O'Day's advice to Araujo: "Don't trip" (Jones walkoff homer)
O'Day's advice to Araujo: "Don't trip" (Jones walkoff homer)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Reliever Pedro Araujo, the Rule 5 pick who's making the jump from Single-A Myrtle Beach to the majors, came out of the Orioles bullpen for the first time this afternoon. It wasn't a save situation. Araujo didn't protect a slim lead and no one had to save him. Veteran Darren O'Day played the role of adviser to Araujo, with more tips to come later in the day. The first step was to make sure he didn't lose his footing upon being introduced to the crowd. "My first advice is don't trip going...
O's game blog: Dylan Bundy faces Twins in the opener
O's game blog: Dylan Bundy faces Twins in the opener
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Right-hander Dylan Bundy faces right-hander Jake Odorizzi this afternoon as the Orioles host Minnesota to begin their 65th season in Baltimore. The Orioles beat Toronto 3-2 in 11 innings on opening day last year. They won it on Mark Trumbo's walk-off homer. He won't hit one today as he begins the 2018 season on the disabled list. The Orioles are 42-22 all time on opening day. They have won seven in a row and 14 of their past 17 openers. They are 43-21 in their home openers over the...
Showalter on roster moves, Davis leading off and more
Showalter on roster moves, Davis leading off and more
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles set their 25-man roster today shortly before the noon deadline and the moves included the removals of pitchers Alec Asher, Stefan Crichton, Michael Kelly and Jesus Liranzo from the 40-man roster to accommodate Colby Rasmus, Danny Valencia, Pedro Álvarez and Craig Gentry. Four pitchers for four position players. "Our hope is that they clear and put them back in the system," said manager Buck Showalter. "If not them, then who? I know there was a lot of discussion back and forth....
Caleb Joseph said Dylan Bundy's calm demeanor will be big today
Caleb Joseph said Dylan Bundy's calm demeanor will be big today
Steve Melewski
Orioles
You have to figure that Orioles right-hander Dylan Bundy will be very excited to make his first opening day start today. But at the same time, this is a player that rarely shows emotion on the mound. How will he handle pitching on the big stage today against the Minnesota Twins? With no issues at all, predicted his catcher, Caleb Joseph. "He's fine," Joseph said. "A good old country boy from Oklahoma. I don't think he'll be too riled up. It is hard to get his blood pressure up anyway,...
Nationals announce 2018 opening day roster
Nationals announce 2018 opening day roster
Pete Kerzel
Nationals
The Washington Nationals announced their 2018 Opening Day roster on Thursday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. The Nationals 25-man roster is comprised of 13 pitchers, two catchers, six infielders, and four outfielders. CATCHERS (2): Matt Wieters, Miguel Montero INFIELDERS (6): Ryan Zimmerman, Howie Kendrick, Trea Turner, Anthony Rendon, Matt Adams, Wilmer Difo OUTFIELDERS (4): Adam Eaton, Michael A. Taylor, Bryce Harper, Brian...
Orioles finalize 25-man roster
Orioles finalize 25-man roster
Pete Kerzel
Orioles
The Orioles today announced several roster moves to finalize their 25-man roster. Two players have been placed on the 10-day disabled list: outfielder Mark Trumbo (retroactive to March 26 - right quad strain) and right-hander Gabriel Ynoa (retroactive to March 26 - right shin stress reaction). Left-hander Zach Britton is currently on the 60-day disabled list (since February 15 - right Achilles surgery). The Orioles have selected the contracts of infielder Pedro Álvarez, outfielder Craig...
Nationals finalize 25-man roster for opening day
Nationals finalize 25-man roster for opening day
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Though they won't play until Friday, the Nationals were nonetheless required to submit their opening day roster to Major League Baseball this morning along with the sport's 29 other clubs. The 25-man roster contains no surprises. The transactions the Nationals made Sunday night upon leaving West Palm Beach already revealed their intentions. The Nationals will carry an eight-man bullpen to open the season, with only four players on their bench. That arrangement could change in relatively short...
Orioles lineup includes Chris Davis leading off (with 40-man moves)
Orioles lineup includes Chris Davis leading off (with 40-man moves)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Chris Davis is leading off today for the Orioles as they open against the Twins at Camden Yards. It wasn't just talk and speculation. Davis has never batted first during the regular season. He had a handful of chances toward the end of spring training. Craig Gentry is in right field instead of Colby Rasmus, likely a concession to Twins starter Jake Odorizzi's reverse splits. However, Pedro Álvarez is the designated hitter. For the Orioles Chris Davis 1B Manny Machado SS Jonathan Schoop 2B...
"MASN All Access" podcast: Opening day, the rotation and expectations
"MASN All Access" podcast: Opening day, the rotation and expectations
Bobby Blanco
Orioles
A new baseball season means a new podcast! If you've been following along with MASNsports.com's previous Orioles podcast "Yard Work," we hope you continue to follow along with the new "MASN All Access" podcast. This new podcast will be all-encompassing under the umbrella of the "MASN All Access" Facebook Live show. "All Access" co-host and producer Paul Mancano will join me, "All Access" and social producer Bobby Blanco, twice a week for brand-new episodes all season long. Orioles...
2018 Nats media season predictions
2018 Nats media season predictions
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
So we always run this feature on opening day. It's a tradition, now in its ninth consecutive season, spanning three different websites. The idea is to reveal these predictions just before the Nationals take the field for their first game of the season. Just one problem: They're not playing today. (Thanks, Cincinnati weather!) Well, rather than postpone the publication of this season's media predictions - and thus have to come up with some other story idea I never planned for - I made the...