If there is one thing we have learned about Orioles manager Brandon Hyde during a very trying season it's this: He has amazing patience. He has to answer some of the same questions both before and after every game. It's usually about his pitchers giving up too many homers, throwing too many pitches middle-middle, their continued struggles and the club's starting pitching depth at Triple-A Norfolk being poor. Alex Cobb ended last season pitching great and then got hurt. Dan Straily pitched to...

MIAMI - Stephen Strasburg has looked better. But the right-hander's performance Thursday night was just as integral to the Nationals' 8-5 victory over the Marlins as the fireworks display put on by the Nats lineup. Strasburg has long dominated the Marlins; he entered this game 9-0 with a 1.23 ERA against Miami since September 2015. But this Marlins lineup proved tougher than previous ones, in part because of its ability to put the bat on the ball, especially on Strasburg's curveball. Miguel...

MIAMI - When they left New York on the evening of May 23, the Nationals were a defeated ballclub. They were blowing games in every manner possible. Their manager's job security appeared to be shaky. They were 12 games under .500 and facing a long, slow, unlikely climb back into contention. When they leave Miami late tonight, the Nationals will be flying sky high. They're winning games behind a potent lineup, a dominant rotation and a bullpen that is finding a way to get the job done far more...

MIAMI - Juan Soto had one of the great seasons by a teenager in major league history, and it was only natural to question whether it was possible for the young slugger to be any better this season. Halfway through the 2019 campaign, the answer is: Yes, it is possible. There's a long way yet to go, but heading into tonight's series finale against the Marlins (the Nationals' 80th game of the season) Soto is sporting a higher batting average (.302), slugging percentage (.525) and OPS (.925)...

The importance of a rookie left-hander on the Orioles roster keeps growing. To the point where his absence feels like it could lead to a total collapse. Not just a brick at a time. An implosion and a huge cloud of dust. John Means is coming off the injured list today, making him available to start against the Indians as the Orioles keep searching for their 10th home win. His left shoulder strain wasn't serious, though it removed him briefly from the rotation. Any signs of panic would be...

MIAMI - The last time the Nationals owned a .500 record, they were wrapping up a late April series in Colorado. Trea Turner was on the injured list with a fractured index finger. Anthony Rendon was out of the lineup but not yet on the IL with a bruised elbow. Ryan Zimmerman had just landed awkwardly on his right foot. Trevor Rosenthal had been on the active roster since opening day. With a win tonight, the Nationals would not only sweep the Marlins but would reach the coveted .500 mark for the...

If you're coming to Sunday's game between the Orioles and Indians, how about bringing along a new or gently used piece of baseball equipment for the Oriole Advocates' annual Cardboard to Leather collection. Members of the Advocates will be at all gates to collect bats, balls, gloves, bases, uniforms and other equipment for distribution to youth players in underserved areas who otherwise wouldn't have new gear. If you don't have any equipment, don't worry - financial donations are always...

Students, alumni, and supporters of several area universities are invited to attend University Nights at Oriole Park this season, as several local and regional colleges will be celebrated in August and September. The University Nights lineup has expanded in 2019 to include Delaware State University, Johns Hopkins University, and University of Baltimore. Coppin State University, James Madison University, Morgan State University, Towson University, University of Maryland, University of...

The Washington Nationals agreed to terms with two members of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft: Third baseman Drew Mendoza (3rd Round) and left-handed pitcher Matt Cronin (4th Round). Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo, Assistant General Manager & Vice President of Scouting Operations Kris Kline and Director of Scouting Operations Eddie Longosz made the joint announcement.

The education of outfielder Victor Robles has continued as he works toward his first 100 major league games with the Nationals. One big step is Robles learning to trust his ability to make big plays - especially diving catches - without getting hurt. Last time he was in Miami, he got banged around the outfield, making a couple of plays against the wall. Then, later in the season, he made a spectacular diving play heading toward the left-center field wall, diving in a cloud of dust to make the...