Reimold, Hammel and the Yankees' lineup

Reimold, Hammel and the Yankees' lineup
Outfielder Nolan Reimold said the club will have a better idea later in the week whether he needs a second epidural injection for the herniated disk in his cervical spine. Team orthopedist Dr. John Wilckens examined Reimold yesterday, and he'll be checked again within a week. Reimold had his first epidural injection Friday, so it's too early to schedule a second one if it's needed. Reimold still has tingling in his left thumb and forearm, and a "constant aching" in his shoulder and...

Showalter provides more injury updates

Showalter provides more injury updates
Orioles manager Buck Showalter said reliever Matt Lindstrom has a slight tear in a ligament in his right middle finger. The good news is it's not a full tear. Dr. Thomas Graham, a specialist based in Cleveland, will re-examine Lindstrom's finger. Lindstrom will stay back in Baltimore while the Orioles play two games in Kansas City. He has no immediate plans to report to extended spring training in Sarasota. Lindstrom sounded optimistic that he'd be ready to come off the disabled list when...

Andino leading off, Betemit at first; Britton and Reimold updates

Andino leading off, Betemit at first; Britton and Reimold updates
Robert Andino is leading off tonight against Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia. Wilson Betemit will play first base, Steve Tolleson will play third, and Xavier Avery will stay in left field and bat ninth. For the Orioles: Robert Andino 2B J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Wilson Betemit 1B Bill Hall DH Steve Tolleson 3B Xavier Avery LF Wei-Yin Chen LHP Zach Britton threw four scoreless innings today at extended spring training, allowing two hits and striking out...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
Manager Buck Showalter said he found four teams, including the Red Sox, who have more players on the disabled list than the Orioles. But did anyone exceed the Orioles' 22 player moves in one week? Joel Pineiro is scratched from his start at Triple-A Norfolk and isn't listed among their upcoming starters, and I immediately wonder if he's headed to Camden Yards. Dana Eveland tweets that he flew back to Norfolk and then drove to Baltimore, and I immediately assume that the Orioles changed...

Hearing from Hammel, Davis and Avery

Hearing from Hammel, Davis and Avery
If anything good came out of tonight's start for Jason Hammel, it was the condition of his right knee. "Knee is good to go," he said. "That's a positive, I guess. No setbacks." Hammel took the brunt of the blame for tonight's 8-5 Orioles loss. "Honestly, we should have won the ballgame," he said. "I let them back into the game twice. A 2-0 lead and then guys come back and get me some runs to get me ahead again, and I gave them right back. Early in the game, very much in command,...

Showalter speaks after 8-5 loss

Showalter speaks after 8-5 loss
The Orioles' starters haven't completed six innings in the last three games, which is taxing the bullpen, which is giving manager Buck Showalter additional challenges that he'd rather avoid. Jason Hammel was done after five-plus innings tonight, failing to record an out in the sixth in the Orioles' 8-5 loss to the Yankees. "I would have rather not have pitched certain guys, but the game calls for it," Showalter said. "What bodes well for us in the future is we were able to give some...

Xavier Avery having a night of firsts - Part II (O's lose 8-5)

Xavier Avery having a night of firsts - Part II (O's lose 8-5)
Xavier Avery hit his first major league triple in the fifth inning. Avery drove in his first major league run with that triple. Avery collected his first major league hit that tied a game. A night of firsts continues for the former second-round draft pick. The Orioles trailed 3-2 after Curtis Granderson homered onto Eutaw St. in the top of the fifth. Robert Andino led off the bottom half with a walk, and Avery followed with his triple into the right-field corner. He's halfway to his first...

Xavier Avery having a night of firsts (game tied, 2-2)

Xavier Avery having a night of firsts (game tied, 2-2)
Xavier Avery is batting first again tonight after making his major league debut on Sunday. Avery picked up his first major league hit with a double to center field off Yankees starter Ivan Nova. Avery scored his first major league run on J.J. Hardy's single up the middle. Maybe this will be the night that Avery hits his first major league home run or steals his first base or hits for his first cycle. OK, baby steps. Here's hoping he doesn't pull his first groin muscle in the majors or...

Showalter talks about Reimold injury; a few notes

Showalter talks about Reimold injury; a few notes
As I've written over the past few days, outfielder Nolan Reimold won't be ready to come off the disabled list when he's eligible on Wednesday. He's not even ready to go on an injury-rehab assignment. Right now, he's waiting to be re-examined by a team physician and to find out whether he needs a second epidural injection to alleviate the discomfort caused by a herniated disk in his cervical spine. Catcher Taylor Teagarden received three injections for his lower back, so Reimold has some...

Hunter scheduled to pitch Wednesday

Hunter scheduled to pitch Wednesday
Manager Buck Showalter believes tonight's game will start on time, but he'll know more when representatives from both teams, the umpires and head groundskeeper Nicole Sherry meet in the "rain room." There's a light rain falling and the tarp's on the field. Both teams will have to hit indoors. Tommy Hunter is scheduled to start Wednesday night's game in Kansas City. He'll probably fly out tomorrow afternoon. Left-hander Dana Eveland is available in the bullpen tonight after starting...

