Orioles and Royals lineups

Orioles and Royals lineups
The Orioles placed four players on their expanded September roster this morning, recalling outfielder Dwight Smith Jr. and pitchers Branden Kline and Tanner Scott from Triple-A Norfolk and reinstating pitcher Shawn Armstrong from the 10-day injured list. More moves are coming after Monday. Smith is starting in left field today as the Orioles close out their series in Kansas City. Trey Mancini is playing first base with the lineup leaning heavy to the right side. Smith is the only Oriole who...

Update on Orioles series against Rays at Tropicana Field

Update on Orioles series against Rays at Tropicana Field
The Orioles still intend to play three games against the Rays next week, but they'll be packed into two days. An adjustment has been made in the schedule due to threatening weather conditions caused by Hurricane Dorian. The Tampa Bay Times reported that the Orioles and Rays will play a doubleheader on Tuesday and remove Wednesday's game. The series opens Monday afternoon as planned. An Orioles official has confirmed the news. Hurricane Dorian has been upgraded to a Category 4 storm but no...

O's series in Tampa Bay now a two-day event, plus other notes (O's lose 7-5)

O's series in Tampa Bay now a two-day event, plus other notes (O's lose 7-5)
KANSAS CITY - With Hurricane Dorian about to impact the East Coast, the Tampa Bay Rays announced today that they are altering the schedule of the series with the Orioles that begins Monday at Tropicana Field. The clubs were scheduled to play three games over three days but now will not play on Wednesday. The series will start Monday afternoon at 1:10 p.m. It will continue and conclude on Tuesday with a doubleheader starting at 3:10 p.m. The Orioles will then head home and host Texas for a...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
Exactly how much has Jonathan Villar increased his trade value in the offseason? The Orioles couldn't move Villar at the deadline, failing in attempts to work out a deal with the Cubs. He slashed .225/.320/.382 with three home runs in 26 games in June. Contenders had to be leery of a player with a reputation for being reckless on the basepaths and not always exhibiting, shall we say, the best judgment. How was their judgment in passing on him? Villar slashed .298/.336/.442 with three home runs...

Notes on Harvey usage and Mancini's history with him (O's up 8-1)

Notes on Harvey usage and Mancini's history with him (O's up 8-1)
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde is unlikely to use Hunter Harvey on consecutive days out of the bullpen, which eliminates the rookie from consideration as the team closes out its series against the Royals. Harvey retired the side in order last night in the eighth inning, striking out two batters and earning his first major league win. He also tossed a scoreless inning in his debut Saturday at Fenway Park, again striking out two and also issuing a walk. "Probably not," Hyde said. "There's...

Hyde explains why Davis is sitting again (tied 1-1)

Hyde explains why Davis is sitting again (tied 1-1)
Chris Davis remains out of the Orioles lineup tonight for the second straight game with the Royals sending a right-hander to the mound. He also could sit Wednesday night against left-hander Mike Montgomery. Manager Brandon Hyde said the lineup isn't influenced by Davis' health. The veteran isn't injured or ailing. Hyde wants to play Trey Mancini at first base and give him a break from the outfield. "He's fine," Hyde said. "I just wanted Trey to play first base again and it's nothing...

Means loses no-hit bid and game 5-4 (with quotes)

Means loses no-hit bid and game 5-4 (with quotes)
The fingerprints are fading from the John Means panic button. Another loss surfaced tonight, but Means seemed to be fine. He just couldn't hold form or catch a break after the fifth inning, which is a distinct pattern with the Oriole in 2019. Means carried a no-hit bid into the sixth, faced six batters and didn't record an out. He threw 28 pitches. A one-run lead disappeared like those fingerprints. The Royals scored three times, with Gabriel Ynoa leaving the bases loaded, and the Orioles...

Sisco cleared to play tonight, plus other notes (O's down 5-3)

Sisco cleared to play tonight, plus other notes (O's down 5-3)
Orioles catcher Chance Sisco is available tonight if the Orioles need him behind the plate or as a pinch-hitter. A doctor cleared Sisco to play and the club was able to avoid a roster move. Sisco is on the bench for the series opener against the Royals at Camden Yards. How comfortable is a separate matter. Sisco was removed from yesterday's game against the Red Sox in the sixth inning after being struck in the groin by a foul ball from Xander Bogaerts. He's been issued a Kevlar protective...

DL Hall and Zach Watson done for season with injuries (down 13-6)

DL Hall and Zach Watson done for season with injuries (down 13-6)
BOSTON - Left-hander DL Hall, the Orioles' first-round pick in the 2017 First-Year Player Draft and one of their top prospects, will miss the remainder of the season at Single-A Frederick due to mild strain of his left lat muscle. Hall complained of soreness after his last start on Aug. 8 and was diagnosed with a Grade 1 strain. There aren't enough games left in the minor league season to get him back on the mound, but he could pitch in the Arizona Fall League. The season already was a...

Hyde: "I think the vibe has been good all year" (O's down 4-2)

Hyde: "I think the vibe has been good all year" (O's down 4-2)
NEW YORK - Outfielder DJ Stewart is joining Triple-A Norfolk today in Pawtucket for the first of two rehab games before the Orioles are expected to remove him from the seven-day concussion injured list for Friday's series opener in Boston. "I think we're going to make a decision after Thursday," said manager Brandon Hyde. There's always the possibility that the Orioles activate Stewart and option him again. Otherwise, they'd have to go with a four-man bench - and it's unlikely that...

