NEW YORK - Two teams with separate agendas met tonight in the Bronx, the Yankees trying to clinch a playoff berth and home wild card game, the Orioles trying to impose their influence from last place. The word "spoiler" wasn't uttered in the visiting clubhouse, but it fit. Be the fly swirling around in the ointment. Burrow under the skins of the Yankees, Red Sox and Astros before scattering for the winter. There isn't much else to play for other than individual achievements. Becoming a...

Even the most pessimistic of observers out there, those who insisted all along the Nationals would not win the National League East this season, could not have reasonably believed this team would be facing elimination on Sept. 21, with more than a week left on the regular-season schedule. If the Nats were going to fall short in their quest to win a third straight division title, it wouldn't happen until the final weekend, after a soul-crushing loss that allowed a surprise rival to celebrate...

As much as he's wanted to get a look at Victor Robles down the stretch of the season, Davey Martinez also wanted to give Adam Eaton opportunities to keep playing until the finish line, making sure his surgically repaired left knee and ankle could hold up through the late September grind. Eaton, though, is now dealing with stiffness in that knee, so that has opened the door for Robles to get his first extended look of the season. Eaton isn't in the Nationals' lineup tonight, the fourth time...

NEW YORK - As Alex Cobb threw in the bullpen again today, Orioles manager Buck Showalter said the right-hander is a candidate to start Sunday afternoon's series finale against the Yankees. Cobb said earlier today that he was hoping to start again before the season ends. The Orioles are in the process of figuring out his availability and whether the cut on his right middle finger has sufficiently healed. "We're waiting," Showalter said. "We'll have a decision after he gets through throwing...

NEW YORK - Alex Cobb is throwing in the bullpen today to determine whether he's ready to make another start before the 2018 schedule no longer holds any games. Cobb threw a couple of days ago and planned on a lighter session this afternoon to check whether the cut caused by a blood blister would reopen on his right middle finger. "I'll see how it feels and talk to Buck (Showalter) and see what the plan is moving forward, whether they want to start me again," Cobb said. "It's feeling a lot...

The Nationals could be eliminated from the National League East race tonight. That's not a scenario anyone anticipated back in February (or April or June or maybe even July or August, for that matter) but it's the reality of the situation. The Nats are eight games back of the Braves in the division with nine to play. That means the elimination number is two, which means a Washington loss and an Atlanta win make it official. (The elimination number for the NL wild card race, for what it's...

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Nationals manager Davey Martinez has been impressed with the progress he has seen from backup catcher Spencer Kieboom this season. Kieboom got his opportunity early in the season when Pedro Severino struggled at the plate and Matt Wieters battled injury. This season, Kieboom, 27, has demonstrated the biggest key element for young catchers working with Nats pitchers: being able to call the game to give that pitcher the best chance to succeed. He played one game for the Nats in 2016. This season,...

And then there were 10. Just 10 games and three series remain in the 2018 season. The Orioles (44-108) begin their last road trip of the season playing three games at Yankee Stadium starting tonight and three in Boston beginning Monday night. Then they return home for a four-game series with the Astros to conclude the year. On Wednesday night the Orioles held Toronto to four hits in a 2-1 win over the Blue Jays. DJ Stewart hit his first career homer and scored the second run when he doubled and...

NEW YORK - Rookie Austin Wynns gets another start behind the plate tonight and Chris Davis is back at first base as the Orioles open a three-game series against the Yankees. Joey Rickard is in left field, Tim Beckham is starting at shortstop and Trey Mancini is the designated hitter. Yefry Ramírez is making his third start and fourth appearance against the Yankees. He's allowed a combined 10 runs and 15 hits in nine innings in his two starts, and he tossed three scoreless innings out of the...