The bunt is a big part of Victor Robles' game. He has seven bunt singles already this season, three more than any other player in the major leagues. The hit-by-pitch, unfortunately, also is a big part of Robles' game. He has been plunked eight times already this season, third-most in the majors. And sometimes these two truths are connected, with potentially frightening results. As was the case during the bottom of the fourth Saturday afternoon at Nationals Park. With runners on first and...

DENVER - Keon Broxton moves down to seventh in the order today as the Orioles close out their series against the Rockies and return home. Austin Wynns is catching. Renato Núñez remains at first base with Chris Davis on the bench. David Hess comes into Coors Field today leading the majors in home runs allowed with 17. Daniel Murphy and Mark Reynolds are 0-for-2 against them. They're the only Colorado batters to face him. The Orioles matched last year's season high with 17 hits last...

DENVER - The Orioles have brought reliever Evan Phillips to Coors Field this morning, setting up a bullpen move that manager Brandon Hyde hinted at yesterday. The club stuck with its current group in last night's 9-6 win over the Rockies, but Hyde said earlier that a change could come in the next day or two. Hyde used only two relievers last night, covering the last four innings with Miguel Castro and Josh Lucas. Lucas tossed three scoreless innings for his first major league save. Phillips...

We've wondered countless times this season if the Nationals might be able to build and then sustain some positive momentum. And inevitably the answer has been an emphatic no. So even though they've won two straight over the Marlins, it would be wholly irresponsible to start talking about any kind of positive momentum at this point. However, if the Nats can do today what they haven't been able to do all year - win three consecutive games - perhaps we can finally proclaim momentum to have been...

DENVER - The excessive bullpen usage by the Orioles in two months can be blamed on starters who don't get through the middle innings. On relievers who run up pitch counts and need to be bailed out. On game situations that prompt manager Brandon Hyde to pick up the phone. Hyde has indicated that he's going to be more inclined to lay off certain guys and not allow the score to dictate his moves. It's a long season. He's slipping into more of a protective mode, though he's always preached the...

Whenever an Orioles pitcher gives up a homer - and they've allowed the most in the majors this year - there is always a catcher on the other end waiting for a pitch that never gets to his mitt. The catcher can be just as frustrated as anyone that the pitch went out and Pedro Severino has been there, done that this year for the Orioles. "We all feel really bad because we don't want to miss (the location of) pitches," he told me recently. "This is the big leagues man, we are making mistakes...

In their neverending quest to improve the majors' worst bullpen, the Nationals have acquired another veteran with considerable experience. The Nationals signed right-hander George Kontos on Saturday to a minor league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Fresno's roster, where he'll attempt to earn his way into Washington's bullpen. Kontos, 33, owns a career 3.10 ERA and 1.154 WHIP in 350 big league games, the vast majority of those with the Giants. He bounced around three organizations...

DENVER - As the Orioles made the final out tonight in the top of the first inning and players jogged onto the field, the eight relievers vacated the dugout and began the long walk to the bullpen in center field. Outfielder Keon Broxton fist-bumped each one, a friendly gesture rather than the taking of relief inventory. A casual observer could be forgiven for thinking that players are checking on who's available to pitch. Who's running on fumes. Who could use an Uber. Pity the rookie toting...

DENVER - Gabriel Ynoa is getting another opportunity to start for the Orioles. Manager Brandon Hyde has chosen Ynoa to pitch Monday afternoon against the Tigers at Camden Yards, the spot that opened with Dan Straily's move to the bullpen. Ynoa hasn't started in the majors since Sept. 27, 2017 in Pittsburgh. He missed the 2018 season due to shin and shoulder injuries and has made nine relief appearances this year. Hyde isn't going with the hot hand. He just needs someone who's stretched out...

DENVER - While disappointed that he didn't produce as a starter, Orioles right-hander Dan Straily understands and approves of his move to the bullpen. However long it lasts. Manager Brandon Hyde announced yesterday that Straily would pitch in a relief, his availability beginning tonight, rather than make Monday afternoon's start against the Tigers at Camden Yards. Straily has posted a 9.09 ERA and 1.990 WHIP in nine games (eight starts) over 34 2/3 innings. He surrendered four home runs in...