Most of the buzz with the Nationals' lineup change Tuesday was centered around Bryce Harper batting first. He came through with a dramatic three-run shot. But Matt Adams had one of his biggest nights offensively with his new team, going 3-for-4 with two homers, three runs and three RBIs. It was the sixth multi-home run game of his career. Ironically, the last time he pulled off the feat of two homers in a game was against the Nationals on June 12, 2017, as a member of the Braves in a 11-10...

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Mark Trumbo only got 23 at-bats in spring training before he was shut down with a right quad strain. He recently resumed playing on the farm and got in a few at-bats for Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk. Officially on the disabled list since March 26, his season begins for real tonight. He was activated before tonight's game and is batting sixth as the designated hitter tonight in Anaheim, where he grew up and where he also played from 2010 to 2013 for the Angels. It's...

Tom Hamilton is the "Voice of the Tribe" - the radio voice of the Indians. He is in his 28th year with the team and is one of the reasons working in this business is so much fun. Laughing with Tom, who carriers a magical sense of humor, is worth a least a month longer in your life. He had the entire crew in the booth laughing and falling in love with him in a matter of minutes. That's Tom. I was delighted he joined me to talk about his favorite book, "When Pride Still Mattered" by David...

Who knew the best way to induce an offensive explosion from the Nationals' lineup was to move Bryce Harper to the leadoff position, Matt Adams into Harper's customary No. 3 spot and drop Wilmer Difo to ninth? Hey, as manager Davey Martinez said the afternoon when asked about the unconventional decision to stick Harper at the top of his lineup: "Why not?" It may not become a permanent thing, but it certainly worked just fine tonight. Behind Harper's three-run blast, Adams' pair of solo...

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter doesn't miss much, so it is safe to assume he's seen and/or read a few things about shortstop Manny Machado in the last 24 hours. The Los Angeles Dodgers lost Corey Seager for the year and now some feel they will pursue Machado via the trade route. But the skipper said today he is not paying much attention to such talk. "I haven't (watched it). In my office, I have the sound off for a reason," he said. "It is not a subject matter in our...

ANAHEIM, Calif. - He was the subject of constant speculation and trade rumors on Monday, but the one person that didn't seem to pay much attention to them was Orioles shortstop Manny Machado. "I didn't read up on it," Machado said this afternoon in the Orioles clubhouse. "I was trying to enjoy my day off as much as I can, laying in bed watching my TV shows. At the end of day, just getting ready to play today. I did not watch baseball at all yesterday." If he had, he would have seen his...

The NFL draft is over, leaving Orioles outfielder Anthony Santander alone on the clock. Santander had to stay in the majors for the first 44 days of the season to lose his Rule 5 status and allow the Orioles to option him to the minors. No need to put him on waivers or offer him back to the Indians, who gladly would take him. Manager Buck Showalter rattled off the date recently while talking about Santander's development. The calendar has included a circle around May 12. Does he stay or does...

The Nationals get on the board first on a home run from an unlikely source. Third baseman Wilmer Difo, batting out of the No. 9 hole, crushed a Chad Kuhl pitch over the right-center field wall in the bottom of the third. It was Difo's first home run since August 30, 2017, against Miami. Trea Turner reached on a fielding error by third baseman Colin Moran. But for the first time this season, Turner was caught stealing on a throw from catcher Francisco Cervelli to shortstop Jordy Mercer at...

Chris Davis has returned to the Orioles lineup tonight, batting seventh as the first baseman. Davis sat out the last two games against the Tigers at Camden Yards. Pedro Álvarez remains at third base, with Danny Valencia on the bench. Mark Trumbo is the designated hitter after coming off the disabled list earlier today. Chance Sisco is behind the plate to catch Alex Cobb. On this date in 1970, Terry Crowley hit his first career home run, a shot off Twins right-hander and Baltimore native Dave...

This week, I wanted to shift gears, just like the weather finally seems to be, and focus on some fun things going on at some of the Orioles' minor league affiliates' ballparks this weekend. Three of the four O's full-season affiliates will be home this weekend, with the high Single-A Frederick Keys being the lone affiliate on the road. The Triple-A Norfolk Tides, Double-A Bowie Baysox and low Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds will all be home and there is a lot of fun to be had at their...