Orioles lineup vs. Blue Jays

Orioles lineup vs. Blue Jays
SARASOTA, Fla. - Mason Williams is leading off and playing center field as the Orioles travel to Dunedin this afternoon to play the Blue Jays. Williams is 7-for-20 this spring. Pat Valaika is playing first base and Ryan Mountcastle is the left fielder and cleanup hitter. Yusniel Diaz, who had an RBI triple last night, is in right field. Thomas Eshelman gets the start while left-hander John Means throws a simulated game in Sarasota. Means is lined up to make the opening day start on March...

Orioles' opening day roster remains unsettled as they reach an off-day

Orioles' opening day roster remains unsettled as they reach an off-day
SARASOTA, Fla. - Today's much-needed and celebrated break in the exhibition schedule should have provided a little more clarity to the 26-man roster for opening day. It doesn't always work out that way. Trey Mancini could begin the season on the injured list, which creates an unexpected vacancy in right field. Manager Brandon Hyde didn't want to talk about possible alternatives yesterday while meeting with the media. He doesn't know and he doesn't want to be disrespectful to Mancini,...

Orioles lineup vs. Yankees

Orioles lineup vs. Yankees
SARASOTA, Fla. - Kohl Stewart finally makes his spring debut this afternoon against the Yankees at Ed Smith Stadium, a sore right biceps muscle no longer limiting his workload. Stewart is trying to stay in the rotation race. He's got some catching up to do. Yusniel Diaz is playing right field today with Trey Mancini away from the team. Anthony Santander is the designated hitter, but will make his outfield debut on Tuesday. Richie Martin is playing second base again, with José Iglesias...

Orioles lineup vs. Twins

Orioles lineup vs. Twins
SARASOTA, Fla. - Brandon Bailey no longer is starting today's game against the Twins in Sarasota, with a scheduling change putting left-hander Keegan Akin on the mound. We're told that Bailey is fine physically. The Orioles just made a switch. Hanser Alberto is starting at shortstop today. José Iglesias was scratched yesterday with cramping in his quadriceps muscle, but said he's fine and could have played this afternoon. Dilson Herrera is the second baseman. Ryan Mountcastle is in left...

Orioles lineup vs. Nationals

Orioles lineup vs. Nationals
SARASOTA, Fla. - Trey Mancini, who was removed yesterday after two at-bats because of some lingering effects from his illness, isn't in today's lineup against the Nationals in West Palm. Austin Hays also is sitting out the game, with Yusniel Diaz getting the start in center field. Diaz tripled yesterday for his first spring hit. Hanser Alberto is leading off and playing second base. Mason Williams is in right field. Anthony Santander continues to serve as the designated hitter. Ryan...

Orioles and Marlins lineups

Orioles and Marlins lineups
SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Davis is batting fifth today for a 1:05 p.m. game against the Marlins in Sarasota. Davis has reached base in seven of his eight plate appearances, with two singles and two home runs. Yusniel Diaz was the designated hitter yesterday and he's in left field this afternoon. Anthony Santander remains in the designated hitter role when he's in the lineup. Pedro Severino is catching. Pat Valaika, a super-utility candidates, is starting at second base. Left-hander Keegan Akin...

Orioles lineup vs. Pirates

Orioles lineup vs. Pirates
SARASOTA, Fla. - Rule 5 pick Brandon Bailey gets his first start today, as the Orioles travel to Bradenton to play the Pirates in a 1:05 p.m. game. Bailey pitched in relief in Sunday's home opener against the Red Sox and allowed one run and three hits with no walks and two strikeouts over two innings. Yusniel Diaz makes his spring debut today as the designated hitter. Dwight Smith Jr. is leading off, followed by Hanser Alberto. Ryan Mountcastle moves to first base after playing left field in...

Yusniel Diaz is healthy again and trying to stay that way

Yusniel Diaz is healthy again and trying to stay that way
SARASOTA, Fla. - Yusniel Diaz arrived in Orioles camp with the other position players and had his mind set on making the opening day roster. Making the jump from Double-A and sticking the landing. The sticking point, however, has been another health issue that's delayed his first appearance in an exhibition game. Diaz noticed some discomfort in his left shoulder while taking batting practice a few days before the opener. Nothing to concern Diaz or the organization, but also nothing that a...

Looking at the Orioles outfield (and other notes)

Looking at the Orioles outfield (and other notes)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Anthony Santander continues to be used as the Orioles' designated hitter until manager Brandon Hyde feels comfortable easing him into the outfield. The spot waiting for him is becoming more clear. Hyde confirmed this morning that Santander is likely to play left field at Camden Yards while Trey Mancini returns to right, but they could reverse positions at select road venues. Mancini starts in left field at Fenway Park, entrusted to slay the Green Monster. "I think similar to...

Injury updates on Wells, Stewart, Rodgers, Diaz and more

Injury updates on Wells, Stewart, Rodgers, Diaz and more
SARASOTA, Fla. - Minor league left-hander Alex Wells hasn't been cleared to pitch this spring due to a sore right oblique muscle, according to manager Brandon Hyde. There's no timetable for getting him on the mound. Wells is a non-roster invitee to camp who's likely to begin the 2020 season at Triple-A Norfolk. He posted a 2.95 ERA and 1.07 WHIP last summer in 24 starts with Double-A Bowie. "We're just being cautious with him," Hyde said. Kohl Stewart and Brady Rodgers, who are recovering...