Blach on his first visit to Yankee Stadium and more (O's down 8-3)

Blach on his first visit to Yankee Stadium and more (O's down 8-3)
NEW YORK - Ty Blach will start Game 2 of today's doubleheader after spending the opener on the taxi squad. Blach is set to become the 52nd player used by the Orioles, four shy of last year's club record. The corresponding move will be announced after Game 1. Meanwhile, Jimmy Yacabonis is the 26th man. The Orioles selected Blach off waivers from the Giants on Aug. 3. He's 15-19 with a 4.56 ERA and 1.397 WHIP in 87 major league games, including 39 starts, over parts of four seasons with the...

O's set most of New York rotation (game update)

O's set most of New York rotation (game update)
The Orioles have half of their pitching plans set for Monday's day-night doubleheader against New York at Yankee Stadium. Gabriel Ynoa will start one of the games, manager Brandon Hyde said today, and the other is TBA. The Orioles will be able to add a 26th player to the roster for the twinbill. So it's possible someone could be called from the minors to make the start. Hyde said Tom Eshelman is a possibility for a start that day, but also said he likes Eshelman in a long-relief role too. The...

Hyde, Peterson revisit call at home (O's down 7-4)

Hyde, Peterson revisit call at home (O's down 7-4)
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said today that he hasn't heard from the commissioner's office in New York after his comments last night regarding the failure, upon his challenge, to reverse the out call on Jace Peterson at home plate. The denial of the go-ahead run on a double steal infuriated Hyde and his players. And their moods didn't improve when the Yankees responded with three runs in the fifth inning and two more in the sixth. Hyde used "a joke" and "absolutely pathetic" to describe...

Latest on Castro, Smith and Karns (tied 6-6)

Latest on Castro, Smith and Karns (tied 6-6)
The Orioles needed a reliever more than a position player tonight, which led to them recalling right-hander Tayler Scott from Triple-A Norfolk. Scott made two relief appearances for the Orioles and allowed five runs in two innings. He surrendered two home runs. However, he's tossed 13 scoreless innings and recorded one walk and 17 strikeouts with Norfolk. Miguel Castro is "iffy" for tonight's game, according to manager Brandon Hyde. Castro threw on the field and did some running, and the...

Hyde explains need for extra reliever (O's lead 6-4)

Hyde explains need for extra reliever (O's lead 6-4)
The two-man bench utilized by the Orioles will be a short-term arrangement. Manager Brandon Hyde explained the need for an extra reliever, with Branden Kline recalled for the fifth time. Hyde said Miguel Castro has been under the weather and unavailable. Castro didn't sit in the bullpen last night. "We have a few guys who are unavailable," Hyde said. "We wanted to make sure that we were healthy and had enough people going into the Yankees series." Also, the Orioles are expected to go with...

Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
Adley Rutschman caught last night for short-season Single-A Aberdeen, the media attention much lighter, and threw out two more runners attempting to steal. The first overall pick went 0-for-4 with a walk and run scored and is 4-for-20 with the IronBirds and 6-for-34 with a home run as a professional. The bat will come around. Give it time. Executive vice president Mike Elias is impressed by Rutschman on many levels. "Everything that I've heard has been exactly what we expected," Elias said...

Trey Mancini on trade talk, plus other O's notes (game update)

Trey Mancini on trade talk, plus other O's notes (game update)
SAN DIEGO - Like many other players around the majors, the Orioles' Trey Mancini will be happy when 4 p.m. Eastern time comes and goes tomorrow and the trade deadline passes. On the subject of trade rumors, Mancini said again today that he hopes to be an Oriole for a long time. But the next few hours may prove to be nerve-wracking for him. "I don't really anticipate anything happening, but I'm preparing myself for both sides because it's definitely something you need to mentally prepare...

Orioles claim José Rondón off waivers

Orioles claim José Rondón off waivers
The roster moves keep coming from the Orioles, adding another layer of intrigue as the trade deadline approaches. Infielder José Rondón has been claimed off waivers from the White Sox. He's expected to join the team Thursday at Camden Yards following the return trip from San Diego and off-day. Rondón, 25, is a career .202/.260/.337 hitter in a combined 105 games with the Padres and White Sox. He was slashing .197/.265/.282 this season in 156 plate appearances. Versatility is the...

Orioles and Padres lineups (Smith goes on injured list)

Orioles and Padres lineups (Smith goes on injured list)
Chris Davis makes it back into the Orioles lineup this afternoon as they close out their road trip against the Padres and try for a split of the two-game series. Davis struck out last night as a pinch-hitter and stranded three runners. He's 0-for-13 with 11 strikeouts since July 21. Anthony Santander is in center field and Renato Núñez is playing third base. Jace Peterson is in left field after Dwight Smith Jr. reinjured his left calf muscle last night. The Orioles haven't announced a...

Orioles set to add Shepherd to staff

Orioles set to add Shepherd to staff
The Orioles are prepared to make another roster move later today after pitcher Chandler Shepherd joined them in San Diego last night while they were losing to the Padres 8-1. The corresponding move could involve David Hess, who started last night. Or they could hold onto Hess and keep him in the rotation. Another pitcher could be optioned or the move could involve outfielder Dwight Smith Jr., who aggravated his calf injury last night. Getting a position player to the West Coast for a day game...