Orioles and Athletics lineups

Orioles and Athletics lineups
Chris Davis remains out of the Orioles lineup for tonight's game against the Athletics at Camden Yards. That's two nights in a row. Davis is hitless in 56 consecutive plate appearances, one short of Tony Bernazard's major league record. He's 0-for-28 with four walks and 15 strikeouts this season in 32 plate appearances. As he did yesterday, Davis is on the field early hitting off a tee. Trey Mancini is playing first base, with Dwight Smith Jr. in left field and Joey Rickard in right. Hanser...

More on Karns, Cobb and the injured list

More on Karns, Cobb and the injured list
Whatever the result of last night's game, no matter how many runs scored via infield hits, errors and rotten luck, the Orioles could score it a victory simply because no one else got hurt. Within a span of about four hours, the team announced that pitchers Nate Karns and Alex Cobb were going on the 10-day injured list. Moves that hadn't been anticipated, rumored or suspected. Karns worked a scoreless ninth inning Monday night and, while his four-seamer dipped into the upper-80s, alarms...

Davis sets hitless at-bats record in Orioles' 12-4 win (with quotes)

Davis sets hitless at-bats record in Orioles' 12-4 win (with quotes)
Each trip to the plate tonight was met with applause, many fans standing, not a single audible objector in the crowd. It wasn't at a level that would make a player step out of the box and raise his helmet, but the support represented a new shift in Chris Davis' baseball life. Nothing else had been working. Perhaps it was possible to cheer away a slump. Davis lined to right field in the second inning and left field in the third, tying him with Eugenio Vélez for the major league record for...

Hyde on Alberto and catchers, Means on first start (O's up 12-4)

Hyde on Alberto and catchers, Means on first start (O's up 12-4)
Though Chris Davis' inclusion in tonight's lineup provided another pregame distraction, it's also worth noting that Dwight Smith Jr. is sitting for the first time and Hanser Alberto is starting for the third consecutive game. Right-hander Marco Estrada is a reverse-splits guy, which could explain why Smith and Rio Ruiz are on the bench. But Alberto is earning his way into the lineup by going 7-for-14 and providing a reliable glove at three infield positions. He also can pitch a little,...

Means added to Orioles rotation (and other notes, O's down 11-3)

Means added to Orioles rotation (and other notes, O's down 11-3)
Orioles left-hander John Means has been chosen to start Tuesday night's game against the Athletics at Camden Yards, with manager Brandon Hyde providing a little more clarity today to his pitching plans. The TBD has been scratched. Andrew Cashner starts Monday's series opener, with Alex Cobb going Wednesday and Dylan Bundy Thursday. Means is replacing Nate Karns, who's working exclusively out of the bullpen now rather than continuing in the opener role. Dan Straily, signed on Friday to a...

Orioles lineup vs. Yankees

Orioles lineup vs. Yankees
David Hess returns to the mound this afternoon to close out the series against the Yankees after tossing 6 1/3 hitless innings in Toronto. Hess pitched on opening day at Yankee Stadium and turned in two scoreless innings in relief. Miguel Andújar is 3-for-3 against Hess lifetime, but he's on the injured list. Domingo Germán held the Tigers to an unearned run and one hit Monday and struck out seven batters in five innings, but he also walked five. He's faced the Orioles twice in relief...

O's lose lead in the sixth as they fall in the home opener

O's lose lead in the sixth as they fall in the home opener
It was looking like there would be a good chance for a feel-good opening day at home for the Orioles. They were leading the Yankees 4-1 headed to the top of the sixth. But within a span of four batters the strong positive vibes hit a brick wall. Yankees shortstop Gleyber Torres delivered his second homer of the game and it was huge. His three-run shot off Mike Wright turned a 4-2 Orioles lead into a 5-4 Yankees lead. New York went on to win 8-4 in front of a sellout of 44,182 at Oriole Park at...

Another day, another win: O's get the victory again in Toronto

Another day, another win: O's get the victory again in Toronto
TORONTO - Anyone getting tired of watching the Orioles win yet? Yep, just kidding. But the 2019 Orioles have won their last four by six combined runs. Every game has gone down to the last pitch. Three of the games were started by James Paxton, J.A. Happ and Marcus Stroman. Four different players have saves. But other than that ... Hey, for a change it's fun for the fans of Birdland who no doubt are getting a good feeling about this team. The good feeling in the clubhouse was something you...

How Hess, Sucre worked well together (game update)

How Hess, Sucre worked well together (game update)
TORONTO - Last night's no-hitter over 6 1/3 innings by Orioles right-hander David Hess had a lot to do with the pitcher, of course, but also the catcher. Jesús Sucre said this afternoon that Hess let him know before the game he would have full confidence in every pitch Sucre called. Hess would say, "I'm riding with you," to his catcher pregame and then Sucre had a plan that Hess executed very well. All of this happened for a pitcher and catcher that haven't worked together very long....

