Means goes 5 1/3, bullpen implodes in 9-4 loss (updated)

Means goes 5 1/3, bullpen implodes in 9-4 loss (updated)
Wilson Ramos shot a ground ball between shortstop and third base this afternoon and John Means turned away in disgust. Burned again by location. Not within the strike zone, but on the field. Between those hits was a two-run, opposite-field homer from Michael Conforto, who reached for a fastball and watched it carry as Ryan Mountcastle drifted back for it. Means wasn't shelled. It was more like shocked. Set free of the stricter pitch counts that accompanied his previous starts, Means worked a...

Hyde on Means: "I look for John to have a really good September"

Hyde on Means: "I look for John to have a really good September"
The Orioles are lifting the restrictions on John Means. Manager Brandon Hyde has been providing incremental increases in pitch count and innings after Means returned from his second trip to the injured list. If the Mets cooperate with him, Means is going to move past four innings and 74 pitches in this afternoon's series finale at Camden Yards. "I feel comfortable with taking him further than he's gone so far," Hyde said today in his Zoom conference call with the media. "I think John's...

Orioles lineup vs. Mets

Orioles lineup vs. Mets
Hanser Alberto remains out of the Orioles lineup this afternoon with a sore knee. Pat Valaika, who had a career-high four hits last night, is playing second base in the series finale against the Mets. José Iglesias is the designated hitter and Andrew Velazquez is the shortstop. The lineup is the same as last night's except Pedro Severino is catching. John Means is making his sixth start and the first of his career against the Mets. He was built up to four innings and 74 pitches in his last...

Games or not, O's turn Bowie site into strong player development experience

Games or not, O's turn Bowie site into strong player development experience
Were this a "normal" baseball season, players would be getting into games on the farm and getting plenty of at-bats and innings in during minor league games. It would provide chances to improve their skills and advance their careers. Without that this year, the Orioles have tried to develop a strong Plan B at their alternate site at Prince George's Stadium, home of the Double-A Bowie Baysox. Players get at-bats and innings, but against players from their own farm system and organization. But...

Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
The Orioles yesterday began their first homestand since the wave of deadline trades that subtracted Tommy Milone, Mychal Givens and Miguel Castro from the pitching staff and further lowered the average age in the clubhouse. Players knew that more changes were in store after the earlier deal that sent reliever Richard Bleier to the Marlins. Their baseball worlds aren't rocked. They can see the big picture. No one needs to sit down with them and explain it. Say your goodbyes and try to stay...

Núñez homers twice, Valaika collects four hits in 9-5 win (updated)

Núñez homers twice, Valaika collects four hits in 9-5 win (updated)
Cedric Mullins is going to bunt. José Iglesias is going to collect doubles as if it's his hobby. Renato Núñez is going to be a streaky home run hitter. The Orioles can be an unpredictable bunch, but there are certain truths that hold over an entire season. They were responsible for staking Asher Wojciechowski to a quick lead tonight, casting the latest homestand and month of September in a positive light. It became a flicker in the next inning, with Wojciechowski giving back two runs...

O's game blog: The homestand begins

O's game blog: The homestand begins
After a stretch of playing 13 straight games against American League East teams, the Orioles begin a two-game home series against the New York Mets tonight. This begins a stretch of 12 straight games through Sept. 13 against New York teams. They will meet the Mets four times and play the Yankees eight times. The Orioles went 3-10 in the stretch of games against Boston, Tampa Bay and Toronto. They are 8-13 this season against AL clubs and 7-6 versus the National League. They are 7-2 against the...

Orioles avoid four-game sweep with 4-3 win in 11 innings (updated)

Orioles avoid four-game sweep with 4-3 win in 11 innings (updated)
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde posted his lineup this morning and wondered if it would remain intact. If anyone would be scratched or removed from the game before 4 p.m. If the relievers who walked together to the bullpen would board the same flight back to Baltimore. The first major league start for Keegan Akin played out in the middle of the trade deadline frenzy. At least Hyde knew the rookie wasn't on the block. Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias sent reliever Miguel Castro...

A closer look at Keegan Akin's start, plus a trade note

A closer look at Keegan Akin's start, plus a trade note
Orioles lefty pitching prospect Keegan Akin threw a very strong game today against Toronto in Buffalo. In fact, he became just the third O's starter on the year to not allow an earned run. He gave up two unearned runs in 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision. The Orioles broke a five-game losing streak and avoided a four-game sweep and winless road trip. They beat Toronto 4-3 in 11 innings on RBI doubles by José Iglesias and Bryan Holaday in the 11th. In the last of the 11th, Toronto scored one...

Mountcastle homers twice in 6-5 loss

Mountcastle homers twice in 6-5 loss
The Orioles took a break from their trading this afternoon to play a baseball game. They shuffled two pitchers out of Buffalo and held an audition for right-hander Jorge López. One of their busiest and most important days. No one pretended that López wasn't pitching for a job. Wade LeBlanc is out for the season with an elbow injury. Tommy Milone is starting tonight for the Braves. There are several candidates, but López had first dibs. Ryan Mountcastle doesn't need to audition. He's...

