Wrapping up the home portion of the schedule

Wrapping up the home portion of the schedule
We've reached the final regular season home game of the 2014 season. In past years, boxes would be stacked in front of lockers as players gathered their belongings and said their goodbyes. Reporters would circle the room collecting contact information - phone numbers, e-mail addresses, whatever a player is willing to give. Manager Buck Showalter calls it the saddest time of the year. It's a lot different when the team qualifies for the playoffs, as it's done in two of the last three...

Pearce, Jones, Tillman and Walker after tonight's 7-2 win

Pearce, Jones, Tillman and Walker after tonight's 7-2 win
The Orioles haven't lost consecutive home games since June 28-29. They've got one remaining in the regular season, so the streak will remain intact. The 93 wins this year match their 2012 total. Steve Pearce didn't play in tonight's 7-2 victory over the Red Sox. He's expected to miss the next few games after receiving a cortisone injection in his right wrist. Pearce said he realized that he couldn't play during batting practice. "It was a little more sore than usual, so I just...

Update on Pearce and Showalter comments following 7-2 win

Update on Pearce and Showalter comments following 7-2 win
Steve Pearce had his right wrist X-rayed and received a cortisone injection after being removed from tonight's lineup. The X-ray didn't reveal any structural damage, but Pearce will take off a few days to allow the shot to ease his discomfort. "I didn't like some of the feedback I was getting from him with his right wrist during batting practice," manager Buck Showalter said following a 7-2 win over the Red Sox before 43,015 at Camden Yards. "Took an X-ray just to make sure there was...

Walker hits first home run, Jones homers twice (O's win 7-2)

Walker hits first home run, Jones homers twice (O's win 7-2)
Welcome to the majors, Christian Walker. The kid is having quite a night. Walker wasn't in the lineup until the Orioles scratched Steve Pearce after batting practice due to a sore right wrist. Walker replaced him at first base and responded with a single and his first major league home run, which broke a 2-2 tie. Don't be too surprised. It often works out that way. Walker fell behind 0-2 against Red Sox starter Rubby De La Rosa leading off the bottom of the fourth, took a 91 mph fastball...

Game update and more notes (Jones homers, we're tied)

Game update and more notes (Jones homers, we're tied)
Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he intends to give Chris Tillman an extra day of rest before each start leading into the playoffs. The goal tonight is to avoid sending Tillman to the showers early. Four of the first five Red Sox reached against Tillman in the top of the first inning, with Mookie Betts drawing a leadoff walk, David Ortiz hitting a two-run homer and Allen Craig and Daniel Nava collecting back-to-back singles. Ortiz has three home runs in the last two games and 35 on the...

Pearce scratched from lineup (updated)

Pearce scratched from lineup (updated)
The Orioles have scratched Steve Pearce from tonight's lineup due to soreness in his right wrist. It's a precautionary move, and Pearce could start Sunday's series finale against the Red Sox that also concludes the home portion of the regular season schedule. Pearce recently had ice wrapped on the wrist, but he continued to play. He started in right field last night with Nick Markakis sidelined by a sore right shoulder, and he was supposed to play first base tonight. The Orioles will...

Jimenez to make another start, and more notes

Jimenez to make another start, and more notes
Orioles manager Buck Showalter confirmed today that Ubaldo Jimenez will make at least one more start before the regular season ends on Sept. 28. Showalter left open the possibility that Jimenez could start twice. Jimenez won Tuesday night's division-clinching game, allowing two runs over five innings against the Blue Jays. Showalter said he wants to give each starter an extra day of rest before the playoffs, which explains why Jimenez is needed in the rotation. He also suggested that a...

Markakis remains out of Orioles' lineup

Markakis remains out of Orioles' lineup
Nick Markakis is missing from the Orioles lineup tonight for the third consecutive game after being hit Tuesday night behind the right shoulder. Steve Pearce moves back to first base, with Nelson Cruz playing right field and Delmon Young serving as the designated hitter. Chris Tillman is 4-5 with a 2.54 ERA in 17 home starts this season. He's allowed three earned runs or fewer in 19 consecutive starts, tied with Milt Pappas for the third-longest streak in franchise history. For the...

Lough: "I felt like I was at a low point in my career..."

Lough: "I felt like I was at a low point in my career..."
David Lough started in center field last night and could be back on the bench tonight. He isn't used to extended stays in the lineup. Lough hasn't started back-to-back games since June 9-10. Adam Jones will return to center field tonight, so Lough's only shot is if Alejandro De Aza is rested. De Aza has become the regular left fielder since joining the Orioles following an Aug. 30 trade with the White Sox. The Orioles sought an offensive upgrade from the left side of the plate without...

Hearing from Showalter, Gausman and De Aza after 5-3, 10-inning loss

Hearing from Showalter, Gausman and De Aza after 5-3, 10-inning loss
The Orioles' four-game winning streak came to an end tonight with a 5-3, 10-inning loss to the Red Sox before 39,079 at Camden Yards. The Orioles lost for only the second time in their last 12 games. Tonight's crowd raised the season total to 2,383,129. The Orioles drew 2,357,551 last year. Pitcher Kevin Gausman developed a small blister on his right hand during the game. He was removed after five innings and 91 pitches. "He's gotten it off and on a little bit," said manager Buck...

