ATLANTA - Some odds and ends to get you going on this Saturday morning before the Nationals and Braves return for a 4:10 p.m. game at SunTrust Park ... * The bottom of the seventh last night, in which the Braves scored all four of their runs, obviously was the decisive inning of the game. How rare, though, was that outburst against Stephen Strasburg? Extremely. Though many longtime fans will recall how Strasburg used to struggle in Atlanta, the right-hander had completely reversed that...

It has not exactly been an organizational mandate or philosophy, but the Orioles have selected more high school players than college players in the first five rounds of the draft over the last five years. High school kids can have more upside and can get to the majors at a younger age, sometimes than their college counterparts, who may be 21 or older in some cases when drafted. According to this report from Baseball America, the Orioles selected a high school player with 59.3 percent of their...

ATLANTA - Stephen Strasburg felt like he made only one mistake, a curveball down in the zone but over the plate to Dansby Swanson with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Then again, one mistake was all it took for the Nationals to drop tonight's game to the Braves, who rode a two-hit shutout from Mike Foltynewicz to a 4-0 victory and a second straight win to begin this weekend's National League East showdown. "We couldn't get nothing going," manager Davey Martinez said. "Our guy was...

There will come a point later this month when the Orioles' bullpen includes Zach Britton and Darren O'Day. Together at the same time. Maybe it's not too late to produce dual bobbleheads for the occasion. Britton hasn't pitched this season after undergoing Achilles surgery back in December. O'Day's been on the disabled list since May 6 after a teammate ran into him in the bullpen and hyperextended his right elbow. (A perfect symbol of the 2018 season.) If the Orioles stick with a seven-man...

A shot up the middle deflects off Andrew Cashner's glove and finds the grass in center field. A fly ball to deep center hits the heel of Adam Jones' glove as he attempts a leaping catch, his face smacking into the padded fence as the tie-breaking run scores on a triple. Same inning. Same result at the end. The Orioles couldn't catch a couple of balls or any breaks. They also couldn't score much against struggling Yankees starter Sonny Gray, who held them to one run over six innings in a 4-1...

ATLANTA - For six innings they dueled, Stephen Strasburg and Mike Foltynewicz posting up zero after zero, neither willing to give in on a muggy Friday night at SunTrust Park. Somebody, though, had to give in at some point. That somebody was Strasburg. And that point was the bottom of the seventh, the decisive frame that turned a brilliant pitchers' duel into a 4-0 Nationals loss to a young Braves team that can only feel emboldened after taking the first two games of this big weekend...

After Thursday's rainout, the Orioles and Yankees will begin their series tonight at Camden Yards. What was to be a four-game series is down to three at this point with the rained out game set to be made up on July 9 as part of a single-admission doubleheader. On the mound tonight for the Orioles is right-hander Andrew Cashner (2-6, 5.07 ERA) who will be making his 12th start. While he pitched to a 2.50 ERA in his first three starts, he is 1-5 with a 6.17 ERA over his last eight, allowing 58...

ATLANTA - The Nationals outfield received a boost today with Brian Goodwin's return from the disabled list, and another boost is likely coming next week when Adam Eaton expects to return from his ankle surgery. All of which leaves Davey Martinez facing some questions about how he intends to divvy up playing time among, in theory, five outfielders with only three positions to fill. Goodwin was activated off the DL this afternoon, the injured left wrist that sidelined him more than seven weeks...

The Orioles optioned left-hander Donnie Hart to Triple-A Norfolk this afternoon to make room for infielder Danny Valencia's return from paternity leave. The bench is back to four players and the bullpen is down to two southpaws. Valencia is available to play tonight. "He'll take some swings, take some swings and get back in it," said manager Buck Showalter. "He's been away really for three days. Been a pretty lack of sleep three days, as some of you fathers know. You'll probably see him...

The Orioles' afternoon clubhouse had a reunion feel to it with outfielder Colby Rasmus and third baseman Tim Beckham at their respective lockers before batting practice. Rasmus was packing his oversized bag for the drive to Prince George's Stadium, where he begins his rehab assignment with Double-A Bowie. Closer Zach Britton will pitch for the Baysox tonight due to weather concerns in Norfolk. Britton will work an inning sometime after starter Hunter Harvey completes his three scheduled...