Orioles wait until ninth for first baserunner in 4-1 loss (updated)

Orioles wait until ninth for first baserunner in 4-1 loss (updated)
The pain that's inflicted on a rebuilding club threatened to run especially deep this afternoon at Camden Yards. The wins and losses aren't supposed to matter, but being on the wrong side of an historical moment does more than just sting. It embarrasses and again tests the resolve of players who wonder just how much worse it can get for them. The Rays retired 24 Orioles in succession, no one reaching base against them, before Hanser Alberto singled on the first pitch thrown to him in the...

Bundy agreeable to adjustment in rotation

Bundy agreeable to adjustment in rotation
Dylan Bundy didn't ask for the rest. He had it thrust upon him. And he's fine with it. Bundy was supposed to start Tuesday night in St. Petersburg, Fla., but his spot suddenly became marked as TBD, leading to media speculation that he was hurt. And leading to some fan speculation that he was traded. Manager Brandon Hyde offered an explanation later that already had been communicated to Bundy. The lines are always open. Working backward in a sense to set up the rotation and seeking the most...

O's fail to protect late lead and lose 8-6 in 10 innings (Hess optioned)

O's fail to protect late lead and lose 8-6 in 10 innings (Hess optioned)
The final game of the homestand was turning into a day of atonement for the Orioles. An improved level of play had to satisfy their manager, who fumed after yesterday's defeat. And then Brandon Hyde boiled over and got tossed on Father's Day. Scolded by Hyde for their shoddy play the previous afternoon, mental and physical errors pushing him to the breaking point, the Orioles were offering a crisper version of themselves. But they couldn't avoid another series of missteps and had another win...

Orioles stay on wrong side of lopsided score in 13-2 loss (Ortiz optioned)

Orioles stay on wrong side of lopsided score in 13-2 loss (Ortiz optioned)
Luis Ortiz was given orders to attack. Don't nibble or the Red Sox will devour you. Work quickly, throw strikes, stay aggressive. A high pitch count and short outing would be frowned upon on a club scrambling late last night to find a starter and freshen up the bullpen. Do anything to avoid it. Pitching coach Doug Brocail visited Ortiz by the third inning, which included a bases-loaded jam and prolonged at-bat by Brock Holt, who homered earlier in the game. Holt struck out looking at a slider...

Health review and pending roster move

Health review and pending roster move
HOUSTON - The Orioles lost another game last night on a walk-off, this time with catcher Chance Sisco holding up the ball and sprawled in front of the plate and the Astros' Yuli Gurriel somehow able to touch it while disappearing from sight. The latest defeat for the Orioles, their 44th in 63 games, didn't come at the usual price on this trip. No one dislocated a body part. Chalk outlines weren't drawn on any walls. The Orioles, for at least one night, were safe on the road. Stevie Wilkerson...

Notes on Ynoa, bullpen, Armstrong and Davis (O's lead 9-6)

Notes on Ynoa, bullpen, Armstrong and Davis (O's lead 9-6)
DENVER - Gabriel Ynoa is getting another opportunity to start for the Orioles. Manager Brandon Hyde has chosen Ynoa to pitch Monday afternoon against the Tigers at Camden Yards, the spot that opened with Dan Straily's move to the bullpen. Ynoa hasn't started in the majors since Sept. 27, 2017 in Pittsburgh. He missed the 2018 season due to shin and shoulder injuries and has made nine relief appearances this year. Hyde isn't going with the hot hand. He just needs someone who's stretched out...

Broxton making Orioles debut tonight

Broxton making Orioles debut tonight
DENVER - Keon Broxton has joined the Orioles and is starting in center field tonight for the series opening game against the Rockies. Broxton is batting sixth between Rio Ruiz and Hanser Alberto. Chris Davis is on the bench against Rockies right-hander Jeff Hoffman and Trey Mancini is handling first base. Stevie Wilkerson stays in the lineup as the right fielder and is batting second. Another game brings another new lineup, with Broxton added and no designated hitter for the series. Since going...

Givens walks in go-ahead run in 6-5 loss (Rickard optioned)

Givens walks in go-ahead run in 6-5 loss (Rickard optioned)
The Orioles had to believe that today would be different. They rallied for four runs in the eighth inning to tie the game, the last three coming on Renato Núñez's homer, the ball jumping off a resuscitated bat. Gleyber Torres and Gary Sánchez came off the bench in the ninth and settled for a walk and single, respectively. That's tame stuff. But that's how the Orioles began to drift toward another loss and a four-game sweep. Mychal Givens also walked DJ LeMahieu and Aaron Hicks to...

Orioles and Indians lineups

Orioles and Indians lineups
Chris Davis is batting in the cleanup spot again tonight as the Orioles start their four-game series in Cleveland. Jonathan Villar is playing shortstop, with Richie Martin again moving to the bench. Martin has been sitting frequently against right-handers and the Indians are starting four of them in the series. Pedro Severino is catching. Dan Straily gets another chance to reverse a tough start with the Orioles. He's appeared in seven games and posted an 8.23 ERA and 1.829 WHIP over 27 1/3...

Updating Pop's surgery and revisiting last night's postponement

Updating Pop's surgery and revisiting last night's postponement
NEW YORK - The Orioles announced today that minor league pitcher Zach Pop underwent successful surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. Renowned orthopedist Dr. James Andrews performed the surgery after yesterday's examination in Pensacola, Fla. Pop, 22, had appeared in eight games with Double-A Bowie and allowed only one run and seven hits in 10 2/3 innings. He walked four batters and struck out 11. The Orioles acquired Pop from the Dodgers as part of the...

