Showalter on today's trade and Jimenez's outing

Showalter on today's trade and Jimenez's outing
Today's trade with the Padres served two purposes for the Orioles. It gave them a backup catcher and it distracted from today's 9-0 loss to the Indians. Nick Hundley, acquired with cash considerations for left-hander Troy Patton, is expected to be activated for Sunday's series finale. The Orioles will make a corresponding roster move, most likely optioning Caleb Joseph to Triple-A Norfolk. They also will activate reliever Preston Guilmet from the taxi squad and place first baseman Chris...

Jimenez turns in shortest outing of season (O's lose 9-0)

Jimenez turns in shortest outing of season (O's lose 9-0)
Ubaldo Jimenez has no hard feelings toward the Indians after they failed to re-sign him as a free agent. In turn, the Indians didn't make it easy on Jimenez today at Camden Yards. Jimenez failed to record an out in the fifth inning and was charged with five runs and four hits. He issued five walks, tying his season high, and hit a batter. This is the shortest start of the season for Jimenez, who suddenly has lost his May magic. He permitted one run in 19 2/3 innings over his first three...

Orioles acquire Hundley from Padres for Patton

Orioles acquire Hundley from Padres for Patton
The Orioles found the catcher they've been searching for today, acquiring Nick Hundley and cash considerations from the Padres for left-hander Troy Patton. The Orioles also recalled infielder Steve Lombardozzi, who takes Patton's spot on the 25-man roster. The Orioles have 11 pitchers today. Hundley will be added later, perhaps Monday in Milwaukee. Hundley, 30, batted .271 with a home run and three RBIs in 33 games for the Padres. He's a career .238 hitter in seven major league seasons,...

More from Showalter before today's game

More from Showalter before today's game
Nelson Cruz's 15 home runs and 43 RBIs in the first 45 games are the highest totals of his major league career. The Orioles have hit 17 go-ahead home runs this season. Cruz leads the club with seven. Nick Markakis is batting .444 (20-for-45) with four runs scored in the first inning. So, about that pending roster move today... "Couple other irons in the fire, so to speak, that will change some things in the next probably 12 hours," said manager Buck Showalter. "We're trying to keep...

Roster moves coming

Roster moves coming
Orioles manager Buck Showalter indicated this morning that the club will add an infielder later today, perhaps within the next hour. Showalter said the Orioles have "plenty of irons in the fire," and that "a couple of other things are going on," but he didn't offer any names. Reliever Preston Guilmet will be activated from the taxi squad on Sunday. First baseman Chris Davis will leave the club at 6:30 a.m. for the birth of his first child. Showalter said third baseman Manny Machado...

Machado remains out of the lineup

Machado remains out of the lineup
Orioles third baseman Manny Machado is out of the lineup today for a second consecutive game due to a strained right groin. J.J. Hardy is batting second today. Jonathan Schoop moves down to ninth. David Lough is on the bench. Nelson Cruz gets the start in left field while Delmon Young serves as the designated hitter. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Nelson Cruz LF Steve Clevenger C Delmon Young DH Ryan Flaherty 3B Jonathan Schoop 2B Ubaldo Jimenez...

Jimenez on the hill today but who's on third?

Jimenez on the hill today but who's on third?
We have an early game today. Don't become confused and think it's Sunday. Ubaldo Jimenez has never faced the Indians or Rockies, his two former teams. He's 0-3 with a 4.81 ERA in four home starts this season. The Indians are starting right-hander Corey Kluber, which could return Ryan Flaherty to second base unless Manny Machado sits out another game with his strained right groin. Otherwise, Jonathan Schoop remains at second base and Flaherty starts at third. Schoop went 0-for-5 last night...

Showalter speaks after 8-4 win

Showalter speaks after 8-4 win
The Orioles won tonight for only the second time in their last six games, again relying on an offense that's doing some major damage. Six runs or more in the last five games. Twelve hits or more in the last five games. Nick Markakis registered his first four-hit game of the season to raise his average to .306. He ranks eighth on the club's all-time hits list with 1,429. Brian Roberts is seventh with 1,452. "Nick's one of those guys that you only really miss him when he's gone, when...

Davis doing damage (O's win 8-4)

Davis doing damage (O's win 8-4)
Anyone still worried about Chris Davis? The Orioles first baseman has two hits tonight - a two-run double in the third inning and a two-run homer in the fifth that gave the Orioles a 5-4 lead. Indians rookie T.J. House could use some insurance against the type of damage inflicted by Davis. He's not alone. Davis is 8-for-16 with four home runs and 10 RBIs in his last four games. He hit three homers off three different Pirates pitchers on Tuesday. Beast mode. The Indians took a 4-3 lead in...

Markakis ties Blair, Cruz gives Orioles lead (updated)

Markakis ties Blair, Cruz gives Orioles lead (updated)
The sound of a cash register should play each time Nelson Cruz hits a home run. Cruz, such a bargain at $8 million this season, hit his 15th home run tonight leading off the bottom of the second inning. Nelson Cruz, meet T.J. House. T.J. House, this is Nelson Cruz. Cruz drove the first pitch from House, a 92 mph fastball, over the fence in right-center field to stake Orioles starter Bud Norris to a 1-0 lead. Cruz has homered in three of the last four games and five of nine. He's now tied...

