Trey Mancini is playing defense on days that he’s the designated hitter or on the bench. A mitt isn’t needed. Just fingers that can work his phone. Mancini said he’s disabled the Twitter and Instagram apps to better shield himself from the trade rumors as the Aug. 2 deadline approaches. To resist any temptations. Give him some peace. The Mets have

LOS ANGELES – Juan Soto, to no one’s surprise, found himself the center of attention again today at Dodger Stadium. One week ago, the Nationals star was celebrating victory in the Home Run Derby on this very field before an appreciative crowd. Tonight, he was left to try to ignore the awkward pleas of some among the gathering of 48,647 for him to t

The trade watch brought a different element tonight to the first game of a series. Whether news would break. Whether teammates would hug in the dugout. Trey Mancini wasn’t in the lineup, getting a mental break, according to manager Brandon Hyde. Rumors intensified that Mancini and the Mets were nearing a partnership. There were no goodbye hugs prio

LOS ANGELES – Davey Martinez has tried all manner of lineup combinations this season, trying to find some arrangement that produces runs in bunches while keeping Juan Soto and Josh Bell in a position to drive in as many runs as possible. Tonight, the Nationals manager decided to go back to an idea he last toyed with in 2021: Victor Robles leading o

The Orioles homestand continues tonight as they host the Tampa Bay Rays to begin a four-game series at Oriole Park. It continues a 10-game stretch with three series against two of the top American League East clubs. Before the All-Star break they lost two of three against the Rays, and coming out of the break they lost two of three to the Yankees w

LOS ANGELES – Dodger Stadium has been the site of more than a few memorable moments in Nationals history, both good ones and bad ones. What do the next three days have in store? Probably nothing as meaningful as the night of Oct. 9, 2019, when the Nats got over the hump and won their first playoff series. But hopefully nothing too devastating, eith

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde called the decision by outfielder Anthony Santander and reliever Keegan Akin to get vaccinated “a personal choice by them.” There were no meetings between the club and players. No mentions of the competitive disadvantage with Santander and Akin unable to enter Canada based on its COVID-19 regulations. They missed the se

Lefty Nick Vespi returned to the Orioles active roster and bullpen today in advance of the series opener with the Tampa Bay Rays. Vespi has had one strong season, allowing no earned runs at Triple-A all season and allowing six of his eight earned MLB runs in one outing. In 31 games between Norfolk and Baltimore he has thrown 26 scoreless outings. H

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde has made some changes to tonight’s lineup, opening a four-game home series against the Rays with Jonathan Araúz at shortstop and Trey Mancini and Jorge Mateo on the bench. Araúz is 4-for-24 with the Orioles and hasn’t played since July 8. His last start was July 7. Mancini is 0-for-20 with nine strikeouts in his last fi

The Orioles began the 2022 season by being swept in a three-game series at Tropicana Field. The Rays came to Baltimore in May and lost two of three, returned in June and again dropped two of three. The unofficial first half ended with the Orioles losing two of three in St. Petersburg. Guess who’s back for more? A four-game series begins tonight at