Unlikely homer, wasted scoring chance and mistakes doom O's

Unlikely homer, wasted scoring chance and mistakes doom O's
Leave it to the Orioles' luck that on the day John Means starts the second game of a doubleheader, their losing streak reaching 11 games, the opposition sends out a pitcher with a lower ERA. A neat trick, considering how stingy Means is allowing runs. Billy Hamilton, the well-traveled outfielder known for his speed rather than his swing, homered off Means with two outs in the fourth inning, José Abreu hit a two-run shot in the fifth after a cheap two-out single ahead of him and the While...

Positive updates on Mancini, Mountcastle (game postponed)

Positive updates on Mancini, Mountcastle (game postponed)
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde passed along good news this afternoon on Trey Mancini and Ryan Mountcastle, who could be ready to play over the weekend while recovering from their respective injuries. Mancini left last night's game in the first inning after being hit on the right elbow by Dylan Cease's 95 mph fastball. X-rays and exams were negative and Mancini sustained only a bruise. "We dodged a bullet with Mancini," Hyde said in his Zoom call with the media. "He's feeling a lot better....

Orioles and White Sox lineups (updated)

Orioles and White Sox lineups (updated)
The Orioles are back to having 26 players on their active roster after reinstating reliever Dillon Tate from the injured list this afternoon. Tate was on the IL with a strained left hamstring. He threw a spotless inning Tuesday night with Triple-A Norfolk in his only rehab game, striking out one batter and throwing only nine pitches. The roster had an opening after the Orioles optioned starter Dean Kremer to Norfolk yesterday morning. "I'm happy to have Dillon back because Dillon's a guy...

Elias on bullpen changes, pitching plans and the draft

Elias on bullpen changes, pitching plans and the draft
Trey Mancini hopped on a Zoom call after a recent loss and spoke about the frustrating nature of a team that can't get "synced up." His words coming after the Orioles scored six runs and allowed 13. Plenty of offense and no pitching to support it. It also works in reverse. Starter Jorge López completed six innings yesterday for the first time since Sept. 19, 2020. A quality start produced by someone besides John Means. Relievers Shawn Armstrong and Tanner Scott combined to retire all six...

Hyde on Kremer's demotion, Mountcastle's hand and more

Hyde on Kremer's demotion, Mountcastle's hand and more
Left-hander Keegan Akin is replacing Dean Kremer in the Orioles rotation, which gives him Sunday afternoon's start against the White Sox in Chicago. Akin allowed two runs last night in three relief innings. He has a 6.10 ERA and 1.258 WHIP in four appearances over 10 1/3 innings, with only one walk and 10 strikeouts. Akin hasn't started for the Orioles since Sept. 27, 2020 in Toronto, when he surrendered four runs in three innings. Manager Brandon Hyde explained today's decision to option...

Orioles put Hays on injured list and option Kremer

Orioles put Hays on injured list and option Kremer
Outfielder Austin Hays has gone on the injured list for a second time with a hamstring injury and the Orioles recalled Ryan McKenna from Triple-A Norfolk as they close out their series in Minnesota. Hays injured his right hamstring during the third game of the season in Boston. He experienced tightness in the left one following Sunday's game in D.C. Hays is batting .252/.319/.455 with six doubles, two triples, five home runs and 15 RBIs in 32 games. The Orioles optioned pitcher Dean Kremer to...

Bradish gets set for Triple-A debut, O's offense perks up

Bradish gets set for Triple-A debut, O's offense perks up
The Dylan Bundy trade has been looking pretty good recently for the Orioles. It was a trade from Dec. 4, 2019 with the Los Angeles Angels and the Orioles got four right-handers in return. They added Kyle Bradish, Kyle Brnovich, Zach Peek and Isaac Mattson. Mattson has already made it to Baltimore and Bradish got one step closer Saturday with his promotion from Double-A Bowie to Triple-A Norfolk. That was a quick promotion but the 24-year-old Bradish had thrown 13 2/3 scoreless innings on seven...

Santander reinstated from IL (plus lineups)

Santander reinstated from IL (plus lineups)
The Orioles reinstated outfielder Anthony Santander from the injured list today, the obvious corresponding roster move after they optioned Ryan McKenna to Triple-A Norfolk. Santander is in tonight's lineup against the Nationals in D.C., batting cleanup and playing right field. He's going to be facing Stephen Strasburg, who's coming off the injured list. Santander has been on the IL since April 20 with a sprained left ankle. "Basically, the timetable was two-to-four weeks depending on how I...

Orioles' home woes worsen in 10-1 loss (McKenna optioned)

Orioles' home woes worsen in 10-1 loss (McKenna optioned)
The fascination with the Orioles' poor home record builds with each defeat. The demands for a simple explanation grow along with the loss total. Here's a simple truth that played out again this afternoon: Location of the game doesn't matter if pitch location isn't precise. Rookie Dean Kremer surrendered a pair of home runs in the second inning, the Rays flexing their muscle throughout the series, the bullpen labored again and the Orioles were beaten 10-1 to complete the sweep. The Orioles...

Orioles removing fan capacity restrictions (plus today's lineups)

Orioles removing fan capacity restrictions (plus today's lineups)
The Orioles announced today that they'll no longer operate under crowd capacity restrictions at Camden Yards beginning June 1. The 25 percent limit is lifted. Tickets for all remaining home games will go on sale at noon on Wednesday, May 26. The Orioles will offer a two-hour online presale to fans who subscribe to the free digital Insider Newsletter. Social distancing will no longer be required between groups of ticket holders. Pod seating will continue to be available in select sections for...

