The latest failed start from Orioles right-hander David Hess last night raised more questions about his stay in the rotation. As in, how much longer? It's the same with Dan Straily, who's carrying an 8.51 ERA and 1.891 WHIP into tonight's start against the Yankees. And therein lies the problem. The Orioles don't have an abundance of choices and Hess isn't riding alone on the struggle bus. The bullpen doesn't offer a worthy candidate short of going back to an opener. Gabriel Ynoa made...

NEW YORK - A hanging curveball to a guy who crushes curveballs. A towering drive over the foul pole ruled a home run after an inconclusive review. Two key insurance runs stranded in scoring position. And a two-hopper to short that could've sent the game into extra innings but instead sent the Mets into celebration and the Nationals into yet another demoralized dugout following yet another loss by the slimmest of margins. Flip any one of those critical moments in the final three innings of...

The 2019 season was off to a good start for Orioles right-hander David Hess. Two scoreless in relief on opening day followed by 6 1/3 no-hit innings in Toronto. But since then it's been mostly a series of shaky pitching marked by opponent home runs. That trend continued tonight at Camden Yards. A night after their 10-7 come-from-behind win over the Orioles, the Yankees were swinging big again. Hess allowed nine runs as New York beat the O's 11-4 to take the first two games of this four-game...

The Orioles waited for it. The bounce back that has come within a day or two. The displays of resiliency and pride and the short memories that allow them to march forward after an ugly loss. They did it after a 15-3 thrashing by the Yankees, defeating the Athletics 12-4 in the next game. David Price and two relievers shut them out in Boston and they gain a series split with an 8-1 win. They lose 12-2 to the White Sox and win the next two. The Rays' Tyler Glasnow shoves, bringing another...

NEW YORK - Javy Guerra was hanging out in Toronto with his 2-year-old son Monday afternoon when he got a call from a Blue Jays official, informing the veteran reliever he had just been claimed off waivers by the Nationals. "Just hanging out," he said. "And before you know it, you find out that you have to get down here and be ready to play tomorrow." Guerra, now pitching for his sixth franchise in nine years, has learned how to deal with the uncertainty of this profession. "You just kind...

The Orioles offense produced seven runs and 13 hits last night, including eight for extra bases. But tonight, as they try to bounce back from Monday's blown lead and 10-7 loss, they face one of the best pitchers in baseball this year. The O's face right-hander Domingo Germán (8-1, 2.50 ERA). He is the major league leader in wins. He is fifth in the AL in ERA, second in the AL and fourth in the majors with a .175 batting average against and ranks fourth in the league and eighth in the...

Stevie Wilkerson hasn't batted in the leadoff spot in the majors until tonight. However, he isn't a novice. Wilkerson has been perched atop the order at Clemson University and in the minors. "I've hit almost everywhere one through nine at some point in my career," he said. "I do have some experience hitting leadoff." It won't change his approach - a question that's always asked when someone rises to the top. "Not really," he said. "A lot of it is still dictated by the situation in...

So far, 28-year-old right-hander Shawn Armstrong is turning out to be a nice addition for the Orioles, one which came via a waiver claim. He retired all four Yankees he faced last night with two strikeouts on 16 pitches. In seven games with the Orioles since they claimed him April 28 from Seattle, Armstrong is 0-0 with a 1.08 ERA and .111 batting average against. Over 8 1/3 innings he has allowed three hits and one run with three walks and 10 strikeouts. "I think the key has been just trying...

NEW YORK - The Nationals have touted Erick Fedde as a potential long-term piece of their rotation since the day they used a first round pick on him in 2014. The right-hander will get his latest opportunity to prove he's ready for that responsibility tonight when he takes the mound at Citi Field. Pressed into starting duties after Aníbal Sánchez landed on the injured list with a strained hamstring, Fedde makes his first big league start of 2019, the 15th of his career. He has pitched well...

NEW YORK - Just as their lineup is returning to health, the Nationals rotation is losing pitchers to injury. Jeremy Hellickson became the latest Nats starter to land on the 10-day injured list this afternoon, sidelined with a strained right shoulder in a transaction that opens up a roster spot for newly acquired reliever Javy Guerra. Hellickson had not previously revealed any arm trouble to reporters, but the veteran right-hander said today he has been dealing with minor discomfort for several...