Orioles manager Brandon Hyde described pitcher Dan Straily this afternoon as someone on a mission. A veteran determined to reverse a string of short outings and limited production from the mound. "I know that he wants to prove that he's the guy we signed, where he was going to give us some innings and give us some major league starts," Hyde said. "Hoping it starts tonight." It did not. Straily walked two batters in the first inning without any real damage, but he surrendered two home runs...

NEW YORK - Davey Martinez got five outs from three relievers before deciding he couldn't take any more chances. He walked to the mound with two outs in the eighth, signaled for the only reliable arm he has in his bullpen and asked him to protect a one-run lead against the bottom of the Mets lineup. And Sean Doolittle couldn't do it. If the only member of the Nationals relief corps who has been remotely effective all season can't get the job done, what else can Martinez and Co. do? "I'm...

After losing by 10-7 and 11-4 the last two nights, the Orioles host the New York Yankees again tonight. It's the third contest of a four-game series. The outlook doesn't look too positive for the O's tonight. Right-hander Dan Straily (1-3, 8.51 ERA), who has been struggling, especially at home, goes against a Yankees team that enjoys mashing homers at Oriole Park. But that's why they play the games, so we're about to find out how this is going to go. Straily has been a big disappointment...

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said today that he expects new outfielder Keon Broxton to join the club in a day or two. "I think it's a little cloudy right now," he said. What's clear is Broxton, who's out of minor league options, will get an extended opportunity with the Orioles based on his tools and their needs. "He's a really athletic guy," Hyde said after the Orioles acquired Broxton from the Mets for international signing bonus slots. "I've seen him play quite a bit. His tools are...

NEW YORK - Matt Adams took batting practice at Citi Field on Tuesday, sending pitch after pitch into the bleachers. So when the Nationals had to decide today whether to send the big slugger (whose strained left shoulder has now healed) on a brief minor league rehab assignment or just activate him off the injured list now, they didn't hesitate to activate him and put him right in the heart of tonight's lineup against Mets ace Jacob deGrom. "He's ready," manager Davey Martinez said. "He...

The pending arrival of outfielder Keon Broxton might be only the tip of the Orioles roster iceberg. Executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias indicated today that he'd like to get Triple-A Norfolk outfielder DJ Stewart and catcher Chance Sisco to Baltimore relatively soon. It's a trickier maneuver with Stewart because he's a corner outfielder and the Orioles are playing Dwight Smith Jr. in left and Trey Mancini in right. First baseman Ryan Mountcastle and starter Keegan Akin...

While the Orioles are struggling at the major league level and have lost seven of eight and 17 of 22 games to fall to 15-33, the ball is rolling behind the scenes to continue to acquire young amateur talent, both on the domestic and international fronts. During a wide-ranging interview with reporters this afternoon, executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias updated the club's efforts. Not only do the Orioles have the top pick June 3 in the First-Year Player Draft, but a month...

The Washington Nationals reinstated first baseman Matt Adams from the 10-day Injured List and optioned infielder Adrián Sanchez to Double-A Harrisburg on Wednesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Adams, 30, returns to the active roster after missing 15 games with a left shoulder strain. Prior to being placed on the Injured List, he was hitting .250 with a .469 slugging percentage. He recorded five doubles, three home runs, 13...

NEW YORK - Last year, a matchup between Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom was must-see TV for the implications it had on the Cy Young Award race. This year, it's simply a game both the Nationals and Mets desperately need to win as a team, regardless of the men on the mound. Neither Scherzer nor deGrom is pitching at a Cy Young caliber right now, though you could argue Scherzer would be in the thick of the early race if not for the Nationals' defense and bullpen. (Hence the massive disparity...

Hanser Alberto is on a roll and facing the Yankees, who are starting left-hander CC Sabathia. There's no way he was going to sit out tonight's game. Alberto, who's starting at third base and leading off, is 8-for-15 in his last four games and 12-for-25 against the Yankees this season. He's slashing .442/.442/.628 against southpaws, with 19 hits in 43 at-bats. Joey Rickard is in left field to provide another right-handed bat. Pedro Severino is catching and batting fifth. Chris Davis is at...