Manager: Gabe Kapler (1st season) Record: 70-60 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: 3B Maikel Franco (22 HR, 66 RBIs), CF Odúbel Herrera (20 HR, 64 RBIs), 2B César Hernández (.259), LF Rhys Hoskins (26 HR, 81 RBIs), RF Nick Williams (17 HR, 49 RBIs), RHP Aaron Nola (15-3, 2.13 ERA), RHP Seranthony Domínguez (14 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 7-6 Pitching probables: Aug. 27: RHP Stephen Strasburg (6-7) vs. RHP Zach Eflin (9-4), 7:05 p.m., MASN2Aug. 28: RHP Max Scherzer (16-6)...

More thoughts, observations and reactions from Sunday's 15-0 drubbing of the Mets at Citi Field ... * This was yet another game that made you shake your head and try to figure out why this team has been so erratic all season. Clearly, the Nationals have the talent to win games like this on a regular basis. Why, though, haven't they been able to do it on a more consistent basis? Or, at least, play just well enough to win some more close games? Something about these Nationals allows them to...

The Orioles are in the late stages of deciding which players will represent them with the Glendale Desert Dogs in the Arizona Fall League. The only confirmation from the AFL is that minor league infield coordinator Dave Anderson will serve as manager. The Orioles brought him back to the organization in December 2015 after he left to manage Triple-A Salt Lake for one season. Outfielder Austin Hays and infielder Steve Wilkerson would make sense as inclusions on the Glendale roster to provide more...

Orioles right-hander Dylan Bundy had moments where he showed some improvement tonight, but he also fell behind 4-0 in the third inning. It was a hole the Orioles could not quite climb out of as they lost 5-3 to the New York Yankees, who sweep this four-game series at Oriole Park. For New York (83-47), this is its first four-game sweep in Baltimore since Aug. 14-17, 2003. The Orioles (37-94) have lost eight in a row, one short of a season high. They have lost 10 of 11, 15 of 17 and 19 of their...

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...