Hardy and Davis talk about their injuries

Hardy and Davis talk about their injuries
Shortstop J.J. Hardy didn't reveal much about the CT scan taken yesterday on his left ankle, other than to say the news was good. Hardy isn't avoiding the topic. It's just a little confusing. He doesn't have swelling in the ankle and it doesn't always bother him. It's been somewhat of a mystery. "It was good news, definitely," he said. "Nothing wrong with the bone structure or anything with the bone. Looks like I'll take another day kind of easy today, don't test it really, and...

Reyes the frontrunner to make Tuesday's start

Reyes the frontrunner to make Tuesday's start
Nothing is official, but left-hander Jo-Jo Reyes threw in the bullpen today in preparation for Tuesday night's start against the White Sox. Reyes took a work day after failing to pitch in last night's 6-2 victory over the Blue Jays. He'd be ready to start Tuesday if he isn't needed in relief over these next two games. Brad Bergesen appears to be the other in-house candidate from the bullpen, but Reyes clearly is the frontrunner at this point. Triple-A Norfolk's Rick VandenHurk would be...

Orioles lineup against Toronto

Orioles lineup against Toronto
So much for a left-handed lineup against Blue Jays southpaw Ricky Romero. For the Orioles: Robert Andino SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Mark Reynolds 1B Nolan Reimold LF Craig Tatum C Josh Bell 3B Cesar Izturis 2B
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Hardy and Davis out of lineup

Hardy and Davis out of lineup
Manager Buck Showalter hasn't posted his lineup for today's series-finale against the Blue Jays, but shortstop J.J. Hardy and first baseman Chris Davis won't be in it. The CT scan on Hardy's left ankle and the MRI on Davis' right shoulder didn't reveal anything that brings long-term concerns to the Orioles. Both players say they hope to return to the lineup tomorrow. Hardy will try to run tomorrow. Davis will swing a bat and throw. Davis said he has the normal wear and tear in his...

Showalter speaks after 6-2 win

Showalter speaks after 6-2 win
Chris Tillman got the bulk of the attention tonight after the Orioles' 6-2 win over the Blue Jays, which seemed to make the most sense. It all starts with starting pitching, as I'm sure you've heard. "I was real proud of Chris tonight," said manager Buck Showalter. "You think of all the challenges for a young pitcher. He's had six days, and the rain. In today's age, everybody sees the radar maps. He carried a good fastball early on, and I thought the bases-loaded, no-outs situation was...

Jones reaches career high in homers (O's win 6-2)

Jones reaches career high in homers (O's win 6-2)
When Brandon Morrow loses a perfect game, he really loses it. Nolan Reimold singled to lead off the bottom of the sixth, Blake Davis singled with one out and Reimold scored on shortstop Yunel Escobar's error. Nick Markakis popped up for the second out, but Adam Jones followed with a three-run homer on the flagcourt in right field. Orioles 4, Blue Jays 2. Jones has a career-high 20 homers to go with 68 RBIs. He began the night batting .293. Is there any doubt that he's the Most Valuable...

Updating Tillman and Matusz (again)

Updating Tillman and Matusz (again)
Because we like to pair them together. Chris Tillman is pumping 94 mph fastballs at the Toronto Blue Jays. More important, they're not making much contact against him. Tillman has allowed one run, on Colby Rasmus' first homer with the Blue Jays, in four innings. He's allowed two hits, walked none and struck out five. He's thrown 47 pitches, 31 for strikes. Tillman struck out the side in the fourth, his last pitch a 91 mph cutter to Adam Lind. He blew a 94 mph fastball past Jose Bautista,...

Game set to start at 8:15 p.m. (updated)

Game set to start at 8:15 p.m. (updated)
The tarp is off the field, but not entirely. It's been folded back to the outfield grass. The mound and home plate remain covered. We're told that the game will start at 8:15 p.m. It will probably be delayed again. The forecast is awful. Down on the farm, Brian Matusz has thrown two scoreless innings for Triple-A Norfolk, allowing two hits and striking out one. He's thrown 19 pitches, 14 for strikes. Twins first baseman Justin Morneau, on an injury-rehab assignment with Rochester,...

Speculating on Tuesday's starter (tarp's off field)

Speculating on Tuesday's starter (tarp's off field)
Orioles manager Buck Showalter hasn't made a final decision on Tuesday night's starter against the White Sox at Camden Yards, but the prime candidates are relievers Jo-Jo Reyes and Brad Bergesen. There are several factors to consider, including how much Showalter uses them out of the bullpen over the weekend. Showalter is hoping to get Reyes into tonight's game to give the left-hander some work, but it would amount to a bullpen session if Reyes is given Tuesday night's assignment. He...

Bad night to be missing Hardy and Davis (O's lineup)

Bad night to be missing Hardy and Davis (O's lineup)
The Orioles really need J.J. Hardy's CT scan on his left ankle to come back clean, and Chris Davis' MRI on his right shoulder to bring the same positive result. It wouldn't matter who was pitching for the opposition, but consider that Hardy is 2-for-3 with two homers and three RBIs lifetime against Blue Jays starter Brandon Morrow, and Davis is 2-for-4 with a double, home run and two RBIs. Small sample sizes, but you should want them facing Morrow tonight. Nick Markakis is 4-for-10 with...

