David Hess is making his first major league start today with a chance to also make a lasting impression. The kind that keeps him with the Orioles beyond the doubleheader. Manager Buck Showalter provided another reminder that Hess isn't required to be optioned as the 26th man. He can stay with the club while someone else comes off the 25-man roster. He can move into the rotation. "Yes," Showalter said. "That's the way it works. You pitch good ... Yeah. This isn't something that's going to...

PHOENIX - With two games left to play, the Nationals have already locked up a winning record on this seven-game road trip through San Diego and Arizona. They'd like to do even better than that, though, and today they have an opportunity to take three in a row from the Diamondbacks, owners of the National League's best record to date. Stephen Strasburg takes the mound for this afternoon's game, looking to keep the train rolling after excellent starts the last two nights by Tanner Roark and...

Pedro Álvarez tested his right hamstring this morning with some light running on the field, but he remains out of the lineup for Game 1 of today's doubleheader against the Rays. The Orioles will use Mark Trumbo as their designated hitter. Álvarez came out of Thursday's game against the Royals after experiencing spasms and some cramping in the hamstring. "He moved around," said manager Buck Showalter. "We just got through doing some things. I was waiting on the lineup for a while to...

Chance Sisco is behind the plate today for Game 1 of the doubleheader against the Rays. Jace Peterson continues to play third base. Mark Trumbo is the designated hitter and Anthony Santander is in right field. Santander loses his Rule 5 status today and can be optioned to the minors without passing through waivers and being offered back to the Indians. It provides more roster flexibility for the Orioles. Center fielder Adam Jones is batting .379 (11-for-29) during his seven-game hitting streak....

Right-hander David Hess will make his major league debut this afternoon as the Orioles host Tampa Bay in Game 1 of a single-admission doubleheader. The Orioles (11-27) beat the Rays 11-6 last night as Manny Machado hit a grand slam, homered twice and drove in six runs. The Orioles have their first three-game win streak of the season and have outscored their opponents 25-13 in those games. The Orioles have scored 32 runs with 47 hits and hit 11 home runs in the four games on this homestand. In...

After Manny Machado had a huge game with two homers and six RBIs in a win over Tampa Bay last night, he took time to throw some props to his hitting coach Scott Coolbaugh. Machado said this during a live interview on MASN: "Working with Coolbaugh has been the key to the success this year. Going in the cage and doing my routine every day. Coolbaugh gave me the approach that I need. Staying on top of me every day and trying to stay with a routine. With him helping me out every day it's paying...

PHOENIX - For several years, Pedro Severino has been waiting for an opportunity to show the Nationals what he can do catching in the big leagues on a regular basis. And for several years, the Nats have been intrigued at the prospect of Severino playing on a regular basis but unwilling to go all-in on him while trying to contend for a title. They have no choice but to find out now. With Matt Wieters on the disabled list and expected to miss significant time with a strained hamstring, Severino...

PHOENIX - Max Scherzer likes to say that a starter's outings are most defined by his final 15 pitches. And so often that has been the case for the Nationals ace during his remarkable and sustained run of excellence. Sometimes, though, the most important pitches come earlier. Much earlier. As he proved tonight during the Nationals' 3-1 win over the Diamondbacks, Scherzer's first 15 pitches were far more important than his final 15. When Trea Turner led off the game with a home run to left,...

If you need a reminder or an explanation why the Orioles do everything in their power to play games despite threatening forecasts and weather, I give you today's single-admission doubleheader at Camden Yards and the potential to wreck a pitching staff. Both teams can bring up a 26th man and the Orioles chose David Hess, who also starts Game 1 against the Rays. Jimmy Yacabonis was recalled yesterday and could piggyback if needed. Miguel Castro threw 65 pitches on Thursday after replacing Chris...

With two home runs tonight, Orioles shortstop Manny Machado became the youngest player in Baltimore Orioles team history to hit 150 home runs. He drove in six runs in a 9-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. He connected for a two-run shot in the first and that was No. 149. He hit a grand slam in the seventh for an 8-1 lead and that was No. 150. "It is a great accomplishment," Machado said. "Beyond grateful. Words can't even describe how exciting that is in reaching that milestone. Doing it with...