Right-hander Evan Phillips last pitched in a game for the Orioles on Aug. 15. He last pitched in a game for anybody on Sept. 2, when he threw a scoreless inning with two strikeouts for Triple-A Norfolk. Tonight he's the starting pitcher for the Orioles against Toronto. We'll see how long he can go and how well he can pitch. The Maryland native, born in Salisbury, was acquired by the Orioles on July 31 in the trade that sent Kevin Gausman and Darren O'Day to Atlanta. The next day, he threw a...

The Orioles may post a third lineup today, with manager Buck Showalter hinting at another change. Adam Jones moved to designated hitter because of the wet field. The switch forced Breyvic Valera out of the lineup. He's a healthy scratch. Chance Sisco isn't available tonight after suffering a deep gash on his chin yesterday on a foul tip. He's also under concussion protocol. Sisco underwent an examination earlier today and he wasn't in the clubhouse while the media was allowed inside. The...

The Orioles have changed their lineup tonight, subtracting second baseman Breyvic Valera and adding Joey Rickard. Rickard is playing right field and Adam Jones has moved to the designated hitter role. Tim Beckham goes to shortstop and Jonathan Villar switches to second base. For the Orioles Cedric Mullins CF Jonathan Villar 2B Adam Jones DH Trey Mancini 1B Tim Beckham SS Renato Núñez 3B Joey Rickard RF John Andreoli LF Austin Wynns C Evan Phillips RHP

The Orioles have chosen right-hander Evan Phillips as tonight's starter against the Blue Jays in the series opener at Camden Yards. Phillips has made one career start and it came last year with Triple-A Gwinnett. Chris Davis is out of the lineup again. Tim Beckham is the designated hitter and Jonathan Villar gets another start at shortstop. John Andreoli is in left field. Austin Wynns is catching. Rookie left-hander Ryan Borucki, a 15th-round pick in 2012, is 3-4 with a 4.26 ERA and 1.421 WHIP...

MIAMI - The Nationals wrap up what was supposed to be a three-city road trip (interrupted by the return last Thursday to D.C. for the makeup game against the Cubs) in South Florida for a pair of games against the last-place Marlins (58-91). The Nats (76-74) have won the first two series on the trip, sweeping the Phillies in Philadelphia and taking two of three from the Braves at Atlanta, and are now 39-37 on the road. The club has recently demonstrated what it is when everyone is playing well:...

With wins in seven of their last nine games and three straight series victories under their belts, the Nationals seem determined to close out the 2018 season on a high note and set the tone for a winning 2019. It brings to mind the 2011 Nats season, when they won 14 of their last 17 games and eight of their last 10 to finish with their best record since 2005 at 80-81. Keep in mind that this was a team that had never finished with a winning record since moving to Washington and was a year...

There are only 12 games remaining on the Nationals' 2018 schedule, and all of those games will come against the Marlins, Mets and Rockies. Which means there are no more opportunities to gain ground on the two clubs that have sat above them in the National League East all summer via head-to-head wins. No, the Nats have seen the last of the Braves and Phillies this season. Barring a miracle, Atlanta is going to emerge as division champs for the first time in five years. Philadelphia is 6 1/2...

So the Orioles have 13 games remaining in the 2018 season. And that could mean just 13 games remaining for the club's two top baseball operations decision-makers. Both executive vice president Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter have contracts that expire at the end of the season. There have been no announcements yet from the club on the futures with the Orioles of one or both men. During an appearance Sunday on "Orioles Baseball Tonight" on 105.7 FM the Fan, Duquette was asked if he has...

The Orioles will reveal their starter for tonight's game before the anthem. Hopefully, before the media gains access to the clubhouse at 3:10 p.m. It's an unwritten rule that pitchers don't talk on the day that they're starting. I'd hate to approach the wrong guy. The choice would seem to come down to left-handers Sean Gilmartin (my guess) and Donnie Hart and right-hander Evan Phillips. No matter who gets the ball, the bullpen figures to be busy. Gilmartin has made two starts in the majors...

ATLANTA - They took two of four from the Cubs in a stretch that required a doubleheader and a special trip back to D.C. for a makeup game. They took three of three from the Phillies in a series that required a doubleheader when blowtorches couldn't dry out a soaked infield for the opener. And now the Nationals have taken two of three from the Braves to cap off a wild week of rain, late nights, long games, extra travel and the dodging of a hurricane. All of this, of course, came too late and...