Breaking News Mount St. Mary’s Men’s Basketball Unveils 20-Game Metro Conference Schedule for 2026-27 32 minutes ago
Get MSB Delivered Maryland sports news, straight to your inbox.
Free Maryland sports headlines. Unsubscribe at any time.
Other Sports

MSB Weekly Magazine – 2026-08-23

Maryland’s Weekly Sports Magazine • August 16 – August 23, 2026

Maryland Sports Blog Weekly

Dylan Beavers Walks It Off as Orioles Rally Past Rays, 3-2, in 10 Innings

The Baltimore Orioles waited until late Saturday night to get their offense going, but when they finally did, they delivered. Dylan…

Quick Read

Catch up fast, then jump into the complete articles below.

Brian’s Take: The Week That Was

Brian's Take recaps 22 MSB opinion takes published during the week. These are the key conclusions from MSB's reporting, analysis and game coverage.

1

Dylan Beavers Walks It Off as Orioles Rally Past Rays, 3-2, in 10 Innings

This was one of the better Orioles wins of the season because Baltimore had every reason to lose it. The Orioles failed to capitalize on early opportunities. McClanahan shut them out for five innings. Tampa Bay carried a 2-0 lead into the eighth. Yet Baltimore did not disappear. Basallo delivered the tying homer. O'Neill made a potentially game-saving defensive play. Garcia escaped a difficult 10th inning. Then Beavers ended it immediately. That is the type of game that gives a rebuilding or retooling club something meaningful to build around. The biggest takeaway is not simply that Baltimore won. It is who made the winning plays. Basallo and Beavers are supposed to be major pieces of…

Read the complete article and MSB Take

2

Pete Alonso Powers Orioles Past Rays, 5-3, With 30th Home Run

This was exactly the type of win the Orioles needed. The four-game losing streak was beginning to erase much of the momentum Baltimore generated during its previous series against Tampa Bay. Falling further below .500 in late August would make an already difficult Wild Card chase even tougher. Alonso continues to be the difference-maker Baltimore hoped it was getting when the Orioles made the aggressive move to sign him. He has power, he produces runs and, perhaps most importantly right now, he has become one of the hottest hitters in baseball. His first-inning RBI prevented Baltimore from playing from behind immediately, and his fifth-inning home run completely changed the game. Rogers deserves just as much…

Read the complete article and MSB Take

3

The Baltimore Orioles’ rough stretch continued Thursday night, as the New York Yankees completed a three-game sweep with a 6-1 win at Oriole Park at Camden Yards

This was a miserable series for the Orioles. Wednesday night will understandably be remembered for the controversial Alonso foul-ball ruling, but Baltimore cannot blame Thursday’s loss on an umpire or replay review. The Yankees were simply better in every important area. Cole dominated Baltimore’s lineup. The Orioles made a costly defensive mistake. New York turned that mistake into runs, then answered immediately when Beavers finally gave Camden Yards something to cheer about. The most concerning part is the timing. Baltimore had worked its way back into the Wild Card conversation and had an opportunity to make a statement against one of the teams it may eventually have to chase. Instead, the Orioles were swept at…

Read the complete article and MSB Take

4

Controversial Replay Call Costs Orioles as Yankees Win 5-3 at Camden Yards

The Orioles did plenty to lose this baseball game themselves. They failed with runners in scoring position. Sanders melted down in the eighth. Eleven strikeouts are too many in a game against a division rival. But Pete Alonso also appeared to hit a go-ahead home run. Baltimore should not have needed to overcome the Yankees and an inadequate replay system. There is no evidence supporting the claim that MLB intentionally fixed Wednesday night's game for New York, and MSB will not present that accusation as fact. But MLB absolutely deserves criticism. When a potentially game-changing home run rises above the foul pole, the league needs technology capable of determining where the baseball actually traveled. “Call…

Read the complete article and MSB Take

5

Orioles Reinstate Samuel Basallo From Injured List, Option Jeremiah Jackson to Norfolk