O's can't hold five-run lead with ace dealing, lose 9-7 (updated)

O's can't hold five-run lead with ace dealing, lose 9-7 (updated)
The questions keep following John Means. They just change in nature. In Seattle, it was whether he would actually complete a no-hitter. In Queens, N.Y., it was how he'd respond after throwing 113 pitches and making history. Tonight's unknown was born from the seven days between starts. Would he be too fresh? His first pitch hitting the backstop on the fly, his command flickering like a bad bulb. Means' fastball was 93-95 mph in an eight-pitch first inning, all of them strikes. He retired the...

Chris Davis undergoes hip surgery (plus Orioles and Rays lineups)

Chris Davis undergoes hip surgery (plus Orioles and Rays lineups)
Orioles first baseman Chris Davis won't play in 2021 after undergoing arthroscopic surgery today in Dallas to repair the labrum in his left hip. Davis received two at-bats in the first exhibition game and didn't play again. The Orioles anticipate that he's going to be full-go for 2022 spring training, the final year of his franchise-record seven-year, $161 million contract. Davis tried to rehab the injury back home and finally decided on the surgery, according to Orioles executive vice...

More on decision to DFA Rio Ruiz

More on decision to DFA Rio Ruiz
The latest Orioles transaction this month unfolded yesterday with Rio Ruiz taken off the 40-man roster and Stevie Wilkerson returning to the majors, again transforming a minor league contract into an opportunity. The May movement began on the third with reliever Isaac Mattson recalled from the alternate camp site in Bowie and left-hander Bruce Zimmermann optioned in an exchange of rookies. Mattson was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk five days later, with left-hander Zac Lowther recalled from the...

Updating Orioles rotation for Rays series

Updating Orioles rotation for Rays series
The Orioles are flip-flopping their top two starters entering their series against the Rays that begins tonight at Camden Yards. As expected, Matt Harvey is starting the opener on an extra day of rest due to yesterday's vacancy in the schedule. Left-hander John Means takes the mound Wednesday with seven days separating his outings. Rookie Dean Kremer closes out the series Thursday afternoon before the Orioles head to D.C. The Rays are starting right-hander Luis Patiño tonight. Manager...

López labors for two innings in 8-2 loss (updated)

López labors for two innings in 8-2 loss (updated)
Getting ahead in the count didn't work for Jorge López. Falling behind didn't work, either. The first inning had been the kindest for López among his seven starts, with no runs allowed and only five baserunners. But he was 0-2 tonight on DJ LeMahieu and Luke Voit, and issued a walk and surrendered a hit. He walked Aaron Judge with the count 3-1 to load the bases with no outs. The Yankees siphoned 39 pitches out of López and scored three runs, Judge hit his prerequisite homer in the...

Santander ready for rehab assignment

Santander ready for rehab assignment
The Orioles have kept busy making roster moves during the first two months of the season, whether due to injury or the need for a fresh bullpen arm and resetting of a starting pitcher, and they're nearing another transaction. Anthony Santander is beginning an injury rehab assignment Friday night at Double-A Bowie, which continues its series against Reading at Prince George's Stadium. Santander is going to play the outfield and also be used as the designated hitter during his stint with the...

Hyde on Akin, rotation, Means' example, Stewart and more

Hyde on Akin, rotation, Means' example, Stewart and more
Left-hander Keegan Akin joined the Orioles today after throwing 49 pitches for Triple-A Norfolk in Friday night's start in Jacksonville and staying available for long relief duty this week. Akin is working out of the bullpen, with no immediate plans to insert him into the rotation. Left-hander Zac Lowther was optioned to Norfolk this afternoon. The Orioles needed a fresh arm and chose Akin, who didn't break camp with the team after allowing 10 runs and issuing seven walks in nine exhibition...

Akin recalled, Orioles and Red Sox lineups

Akin recalled, Orioles and Red Sox lineups
The Orioles swapped out left-handers this afternoon, recalling Keegan Akin from Triple-A Norfolk and optioning Zac Lowther to the Tides. Akin threw two innings Friday night in his first start with the Tides and he's available in relief tonight. He was on the mound this afternoon for pitchers' fielding practice. Lowther made his first major league start Saturday night against the Red Sox and allowed seven runs in 2 1/3 innings. Trying to avoid a four-game sweep at home, the Orioles are...

Orioles can't hold lead in sixth and lose 4-3 (updated)

Orioles can't hold lead in sixth and lose 4-3 (updated)
The bullpen was a bit shaken by having too many relievers stir last night, reaching the point where a utility infielder finally had to pitch. And the Orioles couldn't provide any reinforcements this afternoon, instead subtracting Dillon Tate due to a hamstring injury and expanding their bench. Dean Kremer was coming off his finest start and the Orioles were in dire need of a duplication this afternoon against the Red Sox, leaders in just about every offensive category in the majors, including...

Tate goes on injured list (and other notes)

Tate goes on injured list (and other notes)
The Orioles made a roster move impacting their bullpen this morning, but in the opposite direction than expected. Dillon Tate has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain and the Orioles recalled outfielder Ryan McKenna from Triple-A Norfolk. Tate sustained the injury while covering first base in Friday night's game. He did the splits while taking the throw, an impressive move for a pitcher, and it cost him. Xander Bogaerts beat the relay and Tate landed on the IL...