ARLINGTON, Texas - So if you take the Orioles out of Yankee Stadium, where they are 4-2 this year, they are just not a very good road team, right? Wednesday's win in New York was followed up by tonight's 17-8 blowout loss to the Texas Rangers in front of 19,367 at Globe Life Park. The Orioles lose the series opener and are 9-39 in road games this season not at Yankee Stadium. This game got so out of hand that Danny Valencia came on to pitch with two outs in the last of the eighth. And he...

Max Scherzer makes the strikeout look commonplace and expected. For the 12th time in 23 starts this season, Scherzer struck out 10 or more hitters. Behind another workmanlike performance from Scherzer, the Nationals dropped the Reds 10-4 to open the four-game series and win their third in a row. Scherzer (15-5) has struck out 10 or more batters 76 times in his career and 12 times so far this season. His pitch count did get up there: 110 pitches over six innings, with 77 strikes. Scherzer lasted...

The next era of Orioles baseball has officially begun. In the last couple of weeks, the front office has indicated that a full rebuild is officially underway. Manny Machado, Zach Britton, Kevin Gausman, Darren O'Day, Brad Brach and Jonathan Schoop were all dealt before the non-waiver trade deadline on July 31. It was one of the craziest days I can remember in Orioles history. In return, the Birds have stockpiled minor league prospects and international signing bonus slot money to build up the...

As the Orioles rid themselves of veterans and salary while beginning their rebuild, they're also making adjustments to a lineup that's been lacking a true leadoff hitter. Jonathan Villar, part of the package obtained earlier this week from the Brewers for second baseman Jonathan Schoop, owned a career .324 on-base percentage before last night's game against the Rangers. In the Orioles organization, that's a step in the right direction. Villar led the majors with 62 steals in 156 games in...

Compile a list of "Things the Nationals Need to Do Better to Make the Playoffs in 2018," and somewhere near the top it would read: "Better Situational Hitting." It's not the only thing this team lacked through the season's first four months, but it's among the most significant, and one of the best ways to ensure a higher rate of success in the season's final two months. So consider how important the bottom of the second inning was in tonight's 10-4 victory over the Reds, when the...

Before they took the field against the Reds tonight to start a four-game series, third baseman Anthony Rendon and some of his Nationals teammates spent time this afternoon visiting with scholar-athletes at the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy. Rendon was joined by Juan Soto, Tanner Roark, Spencer Kieboom and other members of the Nationals. The visit highlighted the historic championship by the Mamie Johnson Little League 12-U team and the end of the summer programming at the Youth...

The Nationals made the game difficult for Reds right-hander Tyler Mahle in the first two innings. With four hits, four walks (one intentional) and a hit batter, the Nats scored six runs on four hits in the second inning. Mahle lasted only 1 2/3 innings, firing 49 pitches, 30 for strikes. Trea Turner had a two-run single and Max Scherzer a run-scoring single. In the third, the Nats scored again on a RBI single by Adam Eaton. Scherzer surrendered a double to Scooter Gennett in the first. But he...

ARLINGTON, Texas - After splitting two games in New York and snapping an 11-game road losing streak on Wednesday, the Orioles road trip has headed west. Tonight they begin a four-game series at Globe Life Park with the Texas Rangers. The Orioles beat the Yankees 7-5 yesterday, have scored 47 runs the past five games and 72 in 11 games since the All-Star break. As a team since the break, the Orioles are batting .305 with an OBP of .368 and slugging .506. They rank first in the American League in...

ARLINGTON, Texas - At a time when six veteran players have left the Orioles via trades, a former Orioles veteran was in the ballpark today as the team arrived at Globe Life Park. Right-hander Chris Tillman, designated for assignment by the Orioles on July 20 and released five days later, today signed a minor league deal with Texas. He is going to report to their Triple-A Round Rock club. Tillman went on a minor league rehab assignment for the Orioles and recorded a 6.75 ERA in six starts on the...

Among the many traits Juan Soto has displayed during his unexpected rookie season, perhaps the most impressive has been the remarkable consistency he has maintained throughout. Soto's OPS in May (when he played in only 12 games) was .998. In June, it was 1.050, earning him National League Rookie of the Month honors. And in July, it was .924, earning him those honors once again. Yes, Soto today was named NL Rookie of the Month for the second consecutive time, testament not only to his...