Getting Samuel Basallo back is one of the better developments the Orioles have had in recent weeks. Baltimore needs to continue finding out which young players will be part of the team's long-term core, and Basallo has already shown enough power to make him one of the most interesting players on the roster. The shoulder injury was concerning because of his position. Catchers put significant stress on their throwing arm, so Baltimore should not have any reason to rush his workload behind the plate. But his bat needs to be in the lineup. Sixteen home runs in 86 games during his first full major league season is a strong foundation, especially for a player who…

Read the complete article and MSB Take

6

Orioles Waste Strong Shane Baz Start in 3-1 Loss to Yankees

This was a difficult game to lose because the Orioles received exactly the type of starting pitching they need during a playoff chase. Baz was excellent. Ten strikeouts, only four hits allowed and very little hard damage should normally put a team in position to win. The box score says three runs were charged to him, but Baltimore was one strike away from getting through the seventh without either inherited runner scoring. The bigger issue was the offense. The Orioles had eight runners left on base and went hitless in six chances with runners in scoring position. Mayo provided the only run with another impressive home run, but Baltimore could not string together enough quality…

Read the complete article and MSB Take

7

Trey Mancini Announces Retirement, Closing a Career Defined by Power, Perseverance and His Bond With Baltimore

Trey Mancini may not be remembered nationally as one of the greatest players of his generation, but that does not come close to telling his story. For Orioles fans, Mancini represents something much bigger. He was one of the players worth watching when Baltimore was losing more than 100 games. He was one of the few recognizable faces connecting one era of Orioles baseball to the next. Then he became an inspiration well beyond Camden Yards. Cancer took an entire season away from him. It did not take his career. Mancini returned, won Comeback Player of the Year, reached a Home Run Derby final, helped the Astros win a World Series and — after nearly…

Read the complete article and MSB Take

8

Orioles Let Late Lead Slip, Fall to Rays 7-6 in Series Finale

This one hurts because the Orioles had it. Baltimore had already won the series, had a two-run lead entering the seventh and was six outs away from completing a four-game sweep of the best team in the American League. Cano simply could not get anybody out when Baltimore needed him to. But it is difficult to be too disappointed with the overall trip to Tampa Bay. The Orioles went into Tropicana Field and took three of four from a Rays team that improved to 75-49 with Monday's victory. Mayo continues to show legitimate power, Alonso is absolutely crushing the baseball right now, and Encarnacion-Strand gave the lineup another huge performance. Most importantly, somehow this Orioles…

Read the complete article and MSB Take

9

Orioles Explode for Seven-Run Sixth, Crush Rays 10-2 to Move Into Wild Card Spot

The Orioles have somehow played themselves back into meaningful August baseball. A team that has spent much of the year trying to recover from its disastrous stretches now controls its own Wild Card position with 38 games remaining. Sunday's victory might have been the most convincing of the three in Tampa Bay. Rogers gave Baltimore six strong innings. The bullpen handled the rest. Holliday produced three RBIs. Cowser supplied power. Alonso delivered another big hit, and Encarnacion-Strand put the game away. Most importantly, Baltimore did it against a Rays club that has spent the season establishing itself as one of baseball's best teams. There is still plenty wrong with a 61-63 record, and Baltimore's remaining…

Read the complete article and MSB Take

10

Ravens Defense Dominates Vikings in 13-3 Preseason Victory

Preseason wins and losses do not mean much once September arrives, but Baltimore should be very encouraged by what its defense has shown. The Ravens have allowed seven points and three points in their first two preseason games, and Saturday's performance came largely from players fighting for backup roles and roster spots. Five sacks, nine quarterback hits, two takeaways and no touchdowns allowed is exactly what Baltimore wants to see from its defensive depth. Fagnano also deserves significant credit. The undrafted rookie continues to look composed and has given Baltimore something to think about at quarterback. Completing 37 of 48 passes through two preseason games is difficult to ignore regardless of the level of competition….

