Showalter speaks before tonight's game (two injury updates)

Showalter speaks before tonight's game (two injury updates)
Tsuyoshi Wada's next injury-rehab start at Triple-A Norfolk is Tuesday against the Durham Bulls. Wada allowed four runs (three earned) in four innings yesterday in his first start. He surrendered two home runs and left the game after 78 pitches. Asked what he was looking for from Wada, manager Buck Showalter replied, "Health." "I wasn't going to base it too much performance-wise," Showalter said. "You know Ron (Johnson) gave me his thoughts on it. Probably the third start, there's...

Updates on Gonzalez, Jurrjens, Arrieta and more (Gonzalez quotes)

Updates on Gonzalez, Jurrjens, Arrieta and more (Gonzalez quotes)
Miguel Gonzalez is expected to start for the Orioles on Tuesday night against the New York Yankees at Camden Yards. The Orioles also are considering Monday night, but they're leaning toward giving him an extra day. He's eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list on Sunday. Gonzalez threw 50-55 pitches in a simulated game today without a bandage on his right thumb. The blister appears to be healed. Asked how he felt afterward, Gonzalez said, "Good, not bad. Thought it was going to be...

Orioles lineup and notes

Orioles lineup and notes
You want lineup changes? You've got them. Yamaico Navarro is making his first start for the Orioles at second base tonight, as they begin a three-game series against the Rays at Camden Yards. Nate McLouth is the designated hitter tonight, with Chris Dickerson starting in left field. For the Orioles Nate McLouth DH Manny Machado 3B Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Chris Dickerson LF Yamaico Navarro 2B Jason Hammel RHP Miguel Gonzalez threw...

Jurrjens at Camden Yards, set for Saturday's start

Jurrjens at Camden Yards, set for Saturday's start
Jair Jurrjens is sitting at his locker at Camden Yards, further confirmation that he's starting Saturday afternoon against the Rays. The Orioles will need to clear a spot on the 25- and 40-man rosters. They could option infielder Yamaico Navarro and transfer second baseman Brian Roberts to the 60-day disabled list. Also, Alex Burnett is here as an extra bullpen arm, and will eventually be optioned. In eight starts at Triple-A Norfolk this season, Jurrjens is 4-1 with a 3.14 ERA. In 51 2/3...

Griffin on Britton

Griffin on Britton
During my phone conversation yesterday with Triple-A Norfolk pitching coach Mike Griffin, I asked him about left-hander Zach Britton and the physical issues that have contributed to his struggles with the Tides. Britton's first start on April 7 ended after two innings because of a blister on the side of his left thumbnail. It first developed while he threw at Twin Lakes Park on the day that the Orioles broke camp. Jake Arrieta and Kevin Gausman also developed blisters on their pitching...

Griffin on Wada

Griffin on Wada
Triple-A Norfolk pitching coach Mike Griffin found a few reasons to be encouraged today by Tsuyoshi Wada's four-inning start against Lehigh Valley. Wada allowed four runs (three earned) and three hits, with two walks and five strikeouts. He served up two home runs in the fourth and came out of the game after 78 pitches. Wada was making his first injury rehab start. "I know he's been throwing in a couple games at extended spring training, but this was his first outing in front of people...

Wada update (with his final line and Schoop DL note)

Wada update (with his final line and Schoop DL note)
Tsuyoshi Wada has allowed an unearned run and one hit in three innings today in his initial injury-rehab start at Triple-A Norfolk. He's walked one, struck out four and thrown a wild pitch. Wada threw 27 pitches in the first inning, 17 in the second and 14 in the third to leave his count at 58, including 33 strikes. The run is unearned because of an error on shortstop Zelous Wheeler, who was promoted from Double-A Bowie earlier in the day. The Orioles most likely will keep Wada on his...

McLouth trying to end his slump

McLouth trying to end his slump
Nate McLouth smoked a ball in the first inning yesterday that dissolved into another out, with Padres shortstop Everth Cabrera soaring to his right to make a sensational diving catch. Nick Markakis smoked a ball in the fifth inning that turned into an infield hit when the ball clanked off Cabrera's glove as he attempted to make another diving catch. McLouth sat in the dugout as Markakis reached first base and laughed at the fickle nature of baseball. McLouth really needed Cabrera to miss...

Machado on Machado

Machado on Machado
Orioles third baseman Manny Machado registered his 18th multi-hit game today, tying Kansas City's Alex Gordon and Detroit's Miguel Cabrera for the major league lead. He's notched at least three hits in four of his last five games. Machado has 13 multi-hit games in his last 21 and is batting .419 (39-for-93) with 12 doubles, a triple, three home runs and 13 RBIs. He's hit safely in 19 of those 21 games. Machado improved his average to .368 against right-handed pitching. I'm pretty sure...

Wieters and Showalter speak after 8-4 loss

Wieters and Showalter speak after 8-4 loss
Miguel Gonzalez will pitch in a simulated game Friday, throwing about 25 pitches in the bullpen and 25-30 in the game. The Orioles want to control his environment - pitch count, pitch selection - and make sure he's available next week. Gonzalez is eligible to come off the disabled list Sunday. He could start any of the next three nights after returning to the 25-man roster. As for today's 8-4 loss to the Padres, starter Freddy Garcia lasted only 3 2/3 innings and was charged with four...

