O's game blog: The road trip moves on to Toronto
O's game blog: The road trip moves on to Toronto
Steve Melewski
Orioles
TORONTO - The Orioles lost two of three at Cleveland and tonight begin a three-game series in Toronto against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. The Orioles went 6-4 here last year, but are 0-7 in Toronto in 2018. They were swept in four straight by a combined 27-11 score in June. The were swept three in a row by a 17-12 score in July. They've blown a few late leads in those games, lost four of them by one run and three went extra innings. Will they finally get a victory at Rogers Centre in this...
Opposite dugout: Blue Jays host Orioles hoping to end four-game skid
Opposite dugout: Blue Jays host Orioles hoping to end four-game skid
Josh Land
Orioles
Manager: John Gibbons (6th season) Record: 55-69 Last 10 games: 3-7 Who to watch: 1B Justin Smoak (.257), LF Teoscar Hernández (18 HR), CF Kevin Pillar (13 SB), SS Aledmys Díaz (15 HR, 37 RBIs) RF Randal Grichuk (17 HR, 74 RBIs), RHP Ken Giles (15 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: 9-1 Pitching probables: Aug. 20: RHP Andrew Cashner (4-10) vs. RHP Marco Estrada (6-9), 7:07 p.m., MASNAug. 21: RHP Dylan Bundy (7-11) vs. RHP Sam Gaviglio (2-5), 7:07 p.m., MASNAug. 22: RHP David Hess (1-4) vs....
Marty Niland: Ramos deserves a hearty "horns up" from Nats fans this week
Marty Niland: Ramos deserves a hearty "horns up" from Nats fans this week
Josh Land
Nationals
When Nationals Park is filled with hometown fans, there's no love lost crowd for opposing players, especially on a division rival like Philadelphia. However, when the Phillies play in Washington this week, even the most diehard Nationals partisans should give a hearty cheer and a "horns up" for the newest Phillie, catcher Wilson Ramos. Nats fans remember watching Ramos mature from a promising rookie into the game's top-hitting catcher from 2011-2016 as he helped the team blossom from an...
Andrew Stetka: Rebuilding Orioles need to overhaul offensive identity
Andrew Stetka: Rebuilding Orioles need to overhaul offensive identity
Josh Land
Orioles
The Orioles have an offensive identity that they've worn like a heavy backpack for a few years now. Because it's a heavy one, it slows them down. It makes them less versatile and only allows them to do so much. They've been an offense that relied on free swingers and the three-run homer, or the "Earl Weaver special," if you will. In recent memory, it has served them fairly well. From 2012-2017, the Orioles ranked second, first, first, third, first and fifth in home runs in the major...
Fedde and Ross head to Harrisburg for rehab starts
Fedde and Ross head to Harrisburg for rehab starts
Byron Kerr
Nationals
Right-hander Erick Fedde has worked out and rehabbed alongside right-hander Stephen Strasburg as they have both look to return to the Nationals. Strasburg will get his return start Wednesday night against the Phillies, according to manager Davey Martinez. Strasburg has been on the shelf since July 22 with a cervical nerve impingement. Fedde has been out since July 5 with right shoulder inflammation. Fedde will make a minor league rehab start tonight for Double-A Harrisburg. His locker mate to...
What happened to the Nationals?
What happened to the Nationals?
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
It's the most pervasive question in Washington this summer, at least in the realm of sports: What happened to the Nationals? The answer isn't nearly as simple as many would like. If only there was one concrete reason for the Nationals' slow descent from division favorites to a sub-.500 club trying to hang on for dear life. But the truth is, a combination of things had to come together this season to create this mess. Alter any one of them, and the story of the 2018 Nats might be totally...
Rickard optioned to Norfolk (updated)
Rickard optioned to Norfolk (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
CLEVELAND - The Orioles threw a curveball more than four hours after their game ended. Joey Rickard has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk, which creates an opening on the 25-man roster for Adam Jones' return from the bereavement list. Jones is supposed to join the team later tonight in Toronto. The surprising element involves Mark Trumbo, who is expected to be placed on the disabled list Monday with inflammation in his right knee. Trumbo's removal from the roster would have cleared a spot for...
The roster move, bullpen notes and utility talk
The roster move, bullpen notes and utility talk
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
CLEVELAND - The Orioles will be making another roster move later today in Toronto with outfielder Adam Jones coming off the bereavement list, Mark Trumbo headed to the disabled list with inflammation in his right knee and Joey Rickard optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. Outfielder John Andreoli, claimed off waivers Saturday from the Mariners, will be Trumbo's replacement and become the latest player to make his Orioles debut in 2018 unless he's glued to the bench. Andreoli batted .287/.397/.401...
A look at mounting strikeouts in MLB and the O's record in Toronto
A look at mounting strikeouts in MLB and the O's record in Toronto
Steve Melewski
Orioles
This could prove to be a unique year in Major League Baseball. It could turn out to be the first one we've ever seen where there are more strikeouts than base hits. Years ago, there was no chance we would see that. But in an excellent column recently in the New York Times, Tyler Kepner wrote this: "This could be the first season in major league history to feature more strikeouts than hits, a slowdown that worries many league officials. Thirty years ago, batters compiled nearly 13,000 more...
Harper on his struggles defensively in 12-1 loss to Marlins
Harper on his struggles defensively in 12-1 loss to Marlins
Byron Kerr
Nationals
The Nationals lost 12-1 to the Marlins Sunday afternoon. It was a struggle for left-hander Gio Gonzalez as he gave up eight runs. But his offense could not get going against the Marlins José Ureña and the defense behind Gonzalez struggled after the first inning. Adam Eaton made a nice play on a fly ball that Marlins third baseman Brian Anderson hit down the right field foul line. But Bryce Harper, who went 0-for-3 at the plate, had some trouble in the outfield on a couple of different...