Read the complete article and MSB Take

11

Ravens Center Danny Pinter Expected to Miss 2026 Season With Torn Patellar Tendon

This one hurts. Pinter was not simply another depth offensive lineman who went down during training camp. He was taking almost all of Baltimore's first-team snaps and appeared to have legitimately earned the inside track to start. For a player who spent most of his career waiting behind other starters, this looked like his opportunity. Now it is gone before the regular season even begins. From the Ravens' standpoint, this is also exactly why signing Pocic was important. Baltimore did not enter training camp assuming one player would win the center job. The Ravens built legitimate competition and depth at the position, and that preparation may prevent Pinter's injury from becoming a catastrophic problem. Pocic…

Read the complete article and MSB Take

12

Ravens Center Danny Pinter Carted Off Field During Joint Practice With Vikings

Pinter being carted off is one of the more concerning developments of Ravens training camp so far simply because of where Baltimore stands at center. The Ravens entered camp hoping competition would determine their best replacement for Tyler Linderbaum. Over the past several weeks, Pinter appeared to be making a legitimate case to win the job and was receiving significant work alongside the starting offensive line. Losing him for any extended period would immediately put more pressure on Pocic and Gwyn. The good news is Baltimore specifically built depth at center instead of relying on a single option. Signing Pocic looks even more important now, especially if Pinter is unavailable. For now, there is no…

Read the complete article and MSB Take

13

Derrick Henry Ranked No. 15 in NFL Top 100 Players of 2026

Derrick Henry being ranked No. 15 is another reminder of just how special his career has become. Running backs are not supposed to produce 1,595-yard seasons at 31 years old. They are not supposed to average 5.2 yards per carry after more than 2,500 career rushing attempts. Henry keeps doing things running backs his age are not supposed to do. There will naturally be questions about when the decline finally comes. At some point, Father Time catches everybody. But until Henry actually shows significant signs of slowing down, there is little reason to assume 2026 will suddenly be the year everything changes. Baltimore still has one of the most intimidating runners in football. And according…

Read the complete article and MSB Take

14

Ravens Bring Back Veteran Offensive Tackle David Sharpe, Waive Jahquez Robinson

The David Sharpe signing is not going to grab many headlines, but it is the type of late-training camp move that can become important very quickly. Baltimore has already watched two veteran offensive linemen retire since the beginning of August, and the Ravens do not want to overload their starters or young backup tackles throughout the preseason. Sharpe knows the Ravens' organization, has played both tackle spots during his NFL career and brings 46 games of experience into the building. That makes him a logical player to bring in with roster cuts approaching. Lichtenhan remains one of the more interesting young players competing for a backup job, but adding Sharpe gives Baltimore another option and…

Read the complete article and MSB Take

15

O.J. Brigance, the Heart of the Ravens, Dies After Courageous 19-Year Battle With ALS

There are Ravens legends because of what they accomplished on Sundays. O.J. Brigance belongs in a different category. When people talk about what it means to "Play Like a Raven," there are players such as Ray Lewis, Jonathan Ogden and Ed Reed who immediately come to mind. When we talk about what it means to live like a Raven, it is difficult to think of anyone who represented those words better than O.J. Brigance. He was part of Baltimore's first Ravens Super Bowl championship. He made the first tackle of that Super Bowl. He spent decades serving the organization. But those accomplishments became secondary to the example he set after 2007. Brigance fought ALS publicly…

Read the complete article and MSB Take

16

Cameron Edge Wins Morgan State Starting Quarterback Job Ahead of 2026 Opener

This could be one of the most interesting quarterback stories in Maryland college football this season. Cameron Edge came out of high school as a four-star recruit with major expectations. He spent three years at Maryland, transferred to Eastern Michigan and still entered 2026 without ever getting the opportunity to be a full-time college starter. Now he gets that chance at Morgan State. The Bears are not simply taking a flyer on a former highly rated prospect. Edge has spent four years learning at the college level and has already shown flashes when given limited opportunities. The most encouraging part of Morgan State's announcement may actually be the leadership component. Wilson did not say Edge…

Read the complete article and MSB Take

17

Coppin State Legend Christina Epps Selected for 2027 MEAC Hall of Fame

Christina Epps' MEAC Hall of Fame selection feels like one of those honors that was only a matter of time. Few Coppin State athletes have reached the combination of conference, national and international success that Epps achieved. Six MEAC championships, two All-America honors, multiple school and conference records and an Olympic appearance would be enough to make any collegiate career historic. Epps also competed in another sport, became the MEAC Woman of the Year and established herself as a leader away from competition. Her 2016 Olympic appearance remains particularly significant for Coppin State. Representing the United States on one of the largest sporting stages in the world helped bring national attention to the Eagles and…

