ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles knocked out the starting pitcher tonight after only two-thirds of an inning. They scored one run. A quick hook or a quirky plan by the opposition? Go with the latter. The Rays continue to use relievers as starters, tabbing Sergio Romo for tonight and Sunday afternoon. The Orioles turned to prospect David Hess, the more conventional move, and he responded with 6 2/3 scoreless innings in a 2-0 victory at Tropicana Field. The Orioles have won back-to-back road...

MIAMI - Manager Davey Martinez spoke before Friday's game about how hard Michael A. Taylor has been working on having quality at-bats as he attempts to get out of a rough patch at the plate. Taylor was hitting only .157 with 22 strikeouts in his last 15 games. During batting practice, Taylor showed aggression in his swing with back-to-back homers over the center field wall, well past the 407-foot marker. That seemingly transferred to the game. In the second, facing Marlins starter José...

MIAMI - The Nationals on Friday selected the contract of right-hander Justin Miller. The 30-year-old reliever had impressed the club in the offseason and then pitched well at Triple-A Syracuse to earn the promotion. Miller has spent three years in the majors - eight games with the Tigers and 74 games with the Rockies from 2014 to 2016. He also has pitched in all or parts of eight minor league seasons. "Very impressive. Known him for a while," said Nationals manager Davey Martinez. "He's...

MIAMI - After missing the first two months of the season due to knee surgery recovery, second baseman Daniel Murphy will begin his rehab assignment with Double-A Harrisburg tomorrow at home against Altoona, Nationals manager Davey Martinez announced this afternoon. The Senators are home through Monday against the Curve, then travel to Hartford. Martinez said that outfielder Brian Goodwin is also healthy enough to join Murphy with Harrisburg to begin his rehab assignment. "That's great news...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - With Mark Trumbo likely to be out at least another three days after receiving a cortisone injection in his right knee, the Orioles are expected to place him on the disabled list following tonight's game against the Rays at Tropicana Field. A decision will be made whether to call up a pitcher or position player. There could be multiple moves if the Orioles option starter David Hess, though they'd prefer to hold onto him. Manager Buck Showalter is playing with a short...

MIAMI - The Nationals have selected the contract of right-hander Justin Miller, who has pitched for the Tigers and the Rockies but hasn't been in the majors since 2016. He takes the roster spot vacated by right-hander Erick Fedde, who was sent back to Triple-A Syracuse following his start Wednesday against the Padres. Miller, 30, is 6-foot-3, 215 lbs., and his best season was 2015, when he went 3-3 with one save and a 4.05 ERA in 34 games with the Rockies. He struck out 38 in 33 1/3 innings of...

The Washington Nationals selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Justin Miller on Friday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Miller, 30, joins the Nationals after tossing 13.2 innings of scoreless relief across nine appearances out of Triple-A Syracuse's bullpen. He struck out 23 batters, issued three walks and surrendered just three hits (3-for-43) along the way. Miller tossed more than 1.0 inning of relief in six of the...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Mark Trumbo said the MRI on his knee this morning showed some "fairly advanced arthritis" and the usual "wear and tear." No structural damage. He expects to receive a cortisone injection - and perhaps have the knee drained - and could be available in a few days. Trumbo is listed among the reserves for tonight's series opener against the Rays. Trey Mancini is the designated hitter and Craig Gentry is in left field. Chris Davis is batting sixth. It's a right-handed...

The Orioles begin the final stop on their three-city road trip tonight when they open a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Thursday's 9-3 win at Chicago was just the third in the last 20 road games for the Orioles, who are 16-34 through 50 games and 6-21 on the road. The trip began with the Orioles losing three of four at Boston and then splitting four in Chicago. The Orioles and White Sox each posted a 3-2 win and a blowout victory in the series. Right-hander...

Jonathan Schoop took a huge step forward at the plate for the Orioles last season. The second baseman earned his first trip to the All-Star Game and slashed .293/.338/.503 while totaling a team-high 3.8 fWAR (5.2 on Baseball-Reference.com). Schoop was 25, turning 26 in October, and chatter began about him becoming a cornerstone upon which the Orioles could build their next winning franchise around. He played 160 games in 2017 after iron-manning through 162 the previous season. Schoop saw...