If the Nationals truly have waved the white flag on 2018 - whether they have depends on your interpretation of Tuesday's trades and subsequent statements made by Mark Lerner, Mike Rizzo and Davey Martinez - then their focus for the remaining 5 1/2 weeks of the season is going to have to shift at least somewhat toward preparing for 2019. What, though, does that mean from a practical standpoint? What players might we see the rest of the way who might not otherwise have received this kind of...

Because of a rain delay that almost reached two hours, starter Tanner Roark was limited to three innings. That left the Nats having to rely on seven different relievers to hold off the Phillies in a 10-4 win. Left-hander Matt Grace did well in relief of Roark with two scoreless innings, but got into trouble when he could not record an out to start the sixth. He allowed four batters in a row to reach base and it looked like the Phillies had a chance to run away with the game. But Jimmy Cordero...

TORONTO - When it comes to exciting rookie center fielder Cedric Mullins, no doubt he has impressed Orioles manager Buck Showalter in many ways. With his speed, his defense, his maturity. But this year it was how he attacked a weakness during his time in the minor leagues that may have impressed his manager the most. In 2016 and 2017 on the farm, the switch-hitting Mullins produced much better numbers batting left-handed than he did hitting lefties from the right side. Mullins knew he needed to...

Hours after watching their front office trade away two popular veterans and their owner issue a statement that all but served as a concession speech for the 2018 season, the Nationals took the field tonight to face a Phillies team that is very much in a pennant race for the first time in seven years, then sat through a 1-hour, 42-minute rain delay in the third inning before re-taking the field in front of a crowd with a vibe not felt around here since maybe 2010. With Daniel Murphy on his way...

TORONTO - Tonight it went from bad to worse for struggling Orioles right-hander Dylan Bundy. After giving up 15 runs in his past two starts, he allowed seven more, and three more home runs, as Toronto beat the Orioles 8-2 at Rogers Centre. He failed to get an out in the fifth inning and allowed at least one run in four of the five innings in which he took the mound. Bundy went four innings plus two batters and gave up 10 hits, with no walks and three strikeouts. He threw 72 pitches and is now...

The following is in no way intended to bash two young pitching prospects - as opposed to the old and crotchety prospects - or blame them for issues out of their control or dump a historically bad season squarely in their laps. It's simply a statement of fact: Hunter Harvey and Cody Sedlock have really hurt the Orioles. To be more precise, their absences while relegated to the minor league disabled lists really hurt the Orioles. Harvey, for sure, was expected to be in the majors at this point....

The Nationals have reinstated right-handed reliever Kelvin Herrera and placed left-hander Tommy Milone on the 10-day disabled list with left shoulder soreness. Herrera was out since Aug. 8 with right rotator cuff impingement. He had allowed at least one run in three of his five appearances with the Nats before going on the disabled list. He was off to a great start with the Royals before the trade, posting a 1-1 record with 14 saves and a 1.05 ERA. But with the Nats, he is 1-2 with a 4.76 ERA...

TORONTO - We are still waiting to hear further word on Mark Trumbo, who went on the disabled list yesterday due to right knee inflammation. He can come back off the DL for the game at Kansas City on Aug. 31. But whether he will make it back for that game seems to be in question. Manager Buck Showalter said the team got an update from the latest MRI, and that he might have more on that for reporters after the game. "He talked to Mike (Jacobs, team orthopedist) afterwards and he's exploring his...

Manager: Mickey Callaway (1st season) Record: 56-71 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: LF Michael Conforto (18 HR, 51 RBIs), 3B Todd Frazier (14 HR, 46 RBIs), 1B Wilmer Flores (.278/.332/.447 with 47 RBIs), SS Amed Rosario (6 3B, 14 SB), RHP Zack Wheeler (3.63 ERA), RHP Robert Gsellman (7 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 6-6 Pitching probables: Aug. 24: LHP Gio Gonzalez (7-10) vs. LHP Jason Vargas (3-8), 7:10 p.m., MASN2Aug. 25: RHP Tanner Roark (8-12) vs. RHP Zack Wheeler (8-6), 4:05 p.m.,...

Second baseman Daniel Murphy was making his way through the Nationals clubhouse about one hour after it was announced he had been traded to the Chicago Cubs. He was in his civilian clothes with a backpack on his back. He was talking and shaking hands with now former teammates and team personnel. Nationals clubhouse manager Mike "Wally" Wallace was taping together moving boxes and placing them by Murphy's locker. Two lockers over from Murphy's, first baseman Ryan Zimmerman addressed the...