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Anyone who has been watching the Nationals for at least the last two months has known the results of any one particular game have not mattered much for a team that essentially had locked up a postseason berth long before it officially clinched on Sept. 10.
One thing - and only one thing - truly has mattered for the Nationals during this homestretch: Keeping everybody of significance healthy.
So when Max Scherzer was pulled with one out in the top of the fourth tonight for reasons that weren't...
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - We're reached Game No. 162 in a season that offered such promise in May and a glimmer of hope in August, but otherwise disappointed to the highest degree.
It could result in the lowest finish.
No playoffs in another odd year. A losing record for the first time since 2011. A clear winter agenda for anyone who bothered to pay the slightest bit of attention.
Executive vice president Dan Duquette will list the rotation as the main priority. It also should be the second and...
ST. PETERBURG, Fla. - The Orioles weren't going to get a deep start tonight from Miguel Castro. They knew it was going to be a bullpen game. The only question was how long it would take for the phone to ring.
Castro escaped jams in back-to-back innings before Brad Miller broke a scoreless tie in the fourth with a three-run homer, and the Orioles lost again 4-3 before an announced crowd of 15,416 at Tropicana Field.
The Orioles have dropped 18 of their last 22 games and are 75-86 overall and...
The last thing the Nationals needed in Game 161 of the season was to pull Max Scherzer in the top of the fourth inning for any reason other than performance, but that's what they got tonight.
Scherzer was removed from his final postseason tune-up with what appeared to be a right leg issue after he landed awkwardly while throwing a pitch to the Pirates' Josh Bell. Whether his removal by manager Dusty Baker was a move of extreme caution or reason for actual concern is the question that now...
The Nationals made a 60-day disabled list player swap just before tonight's game, adding Stephen Drew to the active roster while shelving Shawn Kelley for the remainder of the season.
Drew, who has been out since July 26 with a tear in his abdomen, is now active but isn't ready to play quite yet. Kelley, who had to depart his Sept. 22 relief appearance with a numb arm, was diagnosed with bone chips in his elbow.
The moves don't have any real immediate impact but were necessary transactions...
ST. PETERBURG, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter made the usual rounds earlier today to check on the health of certain players and the availability of his relievers.
Shortstop Tim Beckham's hamstring tightened on him again last night, and he isn't likely to play again this weekend. Center fielder Adam Jones is resigned to sitting out the entire road trip that wraps up the 2017 season.
"I talk to him every day about it," Showalter said. "We get updated. He's played what, 147 games this...
If Anthony Rendon is going to make one final case for MVP votes, it'll have to come in Sunday's season finale.
Rendon is not in the lineup for tonight's game against the Pirates, a decision made in conjunction with manager Dusty Baker in an attempt to stay fresh heading into the postseason.
Baker described the star third baseman as being "just a little fatigued" and thus in need of a breather. Rendon has started the last four games and 12 of the Nationals' last 14.
"We discussed it...
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles center fielder Adam Jones remains out of the lineup tonight and won't play again in 2017.
Jones hasn't been on the field since Sunday afternoon at Camden Yards, when he received two at-bats before exiting again with soreness in his legs. He left on a roll with eight hits in 18 at-bats over his last five games, but he didn't hit a home run in September.
"Physically, I feel better," he said earlier today while meeting with the beat writers on the trip. "I just...
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Jonathan Schoop is leading off tonight while Tim Beckham is on the bench with a sore hamstring.
The Orioles' lineup doesn't include Adam Jones. Austin Hays remains the center fielder.
Pedro Ãlvarez is the cleanup hitter tonight. Chance Sisco is catching Miguel Castro.
For the Orioles Jonathan Schoop 2B Trey Mancini LF Manny Machado 3B Pedro Ãlvarez DH Chris Davis 1B J.J. Hardy SS Chance Sisco C Austin Hays CF Anthony Santander RF
Miguel Castro RHP
For the Rays...
It's not necessarily high on their priority list right now, but the Nationals do still have a chance to win 99 games this season and thus set a new franchise record. To get there, they need to win both tonight and Sunday afternoon against the Pirates, which is far from an impossible task.
And it only helps to have Max Scherzer on the mound tonight for his final regular season start. The ace right-hander enters tonight with a 2.55 ERA and needing to have a strong outing if he wants to leapfrog...