Hunter protects another lead (O's win 5-2)

Hunter protects another lead (O's win 5-2)
Remember when Pedro Strop was pretty much responsible for the eighth inning last season? Remember when Darren O'Day took over that role after Strop slumped? It seems as though the Orioles are giving Tommy Hunter that responsibility this season. O'Day replaced starter Zach Britton in the sixth inning tonight, and left-hander Brian Matusz replaced him in the seventh and stranded two runners. Hunter took over in the bottom of the eighth and preserved a 5-2 lead, overcoming Manny Machado's...

Gausman and game update (O's lead 5-2)

Gausman and game update (O's lead 5-2)
Kevin Gausman will have to wait until Wednesday to make his Triple-A debut. Norfolk's game against Indianapolis tonight was postponed because of rain and will be made up as part of a doubleheader at Harbor Park. Gausman is scheduled to pitch Game 1, followed by Josh Stinson in Game 2. Fans are asking when Gausman will return to the Orioles. Zach Britton could influence that decision. Britton, making only his second start with the Orioles this season, is shutting out the Tigers on two hits...

Orioles remove Navarro from 40-man roster (and rotation note)

Orioles remove Navarro from 40-man roster (and rotation note)
The Orioles made their roster moves official this afternoon. Zach Britton has been recalled from Triple-A Norfolk and will start tonight against the Tigers at Comerica Park. Travis Ishikawa's contact has been selected from the Tides, and he's the designated hitter in manager Buck Showalter's lineup. Pitcher Miguel Gonzalez was placed on three-day paternity leave to make room for Ishikawa on the 25-man roster. Infielder Yamaico Navarro was designated for assignment to create space for...

Ishikawa in tonight's lineup

Ishikawa in tonight's lineup
Travis Ishikawa is in Detroit and in the Orioles' lineup tonight as their designated hitter. The club hasn't announced a corresponding 40-man roster move. For the Orioles Nate McLouth LF Manny Machado 3B Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Travis Ishikawa DH Ryan Flaherty 2B Zach Britton LHP For the Tigers Austin Jackson CF Torii Hunter RF Miguel Cabrera 3B Prince Fielder 1B Victor Martinez DH Jhonny Peralta SS Matt Tuiasosopo LF Omar Infante...

Ishikawa expected to join Orioles (updated)

Ishikawa expected to join Orioles (updated)
Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette said the club is "leaning toward" selecting the contract of first baseman Travis Ishikawa from Triple-A Norfolk. Ishikawa filed paperwork Sunday to opt out of his contract, giving the Orioles 48 hours to decide whether to bring him to the majors. They didn't have a spot on the 25-man roster until pitcher Miguel Gonzalez left the team yesterday to join his wife for the birth of their daughter in California. Gonzalez can be placed on three-day...

Talking pitching and catching

Talking pitching and catching
Jake Arrieta started last night for the Orioles. Zach Britton will start tonight. Chris Tillman will start Wednesday. Brian Matusz is in the bullpen. Not too long ago, they were viewed as four-fifths of the Orioles rotation for years to come. Not sure who was supposed to round out the staff. Brad Bergesen? Anyway, Arrieta was optioned after last night's 5-1 loss to the Tigers, creating a spot for Britton in the rotation and on the 25-man roster. Not like he would have been available to...

Arrieta optioned to Norfolk

Arrieta optioned to Norfolk
Jake Arrieta's return to the Orioles rotation lasted one night. The Orioles announced after tonight's game that they've optioned Arrieta to Triple-A Norfolk. The move was made to create room on the 25-man roster for left-hander Zach Britton, who will start Tuesday night against the Tigers at Comerica Park. The Orioles won't announce the corresponding move until Tuesday. They also can make a second move to replace Miguel Gonzalez, who left the team to be with his wife for the birth of...

Davis vs. Cabrera in Motown (Gonzalez leaves team, O's lose 5-1)

Davis vs. Cabrera in Motown (Gonzalez leaves team, O's lose 5-1)
Triple Crown contender Miguel Cabrera hit his 19th home run tonight in Detroit. Triple Crown contender Chris Davis hit his 24th home run in the following inning. Two heavyweights standing toe-to-toe in the center of the ring, if you'll excuse the boxing analogy. Cabrera is ahead on points right now, since he belted a two-run shot off Jake Arrieta in the bottom of the first inning. Davis countered with a solo shot off Max Scherzer, the ball landing pretty much in the exact same spot. Cabrera...

Britton to start Tuesday in Detroit

Britton to start Tuesday in Detroit
The Orioles announced today that left-hander Zach Britton will start Tuesday night's game against the Tigers at Comerica Park. Jason Hammel is being pushed back again while recovering from a stomach virus. The Orioles are off Thursday, and Hammel could start Friday night in Toronto. Britton made one start for the Orioles this season, allowing six runs and 10 hits in six innings in an April 29 game in Seattle. He's 3-2 with a 3.28 ERA in 11 starts with Triple-A Norfolk. Britton has allowed...

Orioles lineup and Chen update (and Tigers lineup)

Orioles lineup and Chen update (and Tigers lineup)
Chris Dickerson is serving as the Orioles' designated hitter for tonight's series opener against the Detroit Tigers. Ryan Flaherty is starting at second base. Nothing unusual about this lineup. For the Orioles Nate McLouth LF Manny Machado 3B Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Chris Dickerson DH Ryan Flaherty 2B Jake Arrieta RHP For the Tigers Austin Jackson CF Torii Hunter RF Miguel Cabrera 3B Prince Fielder 1B Victor Martinez DH Jhonny...

