Orioles recall Mattson and DFA Greene

Orioles recall Mattson and DFA Greene
The bullpen is changing again for the Orioles, who announced this afternoon that they recalled Isaac Mattson from Triple-A Norfolk and that Conner Greene would be designated for assignment. They also reinstated left-hander Ryan Hartman from the injured list at Triple-A Norfolk after he completed the intake process. Hartman goes on the 40-man roster, with Greene's removal opening a spot. Mattson, acquired from the Angels in the Dylan Bundy trade with the Angels in December 2019, made his major...

Orioles claim Mateo off waivers and DFA Valaika

Orioles claim Mateo off waivers and DFA Valaika
Moving past the trade deadline didn't create slower movement on the Orioles' active and 40-man rosters. A day after retooling their bullpen, the Orioles tweaked their infield again by claiming Jorge Mateo off waivers from the Padres and announcing Pat Valaika would be designated for assignment. Mateo, 26, became available on Tuesday after the Padres designated him to make room for left-hander Matt Strahm. He's one of the fastest players in the majors but also a career .195/.235/.310 hitter...

Orioles activate Richie Martin from injured list

Orioles activate Richie Martin from injured list
Infielder Richie Martin is back in the majors. In a surprise move, the Orioles reinstated Martin from the 60-day injured list this afternoon and he's in New York for tonight's series opener against the Yankees. The Orioles optioned infielder Domingo Leyba to Triple-A Norfolk to make room on the active roster. They also put left-hander Ryan Hartman, claimed off waivers from the Astros, on the injured list. Hartman is going through the necessary COVID-19 protocols after joining the organization...

Orioles and Tigers lineups

Orioles and Tigers lineups
Austin Hays is leading off today and playing left field and Ryan McKenna is in center as the Orioles close out their series in Detroit and attempt to win three of four games. Maikel Franco moves up to fifth in the lineup. Pat Valaika is playing shortstop. Austin Wynns is behind the plate. Cedric Mullins and Ramón Urías get a breather. Ryan Mountcastle is the designated hitter today. He has 10 hits and seven RBIs in his last 10 games. Spenser Watkins is making his fifth major league start...

John Means has best outing since IL return as O's win in Detroit

John Means has best outing since IL return as O's win in Detroit
He didn't put up a zero like Matt Harvey on Friday night, but left-hander John Means looked very much like his pre-injury self tonight. And seeing the Orioles ace pitch like that had to be a most welcome sight throughout Birdland. Means allowed just one run over six innings and picked up his first win since his no-hitter as the Orioles beat Detroit 5-2 at Comerica Park. There was a bit of drama in the ninth, as a comfortable win turned into something less than that. Tanner Scott struggled...

Orioles and Tigers lineups (updated)

Orioles and Tigers lineups (updated)
Anthony Santander is the cleanup hitter tonight as the Orioles continue their series against the Tigers in Detroit. Santander is starting in right field and DJ Stewart is in left. Austin Hays is on the bench. Pat Valaika remains in the lineup at second base. Pedro Severino is catching again tonight. He homered twice last night for his second career multi-homer game, and has hit three in the last two games. He's 5-for-14 in his last four games. Severino is batting .333/.400/.767 in his last...

Matt Harvey good again as the O's beat Detroit (updated)

Matt Harvey good again as the O's beat Detroit (updated)
During the series-opening game last night, the Orioles offense was quiet and missing the longball. But it returned for the Orioles tonight at Comerica Park. And they had a rejuvenated Matt Harvey back on the mound also. Harvey posted a third straight stellar outing as the Orioles beat Detroit 4-3 to even the four-game series at one win each. The Orioles (36-66) have won five of their past seven and are 8-5 since the All-Star break. Harvey's scoreless streak to begin the second half grew to 18...

Santander back in Orioles lineup vs. Tigers

Santander back in Orioles lineup vs. Tigers
The Orioles reinstated outfielder Anthony Santander from the COVID-19 injured list today and optioned pitcher Thomas Eshelman to Triple-A Norfolk, again lengthening their bench to four players. Santander is in tonight's lineup in Detroit, playing right field and batting fifth. The 40-man roster had room after the Orioles traded injured shortstop Freddy Galvis to the Phillies. Manager Brandon Hyde said the team will take another day or two to determine the status of pitcher Keegan Akin, to...

Notes on Valaika, Santander, Galvis and Wells

Notes on Valaika, Santander, Galvis and Wells
There isn't much news to report from the Orioles as afternoon moves into evening. Pat Valaika is out of the lineup again tonight in Detroit, his last start coming Sunday against the Nationals. He played an inning last night. Manager Brandon Hyde indicated that Valaika is fine physically. "I'm just giving (Domingo) Leyba some opportunities against right-handed pitching," Hyde said on his Zoom call. Valaika hit a home run on July 21 and two more the following game. He had a single and RBI in...

Updates on Akin and Santander (plus lineup)

Updates on Akin and Santander (plus lineup)
Orioles pitcher Keegan Akin and outfielder Anthony Santander have completed the COVID-19 protocols implemented by Major League Baseball. Akin is throwing a bullpen session today and Santander is cleared to take batting practice, run and participate in defensive drills. The club will decide soon whether to return them to the active roster after their layoff. "We're going to evaluate both of them after today," said manager Brandon Hyde. "We want to get them on the field. It's been a week....