Let's hear from Davis and Hunter

Let's hear from Davis and Hunter
That's Chris Davis and Tommy Hunter, not Blake Davis and Jim Hunter. And not Geena Davis and Luke Scott, who's an avid hunter. Chris Davis discussed his shoulder injury that will require an MRI tomorrow. Apparently, it happened in the bedroom. Don't let your imaginations run wild. "It was just a few nights ago," he said. "I slept funny with my arm above my head, kind of just laying at a weird angle. I've done it before and it's been a little stiff for the next couple of days, but...

Showalter expands on injuries

Showalter expands on injuries
The "manager's decision" to scratch Chris Davis was made because of the first baseman's sore right shoulder, not for disciplinary reasons. "Right shoulder," manager Buck Showalter said. "He came in today and Richie (Bancells) has been playing with his shoulder. He's getting an MRI on it tomorrow, around 1:45. J.J. (Hardy) is going to get, I think, a CT scan on his ankle. "Chris tried to take batting practice and was still feeling some discomfort with it throwing. We'll see where we...

Rally falls short in 5-4 loss (injury updates)

Rally falls short in 5-4 loss (injury updates)
The Orioles grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first inning on Adam Jones' two-run homer, but new starter Tommy Hunter gave up two runs in the second and two more in the third. The Blue Jays never trailed from that point, winning the first game of this series, 5-4, before 18,770 on Fireworks Night at Camden Yards. Robert Andino singled off Jon Rauch with two outs in the ninth and scored on Nick Markakis' double to right, but Jones popped up an 0-1 pitch to end the game. Troy Patton was charged...

Griffin on Matusz

Griffin on Matusz
We'll find out later today whether shortstop J.J. Hardy and first baseman Chris Davis can avoid the disabled list and get back into the lineup. Hardy will have a CT scan on his left ankle. Davis will have an MRI on his right shoulder. Manager Buck Showalter will have more challenges filling out his lineup card. Will he need another shortstop and leadoff hitter tonight? He used Robert Andino for both roles last night, and he could do the same thing tonight. He also put Felix Pie atop the...

Talking about Hunter, Bundy and Rupe (and Patton)

Talking about Hunter, Bundy and Rupe (and Patton)
Tommy Hunter's first start of the 2011 season ended after four innings. Hunter allowed four runs and eight hits, with no walks and one strikeout. He threw 78 pitches, 40 for strikes. The defense behind Hunter wasn't particularly sharp, but neither was Hunter. Bobby Bundy lasted two innings tonight at Double-A Bowie. He allowed five runs (two earned) and six hits, with two walks, one strikeout and one home run. His unofficial pitch count was 62. The defense behind Bundy wasn't...

Talking about Jones, Davis and Connor (and 4-2 deficit)

Talking about Jones, Davis and Connor (and 4-2 deficit)
Adam Jones just tied his career high in home runs with his 19th tonight, a two-run shot that gave the Orioles a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Jones also hit 19 homers the past two seasons. Blue Jays left-hander Brad Mills didn't locate a changeup, and Jones drove the ball an estimated 384 feet into the left field seats after Nick Markakis reached on an infield hit with one out. As I wrote earlier, manager Buck Showalter will explain his decision to remove first baseman Chris...

Britton to DL, Erbe DFA

Britton to DL, Erbe DFA
The Orioles placed pitcher Zach Britton on the 15-day disabled list tonight with a strained left shoulder. Infielder Cesar Izturis will take Britton's spot on the 25-man roster. Britton allowed six runs (four earned) and 12 hits in 5 1/3 innings last night in the Orioles' 9-4 loss to the Royals. The rookie is 6-9 with a 4.66 ERA in 20 starts, with 122 hits, 40 walks and 68 strikeouts in 110 innings. The Orioles made room on the 40-man roster for Izturis by designating pitcher Brandon Erbe...

Davis scratched from lineup

Davis scratched from lineup
First baseman Chris Davis has been scratched from tonight's lineup. Mark Reynolds moves to first base and Josh Bell goes to third. Davis had an ice pack on his right shoulder earlier today. Bell won't be the corresponding roster move for Cesar Izturis. It looks like Blake Davis also is staying. Could J.J. Hardy be headed to the disabled list? More to come. For the Orioles: Robert Andino SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Mark Reynolds 1B Matt Wieters C Nolan Reimold...

Bordick talks about going to bullpen (Bundy takes physical)

Bordick talks about going to bullpen (Bundy takes physical)
Former shortstop Mike Bordick begins his stint as interim bullpen coach tonight. "I'm looking at this as an opportunity to learn more about the game, that side of the game," he said. "It'll help when I go back down to the minor leagues. Maybe I can interject something to some pitchers, some stuff that I've learned from these guys. That's the way I'm looking at it. And obviously, being able to help throw BP and hitting ground balls and stuff. Maybe build some more relationship here at...

Bell expected to be optioned

Bell expected to be optioned
The Orioles are expected to option third baseman Josh Bell to Triple-A Norfolk later today if infielder Cesar Izturis gets through pregame workouts without any issues. Izturis took the field with infield coach Willie Randolph while manager Buck Showalter met with the media. The Orioles will have to make room on the 40-man roster for Izturis, who will come off the 60-day disabled list. Team orthopedist Dr. John Wilckens will examine shortstop J.J. Hardy's left ankle later today, but the club...