Pregame notes and quotes, and Royals lineup

Pregame notes and quotes, and Royals lineup
Orioles manager Buck Showalter didn't dismiss the possibility of third baseman Manny Machado being activated from the disabled list for the two-game series against the Pirates that begins Tuesday night at Camden Yards. "I wouldn't say anything is off the table right now. We will have a pretty good idea after tomorrow," Showalter said. Showalter also stated that it's "in the realm of possibility" that Machado will be activated next weekend in Minnesota. "Got a big realm," Showalter...

Markakis playing first base tonight

Markakis playing first base tonight
Nick Markakis is getting the start at first base tonight for the Orioles while Chris Davis awaits the results of an MRI on his left oblique. Davis said he feels much better today and thinks he can avoid the disabled list. Jemile Weeks has officially been recalled, and he's leading off as the designated hitter. Going back to last night, catcher Matt Wieters' streak of 99 consecutive errorless games came to an end. The Orioles are 0-6 when they make an error. Wieters had registered...

Weeks joining Orioles

Weeks joining Orioles
While waiting to determine the severity of first baseman Chris Davis' oblique injury, the Orioles decided to recall Jemile Weeks from Triple-A Norfolk to provide infield depth. An announcement is coming later today. Weeks is capable of backing up at second base while Ryan Flaherty starts at first in Davis' absence. The choice really came down to Weeks and David Adams, as I wrote late last night. Weeks is batting .296/.451/.481 with four doubles, three triples and seven RBIs in 72 plate...

Who's on first?

Who's on first?
It took more than the rain last night to dampen the Orioles' enthusiasm over Manny Machado's first injury rehab game at Single-A Frederick. Machado had three hits, all for extra bases, and could come off the disabled list next weekend. However, first baseman Chris Davis may go on it if his oblique injury proves to be more serious than he's anticipating When it rains, it pours. The best-case scenario is it's a Grade 1 strain, which takes less time to heal, but it's still a process for a...

Orioles option McFarland, and more notes and quotes following 5-0 loss

Orioles option McFarland, and more notes and quotes following 5-0 loss
As expected, the Orioles have optioned left-hander T.J. McFarland to Triple-A Norfolk and will announce a corresponding roster move on Saturday. They need an extra position player after first baseman Chris Davis strained his left oblique muscle tonight. McFarland allowed one run and five hits in three innings tonight. He threw 45 pitches and was the logical candidate to be sent down. McFarland posted a 2.25 ERA in two appearances since being recalled on Tuesday. The Orioles could bring up an...

Davis provides injury update

Davis provides injury update
Orioles first baseman Chris Davis walked to his locker after tonight's 5-0 loss to the Royals and had a little fun with the much-anticipated injury update. "Forty-eight to 65 weeks," he said, a familiar grin creasing his face. Davis exited the game after four innings with a strained left oblique, but he didn't seem overly concerned about it. "It's cold right now," he said. "Obviously, came out of the game and got treatment. Watched the rest of the game and got another round of...

Davis leaves game with oblique injury (O's lose 5-0)

Davis leaves game with oblique injury (O's lose 5-0)
Orioles first baseman Chris Davis was removed from tonight's game against the Royals after the bottom of the fourth injury with a strained left oblique. He will be further evaluated. Manager Buck Showalter told reporters in Toronto that Davis was bothered by some tightness in his hips, though he remained in the lineup. Davis was grimacing tonight while batting in the bottom of the third inning. He struck out and flied out against Royals starter Yordano Ventura. Ryan Flaherty has replaced...

Updates on Jimenez, Butler, Cruz and Wieters

Updates on Jimenez, Butler, Cruz and Wieters
Ubaldo Jimenez probably can't wait for the calendar to flip over to May. Jimenez is off to a slow start tonight against the Royals, allowing two runs and throwing 26 pitches in the top of the first inning. The Royals put a runner on third base with no outs in the second on Alcides Escobar's single and stolen base, and Matt Wieters' throwing error, but Jimenez struck out the next two batters and retired Omar Infante on a fly ball. After two innings, Jimemez has thrown 47 pitches, including...

While waiting for first pitch ... (we're under way)

While waiting for first pitch ... (we're under way)
First pitch at Camden Yards is scheduled for 7:55 p.m. Over in Frederick, Manny Machado will serve as the designated hitter tonight, just as Orioles manager Buck Showalter suggested would happen. Nelson Cruz has registered at least one RBI in seven consecutive games. The last Oriole with a streak of eight straight games was shortstop J.J. Hardy on Aug. 2-12, 2011. Ryan Flaherty had a crowd of reporters around his locker this afternoon after Major League Baseball announced a change to the...

A few pregame notes from Camden Yards (game delayed, 7:55 p.m. start)

A few pregame notes from Camden Yards (game delayed, 7:55 p.m. start)
It's raining hard in Frederick, where Orioles third baseman Manny Machado is supposed to start his injury rehab assignment. Manager Buck Showalter indicated that Machado could serve as the designated hitter tonight instead of playing in the field if the game isn't postponed. Machado would play third base on Saturday. A simple tweaking of his schedule. The Orioles are taking batting practice, but they anticipate rain tonight which could interrupt the game. In the event of a postponement,...

