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The Nationals had an historic start to the season, winning their first four games and leading for 36 straight innings. But they dropped the final two games in Atlanta to finish the season's first road trip 4-2.
So what went right and what went wrong over the season's first six games? Who impressed and who didn't? Paul Mancano and I are back on the "MASN All Access" podcast to break down the Nats' impressive trip through Cincinnati and Atlanta before the team comes back to open the home...
HOUSTON - The Orioles were hoping opening day starter Dylan Bundy could give them a big effort today and take them deep into the game. If he could, they might leave Houston with at least one win.
Bundy pitched well and through the sixth inning. But as they did all series, the Astros came up with offense when they needed it. They pushed across a run against reliever Miguel Castro in the last of the seventh to snap a 2-2 tie and pick up a 3-2 win.
Houston (6-1) sweeps the three-game series. It's...
ATLANTA - The Braves took advantage of an early fielding mistake by the Nationals and a rare uneven performance from Max Scherzer in a 7-1 series-clinching victory at SunTrust Park on Wednesday.
It was the first series loss of the season for the Nats. Both teams are 4-2, and are tied for second place in the National League East.
Spurred by another three-run homer from Preston Tucker, the Braves raced out to a 3-0 lead. Tucker had a three-run shot in Tuesday's 13-6 Atlanta victory.
Tucker got...
Alex Cobb's progression toward his Orioles debut continued today without a hitch at the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota.
Facing a batch of Orioles minor leaguers and Mark Trumbo, who's rehabbing his strained right quadriceps muscle, Cobb worked five innings and allowed one run and three hits with two walks and four strikeouts. A club official also passed along that Cobb threw 74 pitches.
The progress is significant on multiple fronts.
Cobb increased his innings total from four to five...
HOUSTON - Outfielder Colby Rasmus has not gotten off to a hot hitting start for the Orioles. He has a lot of company in that regard.
He is 1-for-13 and has struck out eight times. This after he hit .281/.318/.579 in 37 games with Tampa Bay in 2017 with nine homers and 23 RBIs. He figures to see a lot of time in right field this season, but is not starting today versus the Houston lefty Dallas Keuchel.
But it's clear that Houston fans like Rasmus. He played here in 2015 and 2016 and got a real...
We return now to noir. That genre of writing also referred to as "hardboiled," "tabloid murder" and "lose/lose fiction."
James Cain is considered by many to be the writer who most influenced these noir works in the U.S. along with Raymond Chandler ("The Big Sleep") and Dashiell Hammett ("The Maltese Falcon").
His seminal works include "Double Indemnity" and "The Postman Always Rings Twice." These are considered classic writings not only in the noir field, but in fiction...
Manager: Aaron Boone (1st season)
Record: 4-2
Last 10 games: 4-2
Who to watch (2017 stats): OF/DH Giancarlo Stanton (59 HR, 132 RBIs with 1.007 OPS), RF Aaron Judge (52 HR, 114 RBIs with 1.049 OPS), C Gary Sánchez (33 HR, 90 RBIs), LHP CC Sabathia (14-5, 3.69 ERA), LHP Aroldis Chapman (3.22 ERA, 22 saves)
Season series vs. Orioles: First meeting (12-7 in 2017)
Pitching probables:
April 5: RHP Andrew Cashner vs. RHP Masahiro Tanaka, 6:35 p.m., MASN April 6: RHP Kevin Gausman vs. LHP CC...
HOUSTON - Orioles first baseman Chris Davis is not in the starting lineup today against Houston left-hander Dallas Keuchel.
Davis is 1-for-8 in this series and 1-for-20 (.050) with no homers or RBIs on the season. He was 0-for-5 last night with four strikeouts after having struck out just once in the season's first four games.
Manager Buck Showalter said Davis is fine physically after he dealt with a right forearm/elbow issue during spring training.
So just a day off for Davis?
"For the most...
Competitive youth travel baseball is big business, and Sarasota County is earning its share as the Orioles continue to recruit weekend and four-day tournaments that showcase young ballplayers for scouts and colleges. More than 50 event days are already booked by out-of-town clients for 2018, with more in the pipeline.
"Some of the nation's most respected tournament organizations are lining up to bring events to the Orioles' fields at the Buck O'Neil Baseball Complex at Twin Lakes Park and...