Orioles lineup vs. Twins (update)

Orioles lineup vs. Twins (update)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Manny Machado and Adam Jones are making the trip to Fort Myers for today's game against the Twins at Hammond Stadium. Machado is leading off again and Jones is batting third. Paul Janish is starting at shortstop. He's been brought along slowly after undergoing surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow. Update: Relievers Zach Britton and Ryan Webb are also on the trip to Fort Myers. Webb had been sidelined with a sore left knee. For the Orioles Manny Machado 3B Steve Pearce...

Miguel Gonzalez, Adam Jones and more

Miguel Gonzalez, Adam Jones and more
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are back in Fort Myers today because they can't get enough of I-75 south. Just slow down through the construction zones. The rotation is a work in progress - my idea of a segue - with six starters vying for five spots. Miguel Gonzalez returns to the mound today against the Twins and will attempt to push his pitch count to 70-75. He'll also attempt to stay in the majors rather than being optioned before opening day. Gonzalez allowed one hit in two scoreless innings...

Orioles option Tim Berry

Orioles option Tim Berry
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles ended up making two camp cuts today with the announcement that they optioned left-hander Tim Berry to Triple-A Norfolk. Earlier in the day, the Orioles optioned pitcher Mike Wright to Norfolk. With these moves, the Orioles have 43 players in camp, including nine non-roster invitees. Berry allowed two runs (one earned) in one inning today against the Red Sox in Fort Myers. In four spring games, he surrendered five runs (four earned) and seven hits in five innings,...

Updating Chen and Gausman at minor league complex

Updating Chen and Gausman at minor league complex
SARASOTA, Fla. - Wei-Yin Chen and Kevin Gausman got in their work this afternoon on adjacent fields at the Twins Lakes Park complex. That was pretty much the goal besides staying healthy. Chen and Gausman were facing Single-A teams in the Red Sox organization. Chen, pitching for the Frederick Keys, allowed one run and two hits in five-plus innings, with one walk and three strikeouts. Gausman, pitching for the Delmarva Shorebirds, allowed two hits and struck out four in four scoreless...

Orioles lineup vs. Red Sox (Napoli scratched)

Orioles lineup vs. Red Sox (Napoli scratched)
SARASOTA, Fla. - David Lough is starting in center field for the Orioles today after sitting out a few games with a sore left hamstring. Henry Urrutia is in right field one day after hitting a tiebreaking home run in the eighth inning. Ryan Lavarnway is behind the plate and Steve Clevenger is serving as the designated hitter. For the Orioles Everth Cabrera SS David Lough CF Jimmy Paredes 3B Travis Snider LF Henry Urrutia RF Steve Clevenger DH Chris Parmelee 1B Ryan Lavarnway C Ryan Flaherty...

Lough update and Red Sox lineup (with note)

Lough update and Red Sox lineup (with note)
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles haven't posted their lineup and the bus left for Fort Myers a while ago. Guess we're in a holding pattern. Many of the regulars are staying back, of course. Adam Jones sat at his locker this morning, amusing reporters with various quips. Chris Davis and Manny Machado also are in the clubhouse. David Lough made the trip and said he's starting today. Manager Buck Showalter held him out of the lineup for a few days because of a sore left hamstring. "I'm fine,"...

Matt Wieters: "It was more of the body telling me to slow down"

Matt Wieters: "It was more of the body telling me to slow down"
SARASOTA, Fla. - Matt Wieters remains hopeful that he can return to catching on Wednesday after an X-ray on his elbow yesterday didn't reveal any structural damage. Wieters is letting the elbow "rest" after being diagnosed with tendinitis following his Grapefruit League debut behind the plate on Tuesday. Asked whether he's concerned, Wieters replied, "No. It's a matter of we put in a lot of work in the nine months of rehab and the body was just telling me, 'OK, we've put in a lot of...

Another Brian Matusz start, another road game, the latest on Henry Urrutia

Another Brian Matusz start, another road game, the latest on Henry Urrutia
SARASOTA, Fla. - Left-hander Brian Matusz is making another start today for the Orioles after throwing three scoreless innings with no walks on March 14 against the Rays. Matusz hasn't issued a walk in 6 1/3 innings this spring. He's allowed one run and five hits and struck out eight batters. Whether he stays in the organization is another matter. The trade rumors continue to swirl. I'll be at Twin Lakes Park today, where Kevin Gausman and Wei-Yin Chen are pitching in separate Single-A...

Matt Wieters' X-ray clean and other notes following 6-4 win

Matt Wieters' X-ray clean and other notes following 6-4 win
SARASOTA, Fla. - The X-rays on Matt Wieters' right elbow came back clean today, according to manager Buck Showalter, who added that no further tests were scheduled. Wieters caught his first Grapefruit League game on Tuesday and was diagnosed with tendinitis in the elbow the following day. Head athletic trainer Richie Bancells arranged the X-rays today as a precaution. "There's no reason to have any other tests," Showalter said after a 6-4 win over the Pirates. "I talked to him when he got...

Updating Tillman's latest start (Orioles win 6-4)

Updating Tillman's latest start (Orioles win 6-4)
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Orioles 6, Pirates 4 Recap: Henry Urrutia homered on the first pitch from Stolmy Pimentel leading off the bottom of the eighth to break a 4-4 tie and Ryan Lavarnway added an RBI double later in the inning. Chris Tillman allowed one run and four hits in four innings, with no walks and five strikeouts. Ryan Flaherty and Adam Jones homered off Pirates reliever Arquimedes Caminero in the fifth inning to break a 2-2 tie. Jones gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead in the first with...

