Shepherd set to make first major league start

Shepherd set to make first major league start
DETROIT - Being chosen as the International League's Player of the Month for August will be the last honor bestowed upon pitcher Chandler Shepherd in 2019. However, the true highlight of his summer is coming Tuesday night. Shepherd has been told that he's starting against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards, a first for him in the majors after two relief appearances with the Orioles. "It's special for me. I'm obviously super excited for the opportunity," Shepherd said yesterday morning while...

Straily solid in relief in win, O's make roster moves (updated)

Straily solid in relief in win, O's make roster moves (updated)
When the first two hitters he faced today combined to produce a run, it looked like right-hander Dan Straily might have another rough outing. But he turned it around and gave the Orioles a solid long-relief job as the Orioles beat the Tigers 5-3 at Oriole Park. As the Orioles won for just the third time in 14 games, Straily allowed just one run over four innings. He began the game with an ERA of 9.09 overall and 12.09 at home and had recently been moved from the starting rotation. In fact,...

Orioles acquire Broxton and DFA Ramirez

Orioles acquire Broxton and DFA Ramirez
The Orioles have a new outfielder and a decision to make regarding how to fit him on the 25-man roster. Keon Broxton has been acquired from the Mets in exchange for international signing bonus slots. He isn't reporting today, which delays the corresponding roster move. Does the club remove a position player or go with a four-man bench and send down a pitcher? Does his arrival affect Joey Rickard, a backup at all three outfield spots and valuable to the Orioles because he can play...

Orioles running short on starter replacements

Orioles running short on starter replacements
The latest failed start from Orioles right-hander David Hess last night raised more questions about his stay in the rotation. As in, how much longer? It's the same with Dan Straily, who's carrying an 8.51 ERA and 1.891 WHIP into tonight's start against the Yankees. And therein lies the problem. The Orioles don't have an abundance of choices and Hess isn't riding alone on the struggle bus. The bullpen doesn't offer a worthy candidate short of going back to an opener. Gabriel Ynoa made...

The bullpen, Alberto at leadoff and Mountcastle at first base

The bullpen, Alberto at leadoff and Mountcastle at first base
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde can envision how he'd like to line up his bullpen, though some of the names could change. How he'd want an innings-eater or two in long relief, a couple of left-handers and sturdy bridges to closer Mychal Givens, who in an ideal setting would be saved for the last inning. The games and certain individuals won't allow it to come to fruition. Gabriel Ynoa allowed one run in his first 11 1/3 innings after the Orioles selected his contract, I wrote about him and now...

Orioles select Lucas' contract (plus O's lineup and notes)

Orioles select Lucas' contract (plus O's lineup and notes)
The Orioles have replaced Yefry Ramirez with Josh Lucas in their latest attempt to find a fresh and productive bullpen arm. Lucas had his contract selected this afternoon from Triple-A Norfolk, with pitcher Nate Karns moving to the 60-day injured list to free up room on the 40-man roster. Lucas made three appearances with the Orioles before they designated him for assignment and outrighted him. He allowed two earned runs (three total) and four hits in 4 1/3 innings before coming off the 40-man...

O's got whipped in Cleveland but go 4-0 on farm Sunday

O's got whipped in Cleveland but go 4-0 on farm Sunday
Well, the Orioles minor league affiliates went 4-0 Sunday with some real nice pitching performances. We'll get to that shortly. But the big league club got blown out 10-0 in Cleveland and the postgame interviews reflected that result. Starting pitcher Yefry Ramirez said he was "just bad." Chris Davis struck out four times against Indians right-hander Shane Bieber and said he didn't make adjustments and that was "just stupidity on my part." Manager Brandon Hyde has been remaining upbeat...

Orioles return home needing improved play and roster replacement

Orioles return home needing improved play and roster replacement
The Orioles concluded a road trip yesterday that didn't cooperate in any fashion. The weather worked against them. The opponents worked against them. Pitching, hitting and defense broke down at various stages, leading to five losses in the six games and a 15-31 record heading into a four-game series against the Yankees that begins tonight at Camden Yards. The Yankees swept a doubleheader Wednesday that followed back-to-back postponements due to unplayable field conditions and the threat of...

O's blanked in Cleveland to wrap up 1-5 road trip (updated)

O's blanked in Cleveland to wrap up 1-5 road trip (updated)
CLEVELAND - The Orioles were held to a run and one hit yesterday and their offense was dormant again today. Their pitching was not good either. That kind of day in the road trip finale as Cleveland whipped the Orioles 10-0 to take three of four in this series. The Orioles (15-31) completed a 1-5 road trip through New York and Cleveland, winning only on Friday night behind Dylan Bundy. They have lost nine of 11, 15 of 20 and 20 of their last 26 games. The O's are 4-14 against the Indians since...

Orioles lineup vs. Indians

Orioles lineup vs. Indians
The Orioles close out their four-game series today against the Indians, and their road trip, with Hanser Alberto at second base and Jonathan Villar playing shortstop. Renato Núñez is the designated hitter while Trey Mancini goes back to right field. Stevie Wilkerson continues to play center field and bat fifth. Austin Wynns is catching Yefry Ramirez. Indians right-hander Shane Bieber is 2-2 with a 3.81 ERA and 1.087 WHIP in nine games (eight starts) covering 49 2/3 innings. He's...

