If you could draw up a worst-case scenario for the Nationals to open the 2022 season, this has been pretty close to it: Three straight losses to the Mets, with zero starting pitchers able to complete five innings, a lineup that hasn’t done much and a couple of pitchers injured. Perhaps the tide will begin to turn today, though, in the series finale

The Washington Nationals recalled right-handed pitcher Hunter Harvey from Triple-A Rochester and placed right-handed pitcher Mason Thompson on the 10-day Injured List with a right biceps strain on Sunday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Harvey, 27, joined the Nationals organization in

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The first major league start for Orioles right-hander Tyler Wells coincides today with the conclusion of the first series of 2022. Wells is trying to give the Orioles at least four innings before manager Brandon Hyde begins sorting through his bullpen. Perhaps Hyde can find length with one reliever, as Keegan Akin provided ye

Since making the decision to sign last month, Sean Doolittle had been imagining what his first relief appearance back with the Nationals would be like. But was this the scenario he envisioned, replacing ejected teammate Steve Cishek moments after both benches and bullpens emptied in the top of the fifth Friday night? “Uh, no. I don’t know if you co

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Whether Cionel Pérez made the Orioles roster on opening day appeared to hinge on if they carried a third left-hander in the bullpen. He’d have to earn a job and co-exist with Paul Fry and Tanner Scott, far from a certainty with relievers who provide length coveted after a lockout and shrunken camp. Then, Pérez strung together

There is no reason to look at anything as a moral victory – and the Orioles and their fans want real wins anyway, of course – but the Orioles have taken the first two games of their series at Tropicana Field down to the last pitch.   After 110 losses a year ago, they may be making some progress even while being 0-2, but fans, of course, are re

This opening week to a lockout-delayed season always loomed as a daunting first act for the 2022 Nationals. Four games with the $290-million Mets, then three games with the defending champion Braves is not the kind of schedule designed to boost the morale of a rebuilding ballclub and its reluctant fan base.And three games in, this is pretty much go

Aníbal Sánchez is still dealing with a stiff neck and may not be able to make his scheduled season debut Monday, leaving the Nationals potentially scrambling for a replacement starter for their series opener in Atlanta. Sánchez first reported his neck issue the morning after flying home with the team from spring training. Initially on track to serv

The pomp and circumstance of opening night is behind us. The hubbub of Max Scherzer’s return to Nationals Park is also now behind us. Tonight, the real grind of the season begins with Game 3 of 162. The Nats would certainly like to get their first win of the year sooner rather than later. To make it happen tonight, they’ll need a better performance

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The first two Orioles starters have needed 44 pitches to complete two innings. Veterans who will be permitted later to absorb a heavier workload. Jordan Lyles followed John Means today and notched a scoreless first on only 10 pitches, with shortstop Jorge Mateo making a sliding backhand stop and throwing to second base for th