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...

The Nationals had a rough weekend in Atlanta. Their next stop on this road trip could be just as rough. Though there was plenty of attention - and rightfully so, given the division race - on the Nats' four-game series against the Braves, this next series against the Twins deserves just as much of the spotlight. The Twins are one of the best teams in baseball, and have been throughout the season. They took over first place in the American League Central on April 20, and they haven't given it...

The Double-A Bowie Baysox play at Trenton tonight at 7:00 p.m. in Game 1 of the best-of-five Eastern League Championship Series. Bowie is in the finals for the second time in the club's 27-year history, looking for its second title. The Baysox came from down 1-2 in games to beat Reading in Games 4 and 5 in 2015 to win its only Eastern League championship. That team included Trey Mancini, Chance Sisco and David Hess. Mychal Givens also pitched for Bowie that year, but only in the regular...

Orioles reliever Mychal Givens extended his scoreless streak to nine appearances in a row while working the ninth inning of Sunday's 10-4 loss to the Rangers. Easy to overlook considering the margin, but the importance holds. Nick Solak drew a leadoff walk, which wasn't a bad outcome considering how he hit in the series. Logan Forsythe and Ronald Guzmán struck out and Delino DeShields lined to center fielder Austin Hays. The walk was the first issued by Givens since Aug. 5. Nine outings in...

The changes in various departments in the Orioles organization, reaching down to the lower levels of the minors, continued today with the firings of at least eight more employees. According to sources, the Orioles are parting ways with minor league hitting coordinator Jeff Manto, minor league catching coordinator Don Werner, special assignment pitching instructor Ramón Martinez, Single-A Frederick manager Ryan Minor, Keys pitching coach Justin Lord and hitting coach Bobby Rose, short-season...

With catcher Kurt Suzuki on the shelf with a sore elbow, Yan Gomes was pressed into duty on short notice Sunday and delivered. Gomes put together the kind of game the Nationals expected from him when they acquired him from the Indians in November. The veteran from Brazil went out and guided Max Scherzer to a win. He also belted two homers in a game for the first time since September 2017 as the Nats finally defeated the Braves 9-4, salvaging the final game of a four-game series. "It's just...

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde must get creative again with his rotation, with today's off-day perhaps making the task a little easier. And an expanded roster could come into play. Asher Wojciechowski is expected to be pushed back before his next start due to fatigue. Wojciechowski was charged with four runs yesterday in only two innings and has posted a 7.05 ERA in his last eight starts. "I just thought today he was really battling himself and thinking I'd give him a little bit of a...

If we put our minds to it, we could probably come up with some storylines involving the 2019 Orioles that would produce some amazing scenarios. But a player claimed off waivers four times before the start of the 2019 season and then going on to win a batting title might top the list. Hanser Alberto ended the 2018 season with the Texas Rangers. Then he was claimed via waivers by the New York Yankees on Nov. 2, the Orioles on Jan. 11, the San Francisco Giants on Feb. 22 and the Orioles again on...

Let's not try to sugarcoat this: The Nationals had a bad weekend in Atlanta. They lost three winnable games, fell at one point a full 10 games back in a division race that's all but over now and saw their once comfortable cushion in the wild card race shrink. They lost Kurt Suzuki and Roenis Elías to injuries. They couldn't do squat against the Braves rotation for three nights. All of that makes for a bad weekend. That doesn't mean it was a lost weekend. Sunday's events at SunTrust Park...