From the moment he first reached base for the Nationals - the date was Sept. 1, 2015, the site Busch Stadium in St. Louis - Trea Turner was destined to break the club's all-time stolen base record. Turner stole second base in that game. He returned permanently in the summer of 2016 and stole 33 bases in only 73 games. Last year he stole 46 (establishing a new single-season Nats record) in only 98 games. And though his pace has cooled off somewhat this season, he still boasts a league-leading...

NEW YORK - Adam Jones didn't play yesterday in the series finale at Yankee Stadium, but he contributed by bringing out the lineup card. The idea hit him and he reached out to manager Buck Showalter, who shared the same thought. "He can have it any day he wants, trust me," Showalter said after a 6-3 win. "It just enhances my relationship with umpires. "No, he texted me about it (yesterday) and I said I already had it planned. He stole my thunder. He enjoyed it. He's 1-0." It was a fairly...

When a team has lost 110 games and seven straight series, it can be hard to notice when something actually does go well. But the Orioles bullpen was solid the last two days in New York and the 'pen has posted an ERA of 2.63 over the last eight games. Several pitchers are throwing well lately: * Tanner Scott has thrown scoreless ball in his last four games and in eight of his last 10 games, allowing two runs in 8 2/3 with three walks and 14 strikeouts. Scott has an ERA of 3.86 in the...

If these final games of the 2018 season - one that officially became about something other than trying to reach the playoffs on Saturday - are about giving young players some final opportunities to stake their claim for key spots in 2019, Erick Fedde's start today carried some real significance. Fedde, the 2014 first-round pick whose path has been slowed by arm injuries, has shown glimpses of his potential in his 12 previous big league starts, but he has yet to show he can put it all together...

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...