The Orioles are starting Gabriel Ynoa tonight and faced with a decision on how to fill the opening on their 25-man roster after optioning reliever Dillon Tate to Triple-A Norfolk. They must have it figured out, but we're left to wonder if they want a fresh arm - especially with Miguel Castro sick - or a third bench player. If it's a bench player, do they bring up an outfielder? The Tides were rained out yesterday. Their lineup included DJ Stewart, Austin Hays and Rio Ruiz. Castro hasn't...

PHOENIX - On a day like this, with loud contact from both sides every few minutes and a pair of pitching staffs that have had trouble limiting damage this weekend, neither the Nationals nor the Diamondbacks should ever have felt comfortable, not until the final out of this series finale was secured. The two clubs, only hours after Saturday night's slugfest at Chase Field, engaged in another one that ultimately came down to a pair of bullpens that boast plenty of question marks. Which unit...

If the Toronto Blue Jays were going to help the Orioles get some runs today, the Orioles would be accepting of that. They did and they were. The Orioles got a gift run in the first, three unearned runs in the second and drew two bases-loaded walks in the fifth today. It helped them build a 6-2 lead and they held off Toronto 6-5 in the series finale at Camden Yards. The clubs split the four games. The O's went to the seventh leading 6-2, but Toronto got three to pull close. Right-hander Tom...

Jimmy Yacabonis lasted one inning today as the opener, loading the bases with no outs and somehow escaping without a run scoring. Sean Reid-Foley walked three of the first four batters he faced, allowed a run and was spared the possibility of more damage when the final out was made on an RBI single. A combined five walks in the first. One double play. One apparent sacrifice fly that turned into an inning-ending out. And a gift run-scoring single that turned into an inning-ending out after Jace...

PHOENIX - For two days, the Nationals hoped Howie Kendrick and Roenis Elías had suffered mere leg cramps and not hamstring strains. On the third day, they conceded the ailments were severe enough to land both players on the injured list. Kendrick and Elías were formally placed on the 10-day IL before today's series finale against the Diamondbacks, and though club officials still believe neither injury is serious, both will miss at least another week, leaving the roster depleted. Javy...

The Washington Nationals made the following roster moves on Sunday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements. Selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Javy Guerra from Triple-A Fresno Recalled outfielder Andrew Stevenson from Double-A Harrisburg Placed left-handed pitcher Roenis Elías on the 10-day Injured List with a right hamstring strain Placed infielder Howie Kendrick on the 10-day Injured List with a left hamstring strain...

PHOENIX - Hello one more time from Chase Field, where the Nationals and Diamondbacks wrap up their series this afternoon, each seeking to walk away having won two of three. And each sends a guy to the mound with a connection to the opposing team. Patrick Corbin makes his return to the desert, facing the organization that developed him into an All-Star, then watched him leave for Washington and $140 million. Corbin has enjoyed catching up with friends the last few days, but he's now all...

The Orioles are starting Gabriel Ynoa for Monday night's series opener against the Yankees at Camden Yards, with manager Brandon Hyde able to avoid using him last night while sorting through bullpen options. Miguel Castro is still sick and unavailable for today's series finale against the Blue Jays. An expanded pitching staff still feels a little short. Hyde isn't sure how long the Orioles will carry 14 pitchers and two bench players. "We'll see how today goes and then we'll make a...

The Orioles will go for a split of their four-game series against the Blue Jays today with no roster move announced. They apparently intend to keep a two-man bench and 14 pitchers. Jonathan Villar is the shortstop today and leadoff hitter. Jace Peterson is playing third base. Stevie Wilkerson is in center field. The bench consists of shortstop Richie Martin and catcher Pedro Severino. Trey Mancini is in right field. His four RBIs last night were a season high and ran his career total to...

PHOENIX - There have been 2,376 games in Nationals history, spread out among 15 seasons since baseball returned to Washington. And in only four of those games has the club's manager at the time resorted to handing the ball to a position player and asking him to pitch. It's an exceptionally rare occurrence for this team, and yet there's a bizarre common factor in almost every case: the Arizona Diamondbacks. Yes, three of the four games that have seen a Nationals position player pitch have...