NEW YORK - If the season was two or three weeks old, perhaps Davey Martinez would construct his lineup based on trends instead of track records. But the season is only one week old, and so for now, the Nationals manager is going to put his faith in track records over trends. The trends suggest Victor Robles shouldn't be hitting ninth and Brian Dozier shouldn't be batting second. But with only six games of evidence to make decisions on, Martinez believes the right path right now is to stick...

NEW YORK - And we're back. It's been a very odd schedule to begin this season, with three days off already. But now the Nationals finally get into a consistent routine, with five consecutive game days beginning this afternoon at Citi Field. The Nats will look to make it three in a row and get over the .500 mark for the first time this season. They'll have Patrick Corbin on the mound to make his second start, each of them against the Mets. The new lefty was solid his debut Sunday afternoon, a...

Last night, Reno defeated Fresno 7-5 ,but shortstop Carter Kieboom and third baseman Jake Noll each contributed on their first Triple-A base hits. Kieboom connected on a double and Noll an RBI single. Juan Soto said he has known Noll for quite some time because they came up to the big leagues together. Noll was optioned to Fresno when the Nationals reinstated Howie Kendrick from the injured list Thursday morning. "I feel very happy for him because we played together in the minor leagues,"...

Orioles right-hander Dylan Bundy, looking to bounce back from a season in which he led the majors in homers allowed and tied for the major league lead with 16 losses, takes the mound for the second time in 2019 tonight. Once again, he faces the New York Yankees. A Yankees team that scored five runs in its recent three-game series versus Detroit, but has scored 23 runs in four games this year against the Orioles. A team that bashed four homers in Thursday's 8-4 win over the Orioles in...

NEW YORK - Some Saturday morning thoughts before the Nationals and Mets resume their weekend series at Citi Field ... * Davey Martinez opened the season with Victor Robles batting ninth because he liked the idea of using the rookie center fielder as a "second leadoff hitter," someone who could occasionally set the table for Adam Eaton and Trea Turner. Well, that plan may actually be working out too well so far. Robles has led off an inning eight times, and he's gone 5-for-8 with two doubles...

The Orioles have brought in a veteran starting pitcher that could end their use of an opener and ease the burden on their bullpen. Right-hander Dan Straily, 30, has signed a major league deal with the Orioles, who created room on the 25-man roster by designating Rule 5 pick Drew Jackson for assignment. The Orioles can attempt to trade Jackson or offer him back to the Dodgers if he clears waivers. The Phillies selected Jackson in the Rule 5 draft and dealt him to the Orioles for international...

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde will post his lineup later today for the second home game of the 2019 season. Eyes will do a quick scan. From the media that passes it along and fans wanting to know whether Chris Davis is in it. Where Davis is slotted no longer sparks the most criticism from fans and draws the majority of questions from the press. He's been hitting seventh. He's been removed twice for pinch-hitters Renato Núñez and Hanser Alberto, guys who aren't established in the majors...

Juan Soto did not get extra-base hits or up his RBI total Thursday in the Nationals' 4-0 win at Citi Field against Mets flame thrower Noah Syndergaard. But he did something that was still very important to the offense. Soto walked once and scored two runs, going 1-for-3. Soto's walk led off the second inning, one of the best examples this season of the Nats manufacturing a run to take an early lead. Ryan Zimmerman walked to push Soto to second base. A wild pitched from Syndergaard moved Soto...

Considering the Orioles only have had a few players hitting, had rotation issues in the opening series, had bullpen issues the last two days and have played all seven games versus the American League East, a 4-3 start doesn't sound real bad. Yes, that sentence was probably way too long. The O's rotation had an ERA of 8.38 in the opening series at New York. But in the four games since, it has allowed two earned runs over 20 innings for an 0.90 ERA. But the last two days, the Baltimore bullpen...

NEW YORK - Stephen Strasburg is a flamethrower. At least, that's the mental image most folks have when they first think of the Nationals right-hander. They remember the way Strasburg lit up the radar gun as a rookie in 2010, and even after returning from Tommy John surgery the following year. Ask the casual observer how hard Strasburg throws his fastball, and the answer probably falls in the 96-98 mph range. Except that's not who he is anymore. After maintaining his elite velocity through...