You know the Nationals are trending towards their 2017 version when a quality start by their top starting pitcher doesn't make headlines thanks to their powerful offense awakening for the first time in six days. The Nats pummeled the Pirates 12-4 behind four homers, two from Matt Adams, one from Wilmer Difo and powerful three-run shot from Bryce Harper. By the way, Max Scherzer pitched 6 1/3 innings and allowed two runs on three hits. He registered eight strikeouts and two walks in 106...

ANAHEIM, Calif. - On a chilly night in southern California, the Orioles saw both their losses and frustrations continue to mount. It was another night with not much offense. It was another night where reliever Brad Brach struggled. Those two points headlined their walk-off 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels that was the opener of a six-game road trip. But let's at least start on a positive note. Right-hander Alex Cobb began the night with an ERA of 13.11 and a .484 batting average against....

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Orioles right-hander Alex Cobb pitched much better. He seemed headed for a tough-luck loss until the Orioles offense finally came to life in the ninth. But the runs in the ninth only gave the Angels a chance for a walk-off win, which they produced in the last of the ninth. With one out, Brad Brach came on and allowed two straight singles and a walk to Mike Trout. That brought up Justin Upton, who lined an 0-2 single to left to end it as the Los Angeles Angels won 3-2. The...

Sammy Solís and the Law Firm have been able to sit back with their shades on while the rest of the Nationals bullpen has been in and out of a revolving door. The bullpen has been less than consistent this year, not just in its performance, but in its personnel. Due to injuries, call-ups, and players being designated for assignment, the supporting cast has been changing all year. The question is, after everyone is properly healthy, who should stay? Sean Doolittle, Ryan Madson and Brandon...

Davey Martinez had Wilmer Difo bat ninth Tuesday night with a specific goal in mind, especially with Bryce Harper batting leadoff for the first time in five years. "Hey, you got one job to do," the Nationals manager told his young infielder. "And that's get on base." Well, technically speaking, Difo did get on base in his first at-bat. He just never stopped rounding them after launching a solo homer into the right-center field stands. "He hit the home run, he said: 'I got this guy!'"...

Bryce Harper was out on the field at 3 p.m. today, joining injured teammates Anthony Rendon and Daniel Murphy for a round of early batting practice. It's the kind of a thing a player does when he's struggling, when he needs to work on some specific techniques or change his mechanics. For Harper, the early BP session had a simpler purpose. "Just hit some homers," he said. "Get some balls over the plate and do some damage." When opposing pitchers are giving you nothing to swing at all...

Most of the buzz with the Nationals' lineup change Tuesday was centered around Bryce Harper batting first. He came through with a dramatic three-run shot. But Matt Adams had one of his biggest nights offensively with his new team, going 3-for-4 with two homers, three runs and three RBIs. It was the sixth multi-home run game of his career. Ironically, the last time he pulled off the feat of two homers in a game was against the Nationals on June 12, 2017, as a member of the Braves in a 11-10...

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Mark Trumbo only got 23 at-bats in spring training before he was shut down with a right quad strain. He recently resumed playing on the farm and got in a few at-bats for Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk. Officially on the disabled list since March 26, his season begins for real tonight. He was activated before tonight's game and is batting sixth as the designated hitter tonight in Anaheim, where he grew up and where he also played from 2010 to 2013 for the Angels. It's...

Tom Hamilton is the "Voice of the Tribe" - the radio voice of the Indians. He is in his 28th year with the team and is one of the reasons working in this business is so much fun. Laughing with Tom, who carriers a magical sense of humor, is worth a least a month longer in your life. He had the entire crew in the booth laughing and falling in love with him in a matter of minutes. That's Tom. I was delighted he joined me to talk about his favorite book, "When Pride Still Mattered" by David...

Who knew the best way to induce an offensive explosion from the Nationals' lineup was to move Bryce Harper to the leadoff position, Matt Adams into Harper's customary No. 3 spot and drop Wilmer Difo to ninth? Hey, as manager Davey Martinez said the afternoon when asked about the unconventional decision to stick Harper at the top of his lineup: "Why not?" It may not become a permanent thing, but it certainly worked just fine tonight. Behind Harper's three-run blast, Adams' pair of solo...