Jimenez on extended rest, plus other off-day notes (and draft pick signings)

Jimenez on extended rest, plus other off-day notes (and draft pick signings)
The Orioles are sending Ubaldo Jimenez to the mound Friday night at Yankee Stadium, and it's been a week since he's thrown a pitch. Jimenez is working on six days rest for the third time this season. Most recently, he tossed seven scoreless innings in Minnesota on May 2, striking out 10, to earn his first win as an Oriole. In his career, Jimenez is 11-10 with a 4.74 ERA in 27 starts with six days or more of rest. The extra rest this season has provided Jimenez with an extra bullpen session...

Taking another look at the roster

Taking another look at the roster
The Orioles are off today, but manager Buck Showalter and executive vice president Dan Duquette will continue to discuss the composition of the 25-man roster. Question: How long can the Orioles go with a six-man bullpen? Answer: As long as the rotation allows it. Showalter keeps reminding reporters that the club won't stay with six relievers. He made it work yesterday - well, Kevin Gausman made it work by gutting out six scoreless innings and Tommy Hunter made it work by retiring all six...

Hearing from Gausman, Joseph, Cruz and Hunter

Hearing from Gausman, Joseph, Cruz and Hunter
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Kevin Gausman has allowed two runs over 19 innings in three starts since being recalled by the Orioles for the second time this season. Caleb Joseph has been behind the plate for all three starts. Nice comfort zone. "It's like a friendship, working partners, and when you get to catch somebody for two, three, four years, you kind of know how they tick and know their patterns versus the game reports," Joseph said following the Orioles' 2-0 win over the Rays. "You...

Showalter speaks after 2-0 win

Showalter speaks after 2-0 win
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter earned his 1,200th career win today, which meant nothing to him. He was more interested in his club taking two of three from the Rays at Tropicana Field. "How many losses?" Showalter asked. "You know what that means? You get an opportunity for 1,200 more if you've got good players. "It means I'm old. It means I'm old." Showalter was ready to argue plate umpire Pat Hoberg's strike zone in the first inning and get himself tossed....

Cruz ends home run drought (O's win 2-0)

Cruz ends home run drought (O's win 2-0)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - It was bound to happen again. Nelson Cruz hadn't hit a home run since June 3 in Arlington, Texas. He wasn't going to be shut out for the remainder of the season. That sort of power outage only happens in New Orleans during the Super Bowl. Cruz launched a 91 mph fastball from Rays reliever Kirby Yates in the top of the eighth inning, the ball smacking off a light hanging from the C ring catwalk. The catwalk. Yeah, the catwalk. It's the third ball to hit the C ring...

Gausman escapes jam, Wieters talks about surgery (Gausman goes six)

Gausman escapes jam, Wieters talks about surgery (Gausman goes six)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Kevin Gausman loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the first inning and didn't allow a run. That's the good news. The Rays forced Gausman to throw 35 pitches. That's the bad news. The Orioles used four relievers last night. They have a six-man bullpen. They need Gausman to be more economical. J.J. Hardy's eighth error of the season, on Evan Longoria's bouncer, loaded the bases. Gausman struck out James Loney and Ben Zobrist on 84 mph splitters and...

Markakis continues to be a hit atop the order

Markakis continues to be a hit atop the order
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Nick Markakis led off today's game against the Rays with a single into center field, his 1,459th hit with the Orioles. He's 115 behind Boog Powell for fifth on the club's all-time list. Too soon to keep track? Markakis began the day batting .301/.360/.418 with 14 doubles, a triple, six homers and 28 RBIs in 70 games. He's now batting .406 in the first inning this season. Showalter was curious about the All-Star voting and how Matt Wieters continues to lead American...

Joseph paired again with Gausman

Joseph paired again with Gausman
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter is giving rookie Caleb Joseph the start behind the plate again today following a night game. What do you get a catcher for his 28th birthday? More at-bats. Joseph has caught Kevin Gausman's last two starts, with the right-hander allowing two runs in 13 innings. "I don't know about paired, but that's some of it," Showalter said. "We've got an off-day tomorrow. Just stay there for the time being with Caleb. "We'll see what...

Pearce stays in lineup

Pearce stays in lineup
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Steve Pearce is starting in left field and batting second for the Orioles again today after contributing a home run, double and two walks in last night's game against the Rays. Caleb Joseph is catching a day game after a night game to keep him working with Kevin Gausman. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Steve Pearce LF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Nelson Cruz DH J.J. Hardy SS Manny Machado 3B Jonathan Schoop 2B Caleb Joseph C Kevin Gausman RHP For the Rays Matt Joyce...

Gausman goes for series win

Gausman goes for series win
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles wrap up their series with the Rays this afternoon before enjoying an off-day in New York. The schedule actually favors them for a change. No 4 a.m. arrival. And, you know, an entire day and night in the Big Apple before another big series against a division rival. Time to unwind, fellas. Kevin Gausman makes his second career start and third appearance against the Rays. He allowed seven runs and eight hits over 4 1/3 innings in a June 8, 2013 loss at...

