Jacob Webb, one of many tired Orioles relievers. | David Richard-USA TODAY Sports An utterly exhausted O’s bullpen blew another late lead in Cleveland, shaving the Birds’ division lead to 1.5 games. Good morning, Camden Chatters. The Orioles are currently at the tail end of a brutal stretch of 17 straight games without a day off. And boy, does it show. The Birds’ running-on-fumes bullpen collapsed in the eighth inning last night for a disappointing 5-2 loss in Cleveland, a game that also saw the O’s offense extend its scoreless streak to 15 straight innings before a rally in the top of the eighth. Stacey recapped the action, which was a night full of frustration, punctuated only briefly by a late comeback that went for naught. With the Orioles having gone two weeks without a breather, players look noticeably tired, particularly the relief crew, which is continually getting pressed into early duty and leaving Brandon Hyde short on fresh arms. The Birds have used four or more relievers in five consecutive games, to diminishing effect. It’s getting ugly out there, and the Orioles still have three more games to play until their next day off. In the meantime, their division lead has been cut to 1.5 games over the Rays, who won a walkoff against the hapless Angels yesterday. The Orioles’ magic number to clinch the AL East remains at seven. O’s fans can only hope that Tampa will face a more daunting challenge the next three days in the Blue Jays, who are fighting for their postseason lives. Typing these words makes me throw up in my mouth a little, but... (ugh) go, Blue Jays. The Orioles, meanwhile, are back at it in Cleveland tonight, and they could certainly use an extended outing from their starting pitcher. Unfortunately, Dean Kremer has not thrown more than five innings in any of his three starts this month. The time is now, Dean. The O’s will have to fight through the fatigue and gut out a couple of wins in this series, which would put them in prime position to clinch in front of the home fans next week. Links Orioles bullpen stumbles in series-opening loss to Guardians - MLB.comThe pesky Guardians fouled off 37 pitches against Grayson Rodriguez to chase him from the game after five. It doesn’t make me particularly optimistic about Kremer’s chances of eating up innings tonight. Answers to your Orioles questions, Part 1 - BaltimoreBaseball.comOne reader wants to know why postseason teams aren’t re-seeded after the wild card round, and I’d like to know, too. The Orioles could finish with the best record in the AL and still have to face a tougher Division Series opponent than the #2 team does. Catching a glimpse: Taxi squad catchers aspire to live their own big league dreams - The Baltimore BannerTaxi squad catchers are sort of the Schrödinger’s cat of baseball, simultaneously on the team but not on the team. (Is that what Schrödinger’s cat means? I don’t know quantum mechanics.) O's international prospects: More than just Samuel Basallo making noise - Steve MelewskiYou know, I think this Samuel Basallo fella is going to be pretty good. #analysis Orioles’ Adley Rutschman hugs it out with pitchers like no one else in the game. That’s a good thing.Finally, an entire article on the topic we’ve been waiting for: Adley Hugs. Apparently not only does Adley hug the pitcher after the last out, but then he hugs every pitcher in the clubhouse afterward! He’s just the best. Orioles birthdays and history Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! It’s the birthday of seven, blink-and-you-missed-’em former Orioles: catchers John Stefero (64) and César Devarez (54); infielders Luis García (48) and P.J. Forbes (56); and right-handers Luis Ortiz (28), Chris Ellis (31), and the late Bob Harrison (b. 1930, d. 2023). Those seven guys combined to play just 105 games for the Orioles, 61 of which were Stefero’s. Like I said, blink and you missed ’em. Historically, Sept. 22 has been a good day for the Orioles to clinch a postseason spot. They first did so in 1966 with a 6-1 win over the Kansas City Athletics behind a Jim Palmer complete game. With that, the Birds won their first-ever American League pennant, and — without all those pesky extra rounds of playoffs — punched their ticket directly to the World Series, where they would eventually sweep the Dodgers. In 1973, the O’s clinched an AL East division title with a 7-1 win in Milwaukee, once again led by a complete-game effort on the mound, this time by Doyle Alexander. Leadoff man Al Bumbry hit three triples in the game, tying a major league record. Bumbry led the AL with 11 triples that season and won AL Rookie of the Year. On this date in 1961, O’s first baseman Jim Gentile bashed his fifth grand slam of the season, tagging former Oriole Don Larsen as part of a seven-run inning in the Birds’ 8-6 win over the White Sox. Gentile’s five slams tied the MLB record held by Ernie Banks at the time, though it would later be topped by Don Mattingly in 1987 and Travis Hafner in 2006, who each hit six. Those five salamis contributed 20 RBIs to Gentile’s eventual league-leading total of 141 that year. And weirdly, all five of his grand slams came when Chuck Estrada was on the mound for the Orioles. And in 2012, the Orioles won their 16th straight extra-inning game and last of the regular season, beating the Red Sox, 9-6, in 12 frames at Fenway Park. Jim Thome’s RBI ground-rule double put the Birds ahead, and RBI singles by Endy Chavez and Manny Machado padded the lead before Jim Johnson closed things out for his 47th save. The victory kept the O’s one game behind the Yankees for the AL East lead.

