Stevie Wilkerson hasn't batted in the leadoff spot in the majors until tonight. However, he isn't a novice. Wilkerson has been perched atop the order at Clemson University and in the minors. "I've hit almost everywhere one through nine at some point in my career," he said. "I do have some experience hitting leadoff." It won't change his approach - a question that's always asked when someone rises to the top. "Not really," he said. "A lot of it is still dictated by the situation in...

So far, 28-year-old right-hander Shawn Armstrong is turning out to be a nice addition for the Orioles, one which came via a waiver claim. He retired all four Yankees he faced last night with two strikeouts on 16 pitches. In seven games with the Orioles since they claimed him April 28 from Seattle, Armstrong is 0-0 with a 1.08 ERA and .111 batting average against. Over 8 1/3 innings he has allowed three hits and one run with three walks and 10 strikeouts. "I think the key has been just trying...

NEW YORK - The Nationals have touted Erick Fedde as a potential long-term piece of their rotation since the day they used a first round pick on him in 2014. The right-hander will get his latest opportunity to prove he's ready for that responsibility tonight when he takes the mound at Citi Field. Pressed into starting duties after Aníbal Sánchez landed on the injured list with a strained hamstring, Fedde makes his first big league start of 2019, the 15th of his career. He has pitched well...

NEW YORK - Just as their lineup is returning to health, the Nationals rotation is losing pitchers to injury. Jeremy Hellickson became the latest Nats starter to land on the 10-day injured list this afternoon, sidelined with a strained right shoulder in a transaction that opens up a roster spot for newly acquired reliever Javy Guerra. Hellickson had not previously revealed any arm trouble to reporters, but the veteran right-hander said today he has been dealing with minor discomfort for several...

The Orioles are switching leadoff hitters again tonight, with Stevie Wilkerson getting the call for the first time. Rio Ruiz is batting cleanup and Hanser Alberto has moved down to eighth after collecting a career-high four hits last night while atop the order. Jonathan Villar is playing shortstop and batting fifth. Chris Davis returns to first base after sitting out last night's 10-7 loss. Austin Wynns is catching. Alberto is 10-for-22 (.455) in seven games against the Yankees this season and...

MASN's Gary Thorne is about to begin training the next generation of baseball play-by-play announcers. Thorne, who is in his 13th year of calling Orioles games on MASN, will this week begin teaching a play-by-play course as a visiting professor at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. The one-of-a-kind course runs from today through July 20 and will be open to a select group of sports journalism majors at the Cronkite School. "Gary Thorne...

MASN lead play-by-play announcer Gary Thorne, in his 13th year calling Baltimore Orioles games for the regional sports network, will teach a play-by-play course this summer as a visiting professor at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. Thorne will teach the one-of-a-kind course remotely from May 20 through July 8 to a select group of sports journalism majors at the Cronkite School. Some of the students will be in Massachusetts announcing...

There could always be a surprise and the Orioles are not going to tip their hand, but for now all signs continue to point to the club taking Oregon State catcher Adley Rutschman with the first pick in the First-Year Player Draft on June 3. Good luck finding a mock draft that doesn't have the Orioles making the switch-hitting junior the No. 1 selection. He's having a sensational season. MLBPipeline.com analyst Jonathan Mayo was a guest recently on "O's Xtra" on MASN and said that he feels...

NEW YORK - More on some little things that may have been lost in the shuffle during Monday night's 5-3 loss to the Mets, plus the latest ruckus between Adam Eaton and Todd Frazier: * It wasn't the difference in the game, but the insurance run the Mets scored in the bottom of the eighth was plenty significant. And it came about in large part because of the Nationals' inability to do some little things right. Trying to keep their deficit at one run, Joe Ross struck out Frazier but then walked...

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde can envision how he'd like to line up his bullpen, though some of the names could change. How he'd want an innings-eater or two in long relief, a couple of left-handers and sturdy bridges to closer Mychal Givens, who in an ideal setting would be saved for the last inning. The games and certain individuals won't allow it to come to fruition. Gabriel Ynoa allowed one run in his first 11 1/3 innings after the Orioles selected his contract, I wrote about him and now...