OAKLAND - The latest new member in the Orioles bullpen, left-hander Sean Gilmartin, joined the team today. He's thrown well at Triple-A Norfolk with a 2.48 ERA and a 9 1/3 consecutive innings scoreless run. "It's nice to have somebody with experience here," manager Brandon Hyde said of the 29-year-old Gilmartin, who has pitched in 78 career games with the Mets and Orioles. "Sean has thrown the ball really well in Norfolk. The way our games have played out, we just need someone to cover...

OAKLAND - After being a minor league free agent for about a day over the offseason, left-hander Sean Gilmartin quickly re-signed with the Orioles on a minor league contract on Nov 2. He was outrighted off the 40-man roster and briefly elected to take minor league free agency. "That's a good question," Gilmartin said in the visitor clubhouse today when asked why his free agency was so short. "Obviously, the opportunity here would be better than most places to get back to the big leagues and...

The Nationals have agreed to terms with 2019 first-round draft pick right-handed pitcher Jackson Rutledge out of San Jacinto North junior college. The 6-foot-8, 250-pound, starter finished his sophomore season at San Jacinto with a 9-2 record and a 0.87 ERA. He struck out 134, walked 30 and had four complete games in 13 starts, and pitched 82 2/3 innings total. He surrendered one homer the whole season. Monday was his first visit to D.C., and he agreed to become a Washington National,...

Though he didn't feel great, Kurt Suzuki wasn't particularly worried Sunday afternoon after a bounced pitch struck him in the neck. You don't spend two decades as a catcher without getting banged up in every conceivable manner, and sure enough Suzuki had experienced this particular situation before and knew it wasn't as serious as everyone else inside Nationals Park assumed it was. "I just knew what was possibly coming, that's all," he said. What was possibly coming was what did come...

Chance Sisco is catching tonight and Pedro Severino will serve as the designated hitter. Andrew Cashner is working on eight days' rest due to an off-day and blister on his right middle finger. Cashner faced the Athletics on April 8 in Baltimore and allowed three earned runs (four total) and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings in a 12-4 win. Josh Phegley and Mark Canha hit home runs. Tonight marks Cashner's eighth career appearance and seventh start against the A's. He's 2-1 with a 6.53 ERA and 1.648...

The Orioles have selected the contract of left-hander Sean Gilmartin from Triple-A Norfolk this afternoon and placed him in their bullpen for tonight's series opener against the Athletics in Oakland. With a full 40-man roster, the Orioles also designated outfielder Joey Rickard for assignment to create room for Gilmartin. In 17 games with Norfolk, Gilmartin registered a 2.48 ERA and 1.10 WHIP over 36 1/3 innings to position himself as an alternative for a team that's routinely making changes...

OAKLAND - The All-Star break has arrived in the Single-A Carolina League, and tomorrow night the Orioles' Frederick Keys affiliate will host the All-Star game at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium. Frederick previously hosted All-Star games in 1991 and 2005. In that most recent game, the Orioles' Nick Markakis not only won the pregame Home Run Derby, but hit two homers in the game to lead the Carolina League past the California League. The All-Star Classic, presented by Visit Frederick, will...

The last time the Phillies were in D.C., the story was all Bryce Harper all the time. Harper's first series at Nationals Park as a visiting player was a major event, and the negative reception he got from Nats fans made for quite a scene. Now as Harper returns for the second of three trips to Washington this season, the focus seemingly has shifted away from the slugger and toward these two teams as a whole. This is a big series, no matter Harper's presence. Fans may continue to boo him, but...

Trey Mancini has held firm in the 17th spot among American League outfielders after the latest round of voting for the All-Star Game. Mancini is the only Orioles player appearing among the leaders at any position. First baseman Chris Davis has disappeared after ranking 10th last week. As the Orioles begin a three-game series in Oakland tonight, Mancini is batting .310/.365/.571 with 18 doubles, two triples, 16 home runs, 35 RBIs and 23 walks in 296 plate appearances. He's 10-for-24 during a...

This is the most important week of the Nationals' season to date. It's impossible not to acknowledge that, even within a clubhouse on South Capitol Street that typically tries to avoid looking at the big picture. "We've got to win those games," right fielder Adam Eaton said of the seven upcoming games against the Phillies and Braves. "It's important. We're trying to chase at this point. Not to put too much emphasis on it, but we need to play some really competitive baseball." The...