A few injury and illness updates

A few injury and illness updates
SARASOTA, Fla. - Asher Wojciechowski is being withheld from exhibition games due to a blister on his right middle finger. However, it isn't keeping him off the mound. Wojciechowski will throw a simulated game Wednesday morning on one of the back fields. The Orioles want him to work two innings. "It's all good. They're just being cautious," he said. "They want me to pitch in a controlled environment with the blister that popped up last week, but it's healed completely. We're just making...

What to make of the spring training stats

What to make of the spring training stats
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles play their first 2020 spring training game tomorrow when they meet the Atlanta Braves in North Port, Fla., at the Braves' new spring home. Starting then we begin keeping score and keeping stats. Some players will have strong springs on the stat sheet and some will not. A few things to keep in mind about the spring games: The win-loss record means nothing: This one should be obvious. A great or poor spring record does not foretell what the club will do once the...

Alberto among position players reporting today

Alberto among position players reporting today
SARASOTA, Fla. - Position players are due to report to the Ed Smith Stadium complex today and arrivals spotted during the media's clubhouse access included Hanser Alberto, Yusniel Diaz, Dilson Herrera and Richard Ureña. A backpack was placed on a chair in front of Stevie Wilkerson's locker, so perhaps he's also here. Or maybe it's similar to Ronny Paulino's car sitting in the lot. Still no sign of Chris Davis. Alberto is going to experience a different camp in 2020. He isn't trying to...

Looking at an Orioles lineup that could be more settled

Looking at an Orioles lineup that could be more settled
The Orioles used a club-record 58 players last season and the lineup was built with moving parts. Injuries were only partly to blame. Nine players made starts in left field, eight in center and seven in right. Joey Rickard, Jace Peterson, Keon Broxton and Drew Jackson are gone. DJ Stewart is recovering from offseason ankle surgery and won't be ready for opening day. Stevie Wilkerson won't repeat as the leader in appearances in center unless something unforeseen happens. Really unforeseen,...

Orioles invite 23 non-roster players to camp

Orioles invite 23 non-roster players to camp
The Orioles released their list of 23 non-roster invites to spring training earlier today, headlined by catcher Adley Rutschman, their top prospect and the first-overall selection in last year's First-Year Player Draft. Rutschman is joined by pitching prospects Zac Lowther, Alex Wells and Bruce Zimmermann, infielders Rylan Bannon and Mason McCoy and outfielder Yusniel Diaz. The future will be illuminated by the Florida sunshine. Other non-roster invites to camp are pitchers Cristian Alvarado,...

Does Diaz present a summer roster complication?

Does Diaz present a summer roster complication?
Yusniel Diaz is going to be invited to spring training again and eventually be reassigned to minor league camp. No matter how he hits. No matter how he fields. The Orioles weren't tempted by last spring's statistics, which included 11 hits in 33 at-bats, with three doubles, a home run and seven RBIs in 14 games. The rebuild plan doesn't permit prospects to be rushed. Diaz never made it above Double-A last summer due to two leg injuries that limited him to 76 games. He slashed .262/.335/.472...

Out of the top 100, but not out of the O's future

Out of the top 100, but not out of the O's future
With some excitement in the Orioles organization for young talents like catcher Adley Rutschman and pitchers Grayson Rodriguez and DL Hall, who have made the Baseball America top 47, and with Ryan Mountcastle closing in on the majors, what's going on with outfielder Yusniel Diaz? He is far from forgotten, although he did drop out of the Baseball America list of national top 100 prospects that was released this week. Diaz was the centerpiece of the five-player trade in July 2018 that sent Manny...

More on Rodgers and Davis signings and Elias in Delmarva

More on Rodgers and Davis signings and Elias in Delmarva
Does the signing of right-hander Brady Rodgers to a minor league deal end the Orioles' search for starting pitching? The short answer is "no." The longer answer is "definitely no." Rodgers, 29, is one of those depth moves that flood the offseason transactions wire. He's going to be invited to spring training, just like the majority of the players signed to minor league deals. But the Orioles would like to land a veteran and are willing to offer a major league contract. The money has to be...

Some prospect recognition for the Orioles

Some prospect recognition for the Orioles
The Orioles got some nice prospect recognition this week when three of their young players were noted as among the best in the game by MLBPipeline.com. Right-hander Grayson Rodriguez was rated as the No. 10 right-handed pitching prospect in the sport. A nice honor, since the prospects lists always seem to be loaded with right-handers. Pitcher DL Hall was listed No. 10 among left-handers and at catcher, Adley Rutschman was ranked No. 1. He's a top 10 national prospect. By the way, some of the...

Taking stock of the club's position players heading into camp

Taking stock of the club's position players heading into camp
With the Orioles report date for spring training fast approaching, today we take a look at the club's position players heading into camp. Certainly, this could change pending any further roster moves. O's pitchers and catchers are due to report to Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fla., on Feb. 11 and the first full-squad workout is Feb. 17. The spring training opener is Feb. 22 against Atlanta and the 2020 season opener is March 26 at home versus the New York Yankees. Here is a look at the...