Buck Showalter continues to evaluate his Rule 5 pitchers (game update)

Buck Showalter continues to evaluate his Rule 5 pitchers (game update)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Today's starter for the Pirates, Radhames Liz, hasn't pitched in the majors since making two appearances with the Orioles in April 2009, allowing 10 runs and eight hits in 1 1/3 innings. Liz, 31, is 6-8 with a 7.50 ERA in 28 appearances (21 starts) over parts of three major league seasons, all of them with the Orioles. Manager Buck Showalter isn't in a rush to make a decision on Rule 5 pitchers Jason Garcia and Logan Verrett, who can't be optioned without passing through...

Notes on Matt Wieters, David Lough, Alejandro De Aza and lots more

Notes on Matt Wieters, David Lough, Alejandro De Aza and lots more
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles catcher Matt Wieters is having his right elbow X-rayed today as a precaution after being shut down with tendinitis. He's expected back in camp by the start of today's game. "Just making sure everything's structurally right," said manager Buck Showalter. "Richie (Bancells) and them decided by the time I got back (yesterday) they were just going to go ahead and set it up and get it done. They talked with Dr. (Michael) Jacobs a little bit just to make sure we've got...

Ryan Flaherty returns to Orioles lineup

Ryan Flaherty returns to Orioles lineup
SARASOTA, Fla. - Steve Clevenger is catching today for the Orioles while Matt Wieters remains shut down with tendinitis in his right elbow. Ryan Flaherty returns to the lineup after being hit on the batting helmet and leaving Tuesday's game. He was scratched from Wednesday's trip to Fort Myers. Manny Machado is leading off and Jimmy Paredes is starting in left field. The bullpen includes Brad Brach, Tommy Hunter, Darren O'Day, Steve Johnson, Chaz Roe, Mike Wright, Jon Keller and Jesse...

Chris Davis on his opposite-field home runs

Chris Davis on his opposite-field home runs
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are back home today to play the Pirates at 1:05 p.m. at Ed Smith Stadium, where they've sold out seven of the eight games. Chris Tillman makes his third start, but only the second in a Grapefruit League game. He tossed three scoreless innings against the Puerto Rico Development Program, which didn't appear to have a player more than five feet tall. Tillman really was challenged to keep the ball down. Matt Wieters won't be catching today. He won't be serving as...

Showalter speaks after 3-2 win over Twins (plus pictures)

Showalter speaks after 3-2 win over Twins (plus pictures)
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Ubaldo Jimenez's next start falls on Monday, when the Orioles have their only off-day of the spring schedule. Manager Buck Showalter said the right-hander could pitch in a Single-A game at Twin Lakes Park. Jimenez would be spared another trip to Fort Myers for a Double-A or Triple-A game. "I think he's had enough road travel this year," Showalter said. Here's more from Showalter: On Jimenez's start today: "Better. Each outing, he's been a little better. He had a lot...

Jimenez: "I felt good about what I did out there" (O's win 3-2)

Jimenez: "I felt good about what I did out there" (O's win 3-2)
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Orioles 3, Twins 2 Recap: Ubaldo Jimenez looks a little better each time he takes the mound. He allowed two runs and five hits - the last three of the soft variety - in four-plus innings, with one walk and four strikeouts. Jonathan Schoop hit a two-run homer in the second inning and Dariel Alvarez tripled in the third and scored on Everth Cabrera's grounder. Rule 5 pick Logan Verrett replaced Jimenez and tossed two scoreless innings. Zach Britton retired the side in...

Ubaldo Jimenez allows two runs in four-plus innings

Ubaldo Jimenez allows two runs in four-plus innings
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Ubaldo Jimenez needed one more out today to become the first Orioles pitcher to go more than four innings. He faced three batters in the fifth, but he couldn't get it. Jimenez left the game after three consecutive soft hits - a bloop single to center field by Eduardo Escobar, a bloop double to left by Josmil Pinto and an RBI infield single up the middle by Eduardo Nunez. Jimenez threw 73 pitches, 47 for strikes and departed with the Orioles leading 3-2. Rule 5 pick Logan...

Wieters has elbow tendinitis (with more from Showalter)

Wieters has elbow tendinitis (with more from Showalter)
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Matt Wieters has been diagnosed with tendinitis in his right elbow and may not catch for a week after making his Grapefruit League debut behind the plate yesterday in Sarasota. The Orioles consulted with Dr. James Andrews, who performed ligament-reconstructive surgery on Wieters' elbow on June 17, and the decision was made to decrease activity. Wieters could serve as the designated hitter on Sunday. He was supposed to catch again Thursday against the Pirates in...

More morning Orioles notes and Twins lineup

More morning Orioles notes and Twins lineup
FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Orioles continue to list left-hander Brian Matusz as the starter for Friday's game against the Red Sox in Fort Myers. Boston is sending Justin Masterson to the mound. Saturday's starter against the Twins in Fort Myers is listed as TBA, but it would be Miguel Gonzalez's turn. Matusz is the subject of intense trade speculation. The Orioles are willing to move him, which has been reported many times since the 2014 season ended, and scouts are getting a prolonged look at...

Orioles lineup vs. Twins (and Webb update)

Orioles lineup vs. Twins (and Webb update)
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles play three of their next four games in Fort Myers, twice facing the Twins at Hammond Stadium. They should be able to get there with their eyes closed, which may be more than just an expression, considering the challenges of this spring's schedule. Ubaldo Jimenez is making his fourth start, all of them on the road. Anyone remember Mr. Green Jeans on "Captain Kangaroo"? Well, Jimenez is Mr. Gray Pants. Jimenez allowed six runs (five earned) in 1 1/3 innings in his...