Rowell suspended 50 games for drug violation (with quote)

Rowell suspended 50 games for drug violation (with quote)
Former Orioles first-round pick

Avery leading off again

Avery leading off again
Xavier Avery remains in the Orioles lineup tonight as the leadoff hitter and left fielder. For the Orioles: Xavier Avery LF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Wilson Betemit 3B Chris Davis 1B Nick Johnson DH Robert Andino 2B Jason Hammel RHP Nolan Reimold said he won't be examined by a team physician until later this afternoon, so no updates for now. Down on the farm, Steve Johnson allowed one unearned run in eight innings today in Triple-A Norfolk's 1-0 loss to...

Leftovers for breakfast (and two more notes)

Leftovers for breakfast (and two more notes)
According to weather.com, there's a 90 percent chance of rain today and an 80 percent chance tomorrow. The Orioles have games scheduled today and tomorrow against the New York Yankees at Camden Yards. Sounds like a conflict to me. The Orioles could use a break, since their next off-day isn't until May 24 and the revolving door that leads into the clubhouse hasn't stopped spinning in more than a week. Stu Pomeranz deserved to stay on the 25-man roster, but the Orioles needed another bench...

Arrieta on Arrieta; Patton on Patton

Arrieta on Arrieta; Patton on Patton
Jake Arrieta admitted today that he's putting a lot of pressure on himself to turn in quality starts, which is hurting the cause. Today, he allowed seven runs and a career-high 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings, with two walks and six strikeouts. "I think I need to relax a little bit and trust myself, because I'm more than capable of making good pitches when I need to get guys out," he said. "It's just a matter of going out there and doing it and not trying to do too much. Certain times I try...

Showalter speaks after 9-8 loss

Showalter speaks after 9-8 loss
The Orioles didn't have any quit in them today, but they didn't have a comeback, either. Oh sure, they made it close, losing 9-8 to the Rays before 29,552 at Camden Yards after falling behind 7-1. They just couldn't get over the hump. Jake Arrieta put them in a big hole by allowing seven runs and 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings. His early departure further taxed a short bullpen. "I think it's the command of the fastball," manager Buck Showalter said. "I don't think it's real complicated....

Orioles try to rally, but Rays respond (O's lose 9-8)

Orioles try to rally, but Rays respond (O's lose 9-8)
The Orioles were down, 7-1, and appeared to have no chance against Rays starter James Shields, but the momentum swung dramatically. Three runs scored in the sixth and two more came across in the seventh, leaving the Orioles behind 7-6 as we headed to the top of the eighth. Troy Patton was cruising along, having retired all six batters he faced. He fanned Chris Gimenez leading off the eighth, giving the left-hander a career-high five strikeouts, but Elliot Johnson and Ben Zobrist hit...

Another rough outing for Arrieta (Wieters homers)

Another rough outing for Arrieta (Wieters homers)
The Orioles have lost six of their last seven games on Mother's Day, and they've drained much of the energy from today's crowd. The Rays lead 7-1 in the bottom of the fourth, and Kevin Gregg has replaced starter Jake Arrieta, who allowed seven runs and 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings. Arrieta walked two, struck out six and threw a wild pitch. He threw 79 pitches, 50 for strikes. The 10 hits are a career high for Arrieta, who seems far removed from those eight scoreless innings in New York on May...

Reimold will be re-examined Monday (O's down 4-1)

Reimold will be re-examined Monday (O's down 4-1)
Xavier Avery received a nice ovation when he came to the plate in the bottom of the first inning in his first major league at-bat. Avery hit a hard one-hopper to second baseman Will Rhymes. Jake Arrieta struck out three batters in the first, but also issued a walk and gave up a single. The Rays scored three runs off him in the second on three hits - including Ben Zobrist's two-run double - and a walk. He's already thrown 42 pitches in two innings. Nolan Reimold told me this morning that...

Orioles option Pomeranz and DFA Antonelli

Orioles option Pomeranz and DFA Antonelli
The Orioles created room on the 25-man roster for outfielder Xavier Avery by optioning reliever Stu Pomeranz. They made room on the 40-man by designating infielder Matt Antonelli for assignment. Pomeranz hasn't allowed a run in two appearances covering four innings since the Orioles purchased his contract May 7. He gave up four hits, walked one and struck out three. The writing was on the wall for Antonelli when the Orioles bypassed him twice for non-roster players Steve Tolleson and Bill...

A few pregame notes

A few pregame notes
We're still waiting on the corresponding roster moves to create room for Xavier Avery on the 25- and 40-man rosters. Left-hander Dana Eveland remains a strong possibility, though I said the same thing yesterday before finding out that Mark Reynolds had a strained oblique. Avery is being thrown into the fire, starting in left field and batting leadoff against James "Big Game" Shields. "We'll play him some, today. We'll see what tomorrow brings," manager Buck Showalter said. "He's...