Orioles shortstop Manny Machado is engulfed in trade rumors and speculation as the non-waiver deadline draws nearer. He's already on the move in the American League's All-Star balloting, rising to the top at his position. Machado has received 321,887 votes to lead the Indians' Francisco Lindor, who's second with 211,756. The Yankees' Didi Gregorius is third with 208,583. None of Machado's teammates appear in the first balloting update. No one in the top five at the other positions or the...

The Orioles today announced that they have agreed to terms with their first round selection of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft, right-hander Grayson Rodriguez, from Central Heights (TX) High School. Rodriguez was selected with the 11th overall pick in the first round of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft. Rodriguez, 18, was named a 2018 Rawlings-Perfect Game First Team Senior Preseason All-American and to the Texas - All Region First Team. In 2017 as a junior, he helped lead Central Heights...

The All-Star ballots are out. The last-place Orioles have one All-Star, shortstop Manny Machado, but speculation is heating up about the Orioles possibly trading him. So what happens to the Orioles' All-Star representative if Machado is traded before the July 17 game in D.C.? Would the Orioles go without an All-Star, even though All-Star teams are required to have at least one player from each team? Would another Oriole be chosen? A spokesman for Major League Baseball said Monday that the...

It has been a solid start to the season for manager Tripp Keister's high Single-A Potomac Nationals. They have demonstrated power in their offense and have done a nice job pitching. On Monday, they were rewarded with six players on the Carolina League Northern Division All-Star team. Right-handers Tyler Mapes, Sterling Sharp and Wil Crowe, catcher Tres Barrera, shortstop Carter Kieboom and third baseman Jake Noll were named to the Carolina League All-Star Game. The six players selected are the...

Orioles right-hander Dylan Bundy had another good outing last night. By now, he is probably getting used to pitching without a lot of runs to work with. Bundy threw eight scoreless innings on three singles against the Boston Red Sox. No runner even got to third base against him during his 104-pitch outing. Leaning more heavily than usual on his fastball, Bundy saw Andrew Benintendi go 2-for-2 against him and the rest of the Boston lineup went 1-for-24. Bundy did not get a decision in the...

David Hess will test his memory tonight, along with his ability to make any adjustments that can prevent a repeat performance. The rookie's only major league dud came against tonight's opponent, the Red Sox, in his first exposure to Fenway Park and one of baseball's most potent offenses. He surrendered three home runs and five runs total in 4 2/3 innings and absorbed his first loss. We're going all the way back to May 20, when Hess followed up his stellar debut with an outing that left his...

Dylan Bundy was pitching like dealin' Dylan again. But could the Orioles score even a single run to support him tonight? They started a lineup minus Manny Machado, who was sick and missed the game. They could not as they lost to Boston 2-0 to start a three-game series at Camden Yards. The Sox broke the scoreless tie with a pair of sac flies in the 12th off Mychal Givens. Givens had fanned Mitch Moreland, coming from behind 3-0 in the count, to strand the bases loaded in the 11th. But in the...

The later sunset must have tricked Dylan Bundy into thinking that he was working a day game. The night version hasn't been nearly as effective this season, with Bundy sporting a 7.68 ERA and 1.706 WHIP in seven starts heading into the series opener against the Red Sox. Meanwhile, the pitcher who's earned the moniker "Sunny" carried a 1.08 ERA and 0.888 WHIP in six early outings. Putting aside that first pitch was 7:06 p.m., Bundy shut out the Red Sox tonight on three hits through eight...

The Nationals have been well represented at the All-Star Game in recent years, sending four players to the 2012 game, two apiece in 2013, 2014 and 2015, then five each of the last two years. And with the 2018 Midsummer Classic taking place right on South Capitol Street, this is a golden opportunity for the franchise to showcase its depth of talent on a national stage. Now, if only a few more players could start making more a more serious case for themselves over the next month. Because right...

The Red Sox activated outfielder Mookie Betts from the disabled list today instead of sending him on an injury rehab assignment. The Orioles lineup is missing shortstop Manny Machado, who's battling an illness. Such is life for the teams residing in opposite ends of the division. Machado is the latest Orioles player to be felled by whatever is going around the clubhouse. Danny Valencia returned to the lineup tonight after missing yesterday's game in Toronto. "Manny's sick, as are a lot of...