The Orioles have moved past a hard April, when they went 9-16 after a 3-2 March. Taking two of three games from the first-place Yankees had to feel good. Some of the heat lifted. However, there’s a long way to go. The temperature can fluctuate. The homestand continues tonight with a series against the Royals, who beat them twice last month in Kansa

PHILADELPHIA – Brad Lord had handed over the ball to his manager four times previously as a big league starter, but this one was different. Different, because he was handing the ball to Miguel Cairo, not Davey Martinez. And different, because no matter who he was handing the ball to, he was doing so beyond the fifth inning and with the Nationals le

PHILADELPHIA – The Nationals made a move to bolster their bullpen today, signing Andrew Chafin to a $1 million, major league deal. But the veteran left-hander won’t be joining the team until Friday in Cincinnati, and with Colin Poche designated for assignment to clear a roster spot for him, the Nats were left with a depleted relief corps for tonigh

PHILADELPHIA – The Nationals made their first significant bullpen change of the season this evening, signing veteran left-hander Andrew Chafin to a major league deal and designating Colin Poche for assignment. Chafin, 34, has 601 games of big league experience with six different clubs, the first 380 of them with the Diamondbacks. Owner of a 3.42 ER

PHILADELPHIA – This series has not gone the way the Nationals hoped it would. They nearly pulled off a remarkable rally in Tuesday’s opener, only to fall in the bottom of the ninth. Then they put up little fight Wednesday during a lopsided loss. So now they have to win tonight or else be swept out of town before heading to Cincinnati for the weeken

PHILADELPHIA – Josh Bell doesn’t need to be told. He knows how much he’s struggling. The Nationals designated hitter knows his batting average (.137 after an 0-for-4 showing Wednesday night). He knows his average exit velocity (86.4 mph). He knows his numbers with runners in scoring position (5-for-31). And, most importantly, he knows his team’s re

Through the Orioles’ first 30 games of the season, there have been plenty of “moments.” 14 games into the year, it felt as if an Adley Rutschman bat flip after a huge home run and a Cedric Mullins RBI triple could be a turning point. The energy had returned to Camden Yards, and the Birds were seemingly back on track.  The next day, the O’s allowed

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde provided the media with the latest injury updates a few days ago, rattling off the names and progressions – if any advancements were made – in rapid-fire fashion. Recording devices were essential. Lacking shorthand skills made it almost impossible to keep up with the frantic pace. Side sessions for Kyle Bradish, Zach Ef

PHILADELPHIA – As their season enters its second month, the Nationals have established an ability to be far more competitive against top competition than they had been the previous three seasons as they embarked on their roster rebuild. They’ve stood toe-to-toe with the Mets, Phillies, Dodgers and Diamondbacks in a manner not seen around here in a

Charlie Morton appears to be staying in the bullpen. For how long is the question. Morton has worked in relief in his last two appearances, following opener Keegan Akin in Detroit in Game 2 of Saturday’s doubleheader and holding the Yankees to an unearned run last night in 2 1/3 innings. Shortstop Gunnar Henderson dropped a line drive with the base