Orioles notebook items on Martin, Hays and Kirby

Orioles notebook items on Martin, Hays and Kirby
Orioles shortstop Richie Martin was out of the lineup last night as the Orioles proceeded with their series against the Dodgers. Will Martin be off the active roster in 2020? Too soon to know. Martin can ditch his Rule 5 status, which requires him to stay in the majors, as he's done since opening day. He's made the jump from the Double-A level and the Orioles have plenty of time to determine whether he's set to resume his platoon role next season or ticketed for Triple-A Norfolk. "I think...

Orioles lineup vs. Indians

Orioles lineup vs. Indians
Chance Sisco is behind the plate tonight and batting in the cleanup spot as the Orioles begin another home series. Anthony Santander is in right field and future All-Star Trey Mancini is the designated hitter. Jonathan Villar moves to shortstop and Stevie Wilkerson is the center fielder. John Means has been activated from the injured list and is starting tonight. The Indians are starting Mike Clevinger, the first of three right-handers the Orioles will face in the series. The southpaw streak...

O's game blog: O's begin weekend series hosting Boston

O's game blog: O's begin weekend series hosting Boston
After losing the last night two nights to Toronto, the Orioles' homestand continues tonight. They host the Boston Red Sox in the start of a three-game series. O's pitchers allowed just 17 runs in six games through Tuesday's game and then gave up 20 runs the past two games. During the six-game run, their starters had an ERA of 2.83 and that has been 7.00 the past two nights. The O's bullpen has allowed 13 earned runs over nine innings the last two games. At 21-47, the Orioles have lost six...

Orioles acquire Eshelman from Phillies

Orioles acquire Eshelman from Phillies
The Orioles need rotation help at the Triple-A level. Their options have been limited due to the ineffectiveness of starters who otherwise would have been under consideration for promotions. A move was made this morning to address the issue. The club announced that it's acquired right-hander Tom Eshelman from the Phillies in exchange for international signing bonus slots. He's been assigned to the Norfolk Tides. Eshelman, 24, has ties to executive vice president and general manager Mike...

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...

Orioles bullpen could undergo more changes today (updated)

Orioles bullpen could undergo more changes today (updated)
The Orioles surrendered five more home runs yesterday in Minnesota, all of them coming out of their bullpen, which again is in need of repair. Relievers have accounted for 34 of the 69 home runs allowed by the Orioles, easily the most in the majors and 15 more than the runner-up Cardinals and Rangers heading into the late slate of games. The Twins hit a homer off left-handers Paul Fry and Tanner Scott and three off Jimmy Yacabonis. Scott didn't retire a batter and his ERA rose to 7.11. All...

Running risks with Rule 5 players

Running risks with Rule 5 players
The Orioles tried to keep two Rule 5 pitchers in their bullpen last season and also carry outfielder Anthony Santander, who couldn't shed his status for 44 days. They tried to keep two Rule 5 infielders this year and also carry reliever Pedro Araujo, who needed 17 days in the majors before he could be optioned. One of baseball's conditioning drills should include lifting such a heavy burden. Nestor Cortes Jr. didn't make it past April last year. Araujo was designated for assignment this...

Orioles sign Straily, DFA Jackson, trade for Araujo

Orioles sign Straily, DFA Jackson, trade for Araujo
The Orioles have brought in a veteran starting pitcher that could end their use of an opener and ease the burden on their bullpen. Right-hander Dan Straily, 30, has signed a major league deal with the Orioles, who created room on the 25-man roster by designating Rule 5 pick Drew Jackson for assignment. The Orioles can attempt to trade Jackson or offer him back to the Dodgers if he clears waivers. The Phillies selected Jackson in the Rule 5 draft and dealt him to the Orioles for international...

Brandon Hyde on Chris Davis, roster move and more (O's fall 5-3)

Brandon Hyde on Chris Davis, roster move and more (O's fall 5-3)
TORONTO - He is 0-for-12 with seven strikeouts and three walks, but Orioles first basemen Chris Davis is back in the starting lineup today, batting seventh. He did make several solid plays in the field in last night's 2-1 win. "I think he's still searching a little bit," manager Brandon Hyde said before today's series finale at Toronto. "He's taken a couple of good swings and just missed a ball here and there. I love the fact he's playing great defense for us. When you come out of gates...

Orioles designate Araujo for assignment (Wotherspoon optioned)

Orioles designate Araujo for assignment (Wotherspoon optioned)
The Orioles placed a fresh arm in their bullpen today in Toronto and have decided to end the Rule 5 experiment with Pedro Araujo. Araujo has been designated for assignment despite needing only 17 days from the start of the season to lose his Rule 5 status. The Orioles selected the contract of right-hander Matt Wotherspoon, who's been assigned No. 71 and will make his major league debut if appearing in a game. The Orioles can attempt to trade Araujo. Otherwise he must clear waivers and be...