Young delivers triple off bench and O's tie game (O's lose 5-3 in 10 innings)

Young delivers triple off bench and O's tie game (O's lose 5-3 in 10 innings)
If you had Sept. 19 as the date when Delmon Young would hit his first triple as an Oriole, go to the window and collect your money. Young delivering as a pinch-hitter has become routine, but the triples are scarce. Young's three-bagger with two outs in the seventh inning scored Alejandro De Aza, and shortstop Xander Bogaerts' throwing error allowed the Orioles to tie the game. Young has 11 career triples, the most recent before tonight coming in September 2012 with the Tigers. He had four...

Showalter on Paredes, Gausman and more (O's down 3-1)

Showalter on Paredes, Gausman and more (O's down 3-1)
The Orioles currently lead the American League East by 14 games. They could become the first team to win the division by double digits since the 2006 Yankees (10). The Orioles' next home run will be their 200th of the season. Steve Pearce has hit three homers in the last two games. He's in right field again tonight while Nick Markakis receives treatment on his right shoulder. "It's still sore," he said. "I'm glad it's my left arm because I wouldn't be able to throw right-handed...

Updates on Davis, Machado, Leyva and more

Updates on Davis, Machado, Leyva and more
Chris Davis will report to the Sarasota complex on Tuesday while serving his 25-game suspension and will be available to play in fall instructional league games. Davis wouldn't be eligible to play for the Orioles again until their ninth postseason game. Manny Machado will join the Orioles on Sept. 29 and likely stay with the team for the first two games of the Division Series before heading down to Sarasota. Doctors have suggested that he avoid flights during the playoffs while recovering...

Markakis, Jones, Hardy out of Orioles lineup

Markakis, Jones, Hardy out of Orioles lineup
Nick Markakis was expected to start tonight in right field, but he remains out of the lineup due to soreness after being hit by a pitch Tuesday night behind his right shoulder. "I'm glad it wasn't my left arm because I wouldn't be able to throw right-handed right now," Markakis said. He hopes to play tomorrow, but will not rush back to the lineup. He is not concerned the soreness will linger. Adam Jones and J.J. Hardy are being rested tonight. Christian Walker gets another start at...

Gausman on mound for last home series opener before playoffs

Gausman on mound for last home series opener before playoffs
The Orioles begin their final home series of the regular season tonight by sending Kevin Gausman to the mound. Will they send Gausman to the bullpen for the Division Series or slot him in the rotation? The only guarantee so far is Chris Tillman pitching Game 1 on Oct. 2 at Camden Yards. Confirmation may come before the Orioles fly to Toronto for the final road series. I'm assuming that Wei-Yin Chen will follow him in Game 2. The Orioles won't go with a five-man rotation in the playoffs,...

More details on Fan Appreciation Celebration

More details on Fan Appreciation Celebration
The Orioles are down to their last three home games of the regular season. Usually, that means lockers are emptied, boxes are loaded and players go their separate ways. Not so fast. The Orioles are hosting Game 1 of the Division Series on Oct. 2. Before that date, the club will hold its annual Fan Appreciation Celebration this weekend while hosting the Red Sox. According to a release sent out today by the Orioles, the three-day event includes "the chance for fans to be selected at random to...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
The Orioles have reached their last scheduled off-day of the regular season, which means there's only a 50-50 chance that one of them gets drilled by a Blue Jays pitcher. What's next includes "Fan Appreciation Weekend," with the announcement of the Most Valuable Oriole, and a road trip to New York and Toronto. Nelson Cruz will be the MVO. I'm not going out on a limb here. The guy's hit 39 home runs and driven in 103. He's also batting a respectable .266. The drama comes with the second-...

Showalter speaks after 6-1 win

Showalter speaks after 6-1 win
The Orioles are 32 games above .500 and they lead the American League East by 14 1/2 games. Who saw it coming in March? Who thought back in December that they might end up 32 games below .500? The Orioles completed their sweep of the Blue Jays tonight with a 6-1 win before 37,537 at Camden Yards. They're now 31-19 in series finales. The Orioles swept the Jays for the first time since taking two games on Aug. 24-25, 2012 in Baltimore, and they completed the first three-game sweep here since...

More on Walker's major league debut (Pearce homers again, O's win 6-1)

More on Walker's major league debut (Pearce homers again, O's win 6-1)
First baseman Christian Walker received a standing ovation in the bottom of the second inning tonight as he walked to the plate for his first major league at-bat. Facing Blue Jays left-hander J.A. Happ with runners on the corners and one out, Walker struck out on five pitches - four fastballs and a curveball. The Orioles decided to select Walker's contract from Triple-A Norfolk today and take a look at him. "Talking to a lot of people during the year, they think he's got a chance to...

Home field advantage vs. resting the regulars

Home field advantage vs. resting the regulars
I've been asked the same question multiple times today in a variety of ways. Are the Orioles more focused on gaining home field advantage throughout the playoffs or resting some of their veterans before the Division Series? Yes. The Orioles trail the Angels by three games for the best record in baseball. They finish up their series against the Blue Jays tonight, play three at home against the Red Sox and hit the road for the final time with four games in the Bronx and three in Toronto. The...