Chen, Showalter and pregame notes

Chen, Showalter and pregame notes
Left-hander Wei-Yin Chen said he is "very disappointed" that he's been diagnosed with a strained right oblique that forced him to go on the 15-day disabled list today. "I really wanted to help the team win and hoped the result was just a cramp, but things went in a different direction. I hurt myself and I hope I can get well sooner," Chen said through his interpreter. "The only thing I can do is heal very fast and just come back sooner and help the team. I hope my oblique can heal up...

Orioles lineup against Padres (Navarro recalled, Jurrjens to start Saturday)

Orioles lineup against Padres (Navarro recalled, Jurrjens to start Saturday)
Alex Burnett isn't the only new arrival in the clubhouse. The Orioles have also recalled infielder Yamaico Navarro, adding a bench player to their 25-man roster. Burnett replaces Wei-Yin Chen, who went on the disabled list, while Navarro takes the place of reliever Mike Belfiore, who was sent back to Triple-A Norfolk yesterday. Here are tonight's lineups for the opener of a two-game interleague series against the San Diego Padres: For the Padres Everth Cabrera SS Will Venable RF Chase...

Orioles will recall Burnett (updated)

Orioles will recall Burnett (updated)
The Orioles will recall reliever Alex Burnett from Triple-A Norfolk today for a third time this season. In this instance, Burnett will replace starter Wei-Yin Chen on the 25-man roster. Chen will be placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right oblique. Burnett was optioned over the weekend to make room for Steve Johnson, who later was optioned to make room for reliever Mike Belfiore, who was optioned yesterday. Got all that? Burnett appeared in one game for the Orioles, striking...

Orioles prepare for Padres and roster moves

Orioles prepare for Padres and roster moves
The Orioles are back home tonight after playing 14 of their past 17 games on the road, and they're facing an opponent that doesn't normally make the trip to Baltimore. The San Diego Padres have been to Camden Yards once before, and you have to go back to 2002, when the Orioles took two of three games. Melvin Mora had five RBIs in the series opener. The following night, Tony Bautista hit a walk-off home run in the 10th inning. The Orioles won two of three games in their first visit to San...

Chen headed to DL, Orioles option Belfiore (Wada update)

Chen headed to DL, Orioles option Belfiore (Wada update)
Orioles pitcher Wei-Yin Chen is expected to be placed on the disabled list Tuesday with a strained right oblique. Chen underwent an MRI earlier today in Baltimore. "Chen is a DL candidate," said executive vice president Dan Duquette. "It's a right oblique strain, and these things take a little time to heal. So, it looks that way. We'll decide tomorrow. But he looks like a DL candidate." Duquette estimated that it would take "more than a couple weeks" for Chen to return. "We'll...

Checking on Jurrjens and the rotation (updated)

Checking on Jurrjens and the rotation (updated)
Jair Jurrjens made today's start for Triple-A Norfolk and has allowed five runs and seven hits in six innings, with no walks and five strikeouts. Former Orioles farmhand Mike Constanzo, part of the Miguel Tejada trade with the Houston Astros, homered off Jurrjens as the Syracuse Chiefs' designated hitter today. The Orioles are down to three starters with Miguel Gonzalez on the disabled list and Wei-Yin Chen being re-evaluated today after leaving yesterday's start with a strained right...

Strop's stopping the slump

Strop's stopping the slump
MINNEAPOLIS - Orioles reliever Pedro Strop seems to have straightened himself out after an extremely rough stretch of games. His cap is still crooked, but he's straightened out. More on that later. Strop tossed another scoreless inning yesterday at Target Field, again throwing eight of 12 pitches for strikes, just as he did Saturday night. Velocity good. Movement on his slider good. Results good. Strop hasn't allowed an earned run in his last 10 outings, and he hasn't permitted a run or...

Postgame comments from Showalter, Snyder, Davis and Machado

Postgame comments from Showalter, Snyder, Davis and Machado
MINNEAPOLIS - Orioles manager Buck Showalter spent most of his postgame session with the media this afternoon talking about Wei-Yin Chen's injury and whether it's regarded as serious at this point. Showalter is being optimistic. That's the only approach he's going to take until finding out more about the injury on Monday. "I was just talking to him about it," Showalter said following a 6-0 victory over the Twins. "He just felt it the last two or three pitches. I didn't hear oblique,...

Updates on Chen and Arrieta (with Chen quotes)

Updates on Chen and Arrieta (with Chen quotes)
MINNEAPOLIS - Orioles left-hander Wei-Yin Chen is hoping that today's injury is nothing more serious than cramping on his right side. Chen is listed as having a strained right oblique, but he will be re-evaluated Monday in Baltimore. Chen said he felt the discomfort while facing his last batter, Eduardo Escobar, in the bottom of the fifth inning, and it intensified on the final pitch. Meanwhile, Jake Arrieta didn't make his scheduled start today with Triple-A Norfolk because of a tender...

Chen leaves game with oblique strain (O's win 6-0)

Chen leaves game with oblique strain (O's win 6-0)
MINNEAPOLIS - The Orioles' rotation is dealing with another injury. Wei-Yin Chen left today's start after five innings with a strained right oblique. Tommy Hunter has replaced him. Chen appeared to be reaching for his right side as he walked to the dugout after retiring Eduardo Escobar to end the bottom of the fifth. He allowed five hits over five scoreless innings, with no walks, three strikeouts and a wild pitch. Chen threw 73 pitches, 50 for strikes, in his second-shortest outing of the...

