Orioles recall Hunter Harvey

Orioles recall Hunter Harvey
BOSTON - The latest roster move for the Orioles brings pitcher Hunter Harvey to the majors for the first time since 2018 and sets him up to make his long-awaited debut. The Orioles recalled Harvey this morning from Triple-A Norfolk. He fills the roster spot that opened after pitcher Tom Eshelman was optioned following last night's 9-1 loss to the Red Sox. Harvey can become the 54th player used by the Orioles this season, two short of the club record set last year. He'd be the 37th...

Because You Asked - Dawn of Justice

Because You Asked - Dawn of Justice
The Orioles are three-quarters through the 2019 season and, much to the chagrin of the most optimistic of fans, a winning record no longer is a mathematical possibility. I've lost count of how many times I've responded to the same questions. Of how many times I've made a mockery of the mailbag format for interacting with readers. You keep coming back, so you must get the joke. Or you just keep coming back and are thinking, 'What joke?' In which case ... never mind. You ask and I answer and...

As rotation continues to struggle, what will it look like next year?

As rotation continues to struggle, what will it look like next year?
The readers of this blog are starting to beat the drum already. The Orioles, they say, need to sign some starting pitching for 2020 to avoid a repeat of the pitching we've seen in 2019. OK, that sounds reasonable. But here is the issue: To get real quality with a track record of success, they probably need to offer a free agent a multi-year contract. Are they going to be ready to do that? Probably not. Failing that, you get back to the pitchers you can get for a one-year deal, and they won't...

Positive feedback on two Dominican Summer League players

Positive feedback on two Dominican Summer League players
You don't judge a trade for at least a few years unless the players involved disappear quickly. A one-for-one where ties are cut, maybe retirement is the next life phase. But in the case of the Andrew Cashner deal orchestrated by executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias, it's premature to assign a final grade to it. What we know so far is that Cashner's roll with the Orioles slowed as it reached New England. He didn't make it out of the second inning yesterday, walking five...

Walk-off win: Rio Ruiz wins it in the last of the ninth

Walk-off win: Rio Ruiz wins it in the last of the ninth
With one swing it went from disheartening loss to walk-off win. Rio Ruiz hit a two-run homer to right with two outs in the last of the ninth off Houston closer Roberto Osuna and the Orioles stunned the Astros 8-7 at Oriole Park. The Birds had seen Houston score three in the ninth to lead 7-5. But the O's scored three in the home half to win it. Jace Peterson led off with a double for his third hit of the day, all for extra bases. He moved to third on a groundout. Chance Sisco was hit by a...

Rio Ruiz walk-off home run gives Orioles 8-7 win (updated)

Rio Ruiz walk-off home run gives Orioles 8-7 win (updated)
How the Orioles responded to last night's thrashing at the hands and bats of the Astros provided the most intriguing element of the day. Get back on their feet and hold their ground or be knocked down again. Heads held high or chins pressed into their chests. Could they return to playing competitive baseball, a trait that's been harder to sustain this month? Could they close out the homestand on a positive note before wading deeper into a treacherous portion of their schedule? Rio Ruiz...

Leftover thoughts on Karns

Leftover thoughts on Karns
Anything interesting happen last night? The news last week that the Orioles released Nate Karns from his contract didn't send shockwaves through the industry. Karns cleared waivers and was outrighted. He had the right to decline the assignment and apparently chose to do it. What followed was a paper move. And a final admission that the major league free agent signing for the Orioles in the offseason didn't pan out. It was worth a shot. A veteran who could fill a spot in the rotation or...

New York with six more homers in win over Orioles

New York with six more homers in win over Orioles
The New York Yankees hit more homers at Camden Yards. They took an early lead. The Orioles came back. But the Orioles lost. It was a bit like last night with fewer runs. By the Orioles. The Yankees beat the Orioles 9-4 at Oriole Park to take the first two games of this series. New York (74-39) has won 11 straight this season against the Orioles and 14 in a row at Camden Yards since July 11, 2018. Tonight they hit six more homers to give them 11 in this series and 47 in 14 games versus O's...

Orioles can't hold down the homers in 9-4 loss (updated)

Orioles can't hold down the homers in 9-4 loss (updated)
Whether it's the baseballs or the ballpark or the pitching or the stacked lineups providing the opposition, the Orioles simply cannot contain the number of home runs surrendered this season. They come in waves. They come in bunches. And a lot of them come from the Yankees, who hit six more tonight in a 9-4 victory before an announced crowd of 17,201 at Camden Yards that waited out a one-hour-and-12-minute delay before the first pitch. The Orioles have surrendered 229 home runs this season,...

Orioles recall DJ Stewart

Orioles recall DJ Stewart
The two-man bench is no longer in existence in Baltimore. The Orioles replaced pitcher Jimmy Yacabonis, optioned to Triple-A Norfolk late last night, with outfielder DJ Stewart. They made the announcement this afternoon. Recalling Stewart enables the Orioles to carry three reserves for tonight's game against the Yankees at Camden Yards. The last of Stewart's seven games with the Orioles occurred back on June 5 in Texas. He sprained his right ankle while chasing a fly ball in foul territory in...

