Luis García Jr. was the Nationals’ surprise No. 3 hitter on Opening Day. Perhaps more surprising is the fact he’s not even in the lineup for Game No. 2. With left-hander Jesús Luzardo on the mound for the Phillies, García is on the bench this afternoon, with Amed Rosario instead starting at second base and batting fifth. “It’s early,” manager Davey

TORONTO – Heston Kjerstad and Gary Sánchez make their first starts this afternoon against the Blue Jays. Kjerstad is playing right field and batting sixth. Sánchez is catching and batting seventh. Adley Rutschman is the designated hitter and Ryan O’Hearn is playing first base. Ryan Mountcastle, Tyler O’Neill and Jorge Mateo are on the bench. Jordan

After the hullabaloo of Opening Day, after the much-needed rest of an off-day, the actual grind of the 162-game season begins today. The Nationals and Phillies meet in game two of the opening series, and it’s the debut of the Nats’ new City Connect uniforms. MacKenzie Gore dominated the Phillies’ potent lineup Thursday. You probably can’t as for th

MacKenzie Gore set the tone for the Nationals from the get-go on Thursday. He started the 2025 regular season by striking out Trea Turner on a perfectly placed low-and-inside 96 mph fastball. Little did we know at the time that would be the first of an Opening Day franchise-record 13 strikeouts he would record over his six brilliant innings. Making

TORONTO – Only two games into the season and some Orioles fans are wondering why Heston Kjerstad isn’t in the lineup. Why wait until Day 3? Do it now and avoid the rush. Kjerstad entered Thursday’s game in the eighth inning and threw out Alejandro Kirk from right field. Asked about it afterward, manager Brandon Hyde said, “Heston and (Jorge) Mateo,

TORONTO – Charlie Morton paced back and forth in the dugout, the frustration keeping the veteran starter on his feet. His Orioles debut lasted 80 pitches in only 3 1/3 innings, two inherited runners scored and a lead fell apart like his outing. There will be better days and nights for Morton. This one was a challenge from the beginning with a barra

TORONTO – Grayson Rodriguez did some long tossing in the outfield this afternoon and headed to the visiting bullpen for his second session since the Orioles put him on the injured list with inflammation in his right elbow/triceps area. Rodriguez was shut down after a cortisone injection, but he’s started a throwing progression. Manager Brandon Hyde

TORONTO – Jorge Mateo is in tonight’s Orioles lineup at shortstop, with Jackson Holliday moving to second base and Jordan Westburg to third. Mateo is batting ninth and Holliday rises to eighth. Colton Cowser is leading off again and playing left field. Westburg remains the No. 3 hitter. Cedric Mullins moves up to sixth and Ryan Mountcastle drops to

Just one spot in the O’s Opening Day lineup felt “different.” Batting fifth and playing right field for Baltimore, No. 9, Tyler O’Neill. Anthony Santander, who had manned the corner outfield for the O’s for parts of the last eight seasons, trotted onto the Rogers Centre grass in Toronto blue. He hit third for Toronto and went 0-for-4 with a couple

If the Nationals had to pick only one player off the roster who most needs to get his season off to a positive start, Keibert Ruiz would reside at the top of almost every list. After a miserable 2024 season, the young catcher knows he must be better in 2025. And the road to better starts with a good opening month, giving him a chance to set the bar