David Hess didn't flirt with a no-hitter today. It was gone by the second inning, along with a scoreless tie and any hope that the Yankees might ease up on the power surge. Might stop trying to take out a few of the seats or the batter's eye. Gleyber Torres, Clint Frazier and Gary Sánchez homered in the first three innings to create a four-run lead while the Orioles continued to wait for their first baserunner. And then their first hit. It was Domingo Germán's turn to chase history. It...

NEW YORK - Desperate for bullpen help only a week and a half into the season, the Nationals have promoted one of their standby starters from the minors to take over a relief role. Joe Ross, who was supposed to open the season in the rotation at Triple-A Fresno, was recalled today, with infielder Adrián Sanchez optioned to Double-A Harrisburg to clear a roster spot. Ross, who had been scheduled to make his first start of the season Monday, instead took a red-eye flight from Fresno to New York...

Orioles left-hander John Means has been chosen to start Tuesday night's game against the Athletics at Camden Yards, with manager Brandon Hyde providing a little more clarity today to his pitching plans. The TBD has been scratched. Andrew Cashner starts Monday's series opener, with Alex Cobb going Wednesday and Dylan Bundy Thursday. Means is replacing Nate Karns, who's working exclusively out of the bullpen now rather than continuing in the opener role. Dan Straily, signed on Friday to a...

The Washington Nationals recalled right-handed pitcher Joe Ross from Triple-A Fresno and optioned infielder Adrián Sanchez to Double-A Harrisburg on Sunday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Ross, 25, is called upon for his first Major League assignment of 2019. He was optioned to Triple-A Fresno on March 23, but did not appear in a game prior to his recall. Ross went 1-0 with a 4.02 ERA in seven Spring Training outings, two of...

After dropping games by scores of 8-4 and 6-4 to start this series, the Orioles host the New York Yankees today to wrap up this three-game series at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Both clubs are 4-4 and tied for second in the American League East, 1 1/2 games behind the 6-3 Tampa Bay Rays. Toronto is in fourth at 3-7 and defending World Series champion Boston is last at 2-8, which matches its worst 10-game start ever. After throwing 6 1/3 no-hit innings in his 2019 season starting debut at...

NEW YORK - For all the trouble they've been through already this young season, the Nationals still have an opportunity to win a weekend series against the Mets today and get back to the .500 mark heading into a three-game series at Philadelphia. And they have Max Scherzer on the mound in an attempt to do it. Scherzer is already making his third start of the season in only the team's eighth game, a byproduct of all the off-days the Nats have had. He's on normal rest, but he'll get an extra...

David Hess returns to the mound this afternoon to close out the series against the Yankees after tossing 6 1/3 hitless innings in Toronto. Hess pitched on opening day at Yankee Stadium and turned in two scoreless innings in relief. Miguel Andújar is 3-for-3 against Hess lifetime, but he's on the injured list. Domingo Germán held the Tigers to an unearned run and one hit Monday and struck out seven batters in five innings, but he also walked five. He's faced the Orioles twice in relief...

With the news that Joe Ross will arrive today from Fresno to help the Nationals pitching staff, here's a look back at my talk post game with him after a spring start against the N.Y. Mets in Port St. Lucie, Fla. He had two spring starts against the Mets. He was scheduled to start Monday for the Triple-A Grizzlies but will now help the big club. Ross went 1-0 with a 4.02 ERA in seven games in spring training. Fresno beat Reno 8-4 Saturday, thanks to a grand slam by center fielder Matt Reynolds,...

Trey Mancini homered again and for the second time in two games in the series against New York, the Orioles got the lead. But they gave up more homers last night and lost to the Yankees 6-4 at Camden Yards. The Orioles led 4-1 in the sixth on Thursday but allowed the game's last seven runs to lose 8-4. They scratched out two big runs in the seventh last night to lead 4-3 but lost 6-4. Clint Frazier's three-run homer in the eighth off Miguel Castro's hanging slider put New York over the...

The Orioles tried to keep two Rule 5 pitchers in their bullpen last season and also carry outfielder Anthony Santander, who couldn't shed his status for 44 days. They tried to keep two Rule 5 infielders this year and also carry reliever Pedro Araujo, who needed 17 days in the majors before he could be optioned. One of baseball's conditioning drills should include lifting such a heavy burden. Nestor Cortes Jr. didn't make it past April last year. Araujo was designated for assignment this...