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Nationals manager Davey Martinez confirmed, barring any late setbacks, both closer Sean Doolittle and first baseman Ryan Zimmerman will return to the active roster on Sunday.
Doolittle threw 13 pitches in a rehab appearance Friday night in Frederick, Md., with the high Single-A Potomac Nationals. He faced three batters and did not allow a hit, a run or a walk, inducing a groundout and two flyouts.
"Sean was good," Martinez said. "He was pleased and we were pleased. He's going to work out...
Exactly how much has Jonathan Villar increased his trade value in the offseason?
The Orioles couldn't move Villar at the deadline, failing in attempts to work out a deal with the Cubs. He slashed .225/.320/.382 with three home runs in 26 games in June. Contenders had to be leery of a player with a reputation for being reckless on the basepaths and not always exhibiting, shall we say, the best judgment.
How was their judgment in passing on him?
Villar slashed .298/.336/.442 with three home runs...
Chris Davis returns to the Orioles lineup tonight in Kansas City and is batting sixth for the 12th time this season.
Trey Mancini is in right field and Anthony Santander is the designated hitter. DJ Stewart is in left field and batting cleanup.
Hanser Alberto, playing second base tonight, is leading the majors with a .417 average against left-handers. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last Orioles player with a .400 average versus lefties was shortstop Mike Bordick (.402) in...
The Nationals found a way to create a rally with three outs to play and surprised the Marlins 7-6 in the bottom of the ninth thanks to another clutch hit from Anthony Rendon.
Now the Nats go for a series clincher tonight as right-hander Stephen Strasburg looks to set a career-high this season in wins at 16. Strasburg is 15-5 with a 3.63 ERA. He has 201 strikeouts this season. It marks the third time in his career he has fired 200 or more strikeouts in a season, his best was 242 in 2014. He has...
KANSAS CITY - After their biggest offensive game of the year, the Orioles are back at Kauffman Stadium tonight looking for another win in this series. The Orioles (45-89) have won four of their last five and six of nine games.
Friday night, they set season highs in runs and hits (21) as Hanser Alberto went 5-for-6, raising his average to .324. That average ranks third-best in the American League and seventh in Major League Baseball. Pedro Severino added a four-hit night, going 4-for-6 with...
There was nothing easy about what AnÃbal Sánchez needed to do to get outs Friday night. But then again, he deserves credit for holding the Marlins to only two runs on three hits.
But in five innings, Sánchez had to spend 94 pitches. He left with the lead, but the Nationals bullpen could not keep the Marlins off the board. Miami rallied from a 3-1 deficit to lead the Nats in the ninth, 6-5. Then Anthony Rendon saved the day with an amazing two-run single in the bottom of the ninth to...
KANSAS CITY - For Orioles shortstop Richie Martin, Friday was not just another day on the baseball calender. It was a special day where he learned more about the grandfather who passed away before he was born and realized further the legacy he carries on in the sport.
Martin's granddad, Walter "Bancy" Thomas, played in the Negro Leagues for several seasons and was on the 1945 Kansas City Monarchs. His teammates that season included Hall of Famers Jackie Robinson and Satchel Paige.
Thomas...
Davey Martinez first mentioned it last weekend in Chicago, and only when straight-up asked by a reporter if he wanted to make a case for Anthony Rendon as National League MVP.
"I'll make a case for him right now, yeah," the Nationals manager said. "MVP. Gold Glove. My man, Anthony!"
Everyone laughed.
Then Martinez brought it up again late Friday night, unprompted this time after Rendon delivered the walk-off single the Nats needed to beat the Marlins.
"He's been phenomenal," Martinez...
KANSAS CITY - There was a lot to like from the offense, which set season highs for runs and hits, and the pitching, which produced the 12th outing from a starter of seven or more innings this year.
It all added up to a 14-2 Orioles rout of Kansas City in front of 16,287 at Kauffman Stadium to start a three-game series. The Orioles (45-89) have won four of their last five and six of nine games.
They didn't get win No. 45 last year until Sept. 23.
Down 1-0 in the second after a Jorge Soler solo...
Reliever Daniel Hudson allowed a two-run home run in the ninth inning Friday night that erased a late Nationals lead.
But the veteran held steady and focused on finding a way to bounce back, getting out of the inning and limiting the damage.
Hudson was able to record three consecutive outs to allow his club the opportunity to overcome a deficit. Anthony Rendon's two-run single did just that in the bottom of the ninth, and the Nationals came back to drop the Marlins 7-6.
Leading 5-4 heading...