CINCINNATI - To the best of my knowledge, the Nationals have batted the pitcher eighth only 11 times in club history. All of those came in succession during a stretch in June 2011, when then-manager Jim Riggleman didn't have a real viable leadoff hitter and decided to just bump everyone else up a slot and have Jayson Werth at the top. The Nats proceeded to win 10 of those 11 games, at which point Riggleman decided to resign over a contract dispute. The Nationals haven't batted the pitcher...

It is almost time for the last game of the first series of the year for the Orioles. They beat Minnesota 3-2 on Adam Jones' walk-off homer in the 11th on Thursday. Last night, they were no-hit into the eighth in a 6-2 Twins win. On the mound today, Orioles right-hander Kevin Gausman (11-12, 4.68 ERA in 2017) faces Twins right-hander José Berríos (14-8, 3.89 ERA in 2017). Gausman made a career-high 34 starts last season, which tied Tampa Bay's Chris Archer for the most in the majors....

A peek ahead to upcoming roster adjustments for the Orioles must include designated hitter Mark Trumbo, who's making significant progress in his recovery from a Grade 2 strain of his right quadriceps muscle. Trumbo will fly down to Sarasota after today's game and take batting practice on Monday. He could play in his first extended spring training game on Friday. "See how everything checks out and keep going," he said. Trumbo said he could come off the disabled list "fairly soon." "Need...

Manager: Brian Snitkner (3rd season) Record: 2-1 Who to watch (2017 stats): 1B Freddie Freeman (.307/.403/.586 with 28 HR, 71 RBIs), CF Ender Inciarte (.304, 22 SB), RF Nick Markakis (.275, 76 RBIs), RHP Julio Teheran (11-13, 4.49 ERA), RHP Arodys Vizcaino (.283 ERA, 14 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (9-10 in 2017) Pitching probables: April 2: RHP Tanner Roark (13-11, 4.67 ERA in 2017) vs. LHP Sean Newcomb (4-9, 4.32 ERA in 2017), 7:35 p.m., MASN2 April 3: RHP A.J. Cole...

Chance Sisco is behind the plate this afternoon and Chris Davis remains atop the order, as the Orioles close out their series against the Twins at Camden Yards. Pedro Álvarez is the designated hitter. Colby Rasmus is in right field. For the Orioles Chris Davis 1B Manny Machado SS Jonathan 2B Adam Jones CF Trey Mancini LF Colby Rasmus RF Tim Beckham 3B Pedro Alvarez DH Chance Sisco C Kevin Gausman RHP Closer Zach Britton did some light jogging this morning and walked around the warning track...

In the span of three innings last night, the Orioles saw two Rule 5 pitchers make their major league debuts. And they did fine, as Nestor Cortes Jr. and Pedro Araujo combined to allow one run over three innings in the Orioles' 6-2 loss to Minnesota. A 23-year-old lefty, Cortes pitched at three levels on the Yankees farm in 2017, reaching Triple-A. He went a combined 7-4 with a 2.06 ERA and was an Eastern League All-Star at Double-A Trenton. He came on in the sixth, and two walks and a single...

CINCINNATI - Brian Goodwin got to be a part of some significant moments last year, the first time the young outfielder was on a big league roster for an extended stretch. He led off two games for the Nationals with home runs. He gave his team late leads with clutch hits. He made the postseason roster. When asked Saturday where his ninth-inning grand slam during the Nats' 13-7 win over the Reds would rank among career highlights, though, Goodwin couldn't come up with anything better. "It's...

If you're playing starting time bingo, your card is going to fill up in a hurry. First pitch on opening day at Camden Yards was scheduled for 3:05 p.m. Last night's game was set for 7:05 p.m. Today's series finale begins at 1:05 p.m. - 30 minutes earlier than past Sunday home games. The Orioles travel to Houston next week for a three-games series with starting times of 7:10 p.m., 8:10 p.m. and 2:10 p.m. EDT. They play four games in New York, with the opener set to begin at 6:35 p.m. Seven...

On a night when the Orioles got just three hits - none in the first seven innings - their starting pitcher gave up three home runs. That was a not a good combination as Minnesota beat the Orioles 6-2 at chilly Camden Yards. Making his Orioles debut tonight, right-hander Andrew Cashner gave up the trio of homers. Over five innings he allowed six hits and five runs (four earned) on 79 pitches. Not once last year did he yield three homers in a game and he only had two games among 28 starts in...

The Orioles followed a dramatic 11th-inning walk-off home run on opening day by almost being no-hit tonight by the Twins. Kyle Gibson handled the first six innings, walking five batters and throwing 102 pitches. Ryan Pressly retired the first five batters he faced, but he walked Manny Machado with two outs in the eighth and Jonathan Schoop grounded a single up the middle on the next pitch, an 89 mph slider that got through the infield and drew an ovation for what remained of an announced crowd...