Hays' status remains uncertain due to sore hamstring

Hays' status remains uncertain due to sore hamstring
The Orioles will make a decision later this afternoon about the status of outfielder Austin Hays, whose sore right hamstring could force the club into placing him on the 10-day injured list. Hays is having the leg examined again today. "He's still sore," manager Brandon Hyde said in his Zoom call. "We're getting him checked out and we're going to have a decision on him here very shortly. Probably the next 30 minutes or so." Hays injured the hamstring yesterday in Boston on his double in...

Orioles lose Hays and win again in Boston (updated)

Orioles lose Hays and win again in Boston (updated)
Adam Plutko was kidding. He didn't bite when challenged to place a guarantee on it. He did, however, ramp up the humor yesterday by saying the Orioles "obviously" would go 162-0 this season. The newest Orioles pitcher also offered to hand over his salary if they ran the table. It's much too soon to hit the ATM, but the Orioles cashed in on an opportunity to sweep the Red Sox. They haven't hit a home run in three games, but they keep manufacturing runs and wins. They jumped Garrett Richards...

Armstrong transferred from paternity list to injured list (plus notes)

Armstrong transferred from paternity list to injured list (plus notes)
Reliever Shawn Armstrong has been reinstated from the paternity list today. However, he can't rejoin the team until going through the intake process, which has placed him on the injured list. This is a procedural move, which happened a few times last summer. Another similarity between 2020 and 2021. The bullpen remains intact while he's on the IL. A corresponding roster move will be made after he's activated. Manager Brandon Hyde said he was hopeful that Armstrong would be available Monday...

Leftovers for Sunday breakfast

Leftovers for Sunday breakfast
A couple of strategies have worked for the Orioles in the season's first two games. Get a deep start from ace John Means, hand the ball to a setup man and the closer of the day, and head back to the team hotel. Call upon a bulk reliever working behind a starter who gets into the fourth or fifth inning, hand the ball to a setup man and the closer of the day, and head back to the team hotel. That's how the Orioles have gone 2-0 and can try to complete the sweep later today at Fenway Park....

Hyde on second base, Santander, opening day and more

Hyde on second base, Santander, opening day and more
How the Orioles handle second base in the early portion of the season is a fluid situation that begins this afternoon with Rio Ruiz making his first career start at the position in the regular season. A two-game audition late in camp has led to more opportunities. The length to be determined. Ruiz is the Orioles' third different opening day starter in a row at second base after Jonathan Schoop's run of five consecutive assignments. Jonathan Villar started in 2019 and Hanser Alberto last...

Lineup changes, switches in designated hitters and more

Lineup changes, switches in designated hitters and more
No matter how the opening day lineup is stacked today, and it should duplicate the one wasted yesterday by the postponement, the Orioles are going to make at least five changes from the 2020 version. They shouldn't need to wait another day unless the Red Sox determine that the sun is too bright. José Iglesias won't be batting third and playing shortstop. Renato Núñez won't be batting fourth and serving as designated hitter. Chris Davis won't be playing first base and batting fifth....

Orioles set 26-man roster

Orioles set 26-man roster
The Orioles won't play today in Boston, but they're able to set their opening day roster by the noon deadline. There are no surprises beyond the early rainout. Outfielder DJ Stewart is on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring. Reliever Shawn Armstrong is on the paternity list, keeping him away from the team for a maximum of three days. Reliever Travis Lakins Sr. is optioned to Triple-A Norfolk, but manager Brandon Hyde indicated yesterday that the assignment could be...

More known about Orioles pitching as camp closes with 8-3 loss

More known about Orioles pitching as camp closes with 8-3 loss
The rotation names and order are done. Now, we find out how the Orioles plan on monitoring their pitchers' innings with the season stretching back to 162 games. Dean Kremer goes to the end of the line as the youngest member at 25, providing a peek into the club's strategy. Bruce Zimmermann is a year older and tabbed as the No. 3 starter. He took the mound first for today's exhibition finale against the Rays and surrendered three home runs over 4 1/3 innings in an 8-3 loss to the Rays at Ed...

Orioles and Pirates lineups

Orioles and Pirates lineups
With Yolmer Sánchez designated for assignment yesterday, the Orioles are starting Rio Ruiz at second base for this afternoon's game against the Pirates in Sarasota. Ruiz has made two appearances at second base in the majors, no starts, and never played the position in the minors. Anthony Santander is out of the lineup for the fifth consecutive day due to soreness in his oblique area. Chance Sisco is catching today and Austin Wynns is the designated hitter in the penultimate game of spring...

Hays has huge night while rotation remains unresolved in 10-9 win

Hays has huge night while rotation remains unresolved in 10-9 win
As the loudest sounds in Orioles camp today came from the maneuvering of veteran pitchers, like furniture dragged across wood floors, young left-hander Keegan Akin had to tune it out and do his job. A smart approach, but hard to execute. Akin made the start tonight and threw 32 pitches in a two-run top of the first inning against the Pirates in Sarasota. He was charged with six runs and eight hits in only 2 1/3, walking two batters and striking out three, and headed to the dugout with head...

