A look at O's rotation improvement in 2020

A look at O's rotation improvement in 2020
The Orioles' rotation ERA this year was 5.09 for the 60-game season. They had it down to 4.75 with just a few games to go. But short outings by Jorge López, where he gave up eight runs, and Dean Kremer, where he gave up seven, raised it again. The O's finished 11th in the American League in rotation ERA. Had they kept their ERA in the 4.75 range, they still would have finished 11th. That is still the best for an O's team since the 2016 team that won 89 games and made the postseason. O's...

Reviewing recent roster and player pool reconstruction

Reviewing recent roster and player pool reconstruction
The trade that brought right-hander Conner Loeprich to the Orioles organization was announced in the ninth inning of Sunday afternoon's game against the Rays. In the middle of the filing frenzy, when most of the beat crew is rushing to get its stories ready to post after the final out - and hoping that the score and stats don't require a late adjustment. César Valdez was in the process of retiring the side in order for his second save. Leadoff hitter Willy Adames smoked a ball to the...

Orioles acquire De León from Marlins as PTBNL

Orioles acquire De León from Marlins as PTBNL
The Orioles completed one of their earlier summer trades this afternoon, receiving infielder Isaac De León from the Marlins as the player to be named later for left-handed reliever Richard Bleier. The Bleier deal was consummated on Aug. 1. De León is 18 and the type of player sought in the past by executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias. A young prospect to increase the talent level in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League. Elias acquired outfielder Elio Prado and infielder...

Rookies in rotation reason to respect September baseball in 2020

Rookies in rotation reason to respect September baseball in 2020
The drudgery of September baseball for a team out of contention or barely visible is spiced by the arrival of prospects. The legitimate types rather than the fringy, "it's the best we've got" collection. The Orioles are carrying the developmental process from their alternate camp site in Bowie to the majors, another unique feature of 2020 baseball. Gains are possible with the final month more closely resembling mid-summer baseball. Active rosters aren't expanded to the maximum 40 players,...

Akin overpowers Braves for five innings in 5-1 win (updated)

Akin overpowers Braves for five innings in 5-1 win (updated)
Keegan Akin made it out of the first inning tonight, a relatively modest accomplishment except he couldn't do it in his last start. And he's young and inexperienced and therefore unpredictable. He had plenty of help while making that early exit. He had a short memory tonight. Akin's outing was more important than the game result in the grand rebuild scheme, but the Orioles got the best of both worlds. Akin shut out the Braves over five innings, striking out a career-high nine batters while...

Orioles' bats return to mute mode in 5-1 loss (updated)

Orioles' bats return to mute mode in 5-1 loss (updated)
The latest snapshot of a weird and unprecedented 2020 season came this afternoon before batting practice, when the Orioles gathered in right field in their home white uniforms for the annual team photo. Everyone wearing masks and lined up in rows with the proper spacing between bodies. Just another day at the ballpark for the Orioles, who are down to their last 12 games of the regular season and always reminded of the unpredictability of it after tonight's 5-1 loss to the Braves at Camden...

The rotation, today's starters and latest on Austin Hays

The rotation, today's starters and latest on Austin Hays
The Orioles are going to need a starter for Tuesday night's game against the Braves. Manager Brandon Hyde already has eliminated the idea of rookie Keegan Akin working on short rest. One potential candidate eliminated. Akin threw 39 pitches in two-thirds of an inning in the second game of Friday night's doubleheader. Hyde won't disrupt his rest and routine. If the roster is unchanged from its current state, Hyde most likely is going to choose between Thomas Eshelman and Asher Wojciechowski...

Early defensive breakdowns doom O's in 10-1 loss (updated)

Early defensive breakdowns doom O's in 10-1 loss (updated)
The losses are easier for Orioles manager Brandon Hyde to stomach when his team is playing crisp baseball. When the mental and physical mistakes are removed from the equation. They were front and center tonight in the first inning in the second game of the doubleheader. The Orioles weren't charged with an error, but fielding data is influenced by other factors. So are outcomes. The Yankees responded to the latest DJ Stewart homer with four runs in the bottom of the first, chasing rookie Keegan...

Rough night at the office: O's outscored 16-1 in twinbill

Rough night at the office: O's outscored 16-1 in twinbill
Since the New York Mets' Michael Conforto made that incredible catch with the bases loaded against the Orioles in the sixth on Wednesday night, it seems not a lot has gone right for the club. Tonight, they got blanked in the first game by the New York Yankees, and then the Baltimore defense came unglued in the last of the first in the nightcap. The Orioles came up very flat twice tonight as they lost a doubleheader to the Yankees to start an important four-game series. The O's lost 6-0 and...

Notes on Cobb's return, rest of rotation and more (game postponed)

Notes on Cobb's return, rest of rotation and more (game postponed)
Alex Cobb is rejoining the active roster and the rotation. Manager Brandon Hyde said Cobb is expected to start Friday night against the Yankees "if everything works out protocol-wise." The veteran right-hander has been on the injured list, with the assumption that it's been related to COVID-19. "He's been throwing," Hyde said in his Zoom conference call, "so he'll be ready to go." Dean Kremer will make his second major league start on Saturday afternoon and left-hander John Means is...