Orioles and Royals lineups

Orioles and Royals lineups
Jonathan Schoop is starting at second base tonight and Ryan Flaherty is at third for the Orioles' series-opener against the Royals at Camden Yards. Nelson Cruz, batting second again as the designated hitter, will attempt to drive in a run in his eighth consecutive game. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Nelson Cruz DH Chris Davis 1B Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Ryan Flaherty 3B Jonathan Schoop 2B David Lough LF Ubaldo Jimenez RHP For the Royals Nori Aoki RF Omar Infante...

MLB announces change to transfer rule

MLB announces change to transfer rule
Orioles manager Buck Showalter told reporters in Boston over the weekend that Major League Baseball would make a significant adjustment to the controversial transfer rule within the next few weeks. That was the word on the street. It happened today. MLB announced that the Playing Rules Committee has provided its official view of how umpires should apply the rules when a fielder loses possession of a ball when attempting to transfer it to his throwing hand. The change will be implemented...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
How many Orioles fans are bypassing Camden Yards tonight and heading to Frederick for Manny Machado's first injury rehab game? Machado is scheduled to play nine innings at third base. He won't be babied on this assignment. Machado is expected to spend the entire weekend with the Keys, so plan accordingly. Once Machado was cleared to slide into the bases and play in extended spring training games, the Orioles aimed for him to come off the disabled list in the first week of May. That's...

Manufacturing a lead (Cruz extends RBI streak, O's win 11-4)

Manufacturing a lead (Cruz extends RBI streak, O's win 11-4)
Except for Jonathan Schoop's long home run to left field, the Orioles aren't mashing the ball tonight. They're getting on base, taking the extra base and taking the lead against the Blue Jays. David Lough is the poster child for manufacturing runs. He walked in the fifth inning, stole second base, raced to third on a fly ball to left and scored. He doubled with one out in the seventh, stole third base and scored. Oh yeah, and he's playing Gold Glove defense in left field. The Orioles...

Outfield defense gets another assist (Schoop homers)

Outfield defense gets another assist (Schoop homers)
Part of David Lough's appeal to the Orioles is his ability to run down fly balls or hits in the gap and to make strong and accurate throws. Lough put his defensive skills on display in the bottom of the first inning tonight at Rogers Centre on Edwin Encarnacion's two-out double. Lough fired the ball to shortstop J.J. Hardy, who cut down Melky Cabrera at the plate for the Orioles' eighth outfield assist. The Orioles and Angels were tied for the major league lead with seven outfield assists...

Orioles and Blue Jays lineups

Orioles and Blue Jays lineups
Nelson Cruz has registered at least one RBI in six consecutive games. The last Oriole to record an RBI in seven straight games was Mark Reynolds from Sept. 15-22, 2012. Can Cruz tie Reynolds tonight? Cruz has 20 RBIs in April for the first time in his career. Miguel Tejada holds the club record for RBIs this month with 31 in 2005. Chris Davis has hit 18 homers and Adam Jones 14 against the Blue Jays since the start of the 2012 season. No other major leaguer has accumulated as many as 10 against...

Wieters wielding a hot bat

Wieters wielding a hot bat
Now that the smoke has cleared from last night's offensive eruption at Rogers Centre - better keep that roof open - we can get a clearer view of Matt Wieters' statistics. They're eye-opening, to say the least. Did anyone predict that Wieters would produce a slash line of .344/.382/.590 on April 24? Or that he'd have three doubles, four homers and 13 RBIs? If so, I'm just as impressed by your ability to look into the future and ignore the trends. Wieters owns a career .321 on-base...

Looking back and ahead

Looking back and ahead
It was strange to watch last night's game without my laptop in front of me or in the trunk of my car. I kept an eye on one of the 5,000 or so televisions at Looney's Pub in Bel Air and saw the Orioles fall behind big and storm back for a 10-8 victory over the Blue Jays. It was nice to get confirmation that other teams can lose sizable leads. Does Nelson Cruz look like a bargain to the rest of you? Imagine how the lineup will look after Manny Machado comes off the disabled list. He's...

A few notes before tonight's game in Toronto

A few notes before tonight's game in Toronto
The Orioles will attempt to even their series against the Blue Jays tonight at Rogers Centre, where they've gone 8-12 in their last 20 games. Limiting the number of three-run homers surrendered would be a smart strategy. Before last night, the Orioles hadn't allowed nine runs or more in a game with all of them scoring on homers since Aug. 29, 2005 against the Athletics, according to Elias. The Orioles lost 10-5 in 12 innings, with Mark Ellis and Dan Johnson hitting three-run homers, and Jay...

Hardy and Wieters return to Orioles lineup (with Jays lineup)

Hardy and Wieters return to Orioles lineup (with Jays lineup)
Shortstop J.J. Hardy's hamstring has healed and he's back in the Orioles' lineup for tonight's game against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Matt Wieters is behind the plate tonight after missing last night's game with a sore right forearm. Jonathan Schoop is starting at second base and Ryan Flaherty is starting at third. Steve Lombardozzi goes to the bench. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Nelson Cruz DH Chris Davis 1B Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Ryan Flaherty 3B Jonathan...