The slump that has enveloped center fielder Cedric Mullins for the first four weeks of the season finally pulled him off the Orioles' roster and down to the minors. Mullins was optioned today to Triple-A Norfolk and the Orioles selected the contract of utility player Stevie Wilkerson. Pitcher Josh Lucas was designated for assignment to open a spot on the 40-man roster. The range and speed that Mullins provides in center couldn't save him from a demotion. Mullins has collected only six hits in...

Nationals outfielder Victor Robles had a couple of plays that drove him into the center field wall on Saturday night at Marlins Park. In the sixth inning, on a sharp drive by Isaac Galloway, Robles collided with the wall and the ball bounced out of his glove for a double. One batter later, Robles made the catch on another screaming drive to deep center field off the bat of Curtis Granderson. But Robles crashed into the wall and went down in a daze. By the time he was able to gather himself, the...

It's a theme that fans around Birdland probably have to strongly consider this year: finding something positive and/or encouraging to take from a loss. There were two pitching performances that fit that definition during a weekend when the Orioles got swept by the Twins to fall to 8-15 overall and to 1-9 at home. They were Tanner Scott's dominant two innings on Saturday afternoon and Dylan Bundy's solid outing on Sunday. Scott has had some dominant outings among his now 60 career major...

Though he went hitless yesterday with a pair of strikeouts and a walk, Renato Núñez continues to lead the Orioles in RBIs with 16 and is one ahead of Dwight Smith Jr. Two players who weren't assured of making the club out of spring training, though Núñez being out of options improved his chances. Smith wasn't in the organization until a March 8 trade between the Orioles and Blue Jays. Former executive Dan Duquette claimed Núñez off waivers from the Rangers on May 13, 2018,...

MIAMI - Right-hander Stephen Strasburg lifted the Nationals past the Marlins 5-0 with a vintage performance, a much-needed salvage of the third game of their series at Marlins Park. Strasburg pitched a season-high eight shutout innings, striking out a season-high 11 batters. He now has 41 games in his career with 10 or more strikeouts. Plus, he added another page to the record books by reaching 1,260 1/3 innings pitched with the Nats, a new club record, passing left-hander Gio Gonzalez's...

Orioles right-hander Dylan Bundy became just the third O's starter to go six or more innings this season, but it didn't lead to a win today for the Orioles. Bundy allowed four runs (two earned) in six frames, but Minnesota beat the Orioles 4-3 to complete a three-game sweep. The Twins are 12-7 and the Orioles fall to 8-15, with five losses in their last six games and 10 in the last 13. Down 4-2, the Orioles scored once in the ninth on Jonathan Villar's RBI single to make it a one-run game....

Dylan Bundy was saddled with two unearned runs today in the top of the first inning, a unique spin on the Orioles' 2019 story. Home runs weren't included in the opening chapter. Baseballs that kept flying into the seats were more inclined to elude a glove. Bundy turned in a quality start by definition to close out the series against the Twins, with two earned runs allowed in six innings, but he never got a lead and the Orioles lost 4-3 to complete the sweep at Camden Yards before an announced...

MIAMI - Marlins shortstop Miguel Rojas' groundout to short in the bottom of the second inning lifted Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg to 1,253 2/3 innings pitched, making him the all-time leader in innings pitched with the organization (2005-present). Left-hander Gio Gonzalez held the mark at 1,253 1/3 frames for his work from 2012-2018. Strasburg also now has 211 career starts, two away from Gonzalez's team lead of 213. Strasburg allowed a two-out single to Brian Anderson in the...

MIAMI - Third baseman Anthony Rendon has the day off with a sore left elbow after getting hit by a pitch and leaving the game Saturday against the Marlins. The elbow was still in a small wrap as he got off the team bus for Sunday's series finale at Marlins Park. "He's pretty stiff today," said Nationals manager Davey Martinez. "He's got a little swelling still in the elbow, so we don't want to push it. We just want him to get right. "I figured he was going to be stiff today. I even told...

After allowing 11 homers in a doubleheader loss Saturday, the Orioles (8-14) host the Twins (11-7) in the series finale this afternoon. After posting wins by 6-5 and 16-7 scores yesterday, Minnesota has won eight in a row against the Orioles dating to last season. The Twins are 13-3 versus the Orioles since 2017. Dating to September 2014, Minnesota is 22-8 against Baltimore. In Saturday's doubleheader, the Orioles and Twins combined to hit 17 home runs. The Orioles hit three in each game while...