Yep, it happened again: O's lose in a walk-off

Yep, it happened again: O's lose in a walk-off
On the day Ryan Mountcastle hit his first two homers, both giving the Orioles the lead, would it be enough to end a four-game losing streak? Mountcastle blasted No. 1 on a 2-2 changeup off Tanner Roark in the second. That gave the O's a 1-0 lead. He hit No. 2 off a Roark fastball with a man on in the sixth. That gave the O's a 4-3 lead. But after Toronto tied it 4-4 in the last of the eighth, the O's had to take the lead again. And they did in the ninth on an infield RBI single up the middle...

Orioles and Blue Jays lineups

Orioles and Blue Jays lineups
Mason Williams is starting in center field today as the Orioles try to break a four-game losing streak. Cedric Mullins is on the bench today in Buffalo. And José Iglesias is the designated hitter, with Andrew Velazquez playing shortstop. Ryan Mountcastle stays in left field. Jorge López is making his first start with the Orioles. Left-handed hitters are slashing .310/.373/.536 against him in 63 career games. López has made three appearances against the Blue Jays and allowed six runs...

Orioles shut out for third time with 5-0 loss (updated)

Orioles shut out for third time with 5-0 loss (updated)
Randal Grichuk chased a split-change from Alex Cobb tonight in the first inning, the ball diving toward the dirt, shook his head and walked back to the dugout. He looked mortal. Just a guy striking out in a major league game. Nothing to see here, except the Orioles actually kept him in the ballpark. The on-field ceremony was canceled with no fans in attendance to see it. Manager Brandon Hyde had Cole Sulser pitch to Grichuk in the 10th inning last night because of the guy on deck. The guy who...

Orioles place Armstrong on injured list (and other notes)

Orioles place Armstrong on injured list (and other notes)
The Orioles have placed reliever Shawn Armstrong on the 10-day injured list with soreness in his lower back. Evan Phillips has been recalled from the alternate camp site in Bowie. Armstrong has a 2.19 ERA and 0.892 WHIP in 11 appearances, with three walks and 12 strikeouts in 12 1/3 innings. He hasn't pitched since last Saturday and the IL move is retroactive to Wednesday. The team is calling the injury "left SI joint inflammation." "It's just a flare up," manager Brandon Hyde said during...

A few notes after a walk-off loss to Blue Jays

A few notes after a walk-off loss to Blue Jays
Grabbing defeat from the jaws of victory, the Orioles were an out away from a solid win last night. But they couldn't get it. An out that would have given them a close win during a string of close losses, would have given them their first win over Toronto and would have pulled them within a 1/2 game of the Blue Jays for the No. 8 American League playoff seed. By the way, I digress, but the New York Yankees have now lost seven in a row. They are just a half-game better than Toronto and three...

Orioles burned again by Grichuk in 5-4 loss in 10 innings (updated)

Orioles burned again by Grichuk in 5-4 loss in 10 innings (updated)
Pennant race baseball in Buffalo. Another unexpected touch to the 2020 season. The Orioles are playing meaningful games in the last weekend of August for the first time in three years. They trailed the Blue Jays by 1 1/2 games for the last playoff spot as the teams prepared to get back on the field after their respective postponements. The expansion of qualifiers made the impossible seem a little more attainable. The rest was up to the Orioles. Four games above .500 on Aug. 15 and beginning to...

O's game blog: The series opener against Toronto

O's game blog: The series opener against Toronto
After losing two games against Tampa Bay and after last night's postponement, the Orioles tonight begin a four-game series in Buffalo against the Toronto Blue Jays (15-14). The Jays, who swept three from the Orioles earlier this season, hold third place in the American League East and are the current No. 8 seed for the AL playoffs. Toronto is 1 1/2 games ahead of the Orioles (14-16) as the series begins. The O's lost 4-2 and 4-3 in St. Petersburg, Fla., versus Tampa Bay. The Orioles began the...

Orioles lineup vs. Blue Jays

Orioles lineup vs. Blue Jays
Orioles catcher Pedro Severino is healthy again and behind the plate for tonight's game against the Blue Jays at Sahlen Field in Buffalo. Severino left Sunday's game against the Red Sox with tightness in his right hip, but he avoided the injured list. He wasn't in yesterday's lineup against the Rays before the Orioles decided not to play. Hanser Alberto is leading off and playing third base. Shortstop José Iglesias, activated from the injured list yesterday, returns as the No. 3...

Orioles decide to play tonight after emotional team meeting (updated)

Orioles decide to play tonight after emotional team meeting (updated)
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde left it up to his players whether they wanted to take the field tonight or pack up and leave. He was going to support their decision. Whichever way it leaned. The team has decided, without any resistance, to finish the series against the Rays at Tropicana Field. At least two more games have been postponed tonight to protest the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis. To bring more awareness to racial inequality. To make the boldest statement that sports can...

Dwight Smith Jr. outrighted to alternate camp site

Dwight Smith Jr. outrighted to alternate camp site
Outfielder Dwight Smith Jr. is staying in the Orioles organization. Smith has cleared waivers and been outrighted to the alternate camp site in Bowie, according to an industry source. The 60-man pool is holding 58 players. It had been reduced to 57 with left-hander Wade LeBlanc going on the 60-day injured list. The Orioles designated Smith for assignment on Saturday and selected outfielder Mason Williams' contract from the secondary camp. Smith was batting .222/.306/.365 with three doubles and...