Outfielder Brian Goodwin was again a full participant in the Nationals' second day of workouts and batting practice on Wednesday as they prepare for the Chicago Cubs in the National League Division Series starting Friday. Showing no ill effects from the groin strain that sidelined him for over a month, Goodwin made his case for inclusion on the postseason roster. General manager Mike Rizzo said that Goodwin was able to come back to D.C. after some solid rehab work in West Palm Beach last...

Sean Doolittle had a pretty eventful Monday. Hanging out in D.C., Doolittle and girlfriend Eireann Dolan got married. Dolan and Doolittle eloped and now are husband and wife, just in time for the National League Division Series. We had the afternoon off so we eloped and we've never been happier ✨✨✨ pic.twitter.com/NrVB7Klf3R -- ScarinDolanBoolittle (@EireannDolan) October 3, 2017 "It was something we had been thinking about for awhile," Doolittle said. "We've been together...

The Nationals have until Friday morning to set their 25-man roster for the National League Division Series. And given some of the down-to-the-wire decisions they need to make, they might just use every remaining minute available to them before submitting that roster to Major League Baseball. First and foremost, of course, is the state of Max Scherzer's right hamstring. The ace insists he'll be pitching in this series, but the Nationals won't know for sure when he'll pitch until after he...

Improving their starting rotation is the biggest issue facing the Orioles as the offseason begins. But that is not the only one. In 2016, Chris Davis and Mark Trumbo combined for 85 homers and 192 RBIs. This season they combined for 49 homers and 126 RBIs. Add to that Manny Machado's slow first half and the middle of the Orioles order too often came up short. Bounceback seasons by Davis and Trumbo next year would go a long way toward helping an offense that fell off a bit overall in 2017....

Coaching vacancies in baseball are opening up at a rapid pace, with a handful of teams already making changes before their seasons are cold. According to various reports, the Cardinals need a pitching coach, the Royals need a pitching coach and bench coach, the Phillies need a manager who's likely to make wholesale changes to the staff, the Mets need a manager and pitching coach with more changes perhaps forthcoming, and the Mariners rearranged their staff like furniture. And that's just off...

The first day of workouts at Nationals Park revealed a welcome sight as outfielder Brian Goodwin returned to the Nationals. Goodwin went through the entire 3 1/2-hour workout without a hitch: running, fielding, catching fly balls and spending extra time in the batter's box. Goodwin has been out since Aug. 14 with a left groin strain. Recently, he has returned to games and built at-bats at instructional league workouts in West Palm Beach, Fla. Goodwin hit .251 with 21 doubles, one triple, 13...

The Nationals aren't making any official declarations about their rotation order for the National League Division Series yet. But plenty of tea leaves were thrown out there today for the masses to read, and the most logical interpretation of those leaves says the club is planning to start Stephen Strasburg in Game 1 and then Max Scherzer in Game 2 ... with one important caveat. The key scene during today's workout at Nationals Park - the first of three the club will hold before finally...

Orioles reliever Darren O'Day has been selected as one of the six recipients of the 2017 Bob Feller Act of Valor Award. O'Day is joined by Tom Seaver, Chief Petty Officer Edmundo Brantes, Training Support Center Great Lakes, Unmanned Patrol Squadron ONE NINE (VUP-19) and Staff Sergeant Adam Plambeck. The award is given each year to a player who reflects the values, integrity and dedication to serving our country that Bob Feller possessed. Other nominees included the Red Sox's Dustin Pedroia,...

You will find few players to provide a stronger endorsement for the job done by the Orioles minor league staff and coaches than Trey Mancini. After all Mancini is a one-time unheralded eighth-round draft pick that was one of the top rookies in the majors this year. He hit .293/.338/.488 with 26 doubles, four triples, 24 homers, 78 RBIs and an .826 OPS. This is a player that was never ranked in anyone's top 100 prospects list. But he just worked very hard during four seasons on the O's farm to...

The Orioles will head into the offseason with seven confirmed free agents, two players with 2018 team options in their contracts that likely will be turned into buyouts and a catcher who holds a player option. There's a significant amount of payroll that can be shed while the Orioles attempt to reload, as executive vice president Dan Duqeutte termed it before the final game. "We're going to have to go out and find some pitching," he said. "We do have a number of players that have played...