BALTIMORE – The smile on Orlando Ribalta’s face was still there Wednesday afternoon, some 19 hours after he made his major league debut in the ninth inning of the Nationals’ 9-3 victory over the Orioles. It was far from a perfect debut; he retired only two of the five batters he faced and had to be pulled when his pitch count got too high. But the

Anthony Santander sheepishly made his confession yesterday, pleading ignorant but doing so with a big smile. Santander knew about setting the club record for home runs by a switch-hitter after belting his 36th the previous night against the Nationals. Outfielder Ken Singleton held it since 1979. “I was aware,” Santander said yesterday. “Just happy

BALTIMORE – The Nationals have not yet closed the gap with the Orioles that has existed for multiple seasons now. One of these teams is headed for its second straight October appearance. The other is spending the next seven weeks identifying which players will be part of a team attempting to win in 2025 and which players will not. But the gap is sh

Gunnar Henderson raised the bat above his head and looked toward right field as if calling his shot after making contact. This was his reaction to a blast that used to be more common in the first half. A power pose that he’d like to bring back more frequently. Henderson demolished a first-pitch four-seamer from DJ Herz in the opening inning, his 30

The Orioles and Nationals will meet for the fourth and final time this year tonight at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. After losing to the Nats 9-3 last night, the O's are 0-1 in this two-game series and 1-2 in the four-game season series. A win tonight will split this series and the four-game season set. The Orioles have not lost a season series to t

BALTIMORE – Davey Martinez gathered his entire coaching staff together on the Nationals’ off-day and told the group he had an announcement to make: Every one of them was being invited back for the 2025 season. Prior to Tuesday’s series opener against the Orioles, all of them – pitching coach Jim Hickey, hitting coach Darnell Coles, bench coach Migu

Much of today’s pregame talk with the Orioles centered on their bullpen and the gains made by injured relievers. Jacob Webb said he’s experiencing improvement in his right elbow and is encouraged with his progress since his placement on the 15-day injured list with inflammation. Webb will begin playing catch this weekend. “I’m feeling good,” he sai

BALTIMORE – Like most Maryland kids, James Wood grew up going to Orioles games at Camden Yards. And like most Maryland kids, he also grew up picking steamed blue crabs. On Tuesday night, the Olney, Md., native got to relive both childhood memories in the Nationals’ 9-3 rout of the Orioles in Baltimore. “It was definitely cool coming to Baltimore be

Austin Slater is leading off and playing left field tonight and Coby Mayo is at third base against a left-handed opposing starter. Eloy Jiménez is the designated hitter. Colton Cowser is in center field. Jackson Holliday stays at second base and is batting ninth. Dean Kremer has made two career starts against the Nationals and is 2-0 with a 2.31 ER

BALTIMORE – The Nationals have not exactly enjoyed much success against the Orioles in recent years. They entered 2024 having lost 10 of their last 11 to Baltimore, having scored a grand total of one run in four head-to-head games last season. Well, the narrative appears to have flipped at last. The two teams split the series in D.C. back in May. A