The Orioles will use an opener in right-hander Nate Karns when they face the New York Yankees today in the second game of the 2019 season. On opening day on Thursday, Luke Voit hit a three-run homer in the first inning and the Yankees went on to win, 7-2. The Orioles signed the 31-year-old Karns to a major league contract on Feb. 7. Karns missed all last season and has not pitched in a major league game since May 19, 2017, for Kansas City. Later that season he had thoracic outlet surgery. Last...

If Thursday's season opener was an indication of things to come, Trea Turner is going to run a lot this season. If the Nationals did their scouting, Turner shouldn't be the only one running a lot today against Noah Syndergaard. A perfect convergence of natural speed, organizational philosophy and matchups comes together this afternoon when the Nats face the Mets and their No. 2 starter. Syndergaard, for all his talents as a pitcher, is one of the majors' worst at stopping the running game....

NEW YORK - Alex Cobb has rejoined the Orioles following yesterday's start at Twin Lakes Park, which sealed his availability to take the mound for Thursday afternoon's home opener against the Yankees. Cobb threw five innings against Twins minor leaguers and didn't experience any discomfort in his groin. He can come off the 10-day injured list and face the Yankees. "Felt great, no issue at all with the groin," he said. "I haven't really confirmed it with anybody, but I would imagine I'm...

NEW YORK - Chris Davis is out of the Orioles lineup today against Yankees left-hander James Paxton. Trey Mancini is playing first base and Renato Núñez is the designated hitter. Davis struck out in all three at-bats on opening day and Núñez pinch-hit for him in the ninth inning. Dwight Smith Jr. is in left field again and Joey Rickard is in right. Drew Jackson is the center fielder instead of Cedric Mullins. Jonathan Villar is leading off. For the Orioles Jonathan Villar 2B Dwight...

The Nationals look to get their offense going in game two of the 2019 season, but it will not be easy. That is because the opponent today is the Mets and their starter, Noah Syndergaard. The Nats are excited about seeing right-hander Stephen Strasburg make his season debut after a strong spring training. Strasburg made it through spring training with no health issues and appeared to get stronger with each start. He also had a positive demeanor and no setbacks, which would seem to project for a...

NEW YORK - Who's ready for opener day? The Orioles are breaking out a bullpen game, as it used to be called, in the first week of the season. Three days into it. Nate Karns makes sense as a former starter who didn't exceed two innings in his spring training appearances and is handled with care after missing the 2018 season with an elbow injury. Stretch him out and he could be slotted into a more traditional role, but in the meantime, let him cover the early portion and be the first to touch...

The Orioles were among the Grapefruit League team leaders in runs, hits and stolen bases. And that doesn't mean much now, obviously, in terms of what might happen in the American League. The Orioles were held to two runs and eight hits on opening day in Thursday's 7-2 loss to the Yankees. It snapped an eight-game opening day win streak and left the Orioles with an all-time record of 43-23 in openers. The Orioles faced this quartet of pitchers in Game 1: Masahiro Tanaka, Adam Ottavino, Zack...

Even with Bryce Harper coming off the books, the Nationals entered the season with one of Major League Baseball's largest payrolls and the sport's highest-paid player for 2019. The Nationals' opening day payroll of $185 million ranks fifth in the majors, behind the Red Sox, Cubs, Yankees and Dodgers, according to the Associated Press' annual calculations. The payroll total is up slightly from last year's $180 million figure, which ranked fourth in the league at that time. Max Scherzer,...

Here are the Orioles' break-camp rosters for their four full-season minor league affiliates, plus their extended spring training team and rehabbing players. The minor league seasons begin next Thursday April 4. These are not final rosters and all teams must get down to 25 players for opening day. The final rosters will be announced possibly as late as next Thursday, hours before the opening games. Triple-A Norfolk opens at Gwinnett to start a seven-game road trip. Double-A Bowie also starts...

NEW YORK - The Orioles are conducting more minor league business on their off-day, remaining active in trying to increase the level of talent in the system. The club has announced the signing of outfielder Mason Williams to a minor league deal and the acquisition of infielder Yeltsin Gudino from the Blue Jays in exchange for cash considerations. Williams is assigned to Triple-A Norfolk and Gudino to Single-A Frederick. Gudino turned 22 in January. The native of Venezuela signed with the Blue...