Dwight Smith Jr. is on the bench today as the Orioles close out their series against the Rays, with Anthony Santander getting the start in left field. Smith is hitless in his last 26 at-bats, a career-high streak and the longest in the American League. Trey Mancini sat out Game 2 last night while in an 0-for-20 slump, but he's starting in right field today. Chris Davis is playing first base and batting sixth ahead of third baseman Hanser Alberto. Alberto's home run last night in Game 2 was...

The Orioles have recalled right-hander Tom Eshelman from Triple-A Norfolk as the logical replacement for Andrew Cashner on the 25-man roster. Eshelman also is taking Cashner's turn in the rotation today. Someone has to start after the Orioles traded the veteran to the Red Sox yesterday afternoon. The pairing between Eshelman and the Rays is a familiar one. Eshelman made his major league debut against the Rays on July 1 at Tropicana Field and allowed two runs over five innings. The last four...

PHILADELPHIA - The Nationals have won six of their last seven series thanks to their 4-3 comeback win here Saturday night. They are 9-4 against the Phillies this season and have a 2 1/2 game lead over them in the National League wild card race. The Nats lead Milwaukee by two games for the top overall wild card. The Nationals have won a franchise-best 30 of their last 41 games to vault back into the postseason picture. Left-hander Patrick Corbin, who put together a quality start Saturday night...

On Friday, before the Orioles traded pitcher Andrew Cashner yesterday, I asked Trey Mancini about the possibility of trade rumors becoming a distraction for the Orioles before this month is out. He looked back to last season when the Orioles pulled the trigger on several July trades that sent Manny Machado and several of Mancini's teammates out of Baltimore. "It was a strange year last year for sure being around for that," said Mancini. "Especially that last day. We all knew that Manny...

The Orioles have lost just one of their past three series and they'll need a win this afternoon to split this series with the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays have won two of three in this series which ends this afternoon at Oriole Park. The past four series has seen the Orioles go 2-1 versus Cleveland, 1-2 versus Tampa Bay, 2-1 against Toronto and 2-1 against the Rays. The Orioles (28-64) are 6-6 in the last 12 games and 12-33 at home. The Orioles won Game 1 of Saturday's twinbill 2-1 and lost 12-4...

PHILADELPHIA - More notes from the Nationals' stunning 4-3 late inning comeback win over the Phillies. Juan Soto has pulled off three career go-ahead homers in the ninth inning or later to win games for the Nationals. All came at Citizens Bank Park: September 11, 2018: Soto hits solo homer lifts Nats to 7-6 lead (Nats trailed 6-3). April 9, 2019: Soto hits three-run shot in 10-6 win in 10 innings (Nats trailed 6-1). July 13, 2019: Soto hits two-run homer in ninth of 4-3 win (Nats trailed...

PHILADELPHIA - Juan Soto knew what pitch was coming. And he hit it out of Citizens Bank Park. With the game on the line, the 20-year-old connected on a splitter from Phillies closer Héctor Neris and slammed a line drive well over the left-center field wall. The two-out, two-run shot came on the first pitch from Neris in the top of the ninth inning and was Soto's 16th of the season. Down 3-0, the Nationals rallied for stunning 4-3 comeback victory over the Phillies, thanks to Soto's...

The Orioles must be expanding on their relaxed facial hair policy. They can't seem to shave their injured list. Reliever Josh Lucas was activated, optioned, designated for assignment and outrighted. He probably felt safer on the IL. John Means was reinstated back on June 28, the collective sigh of relief from the organization causing the flags to flutter above the bullpen area. But the rotation has lost Dylan Bundy to right knee tendinitis, forcing another roster move in a season loaded with...

While Orioles manager Brandon Hyde wonders how he's going to piece together his rotation following today's Andrew Cashner trade, he must rely even more on left-hander John Means to anchor the staff. It's a lot of weight to place on the rookie's shoulders, but who else is going to step up? How is Means going to hold up? Means allowed six runs and surrendered three homers for the first time in his career and the Orioles settled for a split of their doubleheader with a 12-4 loss to the Rays...

Andrew Cashner felt that a trade was coming. He could sense it. He could pick up on clues via the text messages on his phone. It's the timing that surprised him. Rather than make his scheduled start Sunday afternoon against the Rays, Cashner is packing his belongings and joining the Red Sox following today's deal that sends 17-year-old outfielder Elio Prado and infielder Noelberth Romero to the Orioles. Prado and Romero have been assigned to the Rookie-level Dominican Sumer League on separate...