Last Sunday in Atlanta, Max Scherzer allowed the Braves only one run on two hits in six convincing innings of work. It was the only win for the Nationals in the four-game set against the Braves, serving as reassurance that when the Nats desperately need a win against a very good team, he would deliver. That will likely be the challenge the Nats face if they get to the National League wild card game Oct. 1. But in the second matchup with Atlanta in five days, the Braves liked what they saw from...

DETROIT - Aaron Brooks was a solitary figure in the visiting dugout yesterday, the first Orioles player out of the clubhouse with about 45 minutes left before the game started. He'd walk to the bullpen and warm up, but not before he sat alone on the bench, leaning forward with an intense stare as if locking his eyes on an invisible object in front of him. Perhaps it was a silent pep talk, though it looked more like a stern lecture. Brooks had a miserable start last weekend, allowing six runs...

DETROIT - The pennant races have an evil twin. Sort of like fight club. Not supposed to talk about it. Clubs tanking in order to earn the first draft pick. Some fans are upset if their team wins, as if screwing up the master plan. Rooting in reverse is trendy. The Orioles and Tigers began their four-game series tonight, the two worst records in baseball colliding like a couple of rusted-out Ford Pintos. But don't believe for a second that players in the visiting clubhouse cared an ounce about...

BOWIE, Md. - Held to three hits and one run last night, the Double-A Bowie Baysox were no-hit through five innings tonight. When they finally got something going, it was not enough and too late. The Trenton Thunder beat Bowie 5-2 tonight to win the Eastern League Championship Series three games to one. Trenton wins its fourth Eastern League championship and first since 2013. Bowie, which won the title is 2015, is denied a second Eastern League championship. After a very poor 7-23 start to its...

DETROIT - Aaron Brooks gave the Orioles six scoreless innings in D.C., with only two hits allowed, but hasn't been able to duplicate or come close to it. Brooks is back on the mound tonight after allowing six runs Saturday against the Rangers prior to recording his first out. He was gone after 2 2/3 innings. The previous start wasn't as bad, but Brooks lasted only 4 1/3 innings in Kansas City and he's carrying a 7.54 ERA and 1.676 WHIP into tonight's game since joining the Orioles. "The...

Nationals manager Davey Martinez had a spring in his step as he met reporters in the home dugout following the annual team picture before tonight's first game against the Braves with: "How's everybody doing!?" He had an upbeat attitude, as he usually does, for good reason. His club won two of three in Minnesota, their first series victory against a team with a winning record since sweeping the Cubs on Aug. 25. "It made it a lot better the fact that we won the game and we played the game,"...

DETROIT - Mason Williams is in center field and batting second tonight for the Orioles in their series opener against the Tigers at Comerica Park. Dwight Smith Jr. is in left field and batting cleanup and Stevie Wilkerson is at second base. Trey Mancini is playing first base and Mark Trumbo is the designated hitter. DJ Stewart is in right field. Aaron Brooks, who starts tonight, allowed three runs in one relief inning against the Tigers earlier this season while pitching for the Athletics....

BOWIE, Md. - He began the season as the center fielder for the Orioles and is ending it in center with Double-A Bowie. But with the season about to end on the farm, 24-year-old outfielder Cedric Mullins is finally getting his bat going and maybe that's the first step to turning around what has been for him a rough 2019 season. Mullins hit just .094 with the Orioles in 19 games to start the season before he was sent to Triple-A Norfolk on April 22. With the Tides he hit .205 in 66 games and was...

Fresh off a series win at the American League Central's first-place Minnesota, the Nationals spend the weekend back home for a quick three-game set against the National League East first-place Atlanta Braves before heading out Monday to St. Louis and then Miami. The Nats took down the Twins 12-6 to stay 3 1/2 games in front of the Cubs and the Brewers for home field advantage in the National League wild card game. Their magic number is 14 to clinch the wild card spot. Tonight, they get back to...

After losing two of three at home to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Orioles (47-99) begin a four-game series in Detroit tonight at Comerica Park. The Birds lost 4-2 to the Dodgers on Thursday and were held to two hits. They went 1-6 on the homestand. They finished the season going 7-13 in interleague play. The Orioles' next loss will be No. 100 and they will have back-to-back years of 100 or more losses for the first time in team history. The 1954 Orioles lost 100, the 1988 club lost 107 and...