Hearing from Showalter, Tillman and Gausman after 6-4 loss

Hearing from Showalter, Tillman and Gausman after 6-4 loss
LAKELAND, Fla. - Victor Martinez's long two-run homer off Kevin Gausman in the bottom of the eighth inning gave the Tigers a 6-4 win over the Orioles at Joker Marchant Stadium. Jayson Nix had tied the game 4-4 with a home run in the top half of the inning. Gausman struck out two batters in his only inning. Afterward, manager Buck Showalter said the club will shorten him up in case he's assigned to the bullpen. "Might bring Gaus back shorter until everything shakes out," Showalter said. "I...

Game update and more from Showalter (Orioles lose 6-4)

Game update and more from Showalter (Orioles lose 6-4)
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Tigers 6, Orioles 4 Recap: Chris Tillman turned in the longest outing by an Orioles starter this spring, going 5 1/3 innings and allowing two runs and five hits. He walked one and struck out four. Tillman threw 70 pitches, 45 for strikes. Tommy Hunter served up two home runs in 1 2/3 innings. Delmon Young had a two-run triple in the fourth and Nolan Reimold added a sacrifice fly. Jayson Nix tied the game 4-4 with a home run in the eighth. Kevin Gausman pitched the...

Quick hits before today's game

Quick hits before today's game
LAKELAND, Fla. - Catcher Matt Wieters will return to Sarasota for workouts after joining the Orioles for the three-game series against the Rays at Tropicana Field that opens the 2015 season. The Orioles want Wieters to eventually begin playing in extended spring training games while he's on the disabled list. The plan also calls for him to play his rehab games at Double-A Bowie and Single-A Frederick and report each day to the Camden Yards clubhouse. Manager Buck Showalter said Wieters will do...

Notes on Schoop and Lough, Tigers lineup

Notes on Schoop and Lough, Tigers lineup
LAKELAND, Fla. - Second baseman Jonathan Schoop said he should be able to play Friday against the Rays in Sarasota after having two teeth extracted yesterday. "I have to get a workout in today and I'm ready to go," said Schoop, who's 9-for-37 (.243) with two doubles, two home runs and six RBIs. "I feel good. No pain, but the doctor didn't want me to run around yesterday. I think today if I run I could bleed, but I feel good. I'm thankful. I feel ready to go." Schoop had one wisdom...

Orioles lineup vs. Tigers

Orioles lineup vs. Tigers
SARASOTA, Fla. - Nolan Reimold is getting another start in left field today and Delmon Young returns to right field for the Orioles' game against the Tigers in Lakeland. Manny Machado is leading off today and Ryan Lavarnway is behind the plate. Christian Walker is starting at first base. The reserves include Steve Clevenger, Caleb Joseph, Ryan Flaherty, Chris Parmelee, Mike Yastrzemski, Michael Almanzar, Julio Borbon, Glynn Davis, Ozzie Martinez and Garabez Rosa. The bullpen includes Kevin...

Today's game, Young and Pearce

Today's game, Young and Pearce
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are using two starters for today's game against the Tigers in Lakeland, one of the longest trips on the spring training schedule. Not many roads, but lots of miles. I'll say that the Tigers feed the media quite well, and we mostly use our stomachs to judge the camps. But there may be a revolt if they don't find more seats in their press box for visiting reporters. I won't sit on anyone's lap. Not this time. Chris Tillman will take the mound first, followed by...

Orioles acquire Mike McDade

Orioles acquire Mike McDade
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles made a minor league trade tonight, acquiring switch-hitting first baseman Mike McDade from the Rangers for future considerations. The Orioles will assign McDade to Double-A Bowie, according to a team official. McDade, 25, appeared in one exhibition game with the Rangers this spring and received one at-bat. The Blue Jays selected him in the sixth round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft out of Silverado High School in Las Vegas. McDade is a career .261/.319/.407...

Hearing from Showalter after 5-2 loss

Hearing from Showalter after 5-2 loss
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles had scored 65 runs in their last eight games before being held to two this afternoon in a 5-2 loss to the Blue Jays at Ed Smith Stadium. Rule 5 pick Jason Garcia escaped a bases-loaded jam in the top of the ninth by striking out Munesori Kawasaki after falling behind 3-0, but Aaron Loup retired the Orioles in order in the bottom half. Wei-Yin Chen worked five innings, throwing 62 pitches, and had enough left in the tank to continue. However, manager Buck Showalter...

Game update and Chen on Chen (O's lose 5-2)

Game update and Chen on Chen (O's lose 5-2)
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Blue Jays 5, Orioles 2 Recap: Wei-Yin Chen joined Ubaldo Jimenez as the only Orioles to go five innings in a Grapefruit League game. He threw 62 pitches, 39 for strikes. Chen allowed two runs (one earned) and four hits, with no walks and one strikeout. Former Oriole Steve Tolleson hit a solo homer off Chen in the third. Caleb Joseph had an RBI double in the second after Blue Jays starter Daniel Norris hit Nolan Reimold with a pitch. Delmon Young homered in the seventh....

Showalter on Rule 5 pitchers (Chen goes five innings)

Showalter on Rule 5 pitchers (Chen goes five innings)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Logan Verrett tossed another scoreless inning yesterday, retiring the Pirates in order in the bottom of the ninth. Jason Garcia is scheduled to pitch today against the Blue Jays in his fourth spring training appearance. One Rule 5 right-hander following another for the Orioles. Can they keep both pitchers in a bullpen that's already crowded? Can they hold onto at least one? Let's start with the least likely scenario, that a contender can carry two Rule 5...

