Shortstop J.J. Hardy embraced teammates Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop in right field while warming up before today's final home game of the 2017 season. Likely the last for Hardy in an Orioles uniform as free agency approaches. It's an emotional day for Hardy and his teammates, and not only because the club has been eliminated from the wild card chase and can't finish .500. It's gotten off to a bad start. Kevin Kiermaier homered on the first pitch from Chris Tillman, an 89 mph...

NEW YORK - We've reached the point in the season when it's time for playoff-bound clubs to begin lining up their rotations for October. The Nationals already know which four starters will take the mound for the National League Division Series. The order in which they'll do so, however, has not yet been made public. It is perhaps notable, though, how the Nats currently have their starters lined up during the final week of the regular season. Stephen Strasburg pitched Saturday night against...

Orioles pitcher Dylan Bundy was scratched from today's start against the Rays due to a strained left hamstring. The club made the announcement about an hour before first pitch at Camden Yards Chris Tillman will make the start to close out the last homestand of the 2017 season. Bundy's status for next week is uncertain. The Orioles are off Monday and Thursday and make trips to Pittsburgh and St. Petersburg, Fla., for the final five games. As the veterans inside the Orioles clubhouse try to put...

The Orioles have scratched Dylan Bundy from today's start against the Rays. Chris Tillman will take his place. No reason has been given for the switch. The Orioles said they will provide more information later this afternoon. Bundy is 13-9 with a 4.24 ERA in 28 starts over 169 2/3 innings. He would have been working on an extra day of rest. Manager Buck Showalter chose Bundy after the right-hander had a good work day. They met yesterday in Showalter's office before batting practice. Tillman...

Trey Mancini is leading off today, Chance Sisco is catching and J.J. Hardy is playing shortstop for the Orioles' final home game of the season. Pedro Álvarez is the designated hitter. For the Orioles Trey Mancini LF Manny Machado 3B Jonathan Schoop 2B Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Austin Hays RF Pedro Álvarez DH J.J. Hardy SS Chance Sisco C Dylan Bundy RHP Update: Bundy has been scratched from his start and will be replaced by Chris Tillman. For the Rays Kevin Kiermaier CF Lucas Duda DH...

NEW YORK - Though their chances of securing home field advantage throughout the postseason are slim - they still trail the Dodgers by 4 1/2 games - the Nationals are on the verge of securing home field advantage at least for the National League Division Series. They enter play today with a seven-game lead over the Cubs, with eight to go. Thus, their magic number to clinch home field advantage for the first round is two, and if things go right, that could be locked up this afternoon. In order to...

We have reached the time for the final home game of the 2017 Orioles season. The Orioles host Tampa Bay this afternoon to end a four-game series and wrap up the home schedule. The Orioles are 1-2 in this series and 45-35 at home for the year. They fell to 74-82 with a loss last night, were officially eliminated from playoff contention and assured to have a losing season with loss No. 82. The Orioles are 36-36 versus the American League East and 7-8 against Tampa Bay. Right-hander Dylan Bundy...

NEW YORK - On the surface, it may not seem like that big of a deal, given the rate the home runs fly out of ballparks these days. But let's pause for a moment to give Adam Lind some credit, because even in these inflated times, 200 career homers is nothing to gloss over. Lind's opposite-field, two-run shot during the Nationals' 4-3, 10-inning win over the Mets on Saturday night allowed him to reach that milestone. And the 34-year-old slugger, while not one to show off, did admit this was an...

The Orioles' playoff hopes for 2017 were dashed a while ago. But it became official last night that they will not make the postseason. It had looked in the last few days like a losing season was in the offing for the Orioles. That became official last night as well. Double dagger. With their 9-6 loss to Tampa Bay, the Orioles are 74-82 with six games left. They are assured of their first losing season since 2011. With the team having lost 17 of their last 23 games, the Orioles are basically...

The Orioles are playing their final home game of the 2017 season today, and shortstop J.J. Hardy is going to find his name in the lineup. Tim Beckham's hamstring injury isn't a factor. Hardy was expected to start anyway. Don't let the moment go unnoticed if you're sitting in the stands. It's Fan Appreciation Weekend, but that sentiment can extend to a veteran player. Lots of people in the organization are hoping that the crowd grasps the importance of Hardy's inclusion and what he's...