Nationals right-hander Joe Ross had trouble with his control and the Mets hit him well in a 7-3 loss on Monday afternoon. The Mets tallied two runs in the second and five runs in the fourth off Ross. Joe Panik smacked an RBI double off a Ross sinker and René Rivera dropped in a run-scoring single on his slider to make it 2-0 Mets. In the fourth, Jeff McNeil jumped on a first-pitch sinker for a two-run shot. J.D. Davis delivered the biggest punch on an 87 mph slider, driving a two-run double...

The Nationals have made no secret about it all along. They know if they are ultimately going to achieve what they want to achieve this season, Max Scherzer is going to have to help lead the way. Not the diminished version of Scherzer we've seen so far in his two starts since returning from the injured list. The full version of Scherzer. The three-time Cy Young Award winning version. The obsessed competitor version. The "I'm much better than you are" version. But they also acknowledge they...

ST PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles have lost their last three games by five runs total. This afternoon they play a doubleheader at Tropicana Field against the Tampa Bay Rays to wrap up an eight-game trip. The trip started with a 1-1 split at Washington and was followed by the O's going 1-2 at Kansas City. Then they lost the series opener against Tampa Bay 5-4 in 10 innings on Monday. After Monday's game the Orioles are now: * 23-46 on the road* 10-70 when scoring four runs or less* 11-2 when...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - On Monday for the Orioles at Tropicana Field, there was a comeback by Baltimore from a 4-0 deficit, there was a starter going seven innings, there was some gas thrown late in the game by bullpen pitchers. But in the end there was an extra-innings loss as the Orioles fell 5-4 in 10 to Tampa Bay. There was also a clutch 13-pitch at-bat in the top of the sixth that was the longest this year by any Oriole. In the sixth, with the O's down a run and Mark Trumbo at second base,...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The visiting clubhouse at Tropicana Field is running low on available locker space. Roster expansion can shrink a room. It also can trigger some fans, depending on which players are kept out of it. The pitching staff is gaining more arms for the bullpen and perhaps the rotation with the arrivals of David Hess, Chandler Shepherd, Ty Blach and Evan Phillips. A third catcher always is desired, and Austin Wynns boarded a flight last night. Blach is starting the opener of...

Nationals right fielder Adam Eaton got hit by a pitch from Orioles starter Asher Wojciechowski last Wednesday and had to leave the game. Eaton's leg tightened up running from first to third in the bottom of the first. Eaton was available off and on a few times the past week as they worked on treatment for the back of his leg. He then took a couple games off and returned to start today against the Mets in a 7-3 loss. This time, Eaton lasted two innings before having to leave the game. Gerardo...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Mark Trumbo stood on the on-deck circle today in the top of the first inning, waiting for an opportunity that was a year in the making. A chance to bat again in a major league game. No longer a prisoner to the pain in his surgically repaired right knee. Just putting on the uniform and checking the lineup card felt like a win for Trumbo. Finding his name in it, grabbing a bat and walking past the indoor cage and onto the field was the greatest reward. The Orioles left two...

The Nationals hadn't been in this position in a while, trailing by a significant margin and unable to mount any kind of effective counterattack. They hadn't trailed any game by three or more runs since Aug. 17 (in which they actually rallied from five runs down to take the lead against the Brewers before losing in extra innings). They hadn't trailed by three or more runs and not come back to at least tie things up since Aug. 3, when the Diamondbacks torched Stephen Strasburg (and Gerardo...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles manager Brandon Hyde and Rays manager Kevin Cash aren't ready to list their starters for Tuesday's doubleheader at Tropicana Field. There's too much uncertainly to finalize pitching plans. Hyde knew he'd need a spot starter and Hurricane Dorian created a complication by forcing the teams to play a doubleheader in order for the Orioles to fly back home a day earlier. The bullpen obviously comes into play. Hyde is waiting to find out who's available after...

With the influx of talent and depth added yesterday for the September stretch drive, Nationals manager Davey Martinez continues to work on how he wants the roster to work down the stretch to maximize the club's ability to get into the post season in a good spot. It is important to give regular players some rest, but not at the expense of the quality of play on the field. "We talked yesterday at length about bringing a couple more guys up," Martinez said. "The season is still going down...