Orioles and Red Sox lineups, plus notes

Orioles and Red Sox lineups, plus notes
The Orioles will make their seventh attempt tonight to get back to .500 for the first time since April 10 as they open a four-game series against the Red Sox at Camden Yards. As long as the weather cooperates, of course. Rain is falling and the tarp is on the field, but pitchers aren't letting it interrupt their bullpen sessions or throwing in the outfield. Austin Hays is starting in right field tonight, with Ryan Mountcastle in left and Pat Valaika playing first base. Trey Mancini is the...

Means throws sixth no-hitter in Orioles history in 6-0 win (updated)

Means throws sixth no-hitter in Orioles history in 6-0 win (updated)
After stranding 12 runners last night and continuing to search for a big hit with men in scoring position, the Orioles delivered twice today in the second inning for left-hander John Means, shut down for a while and simply let their ace handle the rest. And boy, did he handle it. Against a team that had no idea what to do with him. That couldn't get ahead in the count or throw a scare into him. That was lucky to graze the ball, weak contract about as much as it could muster. Means threw the...

Orioles and Mariners lineups, news of Ray Miller's passing

Orioles and Mariners lineups, news of Ray Miller's passing
Freddy Galvis is out of the Orioles lineup this afternoon for their series finale in Seattle that also concludes their road trip. Ramón Urías is the shortstop and Pat Valaika is starting at second base. Cedric Mullins and Austin Hays continue to bat 1-2 in the order. Ryan Mountcastle is the first baseman and Trey Mancini is the designated hitter. Left-hander John Means will try to maintain his roll. He's posted a 1.70 ERA, 0.838 WHIP and .163 average against in six starts and has allowed...

Orioles and Mariners lineups

Orioles and Mariners lineups
DJ Stewart is back in the Orioles lineup tonight as they resume their series in Seattle. Stewart was scratched last night with lower back stiffness and multiple changes in positions brought Pat Valaika off the bench. Ryan Mountcastle is the designated hitter. Chance Sisco is catching. Rio Ruiz gets the start at second base. The Orioles are 14-15 overall and trying to reach .500 for the first time since April 10. They're 10-5 on the road. Jorge López is 1-3 with a 7.48 ERA and 1.431 WHIP in...

Stewart removed from tonight's lineup, Zimmermann optioned

Stewart removed from tonight's lineup, Zimmermann optioned
Removing one player from tonight's Orioles lineup led to a massive shuffling of personnel. Outfielder DJ Stewart is a late scratch due to stiffness in his lower back. Manager Brandon Hyde said Stewart is receiving treatment and is "kind of day-to-day right now." When the dust settled, Pat Valaika wound up at second base rather than sitting on the bench among three reserves. Rio Ruiz moved from second base to third and Maikel Franco is the designated hitter, with Trey Mancini at first base...

Orioles done in by Athletics defense in 7-5 loss (updated)

Orioles done in by Athletics defense in 7-5 loss (updated)
A 25-pitch first inning for Bruce Zimmermann and the two errors on one play and resulting runs didn't fit a team that sought to sweep a series and extend its winning streak to four games. More appropriate were the two rallies in the first five innings that erased deficits and kept alive the quest to reach .500. And a third RBI for Trey Mancini in the seventh that gave the Orioles their first lead. It didn't last long. And .500 was put on hold in jarring fashion. Ramón Laureano made a...

Orioles and Athletics lineups (updated)

Orioles and Athletics lineups (updated)
Freddy Galvis has returned to the Orioles lineup today, batting seventh against the Athletics in Oakland. Galvis, previously out with a sore left adductor, is batting .348/.400/.630 (16-for-46) in his last 15 games. He slashed .115/.179/.154 (3-for-26) in his first seven. "He got off to a slow start offensively," manager Brandon Hyde said today in his Zoom call. "Really, like the last week to two weeks before he had a little bit of the groin soreness, I think you started seeing better...

Orioles and Athletics lineups (updated)

Orioles and Athletics lineups (updated)
Shortstop Freddy Galvis remains out of the Orioles lineup tonight, his day-to-day status extending at least to Saturday. Ramón Urías is the shortstop for the series opener in Oakland. Pat Valaika is the second baseman. Rio Ruiz is playing third base instead of Maikel Franco. Austin Hays stays in left field and DJ Stewart stays in right. Ryan Mountcastle gets another start at first base, with Trey Mancini the designated hitter. Left-hander John Means has allowed one run or fewer in eight...

Mullins' sacrifice fly in 10th bails out Valdez in 4-3 win (updated)

Mullins' sacrifice fly in 10th bails out Valdez in 4-3 win (updated)
Starting pitcher Jorge López came out of the dugout this afternoon and hopped across the first base line before teammates followed him onto the field. Manager Brandon Hyde was more interested in whether they could get on base. It wasn't the only time they trailed, but it's where you finish that counts. César Valdez was a strike away from stranding two runners after walks and notching his sixth save - though plate umpire Rob Drake was squeezing him - but Gleyber Torres lined an automatic...

O's win to split series as Mancini bat resurgence continues

O's win to split series as Mancini bat resurgence continues
The Orioles still didn't put up much offense today, but they did get just enough to win. After César Valdez could not hold a 3-2 lead in the top of the ninth and the Yankees tied it up, the Orioles produced a 4-3 walk-off win in the 10th inning. Cedric Mullins' sac fly to center ended the game as the Orioles and Yankees split a four-game series. Ramón Urías was the runner placed at second in the last of the 10th. He moved to third on Pat Valaika's sac bunt ahead of Mullins' sac...

