight at Camden Yards. They sweep the three-game series as the O's...