KANSAS CITY – The overflow locker next to Craig Kimbrel held the usual items this morning – a suitcase, a couple of backpacks and some hoodies on hangers. Sitting on the top shelf, however, was a rarity. Maybe a first for the 15-year veteran. A plastic container filled with uncooked rice. This isn’t part of a special diet. The grains covered the ba

As he described the illness that sidelined him now for nearly two weeks, Keibert Ruiz was asked if he’d ever been that sick before. “When I got COVID,” the Nationals catcher said. “This was kind of the same. My whole body was in pain. Fever every three, four hours. The whole night sweating.” Ruiz has finally moved past the worst of his case of infl

KANSAS CITY – The Orioles return to their left-handed lineup this afternoon as they try to win the series against the Royals. Cedric Mullins returns to center field, Colton Cowser to left and Jackson Holliday to second base. Cowser is batting .400 against fastballs this season after hitting .087 in 2023. Jordan Westburg is batting .438 (14-for-32)

After an absolutely beautiful Saturday here at the ballpark, the clouds have rolled in and the temperature has dropped nearly 20 degrees for today’s series finale against the Astros. Hopefully that’s not an omen of things to come for the Nationals, who were all sunshine and roses on Saturday. The Nats have a chance to win another series; it would b

Earlier this week when I was in Bowie, Md., to cover Kyle Bradish's first injury rehab start, I spent some time with Double-A Bowie manager Roberto Mercado to discuss his team's solid start to the new season. It has been some weekend in Bowie with the Baysox winning Friday 5-4 over Altoona on a walk-off on John Rhodes' single in the 10th. Last nigh

Saturday was full of celebrations, fanfare and big moments. Both on and off the field. The 2019 World Series championship team was in attendance for the Nationals’ second game against the Astros. Former players were recognized before and during the game for their heroics five years ago. Then the current Nationals squad showed the old guys they have

KANSAS CITY – Jackson Holliday stopped by his locker yesterday before the visiting clubhouse closed to the media. He isn’t hiding. He completed a fielding drill in front of the dugout and laughed with teammates at the railing. He isn’t sulking or broken. Holliday is a 20-year-old rookie in the majors who isn’t immune to bumps and slumps. He didn’t

KANSAS CITY – Corbin Burnes tried to turn away from a hard one-hopper, felt the ball slam off his right hip, scrambled to retrieve it, failed on his first attempt and threw out the runner by a hair. This was one batter into his start. Burnes waved off manager Brandon Hyde and head athletic trainer Brian Ebel as they began walking to the mound. Like

With much of the 2019 World Series championship roster in the house, the 2024 Nationals took a page from their celebrated predecessors and mounted a late comeback that special group surely could appreciate. Then they pulled off a feat even the greatest team in Nats history never pulled off: They beat the Astros at home. With a furious rally in the

After a rough Friday for O’s pitching – especially the bullpen – the Orioles send ace right-hander Corbin Burnes (2-0, 2.28 ERA) to the mound tonight to try and restore order and even the series in Kansas City. When right-hander Dean Kremer walked back-to-back batters in the last of the sixth with one out, he was allowed to get one more out and the