NEW YORK - Alex Cobb knew his finger was going to flare up today while he warming in the bullpen. It wasn't a sudden occurrence. He didn't have visions of a lengthy start. The signs pointed toward an early exit and non-blistered fingers crossed. Cobb was done after four pitches, but the bullpen covered nine innings in a 6-3 victory that gave the Orioles five victories in nine games at Yankee Stadium for their only winning record in an American League ballpark. "I knew I wasn't going to last...

NEW YORK - Orioles manager Buck Showalter always talks about having to prepare for the what-ifs. As in, what if the starting pitcher gets nailed on the shin by a line drive in the first inning? How will the bullpen cover the rest of the game? Showalter sits down with pitching coach Roger McDowell and bullpen coach Alan Mills to ascertain the availability of their relievers. An expanded roster doesn't necessarily provide adequate cover. Alex Cobb's blister issues had the Orioles on high alert...

NEW YORK - Alex Cobb's season has ended today after four pitches. The blister on Cobb's right middle finger flared up again while the veteran was facing Yankees leadoff hitter Andrew McCutchen. Cobb threw four fastballs between 90 and 92 mph, getting ahead 0-2 in the count before missing with the last two. Cobb looked down at his finger after the fourth pitch, swiped at the ball with his glove in disgust and glanced toward the Orioles dugout. Manager Buck Showalter came to the mound and Cobb...

Stop us if you've heard this before: The tarp is on the field at Nationals Park, with no end in sight to the rain that already has been falling all morning. Stop us, as well, if you've heard this before: It appears they're going to wait this out and hope they can find a "window" in which the Nationals and Mets can play their season finale against each other. "Right now, it's all up to MLB," manager Davey Martinez said during his pregame media session at noon. "We're going to sit a...

Manager: Alex Cora (1st season) Record: 105-51 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: DH J.D. Martinez (41 HR, 124 RBIs, .329/.401/.624), RF Mookie Betts (.343/.434/.636, 28 SB), LF Andrew Benintendi (.283/.361/.460, 20 SB), 1B Steve Pearce (.282/.397/.500), LHP Chris Sale (2.00 ERA), RHP Craig Kimbrel (42 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: 14-2 Pitching probables: Sept. 24: RHP Dylan Bundy (8-15) vs RHP Nathan Eovaldi (5-7), 7:10 p.m., MASNSept. 25: TBA vs. LHP David Price (15-7), 7:10 p.m.,...

NEW YORK - Yefry Ramírez will get the start Wednesday night in Boston. Dylan Bundy pitches the opener Monday night. What happens on Tuesday is largely dependent on which relievers are needed today with Alex Cobb returning to the rotation. Another blister flare-up could tax the bullpen and leave manager Buck Showalter scrambling for a Tuesday starter. Left-hander Sean Gilmartin and Jimmy Yacabonis are two possibilities. "You do manage a game trying to win, but you're also trying to make...

Will the Nationals and Mets play their final head-to-head matchup of the season today? And if not, will they ever play it? That's the pertinent question right now, with the rain coming down all morning and expected to continue all day. Major League Baseball doesn't like canceling games altogether and leaving teams playing fewer than 162 games - the Marlins and Pirates already are scheduled to meet on Oct. 1 for reasons that can only be financial - but given how little is at stake here, you...

NEW YORK - Adam Jones is out of the lineup today for the series finale at Yankee Stadium. John Andreoli is in right field and Joey Rickard is in left. Breyvic Valera is batting second and playing second base. Jonathan Villar is the shortstop. Tim Beckham is the designated hitter. Chris Davis goes to the bench. Before Steve Wilkerson yesterday, the last Orioles player to get thrown out twice at the plate in the same game while trying to take an extra base was Eddie Murray on June 24, 1988...

Manager: AJ Hinch (4th season) Record: 100-58 Last 10 games: 7-3 Who to watch: 2B Jose Altuve (.318/385/.451, 17 SB), 3B Alex Bregman (51 2B, 31HR, 103 RBIs), 1B Yuli Gurriel (.291/.323/.430), CF George Springer (62 BB), RHP Justin Verlander (2.60 ERA), RHP Roberto Osuna (20 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: 3-0 Pitching probables: Sept. 27: RHP Gerrit Cole (15-5) vs. RHP David Hess (3-10), 7:05 p.m., MASNSept. 28: RHP Justin Verlander (16-9) RHP Yefry Ramírez (1-7), 7:05 p.m., MASNSept. 29:...

The Nationals were officially eliminated from the National League wild card race despite an impressive 6-0 win over the New York Mets Saturday, and the club's most tenured player reacted to the news. The Cardinals defeated the Giants 5-4 to get to 86 wins and secure the second wild card spot as of Saturday night. The best the Nats could do this season is 85 wins. First baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who contributed a single and a run scored in Saturday's victory, spoke about his feelings after...