Want to know what it feels like when your name is announced on MASN as the Orioles go to bat? Want to experience the thrill of possibly winning big bucks with every pitch an Orioles batter faces? Want a chance to win big bucks every time the Birds hit a home run? Well, your ninth inning is here because the season's final Home Run Riches second-chance drawing is Monday, Aug. 26. The Maryland Lottery's Home Run Riches instant ticket has a top prize of $50,000, and you can enter non-winning...

PITTSBURGH - Hunter Strickland said he broke his nose in a weightlifting accident this afternoon, but the Nationals reliever has been cleared to pitch tonight and he'll be available out of the bullpen if needed. Strickland was working out in the weight room at PNC Park when he was struck in the face by a barbell, according to manager Davey Martinez. Strickland walked through the visitors' clubhouse a short while after with a bandage over the bridge of his nose and with discoloration and...

The Orioles are out to break an eight-game losing streak tonight when they host the Kansas City Royals in the second game of a three-game series at Oriole Park. The Orioles (39-86) have lost 13 of 14 games, allowing 129 runs and 39 homers in that stretch. They gave up two homers last night and have allowed 257 for the year. That is one away from Cincinnati's major league record allowing 258 home runs in 2016. Lefty John Means allowed three runs (two earned) in five-plus innings last night....

PITTSBURGH - Joe Ross will remain in the Nationals rotation. If his right leg heals in time after he was struck by a comebacker during Monday night's win over the Pirates. Ross was still walking with a slight limp and had his lower right leg wrapped this afternoon, still feeling the effects of the 110-mph comebacker that caught him square on the shin the bottom of the fourth the previous night. The right-hander had to depart the game early, and though he was encouraged afterward that X-rays...

Orioles third baseman Rio Ruiz has a bat that is trending up. He hit another homer last night, his third in seven games and his third in his past three home games. That included a pinch-hit homer Aug. 10 versus Houston and a two-run walk-off homer the next day. And last night's ninth-inning homer against Kansas City. In that game, Ruiz also walked twice and grounded into a double play. In seven games since he returned from the farm, he is 6-for-17 with three homers and seven RBIs. For the...

Chris Davis remains out of the Orioles lineup tonight for the second straight game with the Royals sending a right-hander to the mound. He also could sit Wednesday night against left-hander Mike Montgomery. Manager Brandon Hyde said the lineup isn't influenced by Davis' health. The veteran isn't injured or ailing. Hyde wants to play Trey Mancini at first base and give him a break from the outfield. "He's fine," Hyde said. "I just wanted Trey to play first base again and it's nothing...

PITTSBURGH - You know all about what the Nationals have accomplished at the plate in recent days. What might they be able to accomplish tonight if they keep the barrage going? Well, they've already tied the major league record by scoring 13 or more runs in three straight games. If they can somehow do it again tonight, they'll become the first team in Major League Baseball history to do it in four straight games. They've scored 43 runs in three games; if they can score seven tonight, they'll...

Less than 24 hours after having the best night of his professional career, catcher Adley Rutschman earned a promotion to the next level of the Orioles farm system. Rutschman is moving up from short-season Single-A Aberdeen to low Single-A Delmarva, where he's expected to be in the lineup for Wednesday's home game against Greensboro. He'll be available to participate in the upcoming South Atlantic League playoffs upon the conclusion of the regular season. The Orioles were expected to place...

Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds right-hander Grayson Rodriguez seems to be getting better, if that's possible, as the season gets longer. And for someone at age 19 in his first full season of pro ball, that is beyond impressive. His stamina has been solid through 83 1/3 innings. Over his past two starts, he's thrown eight no-hit innings with 16 strikeouts. During a visit to Camden Yards yesterday with teammates Drew Rom and Adam Hall, Rodriguez said hard work from last winter is paying off for...

PITTSBURGH - Sean Doolittle knew his mechanics were out of whack, knew he wasn't getting life and spin on his fastball the way he always had, knew his arm and body were fatigued. He also believed he could battle his way through it and still pitch effectively for a Nationals team that seemed to need him for the ninth inning way more nights of the week than it didn't. But after watching the Brewers torch him for three homers in the span of four batters during his latest blown save Saturday...