Hays among roster cuts, Orioles lineup vs. Yankees

Hays among roster cuts, Orioles lineup vs. Yankees
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are making roster cuts this morning and the group includes outfielder Austin Hays, one of the standouts in camp. Also leaving the complex are pitchers Branden Kline and Cody Carroll and infielders Stevie Wilkerson and Christopher Bostick. Pitcher Gabriel Ynoa was packing his equipment bag, so I'm assuming that he's been reassigned. More on this later. Cedric Mullins is in center field today as the Orioles face the Yankees in Sarasota on MASN. Mark Trumbo is the...

Updates on Karns, Wynns and Núñez

Updates on Karns, Wynns and Núñez
SARASOTA, Fla. - Nate Karns and Mychal Givens are staying back at the Ed Smith Stadium complex this morning to pitch in a simulated game. They're no longer listed on the travel roster for today's Grapefruit League game against the Twins in Fort Myers. Karns didn't know exactly how many pitches he'd throw. He intended to incorporate his "slider/cutter" in order to judge whether it's game ready. "I've been leaving that one in the 'pen," he said. A slider/cutter? "Sometimes it's a...

Orioles lineup vs. Twins

Orioles lineup vs. Twins
SARASOTA, Fla. - Cedric Mullins returns to center field this afternoon and Chris Davis goes back-to-back with another start at first base as the Orioles travel to Fort Myers again to face the Twins. Davis, recovered from a hip injury, also played yesterday and was 1-for-2 with an RBI single, walk and strikeout. Trey Mancini is in left field and Dwight Smith Jr. gets the start in right. Jesús Sucre is catching and Rio Ruiz is playing third base. David Hess has allowed four runs and nine hits...

Hyde on Wynns, minor league camp, Bundy and more (O's down 4-3)

Hyde on Wynns, minor league camp, Bundy and more (O's down 4-3)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles catcher Austin Wynns took some swings this morning and could return in a week from his oblique injury. Wynns is falling behind in the catching competition, which intensified with Jesús Sucre's arrival in camp. But an oblique strain is slow to heal and the Orioles won't rush Wynns, no matter what's at stake. Manager Brandon Hyde said the competition remains "wide open." "I'm trying to get Sucre in there as much as possible because of the amount of time that...

Orioles lineup vs. Blue Jays

Orioles lineup vs. Blue Jays
SARASOTA, Fla. - Mark Trumbo makes his spring debut this afternoon by serving as the designated hitter for the Orioles in their 1:05 p.m. game against the Blue Jays at Ed Smith Stadium. Trumbo is batting second behind leadoff hitter Jonathan Villar. Drew Jackson is starting in center field. Trey Mancini is the first baseman, with Chris Davis out of the lineup following last night's return. Jesús Sucre is catching. Pitchers available behind starter Andrew Cashner include Yefry Ramirez, Cody...

Critiquing camp again as O's creep closer to opening day (updated)

Critiquing camp again as O's creep closer to opening day (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles get their first and only off-day of spring training, closing the Ed Smith Stadium complex and encouraging a mental and physical break from the grind. Cuts may not happen today, but more are coming now that the Orioles moved past Saturday's split-squad games. They can afford to continue thinning out the camp roster. Five catchers remain and fewer are needed as pitchers are optioned and reassigned. However, Austin Wynns is shut down, leaving only four who are...

Hearing from Rogers and Villar during today's game (updated)

Hearing from Rogers and Villar during today's game (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Josh Rogers doesn't know whether the Orioles are viewing him as rotation material or a possibility for long relief. It won't change his pace and mission to get as many outs as he can and let the decision-makers wrestle with his role. Rogers was charged with two runs this afternoon in 3 2/3 innings, the last on Drew Butera's single off minor leaguer Tanner Chleborad. He allowed five hits, walked none and struck out four. Phil Gosselin homered off Rogers with one out in the...

Orioles lineup vs. Phillies

Orioles lineup vs. Phillies
SARASOTA, Fla. - Jesús Sucre makes his second start for the Orioles today in a 1:05 p.m. game against the Phillies at Ed Smith Stadium. Austin Hays is back in center field and Yusniel Diaz is the designated hitter. Stevie Wilkerson continues to move around, starting at first base today, and Rio Ruiz is at third. Jonathan Villar is leading off and playing second base, with Alcides Escobar at shortstop. Dwight Smith Jr. isn't in the lineup, but he could come off the bench today. Left-hander...

Wrapping up a 4-2 win

Wrapping up a 4-2 win
SARASOTA, Fla. - Gabriel Ynoa became the first Orioles pitcher this spring to work four innings. Did anyone pick him in the pool? How many people remembered that he was still in camp? Ynoa was the fourth pitcher used by manager Brandon Hyde in today's 4-2 win and he blanked the Red Sox on one hit. He walked none and struck out three. "I was not really expecting to go four innings today," Ynoa said through interpreter Ramón Alarcón, "but they gave me the opportunity and I went ahead...

Notes on Sucre debut, injuries, starters and more (O's up 3-2)

Notes on Sucre debut, injuries, starters and more (O's up 3-2)
BRADENTON, Fla. - Jesús Sucre will make his Orioles debut by catching the first three innings of Friday afternoon's game against the Red Sox in Sarasota. Sucre, a late arrival due in camp to issues obtaining his work visa, also will catch Sunday against the Phillies in Sarasota. "I'll progress him as we go along, for sure," said manager Brandon Hyde. "He'll be in there." Austin Wynns was encouraged this morning by his MRI results after experiencing discomfort in his left oblique while...

