Orioles infielder Hanser Alberto keeps getting chances to start and keeps hitting. Or maybe he is starting because he's hitting. Either way he takes a plus .300 average into tonight's game. In 23 games and 79 plate appearances he is batting .329/.342/.382 with one double, one homer, 21 singles and seven RBIs. He doesn't quite have enough plate appearances for league leaders (he's 20 short) or his batting average would rank ninth in the AL. Alberto has said a few times that getting regular...

The Baltimore Orioles and PepsiCo today announced a partnership naming PepsiCo the official and exclusive soft drink, bottled water, bottled coffee, and energy drink of the Orioles. Beginning today, when the Orioles start a nine-game homestand, fans will enjoy a wide range of PepsiCo products, including Aquafina Water, Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Pepsi Zero, Sierra Mist, Mountain Dew, Diet Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper, Diet Dr. Pepper, Orange Crush, Schweppes Ginger Ale, Tropicana Lemonade, Tropicana Pink...

PHILADELPHIA - We're only five weeks into the season, but the Nationals already are making their second trip to Citizens Bank Park. In something of a scheduling quirk, they'll have faced the Phillies eight times before they ever see the Braves for the first time in 2019. This is also the start of an odd but difficult road trip that also features stops in Milwaukee and Los Angeles before the Nats come home. Suffice it to say, this is going to be a challenge. As you know, the Nationals are...

The Orioles are shaking up their lineup again tonight for the series opener against the Rays at Camden Yards, including Stevie Wilkerson playing center field while Joey Rickard heads to the bench. Rickard is batting .183/.269/.333 in 104 plate appearances and is 1-for-20 in his last six games. Trey Mancini is in right field, Hanser Alberto is at second base and Jonathan Villar slides over to shortstop. Pedro Severino is catching. Chris Davis moves back down to seventh in the order. Dan Straily...

The timing may have felt odd, given that it came minutes after a much-needed win that included a dominant start and effective relief with zero margin for error. And that it came after a little mini-run of five games that has seen improved pitching across the board, but especially from a bullpen that is attempting to stabilize itself after a disastrous opening month. But what became clear as Mike Rizzo and Davey Martinez spoke following Thursday night's 2-1 win over the Cardinals was that the...

The Nationals get ready for a three-game set against the first-place Phillies tonight at Citizens Bank Park, hoping one of their most important hitters can return to the lineup. Left fielder Juan Soto has been a late scratch each of the last two games against the Cardinals. After the Nats' 2-1 win Thursday night, manager Davey Martinez said the team sent Soto for an MRI to see what is going on with his back, worried that it might be an oblique injury. "We definitely wanted (to do further...

Seven starts into the 2019 season, Stephen Strasburg has been the most consistent starter for the Nationals. His last three outings have been exceptional, allowing only three runs in 21 2/3 innings. Strasburg put together another gem Thursday night against the Cardinals, winning 2-1 after both teams waited through a rain delay lasting 2 hours, 32 minutes. He struck out nine to reach 29 punchouts in his last three starts. The right-hander has struck out nine or more batters in four starts this...

It has been a theme that has plagued the Nationals since the beginning of the season. With the bullpen underperforming and getting off to a rough start, the club searched for answers. Then when the starting pitching wasn't getting the results that were expected from what was considered a strength, it felt like something had to give. On Thursday night, the Nationals avoided the sweep over Cardinals 2-1 behind another consistent performance from Stephen Strasburg. But after the game, general...

I'm not sure how it is going to happen, but the Orioles need to make it happen. They need to start getting more innings from their starting pitchers. The sooner the better. In 32 games during an 11-21 start, the Orioles' starting pitchers have thrown six innings or more just four times and have made only four quality starts. The starters' ERA is 5.54 and they have gone 5 1/3 or fewer innings 26 times, including in each of the last seven games. It was not a good road trip for getting deep...

The Washington Nationals relieved pitching coach Derek Lilliquist of his duties and named Paul Menhart pitching coach on Thursday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Menhart joins the Major League club after serving as the organization's Minor League pitching coordinator since 2015. The 2019 season marks his 14th season in the Nationals organization. Menhart progressed through Washington's Minor League system beginning in 2006....