The Nationals, believe it or not, entered the day with the majors' lowest bullpen ERA (2.85), the fourth-lowest WHIP and sixth-lowest batting average against. Yet there is no unit on the roster that appears more in need of help as the trade deadline approaches than this team's relief corps. It's an odd dichotomy between stats and the eye test, but games like today's 10-6 loss to the Padres only underscore the challenge facing general manager Mike Rizzo before the Aug. 1 deadline hits in...

It was not a bad Sunday for the Orioles. They got another strong performance from their starting pitcher. They got Darren O'Day back and they completed a three-game sweep of the first-place Cleveland Indians with a walk-off victory. It was a walk-off win produced by an unlikely hero. Outfielder Nolan Reimold batted with Pedro Alvarez on second and two outs in the ninth of a 3-3 tie. Right-hander Cody Allen was on the mound and Reimold would normally be more likely to pinch-hit against a...

As the Orioles continue to tinker with their pitching staff, more specifically their starting rotation, they are searching for a mixture that works. Over the last four days or so, they appear to have found something. The experiment of placing Vance Worley and Dylan Bundy into the rotation has paying off in the early going. I went on record last week in this space as against plucking Bundy out of the bullpen and making him a starter at this point. I won't go back on that just seven days later,...

Nolan Reimold hit a home run today with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning that did the following: * Gave the Orioles a 5-3 walk-off victory over the Indians before 37,821 at Camden Yards. * Gave the Orioles their second three-game sweep of the Indians in Baltimore in two seasons. * Produced the Orioles' first pinch-hit walk-off homer since Chris Davis on June 23, 2014 versus the White Sox. * Produced Reimold's third career walk-off home run and his first since Aug. 10, 2011 versus...

As Sunday's trade deadline approaches, here are answers to the top questions in baseball: Question: Now that the Cubs have reportedly acquired lefty closer Aroldis Chapman in a trade from the Yankees, will that make them the odds-on favorite to be the National League champion, and what can the Nationals do to counter the move? Answer: Yes, at this point, the Cubs have the strongest bullpen in the league. If the Cubs and Nationals meet in the postseason, the Nationals' Bryce Harper is going to...

If the current back end of the Nationals bullpen wanted to convince general manager Mike Rizzo that he doesn't need to make any major acquisitions before next week's trade deadline, this wasn't the way to do it. Shawn Kelley and Jonathan Papelbon combined to give up six runs in the eighth and ninth innings this afternoon, turning a two-run lead into a 10-6 loss to the Padres that might have underscored this first place club's biggest weakness entering the final week of July. Handed a 6-4...

Well, that is one way to win a game. Struggling Nolan Reimold hit a pinch-hit, walk-off two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth as the Orioles beat Cleveland 5-3 to complete a three-game sweep. This was Reimold's third career walk-off homer and his fifth homer of the year. It scored Pedro Alvarez, who struck out to start the ninth against right-hander Cody Allen, but reached when the ball got by the catcher and caromed off the backstop. Allen's throw to first was interrupted...

Caleb Joseph has grown accustomed to doing the unusual and catching day games after night games. It happened Thursday afternoon in the Bronx and it's happening again today in the sweltering Baltimore heat. "It's nothing. Getting back on the bike," he said. "You've just got to prepare. You maybe have to stretch a little bit more. You've got to do a little bit more the night before. But in terms of getting loose, it's not a problem because it's a bazillion degrees outside. It's more or...

The Orioles today announced that they have reinstated RHP Darren O'Day from the 15-day disabled list and optioned LHP Donnie Hart to Double-A Bowie. O'Day, 33, was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right hamstring strain on June 3. He has gone 2-1 with a 3.15 ERA (7 ER/20.0 IP), two saves, and 25 strikeouts in 22 games with the Orioles this season. Over 295 career games with the Orioles, O'Day has gone 25-9 with a 2.00 ERA (63 ER/283.0 IP) and 308 strikeouts. The 2015 American League...

The Orioles have activated reliever Darren O'Day from the 15-day disabled list and optioned left-hander Donnie Hart to Double-A Bowie. Hart, 25, made his major league debut on July 17 at Tropicana Field. He tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings over three appearances with the Orioles this season. O'Day hasn't pitched since June 1 due to a strained right hamstring. He's 2-1 with a 3.15 ERA, two saves and 25 strikeouts in 22 games spanning 20 innings. The move again leaves closer Zach Britton as the...