It's been a consistent pattern all summer long. The Nationals face an opposing pitcher they've rarely - if ever - faced before, need several innings to feel the guy out and then suddenly string together a bunch of hits to knock the previously effective starter out of the game. They've done it to several opponents, some rookies, some veterans who they haven't seen much before for whatever reason. But they've never done it like they did it to Trevor Bauer this afternoon during a 17-7 pasting...

The goal of any professional sports team is to win games and championships. How they get there or try to is up to them and others don't have to like it. After a 115-loss 2018 season - in fact, even before that 2018 season was over - the Orioles began their rebuilding. It continues this year and has its ups and downs. Ups like watching players like Hanser Alberto and Anthony Santander state their cases to be a part of the Orioles' hopefully better future. Downs like losing 16 straight games to...

In the bottom of the third, Victor Robles singled and stole second base against Reds starter Trevor Bauer. Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg sacrificed Robles to third base. Trea Turner smacked a sacrifice fly to deep left field that scored Robles with the first run of the game. Strasburg allowed only one hit in the first three innings. After three innings, the Nats lead the Reds 1-0. Update: In the top of the fourth, Eugenio Suárez and Josh VanMeter singled to start a Reds rally....

NEW YORK - The Orioles forced J.A. Happ to throw 33 pitches in the top of the first inning today. Loaded the bases against him after scoring a run. Listened as fans booed the starter. Seemed on the verge of releasing all the frustration that built over past games against the Yankees. They settled for the one run, gave up four in the bottom half of the inning and looked again like a team loaded with desire and energy but short in other areas. And the beasts that they keep facing aren't going to...

Max Scherzer insists he's ready to pitch. Now. In the big leagues. As soon as the Nationals will let him. Which is the real issue, to be honest. Scherzer may believe he's ready to return from the injured list this weekend, but he may be at the mercy of the Nationals' medical and coaching staffs. "It'll come down to me and the medical staff, yeah," manager Davey Martinez said. "Like I said, we're going to be very conscious, and we'll see where we're at. The good news is that he feels...

The Orioles have been searching for pitchers to improve their depth in the rotation and bullpen, and they made a minor move this afternoon by claiming right-hander Ryan Eades off waivers from the Twins, according to multiple sources. Eades, 27, made his major league debut earlier this summer and appeared in two games. He blanked the Tigers on two hits over two innings on June 8 at Comerica Park and the Mariners on two hits over 1 2/3 on June 12 at Target Field. He's walked two batters and...

Nationals of the future are on the way with the wives of Brian Dozier, Daniel Hudson and Hunter Strickland expecting babies very soon. I asked Dozier before today's game when the due date is for his wife, Renee, for their first baby girl and he semi-joked "in about an hour". Dozier is not in the starting lineup today. But Nationals manager Davey Martinez said there is another reason for the day off. Dozier got stepped on sliding into third base in Tuesday's win over the Reds. "It's on its...

NEW YORK - Outfielder DJ Stewart is joining Triple-A Norfolk today in Pawtucket for the first of two rehab games before the Orioles are expected to remove him from the seven-day concussion injured list for Friday's series opener in Boston. "I think we're going to make a decision after Thursday," said manager Brandon Hyde. There's always the possibility that the Orioles activate Stewart and option him again. Otherwise, they'd have to go with a four-man bench - and it's unlikely that...

In turning their season around, the Nationals have rebounded from a low point of 12 games under .500 to a high point of nine games over .500. They've had several chances to climb to 10 games over but to date haven't been able to reach that level. They'll get another chance today as they attempt to sweep the Reds. Stephen Strasburg takes the ball, looking to pick up where he left off Friday night in New York and earn his league-leading 15th win of the season. Strasburg has enjoyed success...

NEW YORK - Trey Mancini is playing first base this afternoon as the Orioles try to salvage a game in the series and end their 15-game losing streak to the Yankees. Hanser Alberto is leading off and playing third base. The outfield includes Jace Peterson in left again and Stevie Wilkerson is in center. Richie Martin is the shortstop with Jonathan Villar at second base. Gleyber Torres is serving as the Yankees' designated hitter today. For the Orioles Hanser Alberto 3B Trey Mancini 1B Anthony...