Updating Galvis and impact of short bench

Updating Galvis and impact of short bench
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde hopes that shortstop Freddy Galvis will be available to start or come off the bench Friday night when the Orioles begin their two-city West Coast trip in Oakland. Galvis is day-to-day with a sore left adductor/groin, an injury sustained Monday night while running out an RBI double. Hyde said Galvis hit on the field yesterday and did some infield work this morning. Increasing baseball activities also meant jogging up the first base line. "I want to see how that...

Orioles and Yankees lineups

Orioles and Yankees lineups
Rio Ruiz, Ramón Urías, Pat Valaika and Ryan Mountcastle were grouped this morning for early infield work. Three of the four are in today's lineup as the Orioles close out their series against the Yankees and head to the West Coast. Maikel Franco is the third baseman. Otherwise, Urías is playing shortstop, Valaika is the second baseman and Mountcastle is the first baseman. Trey Mancini is serving as the designated hitter. Mancini became the 49th player to record 500 hits in an Orioles...

Kremer's return falls short of success in 7-0 loss (updated)

Kremer's return falls short of success in 7-0 loss (updated)
The walk to the dugout was done slowly, as if Dean Kremer wanted to stay on the mound tonight and try to figure out how to hush a Yankees lineup that kept reaching the highest decibels. He didn't want to be silenced. Until then, the only quiet moments came with the Orioles at the plate. They didn't have a hit off Domingo Germán until two outs in the fifth inning. Ryan Mountcastle beat out a chopper behind third base, perhaps a sign that his luck is changing after he flied to the warning...

Orioles lineup vs. Yankees

Orioles lineup vs. Yankees
Dean Kremer has been recalled from the Orioles' alternate training site and returned to the rotation. He's starting tonight against the Yankees at Camden Yards. Kremer has made seven career starts, including three against the Yankees. He's allowed five runs and 10 hits with 10 walks and 19 strikeouts in 14 innings. A roster spot opened last night with reliever Jay Flaa optioned to the alternate site. Austin Hays is in left field again and batting second. Ryan Mountcastle is batting seventh...

Hays in left field and Stewart in right becoming familiar setup

Hays in left field and Stewart in right becoming familiar setup
The shifting of outfielders that was supposed to set into motion a shining example of the Orioles' depth at the position has settled into a more predictable pattern. Cedric Mullins is the undisputed center fielder and leadoff hitter. Removing him requires a special set of circumstances. Like rest, for instance. Austin Hays has played left field, with DJ Stewart in right, in four of the last five games. An exception was made with Ryan McKenna in right field to provide an extra right-handed bat...

Zimmermann struggles early and Flaa debuts in 5-1 loss (updated)

Zimmermann struggles early and Flaa debuts in 5-1 loss (updated)
The evidence that Chris Holt had rejoined the Orioles tonight, resuming his duties as pitching coach, was laid out for everyone in the top of the third inning after another Yankees batter scalded a Bruce Zimmermann pitch. He'd rather stay in the dugout and take his chances with the television cameras, but the Yankees were making loud noises. The hits, the outs, it didn't matter. Holt missed the last series while attending to a personal matter and went through intake testing yesterday. He...

Updating Wednesday starter, Galvis injury and more

Updating Wednesday starter, Galvis injury and more
Dean Kremer is rejoining the Orioles on Wednesday and starting that night against the Yankees at Camden Yards. Precisely the way it was expected to play out. A corresponding roster move is coming, with reliever Jay Flaa a logical candidate to be optioned to the alternate training site after having his contract selected yesterday. Kremer has allowed eight runs and 14 hits in 10 2/3 innings, with six walks and 14 strikeouts in his three starts. The Orioles optioned him after he held the Rangers...

Valaika recalled and playing shortstop tonight

Valaika recalled and playing shortstop tonight
With shortstop Freddy Galvis day-to-day with left adductor soreness, the Orioles recalled infielder Pat Valaika from the alternate training site in Bowie and have him in uniform for tonight's game against the Yankees at Camden Yards. He's also in the lineup, batting ninth and playing shortstop. Valaika broke camp with the Orioles and was optioned April 9 to create roster space for DJ Stewart. He was 1-for-9 with a walk and run scored in four games. The Orioles optioned outfielder Ryan McKenna...

Pitching changes can be expected throughout the summer

Pitching changes can be expected throughout the summer
The type of transaction that sent Zac Lowther back to the alternate camp site yesterday would become a signature move for the Orioles except that a lot of other teams are going to claim ownership. Roster churn is providing as much background noise as batting practice music. The Orioles aren't a full month into their season and they've been cranking out transactions like disc jockey tunes. There's the necessity created by injuries, but also some deep-tissue massaging of the roster. They could...

Where will Orioles turn for offensive jolt?

Where will Orioles turn for offensive jolt?
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde didn't offer a long-term endorsement yesterday for the current group of hitters on the roster. You don't make promises while an offense keeps stalling. Reasons are highlighted, such as players pressing to be "the guy," as Hyde said, and the expansion of the strike zone. "We just have a lot of guys that are trying to make up for the start of the year with one at-bat," Hyde said via Zoom, "and that's not how it works." Many of the roster moves this month have...