John Means was outstanding as O's beat Phillies (updated)

John Means was outstanding as O's beat Phillies (updated)
At times tonight, Orioles ace lefty John Means looked like the 2021 early season version. The Means who had an ERA of 1.21 after his first eight starts. That is always big for the Orioles and Means was tonight. He threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings - his fifth start this year allowing no runs - as the Orioles blanked the Philadelphia Phillies 2-0 to start a three-game road series. The Orioles (48-102) won for just the second time in 10 games and put a damaging loss on the Phillies record....

Orioles can't maintain rapid pace in 9-3 loss (updated)

Orioles can't maintain rapid pace in 9-3 loss (updated)
BOSTON - The Orioles came out swinging today in baseball's most literal sense. The first pitch to Cedric Mullins was lined into left field for a double. The first to Ryan Mountcastle was launched for a two-run homer. The first to Anthony Santander was lined to center for a single. The first to Austin Hays was pulled foul before he drew a walk. Nick Pivetta needed to pivot. The Orioles needed to find a way to sustain their momentum, which can be halted as if reaching a barricade. Rookie Zac...

Hays' homer can't hold back 100th loss (updated)

Hays' homer can't hold back 100th loss (updated)
BOSTON - They didn't look like the Red Sox tonight. The yellow jerseys and powder blue caps. Promotional uniforms from Nike, also featured by six other clubs. Couldn't fool the Orioles, though. They knew which team was running up Keegan Akin's pitch count early, wrestling away a lead and preparing to hand them a 100th loss in 2021. Four of the first five hits off Akin were for extra bases, including Bobby Dalbec's leadoff home run in the fourth, left-hander Chris Sale marked his return from...

Mountcastle surpasses Ripken in Orioles' 3-2, 10-inning win (updated)

Mountcastle surpasses Ripken in Orioles' 3-2, 10-inning win (updated)
Individual achievements remain in play for the Orioles as the final weeks expire on their season. During those times when trying to be spoilers doesn't bring full satisfaction. Ryan Mountcastle led off the bottom of the sixth inning today by depositing Jordan Montgomery's sinker into the Orioles bullpen, his 29th home run breaking Cal Ripken Jr.'s rookie record for a single season. Mountcastle also cut a deficit in half and the bullpen provided 4 1/3 scoreless innings in regulation. Clay...

Orioles rally for lead and relinquish it in ninth in 4-3 loss (updated)

Orioles rally for lead and relinquish it in ninth in 4-3 loss (updated)
Gary Sánchez drove a fastball to deep center field tonight in the second inning, flipping his bat on the backswing, and began his trip around the bases. Where else was he going after making that kind of contact? Cedric Mullins sprinted to the ball, timed his leap at the fence and reached high above it, came down, hopped twice to his left - sticking the landing wasn't important in this event - and flipped it to Austin Hays. Hays would flip the lead later and watch it spin back. John Means...

Notes on Mancini, Severino, Means, Mullins, Mountcastle and more

Notes on Mancini, Severino, Means, Mullins, Mountcastle and more
Trey Mancini was written into today's lineup as the designated hitter, but he swung in the cage, felt more discomfort in his right oblique/abdomen and moved to the bench for the game. "Just still feels it a little bit," said manager Brandon Hyde. "We're not going to push him on this and the right thing to do is to give it another day or two and just kind of evaluate it every single day. I'm not going to throw him out there if he still feels it a little bit in kind of a sensitive area...

Orioles lose lead in seventh and drop Game 1 11-10 (updated)

Orioles lose lead in seventh and drop Game 1 11-10 (updated)
Dean Kremer was handed the ball today and given no promises. Lots of run support, but no promises. The 29th man for a September doubleheader knows his way back to the minors. But there are no rules against him staying, just that someone must be optioned after the nightcap. Kremer's first start with the Orioles in more than two months lasted four innings and included more strikes, but also three home runs among six extra-base hits and leads that shrank or disappeared. The Orioles wouldn't let...

Orioles and Blue Jays Game 1 lineups (updated)

Orioles and Blue Jays Game 1 lineups (updated)
The Orioles are sending rookies Keegan Akin and Dean Kremer to the mound for today's doubleheader against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards. Kremer is starting the opener. Kremer has been recalled from Triple-A Norfolk as the 29th man, rejoining a team he hasn't pitched for since June 24 in Buffalo, where he allowed six runs and walked five batters in one-third of an inning. In his previous start, he held the Jays to two runs and three hits with six strikeouts in six innings at Camden Yards....

Santander's tiebreaking homer pushes Orioles past Jays (updated)

Santander's tiebreaking homer pushes Orioles past Jays (updated)
The Orioles know exactly what's at stake. The importance of the remaining games for each opponent that's in a pennant race. Vying for a division title or the distinction of a wild card. A team buried in last place can wield plenty of influence. And the Orioles are going to take their biggest swings at it. Don't strive to be a spoiler but hope to succeed at it. Cedric Mullins and Ryan McKenna homered in the first inning tonight and rookie Chris Ellis grinded through the fifth before the Blue...

Orioles lineup vs. Blue Jays

Orioles lineup vs. Blue Jays
Jorge Mateo and Ramón Urías are out of the lineup tonight due to their physical issues, which puts Richie Martin back in the Orioles lineup for the series opener against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards. Martin is playing shortstop in his first game since the Orioles recalled him. Urías continues to receive treatment on his right upper leg and Mateo is enduring some unspecified discomfort. Manager Brandon Hyde saw Mateo struggle to get out of the box last night and wondered if the...

