Members of the Orioles organization who have been fired or won't have their contracts renewed beyond Oct. 31 bring the highly publicized total to 25 in fewer than three weeks. However, it's important to give a nod to Len Johnston, who's retiring after 43 years with the club. His departure at age 90 shouldn't go ignored. Johnston served as administrator of Sarasota operations, making the move from Fort Lauderdale. He's been sort of a behind-the-scenes guy unless you hang around the spring...

MINNEAPOLIS - It doesn't matter how well the Nationals' starters pitch right now. If their teammates can't score any runs off opposing starters, it'll all be wasted. Which, alas, is exactly what's happening these days. The Nationals got another gem from Aníbal Sánchez tonight. The veteran right-hander had the Twins' potent lineup eating out of the palm of his hand. But with his teammates unable to touch José Berríos, Sánchez had zero margin for error. And so the one big...

The Orioles fell behind right-hander Walker Buehler and the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-0 tonight in the first inning. That was not going to be a formula to knock off the National League's winningest team and one of the league's best pitchers. Buehler allowed just four singles in seven scoreless innings as Los Angeles beat the Orioles 7-3 to open a three-game series at Oriole Park. The win also is the one that clinched a seventh straight NL West championship for the Dodgers (94-52). Los Angeles has...

Ty Blach's career numbers against the Dodgers didn't matter tonight. The Orioles' preference for not having a team spray champagne in the visiting clubhouse didn't matter. The contrast in the level of talent on the two teams was significant. The Dodgers sent nine batters to the plate in the top of the first inning while working Blach for 44 pitches. They scored four runs. They continued the recent trend, or renewed it, of Orioles starters stumbling out of the gate. Some take a harder fall...

MINNEAPOLIS - Though Kurt Suzuki doesn't appear to have suffered a serious elbow injury, the Nationals do appear to believe the veteran catcher is going to need some time to make it back into the lineup and have told Yan Gomes to be prepared to start the majority of games for the foreseeable future. Suzuki, who had to depart Saturday night's game with what he described as "some tinglings, zings" in his right elbow, had an MRI which showed no structural damage. He was given anti-inflammatory...

Hunter Harvey threw a bullpen session this afternoon during Orioles batting practice, joining a group that included left-handers Tanner Scott and Paul Fry and right-hander Chandler Shepherd, and he should be available to pitch in the Dodgers series. Manager Brandon Hyde said Harvey has been dealing with some soreness, which caused the rookie to sit out the Rangers series this week. Harvey hasn't pitched since last Monday at Tropicana Field. Hyde declined to elaborate on Harvey's condition,...

The Orioles' Trey Mancini will receive a nice honor tonight at Camden Yards. He'll be presented with the Orioles 2019 Heart and Hustle Award. Awarded by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association (MLBPAA), this esteemed award honors active players who demonstrate a passion for the game and best embody the values, spirit and traditions of baseball. Tonight, Mancini will be presented his award by Orioles Hall of Famer Al Bumbry. Bumbry was the 1973 American League Rookie of the Year...

MINNEAPOLIS - For the first time since 2008, the Nationals are playing a game in Minnesota. And for the first time ever, they're playing a game at Target Field. This is the only currently active ballpark in the majors that has never hosted the Nats before, so they're about to be 30-for-30. (By the way, can you name the only two Nationals pitchers ever to win games in the state of Minnesota? Why, it's Jason Simontacchi and Levale Speigner, of course!) This is a big series for both clubs. The...

Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias confirmed this afternoon that the Orioles informed 14 more employees that they won't return in 2020. Elias said the total includes individuals at the Dominican academy who hadn't been reported. There are indications that more changes are coming, though Elias didn't address them in specific terms. He said the amount of hires could exceed the losses, but there will be title changes and new positions created that will be evident in next...

Jonathan Villar remains in the Orioles lineup tonight as they begin a three-game series against the Dodgers at Camden Yards. He hasn't missed a game this season. Villar is one of six players in the majors to appear in every game. He's trying to become the first Oriole to do it since Jonathan Schoop in 2016. Mason Williams gets the start over Austin Hays in center field. DJ Stewart is in right field and Trey Mancini is the first baseman. Left-hander Ty Blach has made 13 career appearances...