More Manny Machado

More Manny Machado
It never gets old. And neither does Manny Machado, who's still only 20. Machado has 99 hits this season. According to Elias, if he gets his 100th hit tonight, he will tie Alex Rodriguez (100 hits in 71 games in 1996) and Ty Cobb (100 hits in 71 games in 1907) for third-fewest games reaching 100 hits to start a season by a player under 21. Al Kaline (101 hits in 68 games in 1955) and Mike Trout (100 hits in 69 games in 2012) are the only players under 21 to reach 100 hits in a season faster...

It's Arrieta's turn

It's Arrieta's turn
I didn't sense a whole lot of enthusiasm on this blog over manager Buck Showalter's announcement that Jake Arrieta would start tonight's series-opener in Detroit. Arrieta lasted only four starts this season before being optioned for the first time. His last two starts at Triple-A Norfolk were bad. But it makes sense to give him the ball. Jason Hammel isn't ready to pitch tonight after wrestling with a stomach virus the past few days. It weakened him. It made him wonder why his young son...

Showalter speaks after 6-3 win

Showalter speaks after 6-3 win
Miguel Gonzalez picked up his fifth win today for the Orioles, but he's still waiting to hold his first child. "They have a baby as stubborn as Miguel when they told him he couldn't do this," manager Buck Showalter quipped after today's 6-3 win over the Red Sox. Here's a sampling from Showalter's postgame press conference: On significance of taking three of four in this series "It's early. Four-game series are really tough because it's obviously, you consider how good the...

Arrieta will start Monday's game

Arrieta will start Monday's game
Orioles manager Buck Showalter named Jake Arrieta as Monday night's starter in Detroit. Jason Hammel is being pushed back at least one day while he recovers from a stomach virus that swept through his family's home. If Hammel is unable to start Tuesday, the Orioles could recall left-hander Zach Britton from Triple-A Norfolk and option Arrieta. Rule 5 pick T.J. McFarland also would be an option if he isn't used in relief during the series opener against the Tigers. Arrieta was optioned to...

Gonzalez keeps going (O's win 6-3)

Gonzalez keeps going (O's win 6-3)
Imagine that you're Miguel Gonzalez. Your wife is due to give birth to your first child in three days. She could go into labor at any minute. Babies don't wear watches. And your home is in California, on the opposite coast. You're still required to throw bullpen sessions, attend meetings, watch video of your upcoming opponents. Today, you're facing the Boston Red Sox, the first-place team in your division. Stay focused. Gonzalez continues to do it, no matter how difficult. He held the...

Rotation and injury updates

Rotation and injury updates
Orioles manager Buck Showalter is making contingency plans in case Jason Hammel can't start Monday night in Detroit. An announcement is expected following today's game against the Red Sox. Jake Arrieta is a possibility if he isn't used in relief today. Zach Britton, scratched from his start with Triple-A Norfolk, also is an option. T.J. McFarland isn't a consideration after he worked 3 2/3 innings yesterday. Hammel stayed home the past two days with a stomach virus and hasn't regained...

Hammel's here, but unsure whether he'll start Monday

Hammel's here, but unsure whether he'll start Monday
Orioles pitcher Jason Hammel returned to Camden Yards this morning after being away the last two days because of a stomach virus. Hammel said he's feeling better, but didn't know whether he'd make Monday night's start in Detroit. He didn't sound encouraged, and the Orioles are making other plans. Left-hander Zach Britton was scratched from today's start with Triple-A Norfolk. Chris Jones is taking Britton's turn in the Tides' rotation. The Orioles may be keeping Britton available to...

Looking back and ahead

Looking back and ahead
Yesterday's game at Camden Yards ended with Alexi Casilla standing on third base with a confused look on his face, first base coach Wayne Kirby holding his arms in the air and Chris Dickerson standing in the on-deck circle. Dickerson was pinch-hitting for catcher Taylor Teagarden, except he never got to home plate. Manager Buck Showalter was willing to give up his designated hitter if the game went into extra innings. Matt Wieters most likely would have moved behind the plate. I doubt that...

Showalter speaks after 5-4 loss

Showalter speaks after 5-4 loss
Orioles manager Buck Showalter was going to speak with Alexi Casilla after meeting with reporters following today's 5-4 loss to the Red Sox. Casilla has some explaining to do after going from first to third on Ryan Flaherty's liner to right field and being doubled off to end the game. Showalter relayed the explanation from third base coach Bobby Dickerson. "Bobby, I think, talked to him. Said he thought the ball was a sure double, I believe, but I haven't talked to him yet," Showalter...

Markakis moves into third place among AL outfielders in All-Star voting

Markakis moves into third place among AL outfielders in All-Star voting
If the 84th All-Star Game were played tonight, the Orioles would have four starters in the American League lineup. Nick Markakis has moved into third place among AL outfielders with 1,463,392 votes. Teammate Adam Jones is first with 2,740,505 votes, followed by Mike Trout with 2,710,115. Chris Davis continues to lead all first basemen with 2,999,094 votes - the second-highest total in the league - to extend the margin over Prince Fielder (1,980,129), and J.J. Hardy leads shortstops with...