Orioles officially recall McFarland and option Guilmet

Orioles officially recall McFarland and option Guilmet
Reliever Preston Guilmet retired all five batters he faced in his first stint with the Orioles and was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. He retired all seven batters he faced last night and got a return trip to the Tides. The Orioles optioned Guilmet after batting practice and recalled left-hander T.J. McFarland. Guilmet threw the last two nights, including 13 pitches Wednesday with Norfolk. The Orioles needed a fresh arm following last night's 8-7, 13-inning loss to the Indians. The Orioles...

More notes and quotes before tonight's game

More notes and quotes before tonight's game
Chris Tillman threw in the bullpen today and remains scheduled to start Monday afternoon in Milwaukee. No concerns about his groin after experiencing some discomfort recently. Wei-Yin Chen and Bud Norris will start the other two games in Milwaukee. The Brewers list Kyle Lohse, Matt Garza and Marco Estrada as their starters. Right fielder Nick Markakis needs one more hit to tie Paul Blair for eighth place on the club's all-time list with 1,426. Brian Roberts is seventh with 1,452. The...

Machado: "I definitely do feel better today"

Machado: "I definitely do feel better today"
The Orioles will officially recall left-hander T.J. McFarland after batting practice today and announce their corresponding 25-man roster move. It's important to note that the Orioles could send out a pitcher and bring him back on Sunday while first baseman Chris Davis spends two days on paternity leave. The reliever wouldn't be required to spend the minimum 10 days in the minors. Also, under Major League Baseball rules, that player is allowed to stay with the club after Davis...

Machado out of lineup (McFarland in clubhouse, Machado update)

Machado out of lineup (McFarland in clubhouse, Machado update)
The Orioles just posted their lineup for tonight's game against the Indians at Camden Yards, and Ryan Flaherty is starting at third base. Manny Machado, who exited last night's game in the 11th inning with tightness in his right groin, is listed among the reserves. Delmon Young is serving as the designated hitter. The Orioles haven't announced a roster move. Still waiting on that one. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Jonathan Schoop 2B Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Nelson Cruz LF J.J. Hardy...

Orioles lineup leans to right tonight, but will it include Machado?

Orioles lineup leans to right tonight, but will it include Machado?
The Orioles were supposed to face four right-handers in their series against the Indians at Camden Yards, but the Indians had to alter their rotation Wednesday after using Josh Tomlin in relief for three innings. Justin Masterson moved up to take Tomlin's spot last night, working on three days rest, and left-hander T.J. House will make his first major league start tonight. The Indians have won back-to-back 13-inning games. Yeah, happens all the time. House, 25, was 1-2 with a 2.40 ERA in seven...

Another pitching move pending and a look at two struggling Orioles

Another pitching move pending and a look at two struggling Orioles
Just when the Orioles thought they could make it through a day without another roster move, 13 innings happened. Look for a reliever to arrive from Triple-A Norfolk before tonight's game against the Indians at Camden Yards. I pitched T.J. McFarland's name - so to speak - before the Orioles decided to recall Preston Guilmet. McFarland remains a candidate tonight as a backup to right-handed starter Bud Norris. McFarland is scheduled to start tonight for Norfolk. We'll see. The Orioles could...

Showalter updates Machado and talks about 8-7, 13-inning loss

Showalter updates Machado and talks about 8-7, 13-inning loss
Orioles manager Buck Showalter will check on Manny Machado on Friday afternoon before making out his lineup, unsure whether the third baseman will play due to tightness in his groin. Machado came out of tonight's game after the 11th inning as a precaution. "Just had some tightness in his groin and that long of a game, I didn't like some of the body language he had moving around and everything, especially running down the line," Showalter said following an 8-7, 13-inning loss to the...

Machado leaves game, Britton and Guilmet providing great relief (O's lose 8-7)

Machado leaves game, Britton and Guilmet providing great relief (O's lose 8-7)
Manny Machado has come out of tonight's game after 11 innings. Ryan Flaherty has moved to third base and Jonathan Schoop is playing second. Machado struck out on the ninth pitch from Indians reliever Josh Outman leading off the bottom of the 11th. No explanation given for his removal, but he did foul a ball off his left foot earlier tonight. Maybe that's it. Schoop was on deck to pinch-hit for Flaherty in the eighth, but J.J. Hardy reached on an infield hit and Flaherty stayed in the...

Cruz gives O's lead, Flaherty and Lough reach highs and lows (free baseball!)

Cruz gives O's lead, Flaherty and Lough reach highs and lows (free baseball!)
Nelson Cruz's sacrifice fly tonight off Indians reliever Mark Lowe in the bottom of the seventh inning gave the Orioles a 6-5 lead. The Orioles have scored six runs or more in four straight games for the first time since May 22-25, 2013. Cruz is tied with White Sox rookie Jose Abreu for the RBI lead in the American League with 42. The run was unearned after the Indians committed back-to-back errors with one out. Ryan Flaherty hit a three-run homer to give the Orioles a 5-3 lead and failed...

Game update and more notes (O's down 3-0)

Game update and more notes (O's down 3-0)
Wei-Yin Chen retired the Indians in order on three ground balls in the top of the first tonight, a clean inning following last night's mess in Pittsburgh. However, Ryan Raburn led off the second with his first home run of the season to give Cleveland an early lead. Raburn jumped on a 93 mph fastball on a 2-2 count. Chen has allowed only two runs in the first inning and two in the second this season. Nick Markakis singled in the bottom of the first. He's 16-for-39 (.410) as the first batter...