Daniel Murphy arrived in New York for Washington's three-game set with the Mets a .400 hitter after 37 games with the second organization he's known as a professional. Murphy signed a 3-year/$37.5M free agent deal with the Nationals in January after seven seasons with the Mets, who drafted him in the 13th Round of the 2006 Draft. "A lot of great memories in here," he told reporters before his first game in Citi Field as a member of the opposition. "A lot of great memories in this stadium,...

MIAMI - Welcome to the Sunshine State, or as I like to call it, especially this weekend, the Mostly Sunshine But Guaranteed Popup Rain Shower in Afternoon Each Day State. I know, that just wouldn't fit on the license plate. Rain is expected each day the Nationals are in town, but that is a moot point with each game indoors at Marlins Park. Fresh off an impressive series win against the defending National League champion New York Mets, the Nationals stay on the road and within the division in...

What should we make of the Orioles' growing number of comeback wins? Is it a function of the powerful lineup? The outstanding bullpen? Orioles Magic? The answer isn't as simple as any one thing; however, the most significant factor in the O's disproportionate number of comeback victories is what happens in the early innings. The team is making a habit of digging itself into early holes and then climbing out of them. The Orioles have three walk-offs so far in 2016. If you're like me,...

ANAHEIM, Calif. - The Orioles have followed up a seven-game winning streak by losing three of their last four games. They have been outscored 25-12 since Sunday, when they let that late lead get away against the Tigers at Camden Yards. They were outscored 19-7 by the Seattle Mariners as they lost two of three in that series. But at 24-15, the Orioles still lead the American League East by percentage points (.615 to .610) over Boston and they still hold the best record in the AL. The Orioles are...

NEW YORK - While the focus of last night's game was squarely on the Stephen Strasburg-Matt Harvey pitching matchup, there was plenty else notable about the Nationals' 9-1 victory over the Mets. Before they get to Miami and open this weekend's series with the Marlins (and before my colleague Byron Kerr takes the reins of the blog for the second leg of the road trip), here are some more things worth mentioning from last night... * Daniel Murphy completed his Citi Field homecoming in style....

NEW YORK - The comparisons are inevitable and likely will follow both Stephen Strasburg and Matt Harvey through the ends of their respective careers. Both are hard-throwing right-handers who burst onto the scene as rookies, only to suffer torn elbow ligaments that required Tommy John surgery and a long road to recovery. That, of course, is where Strasburg and Harvey's paths moved in alternate directions. Where the Nationals took the overly cautious route with their young ace, shutting him down...

NEW YORK - Slump? What slump? Who said the Nationals couldn't score runs in bunches? All they needed was to face Bartolo Colon and Matt Harvey on consecutive nights. With a swift and emphatic flurry of hard-hit balls off the once-feared, suddenly-ineffective Harvey, the Nationals cruised to a 9-1 victory over the Mets tonight, following up last's lopsided win with another one to capture the first of six regular season series with their chief division rivals. A Nats lineup that looked tepid...

Orioles catcher Caleb Joseph lined a double into the left field corner in the eighth inning of a May 11 game in Minnesota, rather mundane on the surface except that Nolan Reimold was motoring around the bases. Joseph didn't have an RBI on the season. Reimold was in full stride as he reached third base and took a wide turn - then slammed on the brakes and went back to the bag. Oh, so close. It was likely the right decision. Reimold probably would have been out at the plate and third base coach...

Gas up that mower and pull out those gardening gloves, O's fans. It's time for a little Yard Work! On this week's episode, Steve and I talk about the Orioles' most recent homestand against the Tigers and Mariners. Where do the Orioles sit after taking three of four from Detroit and losing the three-game series to Seattle? Also, we'll look back at reliever Darren O'Day's comments following Sunday's surprising loss to the Tigers in the series finale. O'Day was displeased with the...

NEW YORK - Who would have guessed the cure for what ailed the Nationals lineup was ... Matt Harvey? These are strange times indeed, because the Nationals just got really healthy facing a remarkably ineffective Harvey, pounding the one-time Mets ace for nine runs in only 2 2/3 innings to open up a commanding 9-1 lead in tonight's series finale. Daniel Murphy's two-run homer in the first jumpstarted the Nats offense, but then a rapid flurry of scorched balls off Harvey in the top of the third...