MASNsports.com's very own Steve Melewski was kind enough to join Paul Mancano and myself for this week's Orioles episode of the "MASN All Access" podcast. After a five-game losing streak that included a sweep at the hands of the Astros in Houston, the Orioles started the season 1-5 and looked at a daunting four-game series against the Yankees in New York. While some fans may have already been crying for mercy to start the season, wouldn't you know it, the Orioles went out and won three of...

It's one thing to lose five in a row. It's another thing to lose five in a row to the two division rivals that currently sit above you in the standings. That has added a bit of significance to the Nationals' current slide, which leaves them at 4-5 overall and 3 1/2 games behind the Mets, two games behind the Braves (the two teams they've faced the last five games, it just so happens). Well, after losing two of three at SunTrust Field last week, the Nats get another crack at Atlanta the next...

I will always love the Nationals, but I'm still waiting for something that will make me fall in love with this year's team - something momentous to convince me that this year's edition of the Nats is capable of doing great things. In 2005, their first year in Washington, it took just two games for a star to emerge and prove this team was doing more than just taking up residence, but was capable of winning our hearts. Washington was hungry for baseball after going without since Senators owner...

When Buck Showalter announced at Orioles FanFest in late January that Manny Machado would be moving to shortstop full-time, pushing Tim Beckham to third base, I didn't really blink at the move. It seemed inevitable, really, despite my own personal apprehensions. Machado is, as everyone knows, in his walk year. The move to short was conceivably to increase his value to potential trade suitors. From a personal standpoint for Machado, it would also increase his value as a free agent. Despite the...

In some respects, Tanner Roark was thrilled with the way he pitched Sunday night. Why wouldn't the right-hander be happy with nine strikeouts in five innings? And yet, there was that fateful stretch of four batters in the top of the third that ultimately defined his start and made everything else secondary. Roark had recorded two quick outs to begin the inning. Then came the nitpicking. He walked Jay Bruce. He walked Todd Frazier. He walked Asdrúbal Cabrera. "They were close," Roark said...

Pick your reasons for the Nationals' latest loss to the Mets, this one by a 6-5 count in 12 innings. Point to Tanner Roark walking the bases loaded in the top of the third and then serving up a grand slam to Adrián González on his next pitch. Mention Brandon Kintzler taking the loss for the second straight day and surrendering a run for the third straight game. And be sure to include back-to-back, three-pitch strikeouts with the winning run on third by Michael A. Taylor and Pedro...

The Nationals bullpen held up its end of the ballgame for more than six innings, giving the team a chance to get back in the game. But in the end, it was not enough, as the Mets outlasted the Nats 6-5 in 12 innings. Brandon Kintzler allowed a leadoff single to begin the 12th inning. The Mets then used a sacrifice bunt to get pinch-hitter Juan Lagares into scoring position. The Nationals decided to intentionally walk Michael Conforto to get to Yoenis Céspedes. Céspedes muscled a Kintzler...

The Nationals can't say they didn't keep giving themselves opportunities to beat the Mets tonight and avoid a disheartening, early-season, three-game sweep at the hands of their division rivals. All the opportunities in the world, though, mean nothing if you can't deliver in those situations. Or, at the very least, not commit baserunning blunders every 15 minutes or so. So it was that the Nats went down again tonight, this time in an agonizing, 6-5, 12-inning loss on a cold, dreary Sunday...

Manager: Brian Snitker (3rd season) Record: 6-3 Who to watch: 1B Freddie Freeman (.367/.558/.733 with 11 RBIs), LF Preston Tucker (.370/.400/.667 with 9 RBIs), CF Ender Inciarte (2 SB, 5 RBIs), SS Dansby Swanson (.382/.400/.618), RHP Mike Foltynewicz (15 Ks in 10 1/3 innings), RHP Arodys Vizcaino (1.93 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: 2-1 Pitching probables: April 9: RHP Julio Teheran (0-0, 10.13 ERA) vs. RHP Max Scherzer (1-1, 1.64 ERA), 7:05 p.m., MASNApril 10: RHP Mike Foltynewicz (1-0,...

Of all the crazy things that took place over 4 hours, 48 minutes and 12 innings on Sunday, the most improbable may have been saved for last. Orioles closer Brad Brach - in the span of a few pitches - went from a goat, and potentially blowing a key save, to one of the heroes. All he had to do to achieve that was face Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton with the bases loaded and no outs and his team leading by one. Good luck with that. No place to put them. No chance to pitch around them. Stanton...