Hyde explains need for extra reliever (O's lead 6-4)

Hyde explains need for extra reliever (O's lead 6-4)
The two-man bench utilized by the Orioles will be a short-term arrangement. Manager Brandon Hyde explained the need for an extra reliever, with Branden Kline recalled for the fifth time. Hyde said Miguel Castro has been under the weather and unavailable. Castro didn't sit in the bullpen last night. "We have a few guys who are unavailable," Hyde said. "We wanted to make sure that we were healthy and had enough people going into the Yankees series." Also, the Orioles are expected to go with...

Updating injuries, Sisco's slump, Tate's relief and more (O's down 4-2)

Updating injuries, Sisco's slump, Tate's relief and more (O's down 4-2)
The Orioles are down to one healthy reserve tonight, their short bench reduced further after Stevie Wilkerson and Hanser Alberto took foul balls last night off the right knee and left shin, respectively. José Rondón needs to avoid injury tonight or the Orioles are in a major bind. Wilkerson said the knee feels "OK," which isn't a ringing endorsement. "It's pretty sore, as expected, but I think if they need me tonight I could go in there and play. I think over the next couple of days...

Toronto bashes five homers and O's lose homestand opener

Toronto bashes five homers and O's lose homestand opener
Orioles right-hander Asher Wojciechowski has pitched well this year against a few teams, but Toronto is not one of them. Blue Jays righty Trent Thornton has been hit hard for four of his last five starts, but not the one against the Orioles. Those forces collided tonight - Wojciechowski did not do well and Thornton did, as Toronto beat the Orioles 11-2 to start a four-game series and 10-game homestand. After completing a 5-4 West Coast trip the O's were hammered to begin the homestand. They...

Orioles surrender five home runs in 11-2 loss (updated)

Orioles surrender five home runs in 11-2 loss (updated)
Orioles pitching coach Doug Brocail and head athletic trainer Brian Ebel walked to the mound tonight with two outs in the fifth inning and a 2-1 count on Blue Jays outfielder Randal Grichuk. They wanted to check on Asher Wojciechowski as Jimmy Yacabonis warmed in the bullpen. Something didn't seem right to them. Allowed to stay in a game he already trailed by three runs, Wojciechowski threw a strike and then served up his second homer of the night, which brought manager Brandon Hyde out of the...

O's game blog: The long homestand begins

O's game blog: The long homestand begins
After going 5-4 on a West Coast trip that ended Tuesday, the Orioles begin a 10-game homestand tonight. Toronto is at Camden Yards for a four-game series. They'll be followed in by the New York Yankees for three games and Houston for three more. The Orioles went 4-5 on the homestand coming out of the All-Star break, going 1-3 versus Tampa Bay, 1-1 against Washington and 2-1 versus Boston. They are 15-36 at home and 21-35 on the road. The Orioles are 16-30 against the American League East,...

Orioles lineup vs. Blue Jays

Orioles lineup vs. Blue Jays
The Orioles begin a new month and a 10-game homestand tonight with Asher Wojciechowski making the start against the Blue Jays. They went 12-12 in July for their first non-losing month since going 17-12 in August 2017. Wojciechowski has allowed five runs with three walks and 23 strikeouts in his last three starts over 19 2/3 innings. He started July 7 in Toronto and surrendered three runs in 4 1/3 innings. In two career starts against the Blue Jays, Wojciechowski has allowed seven runs and eight...

Brandon Hyde on Orioles' recent winning stretch

Brandon Hyde on Orioles' recent winning stretch
ANAHEIM, Calif. - If, according to some observers, the Orioles are supposed to be tanking, some players may not have gotten the memo. This is no way to get the No. 1 draft pick. The Orioles have played hard for most of the year and now we are seeing them at times play both hard and well. When they get some big offense, they can take a series from Cleveland. When they get big starts from John Means and Asher Wojciechowski, they can take a series from Boston. And now they have a winning record...

Wojciechowski in control in win over Angels (with quotes)

Wojciechowski in control in win over Angels (with quotes)
ANAHEIM, Calif. - It was a chance for Orioles right-hander Asher Wojciechowski to follow up his strong start against Boston with another. And also get the Orioles and Angels out of here at a more reasonable hour. He got both done tonight, pitching the Orioles to a 9-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels in front of 38,852 at Angel Stadium. Baltimore improves to 34-69. The Orioles have won six of nine and are 12-11 in the past 23 games. They are 3-2 on this road trip with four games to go. Trey...

O's game blog: Wojciechowski faces Angels in Game 2

O's game blog: Wojciechowski faces Angels in Game 2
ANAHEIM, Calif. - After needing 6 hours, 19 minutes for a16-inning win Thursday and into Friday, the Orioles and Angels are back tonight for Game 2 of this four-game series. With their wild 10-8 win, the Orioles improved to 33-69. They are 5-3 over the last eight games, 6-7 since the All-Star Game and 11-11 their past 22 games. They are 2-2 on this trip and 18-33 for the season on the road. Baltimore snapped the Angels' four-game win streak. Los Angeles is 54-50 overall, 27-24 at home, 12-7 in...

Expecting the unexpected with Orioles (updated)

Expecting the unexpected with Orioles (updated)
The unpredictability of a team in a rebuild and its willingness to try just about anything should leave few surprises. Anything is possible in 2019. Always be ready for the unexpected. Unless you're me. I wasn't ready to see Anthony Santander become a regular in center field. Or in any spot after a lost 2018 season. I wasn't ready to see Renato Núñez back at third base, especially with so much emphasis placed on improving the defense. I wasn't ready to see Hanser Alberto leading the...