The Orioles completed their batting practice session and the lineup hasn't changed. Unless there's a late switch, Manny Machado will play third base and bat second. Machado is recovering from an illness that kept him out of last night's game. Showalter advised the media earlier today to avoid copying the lineup in ink. "Want to see if he gets to feeling better moving around or not, so he's kind of 50-50," Showalter said. "We'll see how he feels. "This stuff going around isn't some...

Orioles lefty pitching prospect Tanner Scott got a quick introduction to the big leagues in his major league debut last night. Pitching in the eighth inning against Boston, he faced first baseman Sam Travis to start his inning. Scott threw a 99 mph fastball for ball one. He threw another at 99 mph and Travis tried to check his swing. But bat met ball and it looped into right field for a base hit. Welcome to the show, kid. "I mean, right when Sam Travis hit that I was like, 'Wow, that is how...

With the postseason now just two weeks away, the conversation continues as to how many left-handed relievers the Nationals will carry on the playoff roster. Sean Dollittle is a lock as the closer. But will the Nats also carry Enny Romero, Sammy Soliís, Oliver Pérez and Matt Grace? I spoke to Solís this week about the competition for the left-handed spots on the postseason roster. He said he is taking these last few weeks "very, very seriously." Same goes for Grace. He said...

Manny Machado is in the Orioles lineup tonight after missing last night's game with an illness. However, manager Buck Showalter said it's "50-50" whether Machado stays in it. The Orioles will check on Machado during batting practice. Tim Beckham is still recovering from having a wisdom tooth extracted and won't play tonight. Austin Hays remains the leadoff hitter. Closer Zach Britton will receive a stem cell injection his left knee Friday morning and the club will re-evaluate him in three...

ATLANTA - At this late stage of the season, most matchups against division opponents are going to feature familiar foes on the mound. And tonight is about as extreme an example as it gets: The Nationals are facing R.A. Dickey for the fifth time this year. The ageless knuckleballer has been one of the few constants in the Braves rotation, but this hasn't been a very good matchup for him. In his four previous starts against the Nats, he's 0-2 with a 5.92 ERA, having surrendered five homers in...

The Orioles today announced the winners of their player development and scouting awards for 2017, including OF AUSTIN HAYS as the club's top minor league player. The winners will be honored in an on-field ceremony on Saturday, September 23, before the game against the Tampa Bay Rays, with awards presented by Orioles Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations DAN DUQUETTE, Orioles Director of Minor League Operations KENT QUALLS, and Orioles INF JONATHAN SCHOOP. The Orioles recognized LHP...

The Orioles have chosen Double-A Bowie outfielder Austin Hays as their Brooks Robinson Minor League Player of the Year, a selection that seemed obvious for a long time. Hays, 22, batted a combined .329/.365/593 with 32 doubles, five triples, 32 home runs and 95 RBIs in 128 games at Bowie and Single-A Frederick. The Orioles selected his contract on Sept. 5, and last year's third-round draft pick has gone 7-for-27 with two doubles and a home run. Hays was named the Carolina League's Player of...

ATLANTA - Just when you thought discussion of the Nationals ending up with the best record in the National League was finished, those wacky Dodgers have gone and brought up the possibility once again. In losing three in a row to the lowly Phillies, Los Angeles has fallen back into its late season slide. This supposed super-team, which only a month ago was on pace to challenge the all-time record of 116 wins, has now lost 15 of its last 20. And thanks to the Nationals' three-game winning...

There was frustration evident in the Orioles clubhouse last night as the team lost for the 15th time in 20 games. From the starting pitcher who provided a brief postgame interview to the closer who realized his 2017 season might be over. Six days after the shortest start of his career, one in which he allowed six runs, left-hander Wade Miley allowed six runs again. But this time he was around longer. Miley got one out and gave up six runs on 19 pitches Sept. 14 at New York. Last night he...

The news that closer Zach Britton isn't expected to require a surgical procedure on his left knee can be taken two ways. The obvious one is with glee. Who roots for surgery? However, I've continued to wonder why another MRI didn't show anything structurally wrong, but he's continued to pitch through the discomfort since 2014. What's the cause and why should the club be confident that the knee will "heal itself" over the winter? It hasn't happened up to this point or there wouldn't be a...