Hunter's scoreless streak ends (O's lose 8-4)

Hunter's scoreless streak ends (O's  lose 8-4)
The Orioles are on the verge of being swept at home in a two-game series against the San Diego Padres. Marinate in that one for a while. Tommy Hunter served up a two-run homer to Alexi Amarista in the top of the seventh inning to leave the Orioles in a 7-2 hole. They got one run back in the bottom half on Adam Jones' RBI single. They still have six outs left. Let's see what they do with them. Hunter committed a throwing error with one out in the seventh, fielding Kyle Blanks bouncer to...

Garcia struggling early, Hardy extends hitting streak (O's down 5-2)

Garcia struggling early, Hardy extends hitting streak (O's down 5-2)
Freddy Garcia isn't making the Padres regret their decision to release him in spring training. Garcia has faced 11 batters in two innings and allowed two runs and five hits, with one walk and one strikeout. He's thrown 40 pitches, 24 for strikes. The Orioles turned a 5-4-3 double play on Carlos Quentin's ground ball to bail out Garcia in the first inning, but No. 9 hitter John Baker collected his first two RBIs of the season with a two-out single in the second. Garcia took a perfect game...

Notes on Gonzalez, Reimold, Arrieta and more (updated)

Notes on Gonzalez, Reimold, Arrieta and more (updated)
Miguel Gonzalez played catch in the outfield today, gradually increasing the distance until it turned into a long-toss session, and threw 35 pitches off the bullpen mound. He removed the bandage from around the blister on his right thumb for his last five or six throws and didn't experience any problems. Gonzalez expects to start Friday night for Double-A Bowie. He's still a candidate to start Tuesday night for the Orioles if his pitch count with the Baysox is low enough to make him...

Orioles and Padres lineups (with Gonzalez note)

Orioles and Padres lineups (with Gonzalez note)
Steve Pearce will serve as the designated hitter again today for the Orioles after delivering a tie-breaking single in the eighth inning last night. Matt Wieters will catch a day game following a night game. 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 Ryan Flaherty 2B Steve Pearce DH Freddy Garcia RHP For the Padres Cabrera SS Venable RF Headley 3B Quentin DH Alonso 1B Gyorko 2B Blanks LF Amarista...

Showalter on Gausman: "He's right where he needs to be"

Showalter on Gausman: "He's right where he needs to be"
Freddy Garcia is starting today for the Orioles against the San Diego Padres, the team that let him go in spring training. Jason Hammel is starting Friday night against the Tampa Bay Rays, Jair Jurrjens will have his contract selected and start on Saturday, and Chris Tillman will close the series on Sunday. It's assumed that Garcia will take the ball Monday against the New York Yankees at Camden Yards. Don't make any assumptions about Kevin Gausman being in the mix for Tuesday, when the...

Showalter speaks after 3-2 loss

Showalter speaks after 3-2 loss
It's not often that manager Buck Showalter sits in the dugout and watches closer Jim Johnson blow a save. Johnson hadn't squandered a lead in the regular season since last July, but the Padres scored twice against him tonight to win 3-2. "They hit some balls hard," Showalter said. "The first ground ball would be about the only one. ... Big double play ball on a ball hit hard and we had a chance to get out of it. You've got to tip your hat to them. They pitched real well tonight. You can...

Casilla's running leads to go-ahead run (O's lose 3-2)

Casilla's running leads to go-ahead run (O's lose 3-2)
Orioles manager Buck Showalter brought Alexi Casilla into tonight's game as a pinch-runner with the score tied in the bottom of the eighth inning. Casilla was 4-for-4 in stolen base attempts this season, and 25-for-26 since the start of the 2012 season. Nice weapon to have on the bench, and Showalter picked the right time to use him. Casilla, running for Ryan Flaherty, swiped second base and raced to third on a throwing error by Padres catcher Nick Hundley. Steve Pearce followed with an RBI...

Hardy extends hitting streak (Tillman update)

Hardy extends hitting streak (Tillman update)
Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy extended his hitting streak to 10 games tonight with a single leading off the bottom of the fifth inning. Hardy, who grounded out in his first at-bat, is 13-for-37 (.351) with three homers, seven RBIs and five runs scored during the streak. It's been a slow climb, but Hardy's average is up to .228. Hardy was doubled off first base on Ryan Flaherty's scorching line drive to Padres first baseman Yonder Alonso, who made the leaping catch and stepped on the bag....

Arrieta and game updates (Flaherty ties game with HR)

Arrieta and game updates (Flaherty ties game with HR)
Jake Arrieta threw 30 fastballs today in a bullpen session at Triple-A Norfolk, and he didn't report any discomfort in his right shoulder. Arrieta will be re-evaluated on Wednesday and the Tides will determine when he's able to make his next start. Arrieta was scratched from Sunday's assignment because of discomfort in his right shoulder that was diagnosed as a strain. Reliever Adam Russell started in his place. Apparently, the discomfort first surfaced during Arrieta's last start, and...

Notes on Gonzalez, Gausman and Zambrano

Notes on Gonzalez, Gausman and Zambrano
Miguel Gonzalez played catch on flat ground today and is scheduled for a bullpen session Wednesday. Gonzalez threw his breaking ball today, but he continued to wear a bandage to cover the blister on his right thumb. He will remove it Wednesday for the bullpen session. Gonzalez could be sent out on an injury-rehab assignment Thursday, and it's possible that the Orioles start him Tuesday night against the New York Yankees at Camden Yards. Executive vice president Dan Duquette said Kevin...