Orioles trade Susac to Royals

Orioles trade Susac to Royals
The Orioles loosened the catching logjam at Triple-A Norfolk. Andrew Susac has been traded to the Royals for cash considerations, with the announcement coming from both clubs. Chance Sisco and Carlos Pérez remain with the Tides and Austin Wynns is at extended spring training while recovering from a strained oblique. Norfolk didn't need a third catcher on the active roster. Martin Cervenka and Cael Brockmeyer were assigned to Double-A Bowie. The Orioles have been seeking a trade partner for...

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...

Orioles and Blue Jays lineups

Orioles and Blue Jays lineups
Cedric Mullins has returned to the Orioles lineup tonight and figures to stay there with the Blue Jays starting three right-handers in the series in Toronto. Trey Mancini is in right field again with Dwight Smith Jr. in left. Mancini is making his fourth career start in right. Chris Davis is batting seventh ahead of designated hitter Renato Núñez. Rio Ruiz continues to play third base. Jesús Sucre is behind the plate after Pedro Severino got the start yesterday in the Bronx. For the...

Wrapping up the Orioles' 5-3 win over the Yankees

Wrapping up the Orioles' 5-3 win over the Yankees
NEW YORK - Brandon Hyde's first managerial win in the majors made him smell like he just rolled out of a brewery. What actually happened is Hyde was rolled into the shower area in a laundry cart and doused in beer, soda, water, syrup and anything else that players could find. Game 2 of the 2019 season felt like Game 7 of the postseason. The Orioles hung on to defeat the Yankees 5-3 and there wasn't a dry manager's eye in the house. "Well, I'm dripping right now. Who knows what that is?"...

Orioles get aggressive, opener works in 5-3 win

Orioles get aggressive, opener works in 5-3 win
NEW YORK - Orioles manager Brandon Hyde wants aggression from his team. On the mound and on the basepaths. He's been preaching it since the first day of camp and the start of the regular season doesn't alter the message. If they're going to make a mistake, don't let it come from being too passive. The Orioles took the lead over the Yankees this afternoon by sticking with that exact approach. Jesús Sucre tagging up and going second to third on a line drive to center. A double steal...

Some impressions from the first game of 2019

Some impressions from the first game of 2019
For the first time since the 2010 season, the Orioles lost on opening day. In their first opening day game in the Bronx since 1962, the New York Yankees scored three runs in the first inning and beat the Orioles 7-2. That snapped Baltimore's eight-game win streak in openers. A few impressions from Game 1 of 162. The defense was solid: This will need to stay this way with a lineup that appears will struggle to score runs. Run prevention will be big and the O's can't give away as many outs as...

Orioles and Yankees lineups for opening day

Orioles and Yankees lineups for opening day
NEW YORK - Orioles manager Brandon Hyde is going with his best defensive outfield on opening day. Dwight Smith Jr. is in left field this afternoon at Yankee Stadium and Joey Rickard is in right, with Cedric Mullins patrolling the middle. Trey Mancini is the designated hitter and cleanup hitter. Chris Davis is batting seventh after leading off on opening day 2018. Rio Ruiz is playing third base. Jesús Sucre is catching Andrew Cashner. Eleven Orioles are on their first opening day roster. For...

Notes on the rotation, catching situation and lineup possibilities

Notes on the rotation, catching situation and lineup possibilities
NEW YORK - A rotation that already is going to be slower to evolve than the standard models became more unpredictable with Alex Cobb's groin injury and subsequent trip to the 10-day injured list. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde has given Andrew Cashner the opening day assignment this afternoon at Yankee Stadium. Cashner and Dylan Bundy were supposed to vie for Saturday's start, but it goes to Nate Karns as the season's first "opener." Bundy takes the mound for Sunday's series finale and...

Will the glovework improve this season?

Will the glovework improve this season?
One area where the Orioles need to improve this year is on defense. Once a solid defensive team that played fundamentally sound baseball, the Orioles have gotten away from that in recent years. They need to get back to it this year. When he met with reporters before yesterday's spring training finale, executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias said: "One of our big goals among many goals was to, in the immediate term, upgrade the athleticism and defense and flexibility of the...

Back in Baltimore and inching closer to opening day

Back in Baltimore and inching closer to opening day
Spring training is over and the Orioles have moved into the next phase of their 2019 season. The games are starting to count, even for teams that are focusing on the bigger rebuild picture. The Orioles will visit the Naval Academy today - touring the grounds and facilities as guests of the baseball team and having lunch with 4,400 Midshipmen in King Hall - before holding their workout at Camden Yards and heading to New York. Major League Baseball requires teams to take an entire day off, which...