When O’s right-hander Bryan Baker woke up on the morning of April 3, he didn’t know his chance to both make and impact the O’s 2022 bullpen would be greater by the end of that day.   But when Tanner Scott and Cole Sulser were traded to Miami, that meant opportunity and innings would open up for someone else. Baker thought, “Why not me?”   “Yeah, de

ATLANTA – If you had to venture a guess which of these two teams’ pitching staffs is on the ropes entering tonight’s game, how many of you would just assume it’s the Nationals? Well, you’d be wrong. The Nats got a strong start Monday night from Josh Rogers and didn’t have to use up their A bullpen. The Braves, meanwhile, had to use up both of their

Spenser Watkins is the Orioles’ fifth starter at least for the first time through the rotation. Watkins stayed with the team after his stint on a two-man taxi squad in St. Petersburg, and he’s facing the Brewers tonight at Camden Yards. He made 16 appearances last summer, including 10 starts, and registered an 8.07 ERA and 1.701 WHIP in 54 2/3 inni

ATLANTA – Davey Martinez’s phone rang Monday morning. It was Mark Lerner calling. Calling to tell the manager of the Nationals he and his family are beginning to explore the possibility of bringing on new investors to own the franchise or potentially even sell it altogether. “To say the least, I was shocked,” Martinez said. He certainly wasn't alon

The Orioles will announce tonight’s starting pitcher before he begins his warm-up tosses. The wait is long, but it’s not unreasonable. Spenser Watkins could be followed by Alexander Wells. Wells could be followed by Watkins. Both arrangements present a proper contrast in arms and styles. Or manager Brandon Hyde has something or someone up his sleev

In an interview before the home opener on Monday, young right-hander Mike Baumann told me how excited he was for opening day in Baltimore. He had heard how special it can be and he was also excited that his mom and some family members were in town to see it.   “It will be a day for me to remember,” he said.   Then the game started and his day got e

ATLANTA – Six nights ago, the Nationals packed up all their belongings in West Palm Beach, Fla., and took their bus to the airport, ready to head north for opening day in D.C. One player remained in the complex at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches: Josh Rogers, who only a short while earlier learned he hadn’t made the club and now needed to get to T

ATLANTA – Despite an at-times ragged performance this spring, Aníbal Sánchez made the Nationals’ opening day rotation. The club even put the 38-year-old, who signed a minor league deal right as camp was opening, on the 40-man roster. Five days later, Sánchez is on the 10-day injured list before ever taking the mound for the Nats. Unable to overcome

The introduction began with the words “Baltimore’s own.” Family members wearing his Orioles jersey jumped to their feet behind home plate, raised their iPhones and captured the moment. Bruce Zimmermann’s moment. The local kid – Baltimore-born, Ellicott City resident, pitcher at Loyola Blakefield and Towson University – too busy warming in the bullp

The Orioles placed pitcher Dean Kremer on the 10-day injured list today with a strained left oblique, an injury that manager Brandon Hyde said might keep him out for a month. Kremer felt the oblique grab yesterday as he was warming in the bullpen. He was supposed to provide length behind starter Tyler Wells, who lasted only 1 2/3 innings against th