Matt Harvey placed on 10-day injured list

Matt Harvey placed on 10-day injured list
The Orioles found their infield coverage this afternoon while creating room in their rotation. Veteran starter Matt Harvey is on the 10-day injured list with right knee inflammation, the move coming after he made his 28th start last night. Infielder Richie Martin has been recalled from Triple-A Norfolk and gives the Orioles five players on their bench. Harvey is 6-14 with a 6.27 ERA and 1.543 WHIP in 127 2/3 innings. His 28 starts rank first on the club, three ahead of Jorge López, who was...

Hyde on Baumann, Wells, injuries and more

Hyde on Baumann, Wells, injuries and more
Mike Baumann is going to follow his major league debut last night, and his first victory, with another bullpen appearance. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Baumann will be used in similar fashion after working 3 2/3 innings and allowing only an unearned run. "We're going to do the same thing with Mike, probably in a few days," Hyde said, "where he's going to do an extended bullpen appearance where I probably bring him in in a clean inning and give us some innings out of the 'pen that...

Lowther impresses but Orioles lose lead and game (updated)

Lowther impresses but Orioles lose lead and game (updated)
The door opens so wide for Orioles in search of an opportunity, it's a wonder that the hinges don't snap in half. Faces have been reddened by that same door slamming shut, the failures bound to leave a mark. Zac Lowther got his latest chance this afternoon after making one appearance each in April, May and June, and two in July. Manager Brandon Hyde suggested that the rookie would receive multiple starts and, hopefully, open some eyes in the front office. Maybe wider than the door. Lowther...

O's break tie in ninth vs. Chapman, beat Yankees 4-3 (updated)

O's break tie in ninth vs. Chapman, beat Yankees 4-3 (updated)
On a day they let a late three-run lead get away, the Orioles were still able to win. And they pulled it out by scoring in the top of the ninth off Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman. The lefty took the mound in the ninth of a 3-3 tie and fanned Ryan Mountcastle, but Mountcastle reached first on the wild pitch to start the inning. An Austin Hays single to left and a walk to Trey Mancini followed to load the bases with no outs. After a strikeout, catcher Pedro Severino ran the count full. He then...

Orioles rally to tie and lose in 11th 4-3 (updated)

Orioles rally to tie and lose in 11th 4-3 (updated)
The Orioles couldn't carry pitcher Nestor Cortes Jr. as a Rule 5 selection. Tonight, they couldn't break through against him until the sixth inning. Trey Mancini's first home run since Aug. 14 sent Cortes to the bench with two outs and sliced the deficit in half. Jorge Mateo was a three-time Top 100 prospect who began his professional career with the Yankees, finally made it to the Bronx tonight and hit a game-tying homer in the seventh. The redemption angle held up through regulation. Four...

Because You Asked - The Edge of Reason

Because You Asked - The Edge of Reason
The Orioles aren't playing tonight. They have an off-day in New York. We should all be so lucky. "Excuse me, can you tell me how to get to Broadway?" "Practice, practice, practice." I've already mastered the art of the mailbag. How to gather questions, provide answers - or at least make the attempt - and exhibit tremendous patience while repeating myself. And also how to make it conversational at times, which ain't easy with the mail. I implore everyone to be as expansive as you'd like...

Orioles and Blue Jays lineups, plus notes (updated)

Orioles and Blue Jays lineups, plus notes (updated)
The Orioles enter a new month with pitchers Alexander Wells and Dusten Knight added to their expanded roster. Wells has a 7.71 ERA and a 1.929 WHIP in six games with the Orioles, but he's strung together three consecutive scoreless appearances with Triple-A Norfolk. Knight allowed six earned runs (seven total) and eight hits with four walks and nine strikeouts in his five outings with the Orioles over 7 1/3 innings. Both pitchers were on the taxi squad during the series against the Blue Jays...

More thoughts on September roster expansion

More thoughts on September roster expansion
The Orioles can happily push aside August, giving it a hard shove after losing 24 of 28 games, and get down to September business. There's always something to keep them active and it's usually about the roster. The difference now is they can expand it rather than just plugging holes. With the team in Canada and transporting a taxi squad, the logical moves today would be to recall left-hander Alexander Wells and right-hander Dusten Knight since they're already in the visiting clubhouse at...

Orioles lineup vs. Blue Jays (plus notes, updated)

Orioles lineup vs. Blue Jays (plus notes, updated)
Keegan Akin will try to build on his last start and the Orioles will try to end a four-game losing streak tonight against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Akin earned his second major league win Thursday by holding the Angels to one run and three hits in seven innings with six strikeouts and lowering his ERA from 7.92 to 7.26. He faced the Blue Jays on June 26 in Buffalo and allowed six runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings. Marcus Semien and Bo Bichette hit home runs. Akin also faced the Blue...

Orioles lineup, Hyde on bench and Fry, Burdi on new team

Orioles lineup, Hyde on bench and Fry, Burdi on new team
Center fielder Cedric Mullins is out of tonight's Orioles lineup for the opener of a three-game series in Toronto. Manager Brandon Hyde is resting him. There isn't an injury situation. Ryan McKenna, recalled this afternoon, is playing center and batting seventh. Austin Hays is leading off and playing left field. Jahmai Jones also is counted among the four reserves. Jorge Mateo is the second baseman tonight, with Ramón Urías at shortstop. Ryan Mountcastle is batting second again. A...