Gilmartin, Peterson and Sucre enter free agency

Gilmartin, Peterson and Sucre enter free agency
The offseason is moving through the period when players who have been outrighted off the 40-man roster can elect free agency. Players with a previous outright or who built up three years of service time in the majors. The market is open and the list of Orioles to enter it includes pitcher Sean Gilmartin, infielder Jace Peterson and catcher Jesús Sucre. The list of surprises is empty. The Orioles designated Gilmartin on June 25, claimed pitcher Tayler Scott off waivers from the Mariners and...

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...

A few takes on Orioles' 11-2 win over Red Sox

A few takes on Orioles' 11-2 win over Red Sox
So the Orioles went six games recently scoring 13 runs total in that span. Now they've scored 20 runs their last two games in beating Washington 9-2 and Boston 11-2. The Orioles have 28 hits, including four home runs, in the two games. A few thoughts on last night's win over Boston: * If you worried that John Means would turn into a pumpkin at midnight, forget it. Means slowed down a Boston team that was 14-2 in its last 16 road games, 19-10 in its last 29 overall and led the majors in runs...

Closer look at Orioles' roster usage

Closer look at Orioles' roster usage
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles made it through last night's game without calling upon a 47th different player. They managed to get by with the current group, covering nine innings and heading to Toronto for the final series before the All-Star break. Are 46 players a lot over the course of a season? How about in the first half? Spoiler alert: The first-half number is a club record. So, yes, it's a lot. Consider that the Orioles' record for a season is 56, set last year as they began to...

Sifting through more starter options

Sifting through more starter options
The series win and back-to-back victories are out of the way. The Orioles don't have to be reminded of the huge gaps. Of the many teases and failed attempts. Let it go. The next goal is a three-game sweep, which would be the first since Aug. 27-29, 2018 against the Blue Jays. Probably not as long ago as many people would have expected. David Hess, Josh Rogers and Sean Gilmartin were the winning pitchers in the series. Hess is in Triple-A Norfolk's bullpen, Rogers is on the injured list and...

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...

Orioles claim Scott off waivers and DFA Gilmartin

Orioles claim Scott off waivers and DFA Gilmartin
The Orioles have made another move this afternoon by claiming right-hander Tayler Scott off waivers from the Mariners and optioning him to Triple-A Norfolk. Left-hander Sean Gilmartin was designated for assignment to create room on the 40-man roster. Scott, the first pitcher from South Africa to play in the majors, is a 27-year-old rookie who served as the Mariners' opener Thursday against the Orioles. He walked the bases loaded in two-thirds of an inning. In five appearances, Scott has...

Mancini returns to Orioles lineup today (O's win 8-4)

Mancini returns to Orioles lineup today (O's win 8-4)
SEATTLE - The Orioles get their best hitter back in the lineup today. Trey Mancini, hitting .304/.361/.558, is batting second and playing first base today at Seattle. Mancini has been out since getting plunked on the left elbow in the first inning Wednesday afternoon at Oakland. He suffered a contusion and sat out the last two games. "I think he's still a little sore but he really wants to get back in there," said manager Brandon Hyde. "Talked this morning. He's excited to play, so he's...

Snakebit or encouraging after latest O's loss?

Snakebit or encouraging after latest O's loss?
SEATTLE - At this point, should the Orioles feel encouraged about their comeback last night or snakebit that it fell short and they lost again? The losing streak reached 10 when the Mariners beat the Orioles 10-9 Friday night at T-Mobile Park. But what was headed for a blowout loss with the Orioles down 10-3 after five became a one-run game by the seventh inning. Would the Orioles end a long losing streak with a stirring comeback? The answer would be no, but at least the offense, at least for...

O's rally falls one run short, losing streak reaches 10 (with quotes)

O's rally falls one run short, losing streak reaches 10 (with quotes)
SEATTLE - Well this was a unique way to lose a game and stretch a losing streak to 10, but the Orioles did it. Fall behind big, rally big, come up just short. Frustrating indeed as they lost 10-9 at Seattle after trailing 10-3 after five innings. This time it did not come apart for the Orioles in the middle innings. It happened by the end of the home third. Their rally in the sixth and seventh was impressive but it did not produce a stirring comeback win, rather just yet another frustrating...

Kline and Scott return in the O's bullpen shuffle (game update)

Kline and Scott return in the O's bullpen shuffle (game update)
SEATTLE - In just the last week or so the Orioles pitching staff has seen Josh Rogers join the team again along with Jimmy Yacabonis and Sean Gilmartin. Today Branden Kline and Tanner Scott returned. Among those headed out to Triple-A Norfolk were Paul Fry and Evan Phillips to join David Hess. Josh Lucas went on the injured list. It's recently been a continuing shuffle for a bullpen that has an ERA of 10.70 during a nine-game losing streak. But in bringing back Kline and Scott today the...