New Orioles lineup and more notes

New Orioles lineup and more notes
SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Davis will serve as the designated hitter today in the new Orioles lineup against the Blue Jays. Steve Pearce remains at first base and Jimmy Paredes goes to the bench. Manager Buck Showalter said he didn't want Davis sitting for two straight days, and the veteran isn't going to Lakeland on Thursday. Could the Orioles also be shielding Paredes from the bevy of scouts at Ed Smith Stadium? Draw your own conclusions. Scouts already have gotten plenty of looks at Paredes,...

Notes on lineup, Schoop and more

Notes on lineup, Schoop and more
SARASOTA, Fla. - A lineup change is coming for the Orioles. Chris Davis was listed among the reserves, but he's going to play first base or serve as the designated hitter. Steve Pearce will move into the DH role if Davis is in the field. Jimmy Paredes was supposed to DH, but he's headed to the bench. It's not a health issue. Davis won't travel to Lakeland on Thursday and manager Buck Showalter doesn't want him sitting for two straight days. Second baseman Jonathan Schoop isn't available...

Delmon Young on why he arrives early each morning

Delmon Young on why he arrives early each morning
SARASOTA, Fla. - Delmon Young isn't a guy who's accustomed to having reporters around his locker in spring training, which explained his reaction today when a few members of the media approached him. He glanced up, saw us and got a puzzled look on his face. It's just nice to catch up, no matter how brief the conversation. Young routinely is the first Oriole to arrive each morning, leaving his locker unoccupied when reporters are allowed inside the clubhouse. He's in the weight room or...

Lough provides update on back

Lough provides update on back
SARASOTA, Fla. - David Lough said he hopes to get back on the field within the next few days after being scratched from yesterday's Orioles lineup with back spasms. Lough isn't listed among the reserves today and may not play on Thursday against the Tigers in Lakeland. He was supposed to start in center field yesterday against the Pirates in Bradenton, but his back tightened up before he could make the trip. "I was in the batting cages picking up balls," he said. "I picked up a ball and my...

Orioles lineup vs. Blue Jays

Orioles lineup vs. Blue Jays
SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Davis isn't in the lineup today for the Orioles after making the trip yesterday to Bradenton. Steve Pearce is starting at first base. Everth Cabrera is leading off and playing second base. Caleb Joseph is catching and Jimmy Paredes is serving as the designated hitter. The bullpen behind starter Wei-Yin Chen includes Brian Matusz, who's made two starts. Other relievers include Rule 5 pick Jason Garcia, Darren O'Day, Ryan Webb and Chaz Roe. For the Orioles Everth Cabrera...

Today's game and more on the rotation and catching competition

Today's game and more on the rotation and catching competition
SARASOTA, Fla. - The next three Orioles starting pitchers have been confirmed, with left-hander Wei-Yin Chen taking the mound today against the Blue Jays in Sarasota, Chris Tillman going Thursday against the Tigers in Lakeland and Bud Norris getting the ball Friday against the Rays in Sarasota. Manager Buck Showalter hasn't announced Saturday's starter against the Yankees in Tampa, but the assignment may go to a minor leaguer. The Orioles didn't play Monday, so no one will be working on...

Buck Showalter and Ubaldo Jimenez following 9-2 win

Buck Showalter and Ubaldo Jimenez following 9-2 win
BRADENTON, Fla. - Logan Verrett had another impressive outing today, retiring the Pirates in order in the ninth inning with a strikeout to seal the Orioles' 9-2 victory at McKechnie Field. Verrett, a Rule 5 pick from the Mets, has allowed two runs in 11 innings, with one walk and nine strikeouts. "Yeah, he's thrown the ball good," manager Buck Showalter said. "Dave (Wallace) was talking about him pitching, waiting one more day and him pitching two innings. I'm not sure how he's going to...

Orioles increase lead in seventh inning (O's win 9-2)

Orioles increase lead in seventh inning (O's win 9-2)
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Orioles 9, Pirates 2 Recap: Ubaldo Jimenez was superb, shutting out the Pirates on four hits over five innings. He walked none and struck out three. The Orioles broke a scoreless tie with five runs in the fourth inning. Steve Pearce hit his fifth home run of the spring. Jimmy Paredes had another hit, a double in the fourth. Ryan Flaherty singled in his first two at-bats, driving in a run in the fourth, and doubled in the sixth. Paul Janish had a two-run single in the...

Lavarnway getting defensive today, Reimold impresses Showalter (updated)

Lavarnway getting defensive today, Reimold impresses Showalter (updated)
BRADENTON, Fla. - Ryan Lavarnway is trying to separate himself from the pack of catching candidates with the Orioles. He's doing it today at McKechnie Field. Lavarnway has thrown out both Pirates runners attempting to steal, cutting down Gregory Polanco in the first inning and Jordy Mercer in the third. He was 1-for-6 this spring. Lavarnway also has grounded into one of the Orioles' three double plays in the first three innings. Alejandro De Aza and Steve Pearce opened the first inning with...

Lough sidelined with back spasms

Lough sidelined with back spasms
BRADENTON, Fla. - Orioles outfielder David Lough was scratched from today's lineup due to back spasms. He's listed as day-to-day. Lough was supposed to start in center field against the Pirates. He was hitting off a tee this morning in Sarasota, bent down for a ball and felt his back tighten. Lough is 5-for-27 as he attempts to make the club as an extra outfielder. He missed a few days earlier this spring with a sore left hamstring. "He's fighting for a spot," said manager Buck Showalter....