Ty Blach's career numbers against the Dodgers didn't matter tonight. The Orioles' preference for not having a team spray champagne in the visiting clubhouse didn't matter. The contrast in the level of talent on the two teams was significant. The Dodgers sent nine batters to the plate in the top of the first inning while working Blach for 44 pitches. They scored four runs. They continued the recent trend, or renewed it, of Orioles starters stumbling out of the gate. Some take a harder fall...

MINNEAPOLIS - Though Kurt Suzuki doesn't appear to have suffered a serious elbow injury, the Nationals do appear to believe the veteran catcher is going to need some time to make it back into the lineup and have told Yan Gomes to be prepared to start the majority of games for the foreseeable future. Suzuki, who had to depart Saturday night's game with what he described as "some tinglings, zings" in his right elbow, had an MRI which showed no structural damage. He was given anti-inflammatory...

Hunter Harvey threw a bullpen session this afternoon during Orioles batting practice, joining a group that included left-handers Tanner Scott and Paul Fry and right-hander Chandler Shepherd, and he should be available to pitch in the Dodgers series. Manager Brandon Hyde said Harvey has been dealing with some soreness, which caused the rookie to sit out the Rangers series this week. Harvey hasn't pitched since last Monday at Tropicana Field. Hyde declined to elaborate on Harvey's condition,...

The Orioles' Trey Mancini will receive a nice honor tonight at Camden Yards. He'll be presented with the Orioles 2019 Heart and Hustle Award. Awarded by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association (MLBPAA), this esteemed award honors active players who demonstrate a passion for the game and best embody the values, spirit and traditions of baseball. Tonight, Mancini will be presented his award by Orioles Hall of Famer Al Bumbry. Bumbry was the 1973 American League Rookie of the Year...

MINNEAPOLIS - For the first time since 2008, the Nationals are playing a game in Minnesota. And for the first time ever, they're playing a game at Target Field. This is the only currently active ballpark in the majors that has never hosted the Nats before, so they're about to be 30-for-30. (By the way, can you name the only two Nationals pitchers ever to win games in the state of Minnesota? Why, it's Jason Simontacchi and Levale Speigner, of course!) This is a big series for both clubs. The...

Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias confirmed this afternoon that the Orioles informed 14 more employees that they won't return in 2020. Elias said the total includes individuals at the Dominican academy who hadn't been reported. There are indications that more changes are coming, though Elias didn't address them in specific terms. He said the amount of hires could exceed the losses, but there will be title changes and new positions created that will be evident in next...

Jonathan Villar remains in the Orioles lineup tonight as they begin a three-game series against the Dodgers at Camden Yards. He hasn't missed a game this season. Villar is one of six players in the majors to appear in every game. He's trying to become the first Oriole to do it since Jonathan Schoop in 2016. Mason Williams gets the start over Austin Hays in center field. DJ Stewart is in right field and Trey Mancini is the first baseman. Left-hander Ty Blach has made 13 career appearances...

The soon-to-be National League West champion Los Angeles Dodgers (93-52) are in Baltimore tonight to begin a three-game interleague series. The Dodgers have a magic number of one to clinch their seventh straight NL West crown and officially advance to the playoffs. With a lead of 17 1/2 games over Arizona, it's been in the bag for a while and now it's about to become official with their next win or Diamondbacks loss. On the mound facing them tonight is lefty Ty Blach (1-2, 10.95 ERA). He is...

Last week at this time, the Nationals were looking forward to a series in Atlanta and weighing the possibilities of becoming a legitimate contender in the National League East. It didn't happen. The Braves won three of four games, leaving the Nationals virtually no chance to win the division. And now they are left with making a one-game wild card playoff game, something Nationals manager Davey Martinez said isn't the ideal situation. "Anything can happen,'' he said about a wild card...

Catcher Tres Barrera joined the Nationals this past week after the elbow injury to Kurt Suzuki. Barrera, the former University of Texas standout, was born in Eagle Pass, Texas, which is less than one mile from the United States/Mexico border along the Rio Grande. The 24-year-old is a 2016 draft selection for the Nationals and played 101 games for Double-A Harrisburg this season. He was pleasantly surprised to get the call to join the Nats. "I couldn't believe it," Barrera said. "It's every...