Brandon Hyde and David Hess on his gem versus Toronto

Brandon Hyde and David Hess on his gem versus Toronto
TORONTO - Trey Mancini produced again at the plate, Richard Bleier struggled again on the mound and the Orioles won again. Those were almost afterthoughts tonight as the Orioles hung on in the ninth to beat Toronto 6-5 at Rogers Centre. It was a night when a rookie manager felt he couldn't let a pitcher throwing a no-hitter finish the job or even the seventh inning. When right-hander David Hess got the first out of the Toronto seventh - a liner to short - it was his 82nd and last pitch of the...

More early impressions of the Orioles

More early impressions of the Orioles
The education on the 2019 Orioles is ongoing and unable to be contained in one blog entry. What else have we learned through four games? Manager Brandon Hyde will push his pitchers in certain situations, but not all of them. Mychal Givens threw a career-high 49 pitches Sunday in the Bronx, but David Hess was removed last night in Toronto after 6 1/3 hitless innings and 82 pitches. Hess threw 42 on Thursday and came back on short rest. Fast forward to later in the season and Hess stays in the...

David Hess throws 6 1/3 no-hit innings in win at Toronto

David Hess throws 6 1/3 no-hit innings in win at Toronto
TORONTO - Last year the Orioles did not record a single win at Rogers Centre in Toronto. Tonight, right-hander David Hess made sure that would not happen this season as the Orioles beat the Blue Jays 6-5. Showing the best fastball velocity we've seen in his brief major league career, Hess was rolling from the start. He retired the first nine batters on 28 pitches, throwing nine in the first, seven in the second and 12 in the third. He took a no-hitter into the seventh with a 6-0 lead at 74...

Notes on Carroll injury, pending roster move, Jackson and Davis

Notes on Carroll injury, pending roster move, Jackson and Davis
NEW YORK - Reliever Cody Carroll, cut from the Orioles' camp roster on March 17 and optioned to Triple-A Norfolk, is headed to the injured list. Carroll is dealing with some soreness in his lower back that's keeping him off the break-camp roster. There didn't appear to be any health issues with Carroll before he reported to Twin Lakes Park. He recorded his third save in his final exhibition outing on March 16 and allowed two runs and five hits with one walk and nine strikeouts over seven...

After strong springs, some Orioles will still start in the minors

After strong springs, some Orioles will still start in the minors
SARASOTA, Fla. - As the Orioles 2019 spring training camp comes to a close today, it's been a camp where many young players have shown some real talent. They thrived under the relaxed, yet intense atmosphere that manager Brandon Hyde and his coaches created. Frankly, some of the same young players, for whatever reason, could not play as relaxed last year. The new staff gets solid grades in this regard. We saw players like Austin Hays, Chance Sisco, Yusniel Diaz, Anthony Santander, Cody...

Checking on Orioles camp competitions

Checking on Orioles camp competitions
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Brandon Hyde remains uncertain about numerous aspects of his opening day roster. The final rotation spots, the complete bullpen and outfield compositions, the two catchers heading north. The top three starters always have been Alex Cobb, Dylan Bundy and Andrew Cashner. The only drama involved which one would be on the mound March 28 at Yankee Stadium, with Cobb given the honor. Mychal Givens and Richard Bleier were locks for the bullpen, the latter just needing...

Early notes on catchers, Rickard, Araujo and Davis

Early notes on catchers, Rickard, Araujo and Davis
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles catcher Austin Wynns provides the latest example of how an oblique injury isn't a day-to-day situation. Players can't rush back from them. Can't test them early without risking a setback. Wynns seems confident that he'll return this week, but he still has to take live batting practice. He's been hitting in the cage, which is where the injury happened. Life as a catcher certainly has its risks, though most of them occur behind the plate. Andrew Susac took a beating...

Wright: "Got to keep the ball in the park" (O's lose 5-3)

Wright: "Got to keep the ball in the park" (O's lose 5-3)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Mike Wright's late push to be included in the Orioles rotation needs more muscle. Wright finished strong today by retiring the split-squad Yankees in order in the fifth inning, but he served up three home runs and the Orioles trail 4-1 in the seventh at Ed Smith Stadium. Luke Voit hit a two-run homer to left-center field with the count full in the first inning and flied to the right field fence in the fifth. Miguel Andújar and Zack Zehner led off the third and fourth,...

Bundy completes five innings (Orioles fall 7-6)

Bundy completes five innings (Orioles fall 7-6)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Results in exhibition games don't matter until they suddenly do. Until the pitcher or hitter needs to get a return for the hard work. When concerns or frustrations start to build and need to be hushed. Nobody in Orioles camp was in a panic over Dylan Bundy's struggles, but manager Brandon Hyde noted this morning that the time arrived to turn in a more productive start, to feel good walking off the mound. Bundy could have done cartwheels all the way to the bench if he was done...

A look at the spring training bullpen battles

A look at the spring training bullpen battles
SARASOTA, Fla. - As the Orioles get back in action tonight at 6:35 p.m. versus the Yankees in Tampa, after the only spring off day Monday, let's take time to look at the competition for bullpen spots. If the Orioles do proclaim anyone as their closer for 2019 - at least for the start of it - that remains very likely to be right-hander Mychal Givens. Don't let Givens' spring stats - he's allowed six runs over 2 1/3 innings - dissuade you at this point. He's the best candidate to close and...