The Mets, not the Nationals, are headed to the World Series. New York just stormed through the Chicago Cubs, capping off a sweep of the National League Championship Series with an 8-3 win last night. Entering the season, the Nationals were the betting man's favorite with 6-1 odds to win the Fall Classic. Most expected the Mets to be improved, but finish in the middle of the pack with 30-1 odds of being crowned champions in early November. It would be nice to be holding one of those Vegas...

Watch out, Jim Nantz - Gary Thorne can call golf, too. Since 2007, Thorne has been well known for his "Goodbye, home run!" and "Mercy" calls on MASN's Orioles broadcasts. But it is his quiet golf-like TV call of an Adam Jones double that has Thorne nominated for an Esurance MLB Award. Most baseball fans will remember the Orioles' 8-2 win over the White Sox on April 29 for being played in an empty Camden Yards due to security concerns following the civil unrest in Baltimore. But O's fans...

The Orioles have marked an important item off their check list by reaching agreement with their entire coaching staff on contracts for 2016. Manager Buck Showalter wanted to keep the group intact and it's going to happen, despite interest from other organizations. There were concerns that bullpen coach Dom Chiti might leave to accept a job as pitching coach, but he signed a new deal on Friday. In case you missed it, the Phillies hired former Orioles pitching coach Rick Kranitz as bullpen...

When the Orioles claimed pitcher Vance Worley off waivers from the Pirates earlier this week, they added a right-hander to their 40-man roster that could prove to be a solid addition to their bullpen. He's also a pitcher that has made 81 major league starts. If he heads north with the Orioles next April, my guess is he does so in a relief role. He could be a multi-innings reliever. In 2015, he pitched to an ERA of 2.83 with an average against of .236 out of the bullpen. Now 28, the Phillies...

Orioles pitching prospect Dylan Bundy is headed to the Arizona Fall League, MASNsports.com has learned. An Orioles club official would not comment on the move. Once ranked as high as the No. 2 prospect in the sport by Baseball America, Bundy has made strong and steady progress in recent weeks after dealing with shoulder soreness. The right-hander had Tommy John surgery in June 2013. Dr. James Andrews cleared Bundy last month to start a throwing program after he was shut down with discomfort...

In search of their first World Series title since 1985, the Kansas City Royals are now one win away from a return to the Fall Classic. They take a 3-1 lead into Game 5 today of the American League Championship Series at Toronto's Rogers Centre. Kansas City has been bashing the baseball and posted a 14-2 win yesterday over Toronto. The top three in their order - Alcides Escobar, Ben Zobrist and Lorenzo Cain - went a combined 6-for-11 with a homer, four runs and nine RBIs. K.C. went 8-for-11...

Salt River edged Surprise 2-1 on Monday in a pitchers' duel between left-hander Ian Clarkin, a Yankees prospect, and right-hander Jeremy Gabryszwski, a Blue Jays farmhand. Clarkin allowed one run in four innings and Gabryszwski gave up one run in three frames. Nationals prospect Spencer Kieboom caught for four pitchers, who allowed only one run. The Rafters relievers combined for six innings of shutout ball, allowing only three hits, striking out four and walking one. Kieboom also went...

The Orioles today announced that they have claimed right-hander Vance Worley off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates. To make room for him on the 40-man roster, right-hander Jorge Rondon has been designated for assignment. Worley, 28, went 4-6 with a 4.02 ERA (71.2IP, 32ER) in 23 games (eight starts) with the Pirates in 2015. He posted a 2.83 ERA (28.2IP, 9ER) and held opponents to a .236 batting average over his 15 appearances as a reliever. In 104 career major league games (81 starts) over...

The Orioles will bring back their entire coaching staff for the 2016 season. Bench coach John Russell, pitching coach Dave Wallace, bullpen coach Dom Chiti, hitting coach Scott Coolbaugh, third base coach Bobby Dickerson, first base coach Wayne Kirby and assistant hitting coach Einar Diaz have signed contracts. An announcement should come later this week. I reported on Friday that Russell agreed to terms last month on a two-year deal. The contracts of the other coaches expired after the final...

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo's affinity for the Diamondbacks organization surfaced again yesterday during his managerial search. Rizzo, Arizona's director of scouting from 2000 to 2006, interviewed current Diamondbacks third base coach Andy Green on Tuesday, according to a report from FOXSports.com. Recently dismissed manager Matt Williams also landed the job in 2013 after coaching third with Arizona. And Rizzo recently interviewed Phil Nevin, the manager for the Diamondbacks'...