Kremer making major league debut today vs. Yankees

Kremer making major league debut today vs. Yankees
Dean Kremer has been recalled from the alternate camp site in Bowie and is making his major league debut this afternoon in the series finale against the Yankees at Camden Yards. The corresponding roster move was made last night with David Hess optioned to the secondary site. Kremer, who's wearing No. 64, came to the Orioles in the Manny Machado trade with the Dodgers. He led the minors in strikeouts in 2018 with 178 in 131 1/3 innings. Kremer was the first Israeli citizen drafted by a major...

Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
The Orioles yesterday began their first homestand since the wave of deadline trades that subtracted Tommy Milone, Mychal Givens and Miguel Castro from the pitching staff and further lowered the average age in the clubhouse. Players knew that more changes were in store after the earlier deal that sent reliever Richard Bleier to the Marlins. Their baseball worlds aren't rocked. They can see the big picture. No one needs to sit down with them and explain it. Say your goodbyes and try to stay...

Núñez homers twice, Valaika collects four hits in 9-5 win (updated)

Núñez homers twice, Valaika collects four hits in 9-5 win (updated)
Cedric Mullins is going to bunt. José Iglesias is going to collect doubles as if it's his hobby. Renato Núñez is going to be a streaky home run hitter. The Orioles can be an unpredictable bunch, but there are certain truths that hold over an entire season. They were responsible for staking Asher Wojciechowski to a quick lead tonight, casting the latest homestand and month of September in a positive light. It became a flicker in the next inning, with Wojciechowski giving back two runs...

O's game blog: The homestand begins

O's game blog: The homestand begins
After a stretch of playing 13 straight games against American League East teams, the Orioles begin a two-game home series against the New York Mets tonight. This begins a stretch of 12 straight games through Sept. 13 against New York teams. They will meet the Mets four times and play the Yankees eight times. The Orioles went 3-10 in the stretch of games against Boston, Tampa Bay and Toronto. They are 8-13 this season against AL clubs and 7-6 versus the National League. They are 7-2 against the...

Hyde hearing players, maturity of Mullins and Tate, rotation and more

Hyde hearing players, maturity of Mullins and Tate, rotation and more
One of manager Brandon Hyde's finest traits is his ability to communicate with his players. Maybe it's an age thing. Maybe it's just his personality. But he's earned praise for it. Hyde also scores points because he listens. There's so much to dissect and digest from events this week. The hard discussions and postponed games. The raw emotion, which Hyde showed Thursday evening on a Zoom conference call while attempting to convey how he's been able to guide the club through difficult and...

Givens surrenders late home run in 4-3 loss (updated)

Givens surrenders late home run in 4-3 loss (updated)
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde had "an idea" last night, as he put it, that Trevor Richards would start for the Rays in the second game of the series. He was waiting for confirmation, which can be a sluggish process. They stick with TBD for as long as possible while sorting through their available candidates in the bullpen. Hyde thought the Rays might go with an opener in front of Richards. He didn't post the lineup until later, which made sense anyway because he had to check on the status of...

Orioles and Rays lineups

Orioles and Rays lineups
Pedro Severino remains on the bench tonight with discomfort in his right hip, leaving Bryan Holaday behind the plate as the Orioles continue their series against the Rays at Tropicana Field. Severino is day-to-day after leaving Sunday's game. Chance Sisco is the designated hitter. Hanser Alberto is batting second, followed by Anthony Santander. Ryan Mountcastle returns to left field after serving last night as the designated hitter. Pat Valaika is the shortstop after committing two throwing...

Milone makes nice recovery in 4-2 loss (updated)

Milone makes nice recovery in 4-2 loss (updated)
Wade LeBlanc fell off the trade table with an elbow injury that brought a premature end to his season. Alex Cobb stays on it if the right team comes along that's willing to absorb the $15 million owed in 2021 or if the Orioles provide some salary relief. Then there's Tommy Milone, who could interest a contender as a back-of-the-rotation starter or swingman, though the return wouldn't necessarily accelerate the rebuild process. The veteran lefty has been a pretty solid addition this year,...

Orioles lineup vs. Rays

Orioles lineup vs. Rays
Ryan Mountcastle is the designated hitter tonight as the Orioles begin a three-game series against the Rays at Tropicana Field. Mason Williams is playing left field and Cedric Mullins remains in center field and atop the order. Rio Ruiz moves to the cleanup spot after collecting a career-high four RBIs Sunday against the Red Sox. Chance Sisco is catching. Pedro Severino is on the bench after experiencing tightness in his hip Sunday. For the Orioles Cedric Mullins CF Anthony Santander RF Renato...

Taking a look at a losing streak, plus Cossins on Hyde

Taking a look at a losing streak, plus Cossins on Hyde
The Orioles' losing streak has reached five games, and they've earned it. They've gone from 12-8 (.600) to 12-13 (.480). They are still winning at a much greater percentage than the team that lost 108 games last year. But during the losing streak, the Orioles have been outscored 33-17. In three of the last four games they have scored two runs or fewer. They've scored three runs in each of the last two games. The same group of players that was carrying the offense can't do it every night....