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports Another ugly matchup that could get out of control on TNF Week 3 of the NFL season is set to begin as the New York Giants head to Levi’s Stadium to take on the San Francisco 49ers. Odds (Sponsored by DraftKings Sportsbook) Spread: 49ers -10.5Moneyline: 49ers -500, Giants +380Over/Under: 44 Entering tonight’s game, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy continues to boast a perfect regular season record at 7-0. This season, he’s completed 66.7% of his passes for 426 yards and two touchdowns. He and the 49ers offense have leaned on the contributions from running back Christian McCaffrey who’s rushed for 268 yards and two touchdowns in the first two games. On the other end, the Giants are not looking in great shape as running back Saquon Barkley has been ruled out for tonight’s game. As has offensive tackle Andrew Thomas (hamstring), guard Ben Bredeson (concussion) and linebacker Azeez Ojulari (hamstring). Picks Coming as no surprise, the Beatdown gang have all taken the overwhelming favorite 49ers to vanquish the Giants. Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.

Tamawashi finally on the board. Atamifuji upended by Daieisho. Hoshoryu evens up his record following a win. A wet rain came down as the last day of summer was ahead of the fans who trickled... The post Aki Basho: Day 12 results, insight, and current standings first appeared on Marylandsportsblog.com. The post Aki Basho: Day 12 results, insight, and current standings appeared first on Marylandsportsblog.com.

Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images Looking around the AFC North ahead of Week 3 Baltimore Ravens (2-0) The Baltimore Ravens will look to turn the page to the Indianapolis Colts at home this Sunday after a divisional win on the road over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2. The Ravens will enter Week 3 with a number of new injuries as wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and outside linebacker Odafe Oweh both suffered ankle injuries that took them out of last Sunday’s game. It is unclear how much time either player will miss. Meanwhile, defensive back Ar’Darius Washington was placed on injured reserve with a chest injury, and running back Justice Hill is expected to miss some time with a toe injury. Baltimore signed veteran running back Kenyan Drake to their practice squad following the injury to Hill. The Ravens will have to prepare for two separate quarterbacks this week going into their matchup with the Colts as rookie fourth-overall pick Anthony Richardson suffered a concussion during the team’s Week 2 victory over the Houston Texans, leaving his status for this Sunday up in the air as he remains in the concussion protocol. Veteran journeyman Gardner Minshew led Indianapolis to a win with an impressive performance after Richardson exited the game. Cleveland Browns (1-1) The Cleveland Browns will return home to face the Tennessee Titans this Sunday after falling to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football. Worse than the loss itself for the Browns in Week 2 was the horrific knee injury to star running back Nick Chubb. This is the second devastating injury to the same knee that Chubb has suffered, the first coming in college at Georgia in 2015. Chubb will miss the remainder of the 2023 season and could require multiple surgeries. Cleveland reunited with veteran running back Kareem Hunt this week, although Jerome Ford is expected to be the team’s starter. The second-year running back notched 106 rushing yards on 16 carries against the Steelers on Monday. The Browns will look to bounce back this week against the Titans who are fresh off a victory over the Minnesota Vikings in Week 2. Cleveland quarterback Deshaun Watson continues to struggle since returning to the field following an 11-game suspension in 2022 for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. The Browns will need better play from their $230 million quarterback in order to become true contenders in a crowded AFC. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1) Fresh off a divisional win, the Steelers will now travel to Las Vegas to face the Raiders on Sunday Night Football. Despite getting the victory over Cleveland on Monday night, Pittsburgh left the game with a litany of concerns regarding the offense’s continued struggles. The Steelers’s offense, led by offensive coordinator Matt Canada, currently ranks at the bottom of the league in rushing and passing efficiency. Matt Canada is on a tier of his own https://t.co/jGn25mtOsb— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) September 21, 2023 Meanwhile, Pittsburgh suffered another injury scare on defense when All-Pro free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick left the game and was taken to a hospital for a chest injury. Luckily, the team received good news regarding Fitzpatrick and he said that he will play against the Raiders this week. The Steelers are already without defensive tackle Cam Heyward, one of their best defensive players and leaders, for the foreseeable future. Cincinnati Bengals (0-2) Like last season, the Bengals started the season slow, currently finding themselves in an 0-2 hole with both losses coming in the division. Cincinnati will look to stop their skid at home against the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football. The major difference between the team that was able to crawl back from a rough start to the season last year to make an AFC Championship appearance and this year is the health of quarterback Joe Burrow. Burrow reaggravated a calf injury that held him out of training camp at the end of the game against Baltimore. It is unclear if Burrow will be available when the Bengals play the Rams on Monday, but Head Coach Zac Taylor iterated that things are looking positive when speaking on The Rich Eisen Show. Cincinnati will need their quarterback in order to stop from going 0-3 against a Los Angeles team, led by red-hot quarterback Matt Stafford, that appears much better than most predicted heading into the season.