Freddy Galvis has returned to the Orioles lineup today, batting seventh against the Athletics in Oakland. Galvis, previously out with a sore left adductor, is batting .348/.400/.630 (16-for-46) in his last 15 games. He slashed .115/.179/.154 (3-for-26) in his first seven. "He got off to a slow start offensively," manager Brandon Hyde said today in his Zoom call. "Really, like the last week to two weeks before he had a little bit of the groin soreness, I think you started seeing better...

Orioles left-hander John Means made it through the first inning today. Manager Brandon Hyde stayed in the dugout. There were no surprises or unexpected visits. The rest of his day can be categorized as getting in his work in spring training. Means was on the verge of watching the second inning roll over, with the Pirates scoring three runs and extending him to 27 pitches in the Orioles' 13-1 loss in Bradenton. He came out at 48 pitches after issuing a leadoff walk in the third. Hyde removed...

The first round is complete in the veteran starter battle in Orioles camp. Wade LeBlanc tossed two scoreless innings in his debut outing against the Braves, allowing only one hit. The Blue Jays worked Matt Harvey for three runs and four hits yesterday in two innings. Félix Hernández took his first turn tonight against the Tigers at Ed Smith Stadium and retired the side in order in the first inning. He issued back-to-back walks in the second and surrendered two runs in a 6-5...

The Orioles are not exactly featuring an abundance of bullpen left-handers. Even on a spring roster with 73 players that includes 37 pitchers. They do return Paul Fry and Tanner Scott from the left side in the 'pen. Who, if anyone, joins them this year is to be determined. Fernando Abad, who signed a minor league deal, may have a good shot. Zach Muckenhirn from the O's farm is another 'pen lefty. Josh Rogers has returned after two surgeries and Bruce Zimmermann made one bullpen appearance...

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Right-hander Thomas Eshelman, one of a large number of rotation candidates in Orioles camp, made a nice first impression today. He pitched two scoreless against Boston on 19 pitches at JetBlue Park. After his outing, Eshelman said he made some winter changes and adjustments, and today provided good feedback that suggests they may work for him. "Definitely," he said outside the Baltimore clubhouse. "The slider, that is the one (Andrew) Benintendi hit (for an out) to center,...

The Orioles aren't going to confirm or offer up names of their coaching candidates or which players are headed to the 40-man roster this week prior to the Rule 5 draft. Sometimes it comes down to reading a little or a lot into non-denials, but this isn't a foolproof plan. Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias didn't bite last week when I dangled Anthony Sanders' name in front of him. FOX Sports reported that the Orioles interviewed Sanders for the job of first base coach,...

He's been the most dominant starting pitcher this year on the O's farm, and now right-hander Michael Baumann will get the challenge of facing hitters in the Carolina League. We learned late last night that the Orioles are promoting Baumann from Single-A Delmarva to Single-A Frederick as part of moves involving eight players and all four full-season affiliates. A third-round round pick out of Jacksonville University in June 2017, Baumann has dominant numbers since joining the pro ranks. In...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter sometimes says "There was a game to be won there" after an Oriole loss, and that statement was certainly true last night. Yes the game got away in the top of the ninth, but if the Orioles offense had gotten something going before that, we would not have seen Nestor Cortes Jr. try to pitch out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth. Some could second-guess the skipper for even bringing him into a situation down 2-1 in the ninth, but I get back to the offense. The...