The Baltimore Orioles today announced that they have signed their first overall selection of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft, catcher Adley Rutschman, from Oregon State University. The 2019 First-Year Player Draft marked the second time in Orioles history that the club had the first overall selection in the MLB Draft, with right-hander Ben McDonald in 1989 being the first. Rutschman has claimed every major amateur and collegiate baseball award, including being named the winner of the Golden...

The Nationals are going to take a flyer on another late-inning reliever with a track record of success but ugly numbers this season. Fernando Rodney, the 42-year-old with 325 career saves but a 9.42 ERA in 17 big league games this season, will be promoted from Triple-A Fresno and added to the active roster before Tuesday's series opener against the Marlins in Miami, a source familiar with the transaction confirmed. Rodney owns a 3.79 ERA and a long track record as a quality late-inning...

The confidence that Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias expressed in his ability to sign his top draft pick wasn't unfounded or misplaced. The Orioles announced this evening that they signed Oregon State catcher Adley Rutschman, with an introductory press conference scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. MLB.com's Jim Callis is reporting an agreement with Alabama prep shortstop Gunnar Henderson, the club's second-round pick. Rutschman, the first overall selection, will...

It appears Austin Voth's fill-in start Sunday opened enough eyes to warrant another look. The Nationals have optioned Erick Fedde to Triple-A Fresno, paving the way for Voth to remain as part of the big league rotation on the heels of his impressive outing Sunday afternoon against the Braves. Fedde had assumed the No. 5 starter's job over the last month, and had pitched well for much of that time, posting a 2.70 ERA in four outings. But he gave up five runs in six innings to the Diamondbacks...

One way the Nationals assist their young outfielders in preparing for where to set up defensively is outfield positioning cards. The laminated cards, not much bigger than a credit card, fit in the back pocket of their uniform pants. Left fielder Juan Soto and center fielder Victor Robles use the cards to see where they should stand defensively. Terms like "Pull 3" mean Soto should move three steps to his right for a right-handed hitter. "Oppo 6" directs Robles to moves six steps to his...

Some thoughts and observations to help get you through the Nationals' first day off in nearly two weeks before they return to action Tuesday night in Miami ... * The most significant development of Sunday's 10-inning loss to the Braves didn't occur in the late innings. It might well have happened in the first six, when Austin Voth authored by far the best outing of his brief major league career. Pressed into emergency starting duties to compensate for the pair of rainouts at the start of the...

While the Orioles enjoy the first of two off-days this week, any break providing relief after losing 11 of the last 12 games and 15 of 18, pitcher Alex Cobb remains in Nashville, Tenn., while thrust into the early stages of a rehabilitation program following hip surgery. Cobb is staying close to orthopedic surgeon Dr. J.W. Thomas Byrd, who repaired a tear in the labrum that ended the veteran's season after only three starts and another round of discomfort and disappointment. And Cobb isn't...

SEATTLE - He didn't have a highlight game, going 0-4 with two double plays and two strikeouts on Sunday, but shortstop Richie Martin made a highlight-reel defensive play here on Saturday. He dove in the hole to glove a ball and made a strong throw from the outfield grass to gun down former Oriole Tim Beckham in the fifth inning. It was one of the best defensive plays of the year by any Oriole. By now, it's pretty clear the Rule 5 pick in December from Oakland has a plus glove and plus arm....

SEATTLE - The Orioles began today seeking their first two-game win streak in a long time and a series split to end this trip on a good note. When they scored single runs in the first and second innings, that looked possible. By the end of the third, it was very doubtful. The Mariners scored eight runs in the last of the third, batting 13 men to break a 2-2 tie on their way to a 13-3 romp over the Orioles. Baltimore falls to 22-56 and has lost 11 of 12, 15 of 18 and 27 of its last 34 games. The...

After a 4-3 extra-inning win Sunday, the Braves lead the Nationals by 8 ½ games in the National League East. So why does it seem the Nationals have the advantage as the season's second half approaches? It's because the Nationals have a more reliable rotation. The Braves have been white-hot during June, but they are doing it with an offense that averages more than seven runs a game. Teams that win by pounding other teams with runs find that difficult to sustain. On the other hand, the...