Davey Martinez wasn't pleased at all with the Nationals' play Friday night. Yes, they beat the Marlins, but they did so in spite of themselves, booting balls in the field and burning up their bullpen on a night when their lineup scored 12 runs. Martinez wanted better play from his team. And he got it this afternoon in one of its best all-around showings of the year. Behind a four-hit shutout from Patrick Corbin, a five-run rally in the bottom of the fourth and - most importantly - some...

With a record of 15-36 and without a win in eight days, the Orioles take the field tonight at Coors Field against Colorado. They are out to snap a seven-game losing streak following Friday's 8-6 walk-off loss. O's pitchers allowed four homers Friday - two each to Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story - and they lead the majors with 111 through 51 games. Seattle ranks second in the majors with 92 allowed. Baltimore has a home ERA of 6.43, yielding 2.56 homers per game at Oriole Park. Their road ERA...

The Nationals haven't decided yet who will start Wednesday's game in Atlanta, with Aníbal Sánchez still on the injured list and Kyle McGowin having struggled in his place Friday night. Sánchez, on the 10-day IL with a strained hamstring, threw a 41-pitch simulated game Friday and was encouraged by the way he felt. Manager Davey Martinez said he'll throw a side session in the bullpen Sunday, and that would normally line him up to start three days later. But Martinez said Friday he...

DENVER - Renato Núñez is carrying a hot bat into the cleanup spot for tonight's game against the Rockies at Coors Field. Núñez has homered in three consecutive games and four of the last five. He's collected six hits in 15 at-bats since May 19 and he's starting at first base tonight. Keon Broxton stays in center field after homering last night on the first pitch thrown to him and later reaching on an infield hit. Hanser Alberto is leading off. Stevie Wilkerson is in left field...

The Nationals converted Joe Ross into a reliever earlier this season, hoping the career change might both reinvigorate the erratic right-hander and help address the big league club's biggest need. Two months later, the Nats are shipping Ross back to the minors and appear to be converting him back into a starter. Ross was optioned to Triple-A Fresno this morning, his ERA (9.22) and WHIP (1.829) too high to warrant continued opportunities out of the major league bullpen. The Nationals promoted...

The Washington Nationals recalled right-handed pitcher James Bourque from Double-A Harrisburg and optioned right-handed pitcher Joe Ross to Triple-A Fresno on Saturday. Additionally, the Nationals recalled from rehab assignment and optioned outfielder Andrew Stevenson to Triple-A Fresno. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements. Bourque, 25, went 3-0 with six saves and a 1.33 ERA (3 ER/20.1 IP) in 14 appearances out of Harrisburg's...

Nobody would try to claim the Nationals solved all of their woes last night during a wild 12-10 victory over the Marlins. As Davey Martinez disgruntledly explained afterward, his team still played sloppy in the field and got plenty of shaky work out of its bullpen. So the season is hardly saved. But a win's a win, and the Nationals certainly need all they can get right now. Plus, there are some legitimately encouraging signs. Juan Soto is on a tear, going 15-for-30 with eight extra-base hits....

It has been a little over two weeks since my trek to Salisbury, Md. and Perdue Stadium to see up close how the Orioles' Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds affiliate had gotten off to a remarkable 24-4 start. The Shorebirds were playing at a .857 winning percentage through 28 games and they were obviously going to cool off some. But it hasn't been much. After last night's 12-2 home win over Lakewood, the Shorebirds are 36-10 (.783). That is still easily the best-record in all of minor league full...

DENVER - Chris Davis' name was missing from the Orioles lineup in last night's series opener against the Rockies and his removal versus a right-handed starter, in this case Jeff Hoffman, serves as a sharp indicator that another reset is underway. Davis also expects to sit tonight with the Rockies sending left-hander Kyle Freeland to the mound. But he won't be idle, his work continuing with hitting coach Don Long as they try to find a solution. Manager Brandon Hyde put Trey Mancini at first...

In a back-and-forth game there for the taking, the Nationals needed their big hitters to come through in clutch moments and help break a season-long five-game losing streak. The Nats came back three times Friday night to find a way to win 12-10 over the Marlins thanks in large part to their big hitters. Adam Eaton and Anthony Rendon hit homers to help the Nats come back from early 2-0 and 4-2 deficits. Down 8-4, the Nats chipped away with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Then Victor...