PHILADELPHIA - At a time when they can't afford to lose any more middle of the order hitters, the Nationals now find themselves without yet another middle of the order hitter. Juan Soto, still dealing with back spasms, is not in the Nationals' lineup for the third straight night. And if this continues much longer, the club may have to consider putting the young outfielder on the injured list like it already did with Anthony Rendon, Trea Turner and Ryan Zimmerman. "I'm hoping that after...

The Orioles, following a 1-5 road trip, return home tonight to begin a 10-day, nine-game homestand. They'll host Tampa Bay, Boston and the Los Angeles Angels each for three games. Tampa Bay (20-11) is leading the American League East by 2 ½ games over the New York Yankees. The Rays are 9-7 at home and 11-4 on the road, including a 4-2 mark on their current nine-game trip that ends with this series. Rays pitchers lead the American League with an ERA of 3.07 and have allowed two runs or less...

PHILADELPHIA - Paul Menhart was walking his Australian Shepherd Husky Mix, Gracie, at home in Richmond Hill, Ga., three days ago when Nationals assistant general manager Doug Harris called. Menhart and Harris have worked together for years as two key members of the organization's minor league operation, and they kid around with each other plenty. So when Harris explained why he was calling, Menhart at first thought this might be a joke. Menhart was supposed to fly to West Palm Beach the next...

Left-hander Richard Bleier is making significant progress down at extended spring training, with Orioles manager Brandon Hyde passing along an update before tonight's series opener against the Rays. Bleier is on the injured list retroactive to April 10 with left shoulder tendinitis, but he's been pitching in extended spring training games. "Bleier's throwing the ball good," Hyde said. "He's had a few appearances and he's come out healthy in all of them. He's on the rehab track right...

Orioles infielder Hanser Alberto keeps getting chances to start and keeps hitting. Or maybe he is starting because he's hitting. Either way he takes a plus .300 average into tonight's game. In 23 games and 79 plate appearances he is batting .329/.342/.382 with one double, one homer, 21 singles and seven RBIs. He doesn't quite have enough plate appearances for league leaders (he's 20 short) or his batting average would rank ninth in the AL. Alberto has said a few times that getting regular...

The Baltimore Orioles and PepsiCo today announced a partnership naming PepsiCo the official and exclusive soft drink, bottled water, bottled coffee, and energy drink of the Orioles. Beginning today, when the Orioles start a nine-game homestand, fans will enjoy a wide range of PepsiCo products, including Aquafina Water, Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Pepsi Zero, Sierra Mist, Mountain Dew, Diet Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper, Diet Dr. Pepper, Orange Crush, Schweppes Ginger Ale, Tropicana Lemonade, Tropicana Pink...

PHILADELPHIA - We're only five weeks into the season, but the Nationals already are making their second trip to Citizens Bank Park. In something of a scheduling quirk, they'll have faced the Phillies eight times before they ever see the Braves for the first time in 2019. This is also the start of an odd but difficult road trip that also features stops in Milwaukee and Los Angeles before the Nats come home. Suffice it to say, this is going to be a challenge. As you know, the Nationals are...

The Orioles are shaking up their lineup again tonight for the series opener against the Rays at Camden Yards, including Stevie Wilkerson playing center field while Joey Rickard heads to the bench. Rickard is batting .183/.269/.333 in 104 plate appearances and is 1-for-20 in his last six games. Trey Mancini is in right field, Hanser Alberto is at second base and Jonathan Villar slides over to shortstop. Pedro Severino is catching. Chris Davis moves back down to seventh in the order. Dan Straily...

The timing may have felt odd, given that it came minutes after a much-needed win that included a dominant start and effective relief with zero margin for error. And that it came after a little mini-run of five games that has seen improved pitching across the board, but especially from a bullpen that is attempting to stabilize itself after a disastrous opening month. But what became clear as Mike Rizzo and Davey Martinez spoke following Thursday night's 2-1 win over the Cardinals was that the...

The Nationals get ready for a three-game set against the first-place Phillies tonight at Citizens Bank Park, hoping one of their most important hitters can return to the lineup. Left fielder Juan Soto has been a late scratch each of the last two games against the Cardinals. After the Nats' 2-1 win Thursday night, manager Davey Martinez said the team sent Soto for an MRI to see what is going on with his back, worried that it might be an oblique injury. "We definitely wanted (to do further...