Machado stays hot

Machado stays hot
MINNEAPOLIS - You can't stop Manny Machado, you can only hope to hold him to two hits. Machado has posted his 17th multi-hit game of the season today, collecting a single in the first inning and a double in the fifth. There's more with Machado, of course. He now has 12 multi-hit games in his last 19, with nine doubles, a triple, three homers and 13 RBIs. He's 33-for-82 in that stretch, which comes out to a .402 average. Machado has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 road games, batting .453...

Davis dials long distance with pink bat (Jones does, too)

Davis dials long distance with pink bat (Jones does, too)
MINNEAPOLIS - The Orioles scored three runs in the first inning last night. They scored two in the first inning today, and those runs came off the pink bat of first baseman Chris Davis. Davis hit the batter's eye in center field with a two-run shot off Twins left-hander Scott Diamond that traveled an estimated 442 feet and gave the Orioles a 2-0 lead. Players are wearing pink spikes and arm bands today to symbolize the fight against breast cancer. A few of them are using pink bats, including...

Notes and updates before today's game

Notes and updates before today's game
MINNEAPOLIS - Orioles pitcher Miguel Gonzalez will wait until Tuesday to throw his bullpen session. Gonzalez was supposed to throw today, but he wants to give his blister a few more days to heal. The area is still inflamed. Gonzalez is still scheduled to go on an injury-rehab assignment Thursday or Friday, affiliate to be determined. Tsuyoshi Wada could start his rehab assignment on Thursday at Triple-A Norfolk or Double-A Bowie. Kevin Gausman is scheduled to start for the Baysox on Thursday,...

Belfiore recalled from Norfolk

Belfiore recalled from Norfolk
MINNEAPOLIS - The Orioles have recalled left-hander Mike Belfiore from Triple-A Norfolk as the replacement for pitcher Steve Johnson on the 25-man roster. Belfiore's flight landed from Syracuse, and he's headed to Target Field. Belfiore, 24, was acquired from the Diamondbacks on May 12, 2012 as the PTBNL in the Josh Bell trade. He's on the 40-man roster, so a corresponding move isn't necessary. The Orioles now have four left-handers in their bullpen. Also, Freddy Garcia is available in...

It's Chen's turn

It's Chen's turn
MINNEAPOLIS - The Orioles finish up their three-game series against the Minnesota Twins this afternoon and head back home. If you blinked, you may have missed this road trip. Their starters in the last two games have each lasted four innings. They're looking for left-hander Wei-Yin Chen to give them some length today and spare the bullpen, though they're adding another reliever as insurance. Chen lasted only four innings in a May 1 start in Seattle, but he went 6 1/3 against the Royals in...

Hearing from Steve Johnson, Wieters and Flaherty (Johnson optioned)

Hearing from Steve Johnson, Wieters and Flaherty (Johnson optioned)
MINNEAPOLIS - The Orioles optioned pitcher Steve Johnson to Triple-A Norfolk following tonight's game. They will announce a corresponding roster move Sunday morning. They need to add a reliever who can pitch multiple innings. Making his first start for the Orioles this season, Johnson was changing speeds effectively over the first two innings while keeping the Twins off the scoreboard and protecting a 3-0 lead. And then? "I just kind of lost it," he said. Johnson wouldn't use the cold...

Showalter on possible roster move and Steve Johnson

Showalter on possible roster move and Steve Johnson
MINNEAPOLIS - The Orioles appear to be leaning toward making a roster move that would add a reliever for Sunday afternoon's game against the Minnesota Twins. "We're looking at it," said manager Buck Showalter following tonight's 8-5 loss to the Twins. Showalter needed Troy Patton to go two innings in relief of Steve Johnson, who allowed six runs and seven hits in four innings on a cold and windy night at Target Field. Brian Matusz and Pedro Strop each tossed a scoreless inning. The...

Is another roster move coming? (O's lose 8-5)

Is another roster move coming? (O's lose 8-5)
MINNEAPOLIS - Steve Johnson's 2013 debut with the Orioles lasted only four innings and could lead to another roster move following tonight's game. Johnson allowed six runs and seven hits in four innings, with four walks (one intentional), three strikeouts and a wild pitch. He threw 88 pitches, 48 for strikes. The fourth inning got away from him. The Twins sent nine batters to the plate and scored four runs to take a 6-4 lead. Brian Dozier had a two-run double, and Justin Morneau had a...

Orioles dialing up doubles again tonight (Wieters homers)

Orioles dialing up doubles again tonight (Wieters homers)
MINNEAPOLIS - The Orioles have decided to double their pleasure again tonight. Manny Machado and Adam Jones doubled in the first inning, giving the Orioles nine in the first two games of this series. Nick Markakis and Chris Davis, who didn't get the memo, had RBI singles and Matt Wieters lifted a sacrifice fly. Orioles 3, Twins 0. Davis did Twins starter Vance Worley a favor by getting thrown out at second base on Wieters' fly ball to left field. Markakis is 24-for-44 vs. the Twins since...

A few pregame notes

A few pregame notes
MINNEAPOLIS - The Orioles scored nine unanswered runs last night to overcome a 6-0 deficit. According to STATS, it marked the first time that the Orioles won a game by three runs or more after being down by six or more in the sixth inning or later since June 15, 1983 against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Orioles were behind 7-0 in the top of the seventh before rallying to win 11-8 in 10 innings. Steve Johnson held opponents hitless in 20 at-bats with runners in scoring position as a rookie last...