Orioles manager Buck Showalter expects to keep rookie Cedric Mullins in center field and Adam Jones in right beyond tonight's series opener against the Red Sox at Camden Yards. Showalter won't go back and forth unless circumstances force him to adjust the plan. "Adam will play right and Cedric will play center," Showalter said. "That's the way I perceive it. Something happens with Cedric, we'll see. If something happens with Adam. I hope nothing does. "Adam's playing right field today...

CHICAGO - The stakes perhaps felt a little higher, given the opposition, the location and all the familiar faces that have worn both clubs' uniforms in the last two seasons. But today's series opener at Wrigley Field felt remarkably familiar for a Nationals team that has found itself in situations just like this all summer long and consistently has shown itself unable to emerge victorious. Early offense, but a bunch of squandered opportunities to tack on needed runs later? Check. Dominance...

Orioles fans may have been anticipating the call-up of outfielder Cedric Mullins for weeks. But Mullins himself said he didn't think too much about it. That was until after the Triple-A Norfolk game yesterday afternoon. "R.J. (Norfolk manager Ron Johnson) called me into his office to ask me how I was feeling. Because I didn't play that day (after being ill). I said, 'I'm feeing good.' He said, 'Guess what, you're going to be feeling great. You're going to the bigs.' Kind of caught me...

CHICAGO - The Nationals are hitting singles and doubles against Kyle Hendricks so far today, and reaping the benefits of it. The Cubs are trying to hit homers off Jeremy Hellickson, and paying the price on a windy day at Wrigley Field. Four innings into the opener of a key weekend series, the Nationals hold a 2-0 lead thanks to six hits off Hendricks (five singles and a double) and zeroes off Hellickson (despite two deep drives that probably would've been homers under different weather...

Cedric Mullins is in the Orioles' lineup tonight to make his major league debut, and he's starting in center field. Adam Jones is shifting to right field for the series opener against the Red Sox at Camden Yards. Mullins said they've been in constant contact and Jones is supportive of the change. Mullins is batting ninth. Jonathan Villar is leading off. Jones sent out a tweet about 15 minutes ago that read: "End of an Era!!!! Embrace Change!!!!" Mullins will wear No. 3 after having his...

Outfielder Cedric Mullins is at Camden Yards today and the Orioles are expected to select his contract from Triple-A Norfolk in a roster move that's been anticipated for much of the summer. Mullins has missed the last three games with Triple-A Norfolk due to an illness. He's batting a combined .288/.346/.465 in 108 games with Double-A Bowie (49) and Norfolk (59). The Orioles promoted Mullins to Norfolk after he batted .313/.362/.512 with 12 doubles, five triples, six home runs and 28 RBIs...

CHICAGO - Stephen Strasburg is ramping up his throwing program, but the right-hander still appears to be at least two weeks away from rejoining the Nationals rotation. Strasburg, who has made only one start since June 8 due to shoulder and neck ailments, is slated to throw a "heavy" bullpen session Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field. If that goes well, manager Davey Martinez said he'll throw a simulated game on Wednesday in St. Louis. And then if that goes well, he'll make a minor league...

CHICAGO - It's a warm, sunny day at the corner of Clark and Addison, but the wind's actually blowing in, a rarity at Wrigley Field given the other conditions. That could help keep the ball in the park, which of course benefits the pitchers in today's series opener between the Nationals and Cubs. Jeremy Hellickson is the kind of pitcher who looks for groundballs, so he won't complain about the conditions this afternoon. The right-hander still faces a stiff challenge, of course, in the Cubs...

On Wednesday evening, I was fortunate enough to spend my birthday attending the Nationals game and to sit with Bob Carpenter and F.P. Santangelo in the MASN broadcast booth from the second through the fifth innings. You might assume my lofty position as a MASNsports.com guest blogger was my ticket to this invitation, but actually, several months back at the Nats Clubhouse Social event, I was the lucky winner of this opportunity as a raffle prize. As a diehard baseball fan that has spent a bit...

Tim Beckham took the Orioles by storm last season. The shortstop was acquired at the 2017 trade deadline from the Tampa Bay Rays for 18-year-old right hander Tobias Myers, who was pitching in Aberdeen at that time. In his first 20 games in Baltimore, Beckham slashed a ridiculous .424/.443/.741 with eight doubles, five home runs and 12 RBIs. A change of scenery seemed to be exactly what Beckham needed. Quite possibly the best part about acquiring Beckham was that he wasn't just a rental for Dan...