Max Scherzer emerged from a simulated game at Nationals Park this afternoon feeling "really good," perhaps good enough to convince club officials to let the ace return from the injured list without facing live hitters again. That determination won't be made for a few more days, not until Scherzer has a chance to see how his upper back recovers from today's two-inning-plus session and he attempts to throw off a mound again Thursday. But the fact it's even being considered is extremely...

It turns out that left fielder Juan Soto's right ankle is good to go and he is back in the starting lineup for tonight's game against the Reds. Soto was injured rounding third base late in Sunday's win over the Mets and had to leave the game. Nationals manager Davey Martinez said he had to hold Soto back from trying to get into Monday night's game as well. "He checked all the boxes. We got him on the field, he ran angles. He turned like he was running the bases. The biggest thing was the...

NEW YORK - Chandler Shepherd lasted one day with the Orioles to close out the month of July. Joined them in San Diego and was optioned quicker than it takes to unpack a bag. The Orioles recalled Shepherd again today as Evan Phillips' bullpen replacement and he's hoping to do more than dig into the pregame and postgame meals. "It would be special," he said this afternoon while standing at his locker at Yankee Stadium. "My last time up here was a great experience for me and I've been ready...

The forecast tonight isn't great, but for now, the Nationals and Reds are intending to play the second game of their series. Given the fact this is Cincinnati's only trip here this year, and tomorrow's finale is scheduled for 4:05 p.m., there's certainly motivation to get this one in tonight as scheduled. The Nationals have several players back in the lineup, headlined by Juan Soto. Turns out Soto will have missed only one game after spraining his right ankle rounding third base Sunday in...

NEW YORK - Renato Núñez is playing first base tonight as the Orioles continue their series against the Yankees and try to shake off yesterday's doubleheader sweep. Trey Mancini is the designated hitter and Anthony Santander is playing right field. Jace Peterson continues to play left field. Jonathan Villar is leading off and playing shortstop. Rio Ruiz, who had a two-run single and RBI grounder in Game 2, is the third baseman. Chandler Shepherd has joined the Orioles after they optioned...

The short-season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds have the best team ERA in the 14-team New York-Penn League. Their strong pitching perhaps was never more evident than last night, when three pitchers combined on the first no-hitter in team history. Right-hander Jake Lyons got the start and went the first five innings on 61 pitches at Vermont, with one walk and five strikeouts. Right-hander James Ryan pitched the next three innings with three strikeouts and right-hander Kyle Martin struck out the...

Sean Doolittle admitted it. After pitching for the 52nd time in 118 games - a rate that leaves him on pace to establish a new career high with 71 appearances by season's end - and in five of the Nationals' last seven games, the club's closer admitted his gas tank is running low. "I mean, that's 5-of-7, in the middle of August, in the first season (in a long time) where I'm still going," Doolittle said with a chuckle. "I haven't put together a season like this in a while. I'm starting...

NEW YORK - The release of the 2020 schedule seemed to come a bit earlier than usual and held a couple of interesting nuggets for the Orioles, including the home-and-home series against the Cubs. Manager Brandon Hyde goes back to Wrigley Field, where he served in a coaching capacity and can share countless stories. The dugout will be crowded for the pregame media sessions. I'm particularly fond of the three off-days on Fridays and a weekend two-game series against the Nationals instead of the...

This was supposed to be the weak link of the Nationals organization: pitching depth. And when Max Scherzer went back on the injured list three weeks ago, there was ample reason to fear the worst out of the two guys who had now been thrust into the back end of the rotation: Erick Fedde and Joe Ross. Except those guys haven't been the problem, not in the least. The two right-handers have now each turned in back-to-back quality performances, all of them resulting in victories. Tonight it was...

NEW YORK - The 52nd player used by the Orioles this season had one major issue tonight. Same as everyone else. A wrong kind of bonding. Can't beat the Yankees. Not anymore. Four of the first five batters reached against Ty Blach, Brett Gardner delivered a three-run triple and Gleyber Torres kept bullying the Orioles while they were being swept by the Yankees with an 11-8 loss in Game 2. Trey Mancini homered again, delivering a two-run shot in the third, and Hanser Alberto added a three-run...