The Orioles go into today's doubleheader ranked fifth in the American League in defense with a .986 fielding percentage. Their 10 errors are tied for the fifth-fewest after they committed 104 last season for the seventh-highest total in the majors. The defense was in a steady decline over the past few summers, and anyone in charge was going to prioritize it. "I think you've seen it so far this year. I think it's kept us in a lot of games and we've had a lot of close games," said manager...

After a Friday night stop at one of his favorite restaurants - Ruth's Chris Steak House - Jonathan Schoop will take the field at Camden Yards today for the first time since he was traded by the Orioles to the Milwaukee Brewers last July 31. Since that day he went to the playoffs last fall with the Brewers and then signed as a free agent on Dec. 6 with Minnesota. He signed a one-year deal worth $7.5 million with incentives after a season when he hit .233/.266/.416 between the Orioles and...

The Orioles have chosen reliever Branden Kline to be their 26th man in Game 2 of today's doubleheader, the first of multiple roster moves that are pending. Kline is at the ballpark and will be recalled from Triple-A Norfolk after Game 1. Alex Cobb will be activated from the injured list and start Game 2, and the Orioles must create a spot for him by optioning a pitcher. They also need to get back down to 25 players following the nightcap, which could mean a brief stay for Kline or involve...

Orioles right-hander Alex Cobb (0-0, 3.18 ERA) will come off the injured list to make the start tonight in Game 2 of the doubleheader against the Twins. In his season debut, in the home opener on April 4, Cobb went 5 2/3 innings and gave up five hits and two runs against the New York Yankees. Cobb will be making his fifth career start against the Twins, having gone 2-1 with a 3.80 ERA in his first four starts. His last start against the Twins came on July 8, 2018 in Minnesota when he threw five...

MIAMI - Just because the Marlins don't have Giancarlo Stanton, J.T. Realmuto or Christian Yelich any more doesn't mean they still can't play some baseball and make an impact in the National League. The thought that the rest of the NL East is a dogfight and the Marlins are cupcakes may not quite be true, even with their brutal start. Right-hander Aníbal Sánchez, who took the loss Friday night to fall to 0-2, remembers playing for the Florida Marlins from 2006-2011 and says the club...

Chris Davis is back in the Orioles' lineup for Game 1 of today's doubleheader against the Twins. Davis was excluded for the three-game series against the Rays due to illness. He would have played last night except for the postponement. Cedric Mullins wasn't in the posted lineup last night, but he's now starting in center field and likely will sit for Game 2 with left-hander Martín Pérez on the mound. Jonathan Villar is starting at shortstop and Hanser Alberto at second base. Trey...

MIAMI - Right-hander Joe Ross arrived in a high-leverage situation out of the bullpen Friday night. He threw 96 mph and he threw strikes to get outs. Where have you been this whole season? The Nationals didn't use Ross for 10 days because maybe manager Davey Martinez was waiting for a long-man role for the youngster to materialize, or he wanted to get Trevor Rosenthal on track? But in Friday's 3-2 loss to the Marlins, Davey found out what Ross can do: a lot. Ross ended the Marlins' chances...

MIAMI - The Marlins were able to score two runs in the sixth to break open a tight pitcher's duel, and that was enough in the end, as the Nationals fell 3-2 in the road trip opener at Marlins Park. It was the last-place Marlins' first win in five games, and only their fifth in 20 games. Left-hander Caleb Smith was a little bit better than Nats right-hander Aníbal Sánchez, but it was close. Smith tossed six innings, allowing one run on five hits with no walks and eight strikeouts. Brian...

MIAMI - The Nationals used patience and aggressiveness to go after Marlins left-hander Caleb Smith early on. In Smith's 10-3 win over the Phillies in his last start, he surrendered one hit in six innings. The Nats connected on two base hits in their first at-bat Friday night at Marlins Park. Adam Eaton led off the game by bunting for a base hit on the first pitch from Smith. He went to second on a wild pitch and scored thanks to incredible patience from slugger Juan Soto. Down 1-2 in the...

The Orioles (8-12) and Minnesota Twins (9-7) were rained out at Camden Yards Friday night. Today they play a single-admission doubleheader at 4:05 p.m. to open what is now a two-day, three-game series. In today's opener, right-hander Dan Straily (1-1, 10.24 ERA) will make his fourth apperance and third start for his new team. Straily threw a strong game last Monday at Boston. Over five innings, he allowed two hits and one run, throwing 86 pitches, 51 for strikes. Straily does not throw that...