FREDERICK, Md. - Potomac Nationals right fielder Nick Banks arrived at the high Single-A All-Star break on a hot streak. Nothing has changed after the Carolina League All-Star Classic. Banks hit a three-run opposite-field home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the Northern Division All-Stars to a dramatic, come-from-behind 8-7 win over the Southern All-Stars at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove stadium. The right fielder connected on a first-pitch 80 mph slider off Myrtle Beach...

Hey, let's give this another try, shall we? After waiting out Monday night's rain only to postpone the game, then after waiting out Tuesday night's rain only to postpone the game, the Nationals and Phillies are theoretically going to play a day-night doubleheader today. I say theoretically, because today's forecast is even worse, and it's going to be this way all day and all night. But they have to at least give it a shot, so first pitch of Game 1 is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. Patrick Corbin...

FREDERICK, Md. - When you are good enough to play elite Division I collegiate baseball in the Southeastern Conference, there is always a chance your paths will cross in the professional ranks. That is the case for a pair of minor league players on the Nationals' farm, Cole Freeman and Nick Banks. The duo got the opportunity to play against each other as opponents in college, in the SEC. Now they are teammates in for the high Single-A Potomac Nationals. Tuesday night in Frederick, Md., the pair...

OAKLAND - Barring something unforeseen, the Orioles will use an opener tomorrow, and they intend to send right-hander Jimmy Yacabonis to the mound to start the Wednesday afternoon series finale in Oakland. Yacabonis had an impressive two-inning scoreless outing in last night's game, when he walked two and fanned three pitching the seventh and eighth innings of Oakland's 3-2 win. He pitched 1/3 of an inning on Sunday, throwing nine pitches. So starting tomorrow would have him on the mound...

Max Scherzer suffered a broken nose earlier today on an errant bunt attempt during batting practice, and his status for Wednesday's scheduled start against the Phillies is to be determined, the Nationals announced this evening. Scherzer was taking BP on the field this afternoon when he bunted a ball that caromed up and struck him in the face. The right-hander returned to the clubhouse alongside director of athletic training Paul Lessard, with blood visible around his nose, and retreated to the...

With less than a week remaining until the start of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League season, the Orioles are in the process of naming a new pitching coach after removing Wilson Alvarez. I've heard that Wilson was let go Thursday after six seasons with the GCL team. Minor league pitching coordinator Chris Holt is in Sarasota as the temporary replacement for Alvarez until the new hire is announced. Former Orioles pitcher and bullpen coach Alan Mills is beginning his first season as manager at...

The Orioles will try to break a six-game losing streak tonight with Hanser Alberto serving as the designated hitter and Renato Núñez playing first base while the Athletics start left-hander Brett Anderson. Rio Ruiz is playing third base. Pedro Severino is catching. Alberto leads the majors with a .432 average against left-handers. Severino has posted a .340 average. Gabriel Ynoa has allowed three earned runs or fewer in his four starts, though he's exceeded five innings only once. He's...

The Nationals aren't announcing their pitching plan for Wednesday's doubleheader just yet, for multiple reasons. Including the suddenly unknown status of their ace after he bunted a ball off his face today. Max Scherzer, presumed to be starting one of the games of the day-night doubleheader against the Phillies, was taking batting practice on the field this afternoon when he bunted a ball that then struck his face. The right-hander returned to the clubhouse alongside director of athletic...

OAKLAND - The Orioles started a losing streak on the East Coast and it continued on the West Coast with Monday's 3-2 loss at Oakland. The Orioles were held to just three hits as they lost their sixth in a row. The Orioles (21-51) now have seven losing streaks of at least four games. They have five of four games, one of seven and the current run of six. A loss tonight would tie the season-high loss streak of seven in a row from May 18-24. With the win, Oakland (37-36) moved a game over the .500...

FREDERICK, Md. - The Single-A Potomac Nationals have four players on the active roster for the Northern Division All-Stars in tonight's Carolina League All-Star Classic. P-Nats second baseman Cole Freeman, a fourth-round selection from 2017 out of LSU, is thrilled to be selected for tonight's contest. He is starting at second base and batting seventh in the lineup. "It's a massive honor," Freeman said. "When you break spring training, this is one of the goals as a player you have....