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NEW YORK - In his first regular-season game of 2018, Jeremy Hellickson was hit around by the Mets in each of the five innings he pitched in.
Hellickson hadn't pitched in a game that counted since last Sept. 23, when he was a starter for the Orioles against the Rays.
Over the last month, he has been getting stretched out in warm-up games and side sessions from the Nationals' facility in West Palm Beach, Fla.
He returned last night and kept his new team in the game, a game they would eventually...
NEW YORK - Nationals manager Davey Martinez had good news on top prospect Victor Robles, who suffered a hyperextended left elbow attempting to make a diving catch in shallow center field in a Triple-A game last Monday in Rochester, N.Y.
There had been concern that Robles had broken his elbow or had suffered ligament damage. But Martinez announced after Monday's 8-6 win over the Mets that Robles is in better shape than most had thought.
"Robles is not needing surgery at this point," Martinez...
NEW YORK - The Mets led the Nationals 6-1 after seven innings. Their lead was based on timely hits, power strikes, costly mistakes by the Nats and a vintage pitching performance from right-hander Jacob deGrom.
It all seemed like a night for the Mets again until Moisés Sierra battled deGrom to a single to begin the eighth for Washington.
Then the Nats produced their most dramatic comeback to date, scoring six runs on five hits in that eighth frame. The Mets had to employ five pitchers in the...
Can a pitcher who doesn't throw very hard or strike out many batters succeed in the major leagues? Orioles reliever Richard Bleier is sure making it work yet again this season.
The lefty, who turned 31 yesterday, went 2-1 with a 1.99 ERA in 2017. It was a pretty strong first season as an Oriole. So far this year, he has allowed 10 hits and one run for an ERA of 0.75 over 12 innings.
Bleier features a heavy dose of sinkers and sliders and pitches often at 88 and 89 mph. Last year, he averaged...
FLUSHING, NY - Bryce Harper launched a broken-bat home run on a line drive over the right-center field wall in the top of the first. All that was left of the bat was a small portion of the handle.
The rest of the bat flew into the netting close to the Mets dugout. The solo shot was his eighth of the season and came on the first pitch from Mets starter Jacob deGrom.
The Mets tied the game in the bottom of the first on a double by Michael Conforto which was followed by a RBI single from Todd...
NEW YORK - Third baseman Anthony Rendon is not available for tonight's first game of a critical series against the first-place Mets with a sore left big toe.
"Rendon's toe is still sore," said Nationals manager Davey Martinez. "Just got to play it out and see what happens. He says he's getting a little better, but at this point he's still pretty sore."
Is a disabled list visit in the offing for Rendon? Martinez said not yet.
"Right now, we're just trying to see what ... it's the...
I had to dig my glove out of basement storage after arriving home late last night - flight delays providing the appropriate ending to the trip - to handle all the questions about the Orioles that have been hit to me. The experience is making me a contender for a job as utility infielder.
What's wrong with the rotation? What's wrong with the offense? What's wrong with the defense?
Otherwise, everything is good through the first 16 games of the season.
I'm not fretting over the rotation...
Manager: Ron Gardenhire (1st year)
Record: 4-9
Last 10 games: 4-6
Who to watch: 1B Miguel Cabrera (.245/.309/.367, 3 doubles), 2B Dixon Machado (7 doubles, 8 RBIs), 3B Jeimer Candelario (4 doubles, 1 HR), RF Nicholas Castellanos (.302/.362/.415, 2 triples), RHP Jordan Zimmermann (0-0, 8.18 ERA), RHP Shane Greene (3.86 ERA, 2 saves)
Season series vs. Orioles: First meeting (4-3 in 2017)
Pitching probables:
April 17: RHP Andrew Cashner (1-1) vs. LHP Francisco Liriano (1-1), 6:40 p.m., MASN2April...
Following a week in which he went 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA (2 ER/16.0 IP) and 21 strikeouts against just one walk, Nationals right-handed pitcher Max Scherzer was named the National League Player of the Week on Monday. Major League Baseball made the announcement on MLB Network.
Scherzer, 33, tossed his ninth career complete game (fifth career shutout) in Monday's 2-0 win over Atlanta. He capped his evening with a strikeout of Ender Inciarte, giving him 10 strikeouts for the second time this season...
NEW YORK - Despite a rough week for the team overall, right-hander Max Scherzer was himself. And that added up to a pair of wins for the Nationals. Those two starts also garnered Scherzer National League player of the week honors.
Scherzer went 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA (2 ER/16.0 IP) and 21 strikeouts with only one walk.
The first win was a complete game 2-0 shutout of the Braves last Monday. It marks his ninth career complete game. He also struck out 10, giving him 66 career 10-plus strikeout...