The velocity was up a tick tonight and the first inning didn't provide any real challenges for Dylan Bundy. Optimism began to spread over a club waiting for him to again resemble a young starter on the verge of ace-dom. Luke Voit hit a two-out, two-run homer in the second on a 93 mph heater that stayed over the middle of the plate. The old questions and concerns began to resurface. The bullpen began to stir by the third, when the Yankees padded their lead with two more runs, and Bundy was done...

The only thing consistent about the 2018 Nationals has been their inconsistency. It was on full display in last weekend's series against the Mets, which saw them end a 32-inning scoreless skid in Sunday's 15-0 rout. The scoring drought was miserable, but it could have been worse. Juan Soto's sixth-inning grounder to score Trea Turner stemmed the streak before it could grow long enough for the record books or the longest runs of futility by Washington teams. The major league record for...

Later this week, baseball's rules will change as the season draws to a close. With a month to go before the playoffs, Major League Baseball will allow teams to expand their rosters from 25 players to 40 players. Is there another sport where the rules are not only different depending on which league you play in, but also where they change the rules with a month left in the season? It will completely alter the dynamics of postseason races, as it does every season. For the Orioles, it could...

The Orioles can expand their roster in less than a week and names continue to be discussed inside the warehouse and manager's office. Manager Buck Showalter said they're not necessarily close to solidifying the choices and he's checking on Triple-A Norfolk's bid for a wild card spot in the International League playoffs. "We haven't really gotten there yet," he said. "It's a few days away. I'm sure Dan (Duquette) has got it wired with what he's thinking and when there's the best...

Orioles rookie center fielder Cedric Mullins is out of tonight's lineup with a sore hip, removing him from the national stage for the ESPN broadcast. Manager Buck Showalter termed the injury as a "hip flexor" and wouldn't comment whether Mullins could play later tonight, but he's likely day-to-day with the earliest return possible Monday night against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards. Mullins might have tweaked the hip on a throw in yesterday's doubleheader. He played in both games. "He's...

Orioles third baseman Renato Núñez said he feels like he's made some recent improvements on his defense at third base, which is starting to show during games. In a small sample size of 30 games for the Orioles, Núñez has made four errors, but just one in his past 13 games. Errors, of course are just one defensive stat to look at. In the case of Núñez, the eye test shows he has just looked much more comfortable at the hot corner in recent games. He said he's worked very hard...

Manager: John Gibbons (11th season) Record: 60-70 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: DH Kendrys Morales (21 HR, 53 RBIs), 1B Justin Smoak (19 HR, 61 RBIs), RF Randall Grichuk (18 HR, 45 RBIs), RHP Ken Giles (6 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: 12-1 Pitching probables: Aug. 27: RHP Sam Gaviglio (3-6) vs. RHP David Hess (2-8), 7:05 p.m., MASN Aug. 28: LHP Thomas Pannone (1-0) vs. TBA, 7:05 p.m., MASN Aug. 29: RHP Ryan Borucki (3-3) vs. RHP Alex Cobb (4-15), 7:05 p.m., MASN Inside the Blue...

It is certainly not a showcase of two contenders, but for a few hours tonight, the Orioles will be in a national spotlight when they host the New York Yankees. The game will be shown nationally on ESPN's "Sunday Night Baseball." According to Elias Sports Bureau, the Orioles are 13-18 all-time in ESPN Sunday games. The Birds will need a win tonight to avoid being swept in four straight by the Yankees. The clubs split their first 12 meetings this season before New York won here Friday night...

NEW YORK - At 10:51 p.m. Wednesday, Ryan Zimmerman launched a drive to right-center field that - thanks to a replay review reversal - gave the Nationals a walk-off win over the Phillies. Eighty-eight hours and one minute after that uplifting moment, Trea Turner scampered home from third base on Juan Soto's groundout to first, pumped his fist and was welcomed back to the dugout with high-fives and smiles. The streak was over. After 32 consecutive zeroes on the scoreboard, the Nationals finally...

Rookie Cedric Mullins is on the bench tonight as the Orioles try to prevent the Yankees from sweeping them in a four-game series for the first time at Camden Yards since 2003. Jonathan Villar is leading off and Craig Gentry is batting second and playing center field. Adam Jones and Tim Beckham return to the lineup after sitting out Game 2 last night. Jace Peterson is in left field and Caleb Joseph is catching. The Orioles haven't announced a roster move, but they were making arrangements...