Read the complete article and MSB Take

18

Loyola Men’s Soccer Falls to St. John’s, 5-0, in 2026 Season Opener

A 5-0 loss is obviously not the way Loyola wanted to begin the season, but one game in August does not define what the Greyhounds can become. The most concerning statistic was not necessarily the five goals allowed. It was the 0 shots on goal. St. John's was able to take control early, and once Loyola fell behind by multiple goals, the Greyhounds never generated enough attacking pressure to seriously threaten a comeback. There is also plenty of season remaining. Loyola has several experienced players mixed with a younger roster, and early nonconference matches are where teams learn what works and what needs to change. Sunday's game against UMBC now becomes an important early test…

Read the complete article and MSB Take

19

UMBC Women’s Basketball Unveils Full 2026-27 Schedule Following Breakthrough WNIT Season

There should be legitimate excitement around UMBC women’s basketball entering this season. Candice Hill has changed the trajectory of the program quickly. A 17-win season, a top-four America East finish, the program’s first Power Four victory and a WNIT win would have looked like an ambitious list of goals two years ago. UMBC accomplished all of them last season. Now the standard changes. Pittsburgh and Maryland will test how far the Retrievers have come. Mount St. Mary’s, Navy and Coppin State provide meaningful local games, and the America East schedule gives UMBC another opportunity to establish itself as a legitimate championship contender. Last season proved UMBC can compete with the best teams on its schedule….

Read the complete article and MSB Take

20

Former Towson Pitcher Ethan Pecko Reaches Major Leagues With Houston Astros

This is a great story for Towson baseball. Pecko was not a first-round phenom who was expected to fly through the minor leagues. He was a sixth-round selection who earned everything that came afterward. He improved in the Astros system, dominated enough in 2024 to earn organizational Pitcher of the Year honors, battled through another major surgery and still made it to Houston just three years after being drafted. Then, when the Astros handed him the ball in the middle of a playoff race, Pecko gave them 3 2/3 competitive innings and helped put Houston in position to win. Making the major leagues is difficult enough. Doing it after multiple significant injuries and coming from…

Read the complete article and MSB Take

21

Nationals Offense Goes Quiet as Marlins Take 4-2 Win in Miami

This was another frustrating Nationals loss because the pitching ultimately gave Washington an opportunity to get back into the game. Irvin struggled early. There is no getting around that. Allowing a two-run single in the first and a homer in the second put the Nationals in a difficult position almost immediately. But Irvin settled down. After Marsee's homer in the fourth, Washington's pitching staff did not allow another run. When a team trails 4-2 after five innings and the pitching staff throws three more scoreless frames, the offense has to find a way to make something happen. Washington did not. The Nationals managed just three hits, and none came after Crews' fifth-inning RBI double. That…

Read the complete article and MSB Take

22

The Washington Nationals suffered another difficult loss Friday night, falling 3-2 to the Miami Marlins

This was a game the Nationals had a real opportunity to win. Washington did not produce much offensively, but Ruiz's homer gave the pitching staff a lead deep into the game. Even after Miami scored twice in the eighth, the Nationals responded in the ninth instead of quietly going down. That made the bottom of the ninth even more disappointing. Walking the leadoff hitter immediately created pressure. The throwing error compounded the problem, and once Miami loaded the bases with nobody out, Washington had almost no margin for error. For a young team playing out the final portion of the season, these are the situations that need to become learning experiences. The Nationals have enough…

Read the complete article and MSB Take

By the Numbers

41

Full stories

5

Sports sections

22

MSB Takes

8

Days covered

Quote of the Week

“The best view, the only view that shows the ball fair or foul is the one down the line,” Alonso said after the game.

Controversial Replay Call Costs Orioles as Yankees Win 5-3 at Camden Yards

This Week in Maryland Sports

Full Issue

Baltimore Orioles

Baltimore Ravens

Maryland College Sports

Maryland High School Sports

Washington Nationals

Share This Issue

Sponsor space available

Advertise with Maryland Sports Blog

Advertise with MSB

Subscribe to MSB Weekly

Please follow and like us:
Follow by Email