With John Means out, O's may turn to the bullpen Friday (game update)

With John Means out, O's may turn to the bullpen Friday (game update)
SEATTLE - Lefty John Means, who was scheduled to start tomorrow night, was placed on the 10-day injured list today with a shoulder strain. So the Orioles need a starter for Friday night at T-Mobile Park. "As of right now for tomorrow we have a bullpen day," manager Brandon Hyde said. "We're going to see how today plays out and kind of go from there. Nothing really is certain at this point." Left-hander Sean Gilmartin would be one candidate to make the start. He's been stretched out a bit...

What's next for Orioles roster?

What's next for Orioles roster?
The Orioles are changing cities and their roster. Dwight Smith Jr. is expected to come off the concussion injured list after playing two games with Triple-A Norfolk and hitting a home run last night, though manager Brandon Hyde left open the possibility on MASN that it could happen Friday. The Orioles must decide whether to option Anthony Santander or Stevie Wilkerson, the latter capable of backing up in center field as well as the infield positions, if Trey Mancini avoids the injured...

Brandon Hyde on roster moves, homecoming and more (game update)

Brandon Hyde on roster moves, homecoming and more (game update)
OAKLAND - The latest new member in the Orioles bullpen, left-hander Sean Gilmartin, joined the team today. He's thrown well at Triple-A Norfolk with a 2.48 ERA and a 9 1/3 consecutive innings scoreless run. "It's nice to have somebody with experience here," manager Brandon Hyde said of the 29-year-old Gilmartin, who has pitched in 78 career games with the Mets and Orioles. "Sean has thrown the ball really well in Norfolk. The way our games have played out, we just need someone to cover...

Sean Gilmartin on his call-up to the Orioles today

Sean Gilmartin on his call-up to the Orioles today
OAKLAND - After being a minor league free agent for about a day over the offseason, left-hander Sean Gilmartin quickly re-signed with the Orioles on a minor league contract on Nov 2. He was outrighted off the 40-man roster and briefly elected to take minor league free agency. "That's a good question," Gilmartin said in the visitor clubhouse today when asked why his free agency was so short. "Obviously, the opportunity here would be better than most places to get back to the big leagues and...

Orioles select Gilmartin's contract and DFA Rickard

Orioles select Gilmartin's contract and DFA Rickard
The Orioles have selected the contract of left-hander Sean Gilmartin from Triple-A Norfolk this afternoon and placed him in their bullpen for tonight's series opener against the Athletics in Oakland. With a full 40-man roster, the Orioles also designated outfielder Joey Rickard for assignment to create room for Gilmartin. In 17 games with Norfolk, Gilmartin registered a 2.48 ERA and 1.10 WHIP over 36 1/3 innings to position himself as an alternative for a team that's routinely making changes...

Hyde unable to give relievers defined roles

Hyde unable to give relievers defined roles
I'm not sure if there's a media member alive covering baseball who doesn't want the answer. We have to know specific bullpen roles. Who's the closer, primary set-up man, lefty specialist, middle reliever and long man? The emergency catcher also is a common curiosity, but let's stick to the bullpen for the sake of this morning's discussion. (Manager Brandon Hyde hasn't revealed the identity of the emergency catcher, but Stevie Wilkerson is back on the roster and he got in some work behind...

Better bullpen needed to begin beating teams

Better bullpen needed to begin beating teams
A rested bullpen didn't provide a solution for Orioles manager Brandon Hyde, who failed again Wednesday night to unearth a late-inning combination that could protect the slimmest of leads. Hyde used only three relievers over the previous two games. Dan Straily ate four innings Monday after following starter Gabriel Ynoa, and Dylan Bundy worked through the seventh the following night. Two ways for a club to avoid taxing its 'pen. So what did Hyde get for it? Another blown save on Wednesday,...

Orioles left with one southpaw option in bullpen

Orioles left with one southpaw option in bullpen
CHICAGO - Paul Fry feels like the last left-handed reliever standing in the Orioles bullpen. Richard Bleier is rehabbing a shoulder injury in Sarasota. Tanner Scott is back with Triple-A Norfolk after his latest demotion. John Means is in the rotation and makes his next start Sunday against the Rays. Fry and Means are the only left-handers on a 13-man pitching staff. Josh Rogers made one relief appearance before returning to Norfolk. The Orioles claimed Shawn Armstrong off waivers from the...

Game between O's and White Sox postponed due to rain (updated)

Game between O's and White Sox postponed due to rain (updated)
CHICAGO - The latest downpour and a forecast that calls for rain throughout the night have caused the postponement of tonight's game between the Orioles and White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field. The teams are forced to play a traditional doubleheader on Wednesday because the Orioles don't return to Chicago this season. The first game is slated for 4:10 p.m. eastern time, with Game 2 starting approximately 30 minutes after the final out. Though the Orioles' pitching plans haven't been...