Showalter, Davis, Gonzalez and Pearce after 7-5 win

Showalter, Davis, Gonzalez and Pearce after 7-5 win
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter had a pretty good idea tonight that Chris Davis' fly ball to left field in the third inning bounced off the foul pole. He could tell by the sound it made inside the mostly empty dome - unless it was left fielder David DeJesus slamming into the wall. The sound turned out to be the one Showalter wanted all along, Davis' grand slam keying a 7-5 victory over the Rays. "I'm not sure if that was him or DeJesus," Showalter said. "I was glad...

Pearce justifies decision to play him (O's win 7-5)

Pearce justifies decision to play him (O's win 7-5)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter had to choose tonight whether to use Steve Pearce or Delmon Young as the designated hitter. Young was 2-for-21 against Rays left-hander Erik Bedard. Decision made. Pearce walked twice against Bedard and hit a two-run homer off Brad Boxberger in the top of the seventh to increase the Orioles' lead to 7-4. Pearce has five home runs this season to go with a .310 average. He looks pretty good in that second slot in the order. Caleb Joseph led...

Davis gets delayed grand slam (updated)

Davis gets delayed grand slam (updated)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - For Chris Davis, his third career grand slam was worth the wait. Davis sent a fly ball down the left field line tonight with the bases loaded and one out in the third inning. Tampa Bay's David DeJesus crashed into the wall at full speed, appearing to knock himself out as two runs scored and Davis stopped at second base. DeJesus stayed in the game. The ball stayed in play only because it hit the foul pole, which replays confirmed after manager Buck Showalter came out of...

No changes to rotation (plus Showalter on Wieters' surgery)

No changes to rotation (plus Showalter on Wieters' surgery)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter intends to keep his starters on turn past Thursday's off-day, which basically gives the club a six-man rotation. For how long is another matter. Ubaldo Jimenez, Bud Norris and Chris Tillman will make the starts at Yankee Stadium, keeping them in a rotation that also includes Wei-Yin Chen, Miguel Gonzalez and Kevin Gausman. "That could change, depending on what happens the next couple of nights, obviously," Showalter said. The Orioles...

Orioles DFA Stinson

Orioles DFA Stinson
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles activated Miguel Gonzalez from the 15-day disabled list and pointed him toward the mound for tonight's start against the Rays at Tropicana Field. Reliever Josh Stinson, who's out of minor league options, was designated for assignment to make room for Gonzalez on the 25-man roster. The move leaves the Orioles with six relievers and six starters on their pitching staff. Left-hander T.J. McFarland is the long man backing up Gonzalez tonight. Kevin Gausman will...

Wieters' surgery deemed successful

Wieters' surgery deemed successful
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles catcher Matt Wieters underwent ligament-reconstructive surgery on his right elbow today in Gulf Breeze, Fla. The operation was performed by Dr. James Andrews and didn't include any complications. Andrews replaced a ligament in Wieters' elbow with a tendon, shaved a bone spur and transposed a nerve. Wieters will spend tonight in the hospital and most likely travel to Atlanta on Wednesday. Wieters is scheduled to begin rehabilitation in some form right away, but...

Orioles and Rays lineups

Orioles and Rays lineups
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Manny Machado has been lowered to seventh again in the Orioles lineup, with Steve Pearce batting second tonight. Jonathan Schoop is starting at second base. The Orioles still haven't announced a corresponding roster move for Miguel Gonzalez. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Steve Pearce DH Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Nelson Cruz LF J.J. Hardy SS Manny Machado 3B Jonathan Schoop 2B Caleb Joseph C Miguel Gonzalez RHP For the Rays Desmond Jennings CF Matt Joyce...

A few early notes from Tropicana Field

A few early notes from Tropicana Field
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Jonathan Schoop and Ryan Flaherty are on the field early today, doing drills at second base with Bobby Dickerson and Mike Bordick. Delmon Young and Tampa Bay's Jerry Sands delivered pinch-hit home runs last night, the fifth time in Orioles history that each team had a player come off the bench and go deep. It happened most recently on June 10, 1985 with Floyd Rayford and Detroit's Barbaro Garbey, according to the Orioles' public relations department. The Orioles lost...
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Thoughts on tonight's lineup

Thoughts on tonight's lineup
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Delmon Young is batting .296 this season. He's collected a hit in five of his last six games - he failed as a pinch-hitter Friday night - and has homered in two of his last five games. The Orioles are facing a left-hander tonight. Young seems like the obvious choice to serve as the designated hitter, with Nelson Cruz starting in left field. Or is he? Young is 2-for-21 (.095) lifetime against Tampa Bay's Erik Bedard, the former Oriole who's making his 13th appearance...

Reflecting on Wieters, Rapada, Gwynn and more

Reflecting on Wieters, Rapada, Gwynn and more
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles will make a roster move this afternoon, activating Miguel Gonzalez for tonight's start against the Rays and sending out a pitcher. It won't be Kevin Gausman, who starts on Wednesday. Orioles catcher Matt Wieters will undergo surgery at noon to repair the torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, also known as a "UCL." It's not to be confused with the school that won 10 national championships under John Wooden. The Orioles will let us know...