Bundy "not one bit" concerned over arm and early removal

Bundy "not one bit" concerned over arm and early removal
The pitcher who used to light up radar guns wouldn't mind if they were set ablaze and never replaced. Put them on a raft in the bay and give it a shove. Dylan Bundy insisted again yesterday morning that his dip in velocity during Saturday's start wasn't due to an injury. Might have been based on mechanics or the weather. He's trying to figure it out. But he knows how his arm feels. "My arm feels great," he said. So he's got that going for him. Which is really important. Bundy's injury...

Means ready for latest challenge

Means ready for latest challenge
Orioles left-hander John Means continues his series of firsts in the majors today with his initial up-close looks at the Angels' Mike Trout and Albert Pujols. Means has pitched to Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez. He's faced Khris Davis. His first three games in 2019 were against the Yankees. He's wandered into baseball's mine fields. Trout and Pujols present another dangerous situation. But one that doesn't seem to rattle him. "It's a great opportunity," Means said. "I think it's...

The rotation, the catch, Núñez and the weather (O's down 8-2, delay)

The rotation, the catch, Núñez and the weather (O's down 8-2, delay)
The Orioles begin a stretch tonight of playing 20 games in a row before the next off-day on May 30 that divides a homestand consisting of series against the Tigers and Giants. Manager Brandon Hyde hasn't made any firm decisions regarding changes to his rotation to accommodate the heavier workload. Hyde had toyed with the idea of using six starters, but Alex Cobb is on the injured list again. Dan Straily, Dylan Bundy and John Means are taking the mound against the Angels this weekend, and David...

Orioles caught controlling the running game

Orioles caught controlling the running game
The moment easily could have gone unnoticed in a game featuring nine runs scored on homers through the fifth inning. J.D. Martinez strikes out swinging, Mookie Betts breaks for second base and catcher Austin Wynns pops out of his crouch and makes a perfect throw. Tag applied, runner out, another caught stealing for the Orioles. A similar moment last night drew more attention with the score tied in the ninth inning. Eduardo Núñez strikes out swinging, Rafael Devers breaks for second base...

Orioles and Rays postponed

Orioles and Rays postponed
Today's game between the Orioles and Rays has been postponed due to inclement weather. The teams will play a split-admission doubleheader on July 13, with the first game starting at 1:05 p.m. The nightcap will begin at 7:05 p.m. This is the third postponement for the Orioles this season. They also were rained out April 19 against the Twins at Camden Yards, swept in a doubleheader the next day, and Tuesday in Chicago, where they split a twinbill the following day. The July 13 game is part of a...

Simulated game has Cobb ready for next start (O's lead 9-1)

Simulated game has Cobb ready for next start (O's lead 9-1)
Alex Cobb hasn't been told exactly where he's slotted in the Orioles rotation following Thursday's off-day. He expects to pitch in Minnesota over the weekend and could take the mound for Friday night's series opener. The uncertainty is beginning to feel like the norm and Cobb would prefer to ditch it. He craves a routine that's been difficult to find, first because of the late signing last spring and a couple of interruptions due to blisters/cuts on his right middle and index fingers,...

Hearing from Hyde and Castro before tonight's game

Hearing from Hyde and Castro before tonight's game
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said his bullpen should be fine tonight. The club didn't make a roster move prior to first pitch. He said it without fingers crossed. At least not visibly. "With that being said, would love to have Cash (Andrew Cashner) go deep in the game," Hyde said. "We should be OK, but looking for Cash to give us some innings and pitch like he's been pitching. Love to see him go deep." Miguel Castro won't be available tonight after throwing 45 pitches last night in...

Orioles lineup vs. White Sox

Orioles lineup vs. White Sox
Left fielder Dwight Smith Jr. is out of the Orioles lineup for tonight's series opener against the White Sox after leaving yesterday's game with cramping in his right quadriceps muscle. Stevie Wilkerson is in left field after the Orioles selected his contract today from Triple-A Norfolk. Joey Rickard is in center and Trey Mancini is in right. Hanser Alberto is starting at third base and Rio Ruiz is playing first, with Chris Davis on the bench. David Hess has allowed 13 runs in 19 hits in his...

Rickard double gives Orioles 6-5 win in 11 innings (with quotes)

Rickard double gives Orioles 6-5 win in 11 innings (with quotes)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles needed five outs from Mychal Givens tonight to secure a win that would prevent them from being swept to close out their road trip. The latest heavy tax applied to a bullpen that's in constant motion. Givens surrendered a game-tying home run to Avisaíl García with one out in the ninth inning and manager Brandon Hyde turned to his fifth reliever of the night, left-hander John Means, who had been bumped from the rotation temporarily. Means struck out the...

Hyde on Davis, bench, Hess, Wynns and more (O's down 8-1)

Hyde on Davis, bench, Hess, Wynns and more (O's down 8-1)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - A short bench for the Orioles has reached its tiniest stage with Chris Davis unable to play due a stomach virus. Manager Brandon Hyde needs length from his starters. He won't get it from his bench, which is down to infielder Hanser Alberto and backup catcher Pedro Severino. It's risky to use the second catcher, leaving Hyde with Alberto and fingers crossed. "Options are a little short," Hyde said. "It's part of it. This happens a lot throughout the year where things...