Wells won't rule out making team as Rule 5, and other notes

Wells won't rule out making team as Rule 5, and other notes
The Orioles could announce their next round of cuts as early as this afternoon. Manager Brandon Hyde told the media on Monday that nothing was coming over the next few days. Maybe he meant Thursday or Friday. Soon but not imminent. Rule 5 pitchers Mac Sceroler and Tyler Wells are outlasting last year's Rule 5 pitchers, Brandon Bailey and Michael Rucker. Then again, the Orioles have 57 players in camp. They aren't in a roster cutting frenzy. Both right-handers impressed in their last outings,...

Orioles and Pirates lineups

Orioles and Pirates lineups
Austin Hays is in right field and batting first tonight and Cedric Mullins is in center and at the bottom of the order, as the Orioles head to Bradenton again to play the Pirates. Ryan Mountcastle is the left fielder and Anthony Santander is the designated hitter. DJ Stewart is at least a day away from getting back in the lineup as he recovers from a hamstring injury and gets at-bats on the back fields. Infielder Richie Martin also isn't in the lineup. Maybe on Saturday. Rio Ruiz is the third...

Ruiz's return a rousing success in 12-3 win

Ruiz's return a rousing success in 12-3 win
Rio Ruiz had something to say this afternoon before hopping on his media Zoom call. He knows about the club's pending move for free agent third baseman Maikel Franco and how it impacts him. He knows that missing more than a week with an illness and being 1-for-12 before today's game against the Pirates are sabotaging his attempts to make the club and keep his position. Ruiz isn't wearing blinders. He wore the look today of a much better version of himself. Ruiz made a diving stop and throw...

Hyde updates Harvey, Martin and Ruiz

Hyde updates Harvey, Martin and Ruiz
An examination of Orioles reliever Hunter Harvey confirmed that he has a strained oblique, an injury suffered after throwing one pitch in Friday's game against the Phillies. Manager Brandon Hyde couldn't provide a timeline for Harvey's recovery, of course, but the former first-round pick is expected to go on the injured list. "He's going to miss some time," Hyde said in his Zoom call with the media. "How much time, we're not sure, just because obliques are tricky. But it's an injury....

Orioles and Pirates lineups

Orioles and Pirates lineups
Rio Ruiz has returned to the Orioles' lineup today, playing third base and batting seventh against the Pirates in Sarasota. Richie Martin isn't in the lineup, but could enter the game later. He's recovered from surgery in January to remove a broken left hamate bone and got some at-bats yesterday. Austin Hays is in left field again, with Cedric Mullins in center. Trey Mancini is the first baseman. Pat Valaika is the second baseman. Matt Harvey is making his second start after his three-inning...

Wrapping up Means' start, defense, cuts and 13-1 loss

Wrapping up Means' start, defense, cuts and 13-1 loss
Orioles left-hander John Means made it through the first inning today. Manager Brandon Hyde stayed in the dugout. There were no surprises or unexpected visits. The rest of his day can be categorized as getting in his work in spring training. Means was on the verge of watching the second inning roll over, with the Pirates scoring three runs and extending him to 27 pitches in the Orioles' 13-1 loss in Bradenton. He came out at 48 pitches after issuing a leadoff walk in the third. Hyde removed...

Lowther soaking in camp experience

Lowther soaking in camp experience
Confidence isn't running in short supply for Zac Lowther. He didn't pitch in 2019 because COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the minor league season. He hasn't faced hitters above the Double-A level. Every projection for this summer places him at Triple-A Norfolk, where he'll be playing the waiting game between starts. But ask Lowther how close he is to being a major league pitcher and the answer comes firmly and without hesitation. But also not cocky in nature. "I feel like I'm there....

Orioles and Red Sox lineups

Orioles and Red Sox lineups
Ryan McKenna is starting in left field today as the Orioles host the Red Sox. Cedric Mullins is back in center field and atop the order, alternating with Austin Hays. Yusniel Diaz gets his first start in right field after twice playing left field. Trey Mancini is the first baseman. Rylan Bannon is at third base instead of Rio Ruiz. For the Orioles Cedric Mullins CF Trey Mancini 1B Anthony Santander DH Pedro Severino C Freddy Galvis SS Yusniel Diaz RF Yolmer Sánchez 2B Rylan Bannon 3B Ryan...

Orioles and Phillies lineups

Orioles and Phillies lineups
Austin Hays is leading off today as the Orioles make their first spring road trip, traveling to Clearwater, Fla., to play the Phillies. Hays is in center field, Ryan Mountcastle is in left and DJ Stewart is in right. Rio Ruiz is the third baseman and cleanup hitter. Manager Brandon Hyde's lineup includes Tyler Nevin at first base and Brett Cumberland as the designated hitter. Chance Sisco is behind the plate. For the Orioles Austin Hays CF DJ Stewart RF Ryan Mountcastle LF Rio Ruiz 3B Chance...

Wrapping up Orioles' 6-4 loss in exhibition opener (updated)

Wrapping up Orioles' 6-4 loss in exhibition opener (updated)
The firsts are out of the way. The first Orioles exhibition game. The first standing ovation for Trey Mancini in his first at-bat since March 2, 2020. His first hit immediately after the emotional scene. The first defensive lapses. The first reminder in 2021 that Yusniel Diaz, who hit a two run homer off former Oriole Carson Fulmer in the sixth, is poised to make his debut later in the summer. The first loss and overreactions from fans. Mancini lined a single into center field and struck out...