Means works into seventh and O's rally for 5-4 win (updated)

Means works into seventh and O's rally for 5-4 win (updated)
The plan for left-hander Johns Means today was to extend him further than his first start after his reinstatement from the injured list. The pitch limit would be stretched beyond 78. His innings in the right scenario would move past the fifth. "I'm going to bump him up," manager Brandon Hyde said earlier in the day. "Hopefully, everything goes well and he'll go deeper in the game." Means kept Hyde relaxed until the sixth, when Ryan Zimmerman hit a three-run homer to erase a 3-1 lead. Trey...

Conner Greene joins Orioles (plus other notes)

Conner Greene joins Orioles (plus other notes)
The Orioles replaced injured reliever Tyler Wells today with reliever Conner Greene, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Norfolk. Greene, wearing No. 71, is waiting to become the 12th Orioles player to make his major league debut this season. He's been on a few taxi squads. Wells went on the 10-day injured list yesterday with tendinitis in his right wrist. Greene, 26, is a former seventh-round draft pick of the Blue Jays in 2013. The Orioles signed him to a minor league deal in...

Bats and bullpen bend game in Orioles' favor (updated)

Bats and bullpen bend game in Orioles' favor (updated)
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde excused himself this afternoon from his pregame chat session with the media in the dugout and headed over to the cage to introduce himself to the organization's top two draft picks and watch them take batting practice. Colton Cowser and Connor Norby received the royal treatment before flying to Sarasota and beginning their professional careers in the Florida Complex League. Meanwhile, Hyde was pulled away from the future and plopped back into the present, where he...

Orioles get back Means, but can't extend win streak (updated)

Orioles get back Means, but can't extend win streak (updated)
John Means made his return to the Orioles and their rotation tonight and didn't immediately slip into his ace attire. A proper fit wasn't a reasonable expectation given the long layoff. The velocity was fine. The hard contact was not. And there was more of it than usual. Starting his first major league game since June 5, Means allowed two runs in the first inning, Randy Arozarena's solo homer in the third and Francisco Mejía's two-run shot in the fourth, and the Rays erupted again late...

Watkins has career highs in innings and Ks in 6-1 win (updated)

Watkins has career highs in innings and Ks in 6-1 win (updated)
Everyone has a story. Spenser Watkins isn't satisfied with closing the book on his own after a 28-year-old rookie finally reaches the majors. He has more to tell. Watkins isn't going anywhere except back to Baltimore in a few days while waiting for his next start. He keeps getting outs and more chances, impressing again tonight in a 6-1 win over the Rays at Tropicana Field. The Orioles improved to 31-62 overall and 1-7 against the Rays, with Watkins carrying a shutout into the sixth before...

Orioles and Royals lineups

Orioles and Royals lineups
Ryan Mountcastle stays in the Orioles lineup tonight as the first baseman in Kansas City after being drilled on the left elbow Sunday and leaving the game in the top of the second inning. Austin Hays is in left field and Anthony Santander is in right. Kelvin Gutierrez is the third baseman and Pat Valaika is playing second. The Orioles haven't revealed their starters for the Royals series beyond rookie left-hander Keegan Akin tonight. Akin gets his eighth start of the season and his 13th...

Non-roster players keep getting chances with Orioles

Non-roster players keep getting chances with Orioles
The Orioles drafted a second baseman in the second round, Connor Norby of East Carolina University, but he isn't blocking Jahmai Jones. I already saw and approved that joke on Twitter. Norby is praised by scouts for his solid tools across the board. He's a career .392/.458/.596 hitter at East Carolina. He led the nation with 102 hits this year. But I'm betting that Jones beats him to the majors. Any takers? Jones is batting .279 with an .863 OPS after Tuesday night's single and triple and...

Walks and woozy bullpen team to topple Orioles 12-1 (updated)

Walks and woozy bullpen team to topple Orioles 12-1 (updated)
Manager Brandon Hyde can laugh now about the play Wednesday night that began as a blown call on a missed catch by left fielder Ryan McKenna and resulted in a run scoring and no outs recorded rather than the triple play that the Orioles thought might be possible. Catch a break? The Orioles are overdue, as Hyde noted. Anthony Santander slid into second base with an apparent double tonight leading off the fourth inning and removed his shin guard, an umpire signaled home run after the ball bounced...

Harvey still can't locate win, Orioles lose to Jays 10-2 (updated)

Harvey still can't locate win, Orioles lose to Jays 10-2 (updated)
Matt Harvey has pitched in some tough luck this season, as Orioles manager Brandon Hyde mentions with great frequency. Tonight, he pitched in confusion. Mark it on the Matt Harvey bingo card. Umpires ruled that left fielder Ryan McKenna made a diving catch of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s sinking liner after the first two batters reached. Marcus Semien was tagged after rounding third base, the call requiring him to go back to second, and two runners stood on first. A double play? A triple play? The...

Gutierrez among Orioles reserves for tonight's game

Gutierrez among Orioles reserves for tonight's game
The latest roster move made by the Orioles this afternoon occurred after they decided that Maikel Franco's day-to-day status was leaving them vulnerable. Franco hasn't played in a week due to a sprained right ankle and today went on the 10-day injured list retroactive to Sunday. Kelvin Gutierrez replaces him on the active roster and is on the bench for tonight's game against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards. "Without an extra infielder ... he wasn't available in Anaheim, wasn't available...