SAN FRANCISCO - It's not as warm here as it was a few hundred miles down the coast over the weekend, but it's no less pleasant as the Nationals shift from Los Angeles to San Francisco for the final leg of their road trip. After dropping two-of-three in frustrating fashion to the Dodgers, the Nats have a chance to come home with a winning record on the trip if they can take two-of-three from the Giants, who still are without Madison Bumgarner. It'll be right-hander Chris Stratton (owner of a...

Trey Mancini is testing his right knee today by performing baseball activities on the field, and he's hoping to get back into the lineup Tuesday night against the Rays at Camden Yards. Mancini said the knee no longer hurts when he walks and there's just a hint of stiffness, but nothing that suggests a longer stint on the bench. "We'll have a good feel after BP about how close he is, and even his availability tonight," said manager Buck Showalter. Mancini will return to his role as leadoff...

For the fourth time in his career, the Orioles' Manny Machado is the winner of the American League Player of the Week award. This time he shares the honor with A's pitcher Sean Manaea after he no-hit Boston on Saturday night. Machado posted a slash line of .500/.560/1.273 (11-for-22) with seven runs scored, 11 hits, two doubles, five home runs and eight RBIs over six games through Sunday. It is his first POTW honor since last August. "It is always an honor to receive this award for all the...

Danny Valencia is starting at third base tonight for the Orioles and Tim Beckham has moved to second. Beckham is leading off while Trey Mancini remains out of the lineup. Chance Sisco is catching and batting seventh, and Anthony Santander is in right field. Craig Gentry is in left, but he's moved down to ninth in the order. Closer Zach Britton performed more fielding drills today before batting practice. He covered first base and handled "bunts" from head athletic trainer Brian Ebel. For the...

Orioles shortstop Manny Machado and Athletics left-hander Sean Manaea have been named co-Players of the Week in the American League. One guy can't stop getting hits and the other didn't allow any in his most recent start. Machado batted .500/.560/1.273 (11-for-22) over six games with two doubles, five home runs, eight RBIs and seven runs scored to earn his fourth AL Player of the Week Award. He's currently riding a 10-game hitting streak. Among league leaders, Machado ranked first in homers,...

In recognition of National Autism Awareness Month, the Orioles will partner with Autism Speaks to host Autism Awareness Day on Thursday, April 26, when the Orioles take on the Tampa Bay Rays at 7:05 p.m. ET. Discounted Upper Reserve tickets are available for purchase at www.orioles.com/autism, with $5 for every ticket sold benefitting Autism Speaks, the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization. Autism Speaks is dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention,...

Manager: Kevin Cash (4th season) Record: 8-13 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: CF Mallex Smith (.344/.412/.871) 1B C.J. Cron (5 HR, 13 RBIs), OF Denard Span (17 RBIs), 2B Daniel Robertson (.318), RHP Blake Snell (3-1, 2.54 ERA) Season series vs. Orioles: First meeting (11-8 in 2017) Pitching probables: April 24: RHP Jake Faria (1-1) vs. RHP Alex Cobb (0-2), 7:05 p.m., MASNApril 25: RHP Chris Archer (1-1) vs. RHP Dylan Bundy (1-2), 7:05 p.m., MASN2April 26: RHP Blake Snell (3-1) vs. Chris...

The bullpen will be a huge key as to how far the Nationals go this season and how their final month ends up. The big three of Ryan Madson, Brandon Kintzler and Sean Doolittle are the critical players, but guys like Sammy Solís, Shawn Kelley, Matt Grace and Trevor Gott will get their share of opportunities to be difference makers as well. How important the bullpen will be was never more impactful to the season than on display Sunday night in their 4-3 loss to the Dodgers. The club was unable...

LOS ANGELES - The Nationals head to San Francisco for the final leg of their three-city road trip with a 10-12 record that feels like it should at least be flipped around, if not even better than that. The Nats are 1-5 in one-run games so far this season, the lone victory coming way back in the opening series in Cincinnati after Sean Doolittle gave up a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth before hanging on. Surely they could have pulled out wins in a couple of those tight ballgames had...

LOS ANGELES - There's no shame losing two of three at Dodger Stadium to the defending National League champs. The Nationals shouldn't walk out of here with heads hung low. Yet after beating Clayton Kershaw in Friday's opener and then getting a gem from Stephen Strasburg on Saturday and then holding a three-run lead in the sixth inning tonight, this weekend felt like something of a missed opportunity, capped by a 4-3 loss in the Sunday night finale. "You always want to win games, especially...