Orioles and Pirates lineups

Orioles and Pirates lineups
SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Davis and Austin Wynns remain out of the Orioles' lineup for today's game against the Pirates in Bradenton. Davis is nursing a sore left hip and Wynns underwent tests on his sore oblique. Stevie Wilkerson is playing first base today and Carlos Pérez is catching. Jesús Sucre's debut is put off for at least one more day. Jonathan Villar is leading off and playing second base. Austin Hays is in center field. Mike Wright hasn't allowed a run in seven innings and...

Notes on Mountcastle, Young, Yacabonis, catching and coaches

Notes on Mountcastle, Young, Yacabonis, catching and coaches
SARASOTA, Fla. - With so much attention given to Ryan Mountcastle's repetitions and game experience at first base, his slow start at the plate barely drew notice. One hit in 13 at-bats from an upper-tier prospect who usually can roll out of bed and square up a fastball. But what about the glove? How does he look at first? Is he really changing positions again? Talent wins out again. Mountcastle entered yesterday's game with four hits in his last six at-bats. Driving the ball into the gap and...

Hyde on roster, catching situation and more (O's lead 5-3)

Hyde on roster, catching situation and more (O's lead 5-3)
FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Orioles have reached the midway point of spring training and manager Brandon Hyde can't fathom the task of compiling a 25-man roster and settling the competitions that have spread through camp. Much too soon. "I think we're still really in the heart of the evaluation process," Hyde said during batting practice. "A lot of these guys have teens at-bats, between 10-20 at-bats. It's hard to evaluate a guy on that. There are still guys coming in the mix. (Jesús) Sucre...

Sucre is safe away from home and trying to win a job with Orioles

Sucre is safe away from home and trying to win a job with Orioles
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Nate Karns will pitch in his second spring training game Tuesday while coming out of the bullpen against the Pirates in Sarasota. Karns didn't experience any discomfort in his right arm following Saturday's bullpen session and will get back on the mound after Alex Cobb makes the start. The Orioles backed off Karns, skipping him Friday night in Tampa in favor of left-hander John Means, after he felt that he didn't bounce back in normal fashion following last Monday's debut...

Mancini remains day-to-day with jammed pinky finger

Mancini remains day-to-day with jammed pinky finger
SARASOTA, Fla. - Trey Mancini has attempted one stolen base in his major league career, back in 2017. He's 1-for-1. But a successful swipe of second in his spring debut is costing him games. Mancini remains day-to-day after jamming his left pinky finger, which he had wrapped this morning while standing at his locker. The hand slammed into Blue Jays shortstop Lourdes Gurriel Jr. on Feb. 24 in Sarasota, and while Mancini continued to play the finger swelled and impacted him at the plate. To the...

Hearing from Rogers and Hyde before today's game (O's up 4-1)

Hearing from Rogers and Hyde before today's game (O's up 4-1)
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Orioles manager Brandon Hyde spent part of yesterday's postgame media session praising left-hander Josh Rogers for setting a rapid tempo rather than lulling everyone to sleep between pitches. Rogers isn't doing it by accident. He retired all six Rays that he faced in the blink of an eye. "I'm definitely conscious of it," he said. "It's something I feel like I use to my advantage. I don't think it's something you can just get up there and do. I've taught myself to do...

Sucre's arrival, Karns update, Davis' start and more (O's down 4-0)

Sucre's arrival, Karns update, Davis' start and more (O's down 4-0)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Catcher Jesús Sucre arrived in the Miami late last night, according to Orioles manager Brandon Hyde, and he's expected in camp today. Sucre finally got his work visa and left Venezuela. Hyde estimated that the veteran might need less than a week of workouts before he's ready to play. "I'm going to ask him what he's been doing," Hyde said. "I don't even know really, to be honest with you, how much game stuff he's been doing. But I think realistically four or five...

Notes on Sucre and Bleier before today's game

Notes on Sucre and Bleier before today's game
SARASOTA, Fla. - Catcher Jesús Sucre hasn't reported to Orioles camp, but his locker is back. Set up in the same spot before his nameplate disappeared and Cael Brockmeyer arrived from Twin Lakes Park. Sucre has been detained in Venezuela while trying to obtain his work visa. Manager Brandon Hyde's latest update this week included how the paperwork almost was finalized. The Orioles inked Sucre, 30, to a minor league deal on Feb. 1 and invited him to spring training, the idea to toss him...

Notes on rotation, Infante, Sucre, Sisco and defense (tied 4-4)

Notes on rotation, Infante, Sucre, Sisco and defense (tied 4-4)
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Alex Cobb is making his Grapefruit League debut in Friday's split-squad game against the Rays at Ed Smith Stadium. Nate Karns is making his second start in the night portion against the Yankees in Tampa. No way to shield them from a division opponent, especially with the Orioles returning to Fort Myers on Saturday to play the Red Sox. Cobb has been slotted ahead of Andrew Cashner after throwing live batting practice yesterday on Field 2 at the Sarasota complex. Cashner threw...

Reviewing Orioles spring training before today's game

Reviewing Orioles spring training before today's game
SARASOTA, Fla. - Four games into the exhibition schedule, following a couple weeks of workouts, seems like an ample amount of time to build some early impressions of the Orioles. The good and the disappointing. Reactions and overreactions. Chris Davis hit a home run yesterday in his fifth spring training at-bat and it was a tape-measure shot off a breaking ball. It could mean something or nothing, but I recognized that swing from the days when he was scary good in the middle of the...