O's game blog: The road trip ends with one more in Cleveland

O's game blog: The road trip ends with one more in Cleveland
CLEVELAND - The Orioles two-city road trip through New York and Cleveland ends this afternoon against the Indians at Progressive Field. After two rainouts and then a doubleheader loss Wednesday at Yankee Stadium, the Orioles are 1-2 in this series. They lost 14-7 Thursday, won 5-1 behind Dylan Bundy Friday and were one-hit yesterday in losing 4-1 to the Tribe. The Orioles are 15-30 overall, 9-15 on the road and have lost eight of 10 and 14 of their last 19. Cleveland is 24-20 and 11-10 over its...

Ramirez chosen to make today's start

Ramirez chosen to make today's start
The Orioles flirted with the idea of switching to a six-man rotation earlier in the year and now they're doing it - for one game. The doubleheader in New York forced manager Brandon Hyde to find another starter today in Cleveland instead of using someone on short rest and he's chosen right-hander Yefry Ramirez. The alternative would have been an opener or recalling a starter from the minors, with left-hander Josh Rogers one of the possibilities. Gabriel Ynoa threw 54 pitches in relief...

Brandon Hyde on Sunday's starter and more (game update)

Brandon Hyde on Sunday's starter and more (game update)
CLEVELAND - The Orioles won't bring a starting pitcher back on short rest after Wednesday's doubleheader in New York, so they will turn to right-hander Yefry Ramirez out of their bullpen to start the series finale here on Sunday afternoon. Ramirez is 0-1 with an ERA of 5.14 in three games and seven innings since he was called up from Triple-A on April 29. He was 1-1 with a 1.50 ERA in four Norfolk starts with 24 strikeouts in 18 innings. "Well, we need a starter. And Yefry, it's a good...

Wondering about Rogers, Castro's improvement and more

Wondering about Rogers, Castro's improvement and more
NEW YORK - The Orioles had become roster move slackers after lots of early activity, but they're trying to pick up the pace again. They optioned reliever Evan Phillips on Saturday, recalled him yesterday as the 26th man for the doubleheader, returned him to Triple-A Norfolk after Game 2 and were prepared to recall left-hander Josh Rogers. Rogers was on standby for a flight to Cleveland, where the Orioles begin a four-game series tonight. The Tides are in Toledo, making for a short trip. But it...

The pitching is trending in the right direction

The pitching is trending in the right direction
The Orioles pitching has taken a bit of a turn for the better and that is very welcome. Yes, it's just small slice of a long season but maybe it provides a lift for the team and maybe we can begin to see more of it. The club's team ERA is 5.52 and through games of Wednesday, that still ranks last in the American League. But the ERA was over 6.00 for most of late April and it went as high as 6.37 on April 22. But over the past 13 games, the team ERA is 3.97 and the Orioles have allowed four...

Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde is staying true to his word in his use of reliever Mychal Givens. It's fine to label Givens as the closer based on his team-leading four saves and how he's the first choice to pitch last. But he won't be saved for the saves. Hyde trusts Givens to get the biggest outs anywhere after the sixth inning. Givens worked the eighth and ninth Wednesday night with the score tied and carried the game into extras. He's exceeded one inning in eight of his 13 appearances. The...

Orioles caught controlling the running game

Orioles caught controlling the running game
The moment easily could have gone unnoticed in a game featuring nine runs scored on homers through the fifth inning. J.D. Martinez strikes out swinging, Mookie Betts breaks for second base and catcher Austin Wynns pops out of his crouch and makes a perfect throw. Tag applied, runner out, another caught stealing for the Orioles. A similar moment last night drew more attention with the score tied in the ninth inning. Eduardo Núñez strikes out swinging, Rafael Devers breaks for second base...

Wrapping up a 2-1 loss in 12 innings

Wrapping up a 2-1 loss in 12 innings
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde laughed tonight and took a sip from his cup before formulating his answer. Before he could revisit Jackie Bradley Jr.'s catch in front of the Orioles bullpen - over their bullpen - that denied Trey Mancini of a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11th inning. "Let's just start out that it was an incredible catch and you tip your hat to the guy making a play like that," Hyde said after a 2-1, 12-inning loss to the Red Sox at Camden Yards. "I don't know if...

Benintendi homers in 12th and Orioles lose to Red Sox

Benintendi homers in 12th and Orioles lose to Red Sox
Andrew Cashner pounded a fist into his glove tonight and stormed off the mound after striking out Mitch Moreland on a changeup to close the first inning and strand a runner at third base. He threw another changeup with two outs in the third, Mookie Betts launched it into the left field seats to break a scoreless tie and the veteran right-hander took a few shots at himself. Cashner turned back toward the plate and yelled, knowing that poor location led to a bad result. He'd find out later that...

Orioles roster remains in a calm state (with a few notes)

Orioles roster remains in a calm state (with a few notes)
Almost a week has passed since the Orioles made a roster move, and it was done only because of a traditional doubleheader that allowed for a 26th player. Outfielder Anthony Santander joined the club Wednesday in Chicago, homered in Game 2 and returned to Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles haven't shaken up the roster for other reasons since they recalled reliever Yefry Ramirez from Norfolk on April 29 to fill the vacancy created by pitcher Luis Ortiz, optioned left-hander Tanner Scott after the...