Orioles lineup vs. Yankees

Orioles lineup vs. Yankees
Ryan Mountcastle is elevated to the cleanup spot this afternoon as Orioles manager Brandon Hyde makes more adjustments to a lineup that's missing key players to injuries. Renato Núñez and Cedric Mullins remain out of the lineup, with Pat Valaika playing first base today and Mason Williams getting another start in center field. Pedro Severino is the designated hitter and Bryan Holaday is behind the plate. Shortstop José Iglesias is on the bench with a sore quadriceps muscle. His...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Mullins at his best when bunting

Mullins at his best when bunting
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde will post his lineup again this afternoon, with a game expected to be played. In a minor league ballpark in Buffalo. There's a first time for everything. They keep coming in 2020. Cedric Mullins was supposed to be in center field last night before the Orioles voted not to play. He's likely to stay there tonight and bat leadoff or last. He has impressive range in the field and the lineup. Mullins leads the majors with six bunt hits, four more than the next closest...

Orioles battle through injuries to defeat Red Sox 5-4 (updated)

Orioles battle through injuries to defeat Red Sox 5-4 (updated)
The transitioning of the Orioles roster to a younger look and more prospects populating it can happen with the front office operating the controls or fate intervening. Wade LeBlanc came out of today's start against the Red Sox in the first inning with discomfort in his left elbow, the severity of the injury unknown until tests are run. There's never a long wait to speculate on a roster replacement, but the Orioles are going to take it one step at a time Thomas Eshelman entered the game after...

Hyde on Alberto, Iglesias, Urías, Davis and Harvey

Hyde on Alberto, Iglesias, Urías, Davis and Harvey
Catcher Chance Sisco has hit in every spot in the order except first during his major league career. There's a first time for everything. Sisco is leading off tonight as the Orioles continue their series against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards. Manager Brandon Hyde needed a replacement for Hanser Alberto, who's healthy but getting a breather. Sisco has a .474 on-base percentage and the team doesn't carry a prototypical leadoff hitter on the active roster. Makes sense to try it. Cedric Mullins...

Orioles place Iglesias on injured list (plus Orioles lineup)

Orioles place Iglesias on injured list (plus Orioles lineup)
The Orioles have placed shortstop José Iglesias on the 10-day injured list today and recalled infielder Ramón Urías from the alternate camp site in Bowie. Iglesias is dealing with a left quadriceps strain and has been limited to sporadic appearances in the lineup and in the field due to his injury. Manager Brandon Hyde suggested yesterday that the IL had become a consideration, though the Orioles hate to lose a bat that's been extremely productive. They're left with no choice. Signed...

Infield hits and one big swing doom Cobb in 7-2 loss (updated)

Infield hits and one big swing doom Cobb in 7-2 loss (updated)
The Orioles can no longer hide, even on the nights they'd like to do it. They've been ignored by the national media over the past few years because rebuilds don't have much curb appeal, but recognition is increasing beyond the local coverage. They've become the talk of Twitter, MLB Network and other outlets. This is the good kind of attention. No accusations of "tanking" or being "historically bad." But none of it really matters to them. They've done a pretty good job of tuning out the...

Iglesias becoming a consideration for injured list

Iglesias becoming a consideration for injured list
The inability to keep shortstop José Iglesias in the lineup due to a sore left quadriceps muscle has the Orioles at least pondering the benefits of a stint on the 10-day injured list. Iglesias is on the bench again tonight and has been the designated hitter on three occasions to lessen the strain on his leg. He's appeared in 16 games, making 10 starts at shortstop, and slashed .400/.414/.564 with nine doubles and 10 RBIs. "That's a possibility," manager Brandon Hyde said during today's...

Orioles lineup vs. Blue Jays

Orioles lineup vs. Blue Jays
Chris Davis stays on the bench tonight while the Orioles open a three-game series at home against the Blue Jays. Davis pinch-hit in the ninth inning yesterday and struck out with the count full. He's 6-for-45 (.133) with a .388 OPS, three doubles, an RBI, three walks and 13 strikeouts. His last home run was hit Sept. 23 in Toronto, where the Blue Jays are prohibited from playing this summer. They've relocated to Buffalo. Davis' last start came in Friday's 15-3 loss to the Nationals. He has...

Means makes short return start in 6-5 Orioles loss (updated)

Means makes short return start in 6-5 Orioles loss (updated)
John Means threw his last warm-up pitch this afternoon, waited for the ball to return to him and fired a 94 mph heater that missed his target. Baseball was back in his life. The question was how long he'd stay in his first game since leaving the bereavement and injured lists. On the mound for the first time in 12 days, Means issued an 11-pitch leadoff walk to Trea Turner and was victimized by three soft singles before retiring a batter. The first out came on his 29th pitch, a line drive to...

Orioles use unconventional lineup to beat Nats (updated)

Orioles use unconventional lineup to beat Nats (updated)
The Orioles broke out their Sunday lineup a little early. Or maybe it was too late. They should have tried it last night. An injury to his starting center fielder and an opposing left-handed starter had manager Brandon Hyde digging into his bench and providing opportunities that eluded a few players. Chris Davis and Dwight Smith Jr. sat against Nationals southpaw Patrick Corbin. Bryan Holaday served as the designated hitter for the first time in his career. Pat Valaika made his third start in...

Hyde hoping Hays can return in 10 days (plus other notes)

Hyde hoping Hays can return in 10 days (plus other notes)
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde struck an optimistic tone this afternoon while explaining Austin Hays' injury and timetable for his return. Whether he hit the right note won't be known for 10 days. Hays was placed on the injured list with a non-displaced rib fracture, but the club believes he can return to the active roster when eligible based on information provided by the medical staff. "Hopefully, Haysy won't be very long, but we put him on the IL for a little bit," Hyde said during his...

Orioles place Hays on IL and activate López (plus lineup)

Orioles place Hays on IL and activate López (plus lineup)
The Orioles have placed outfielder Austin Hays on the 10-day injured list with a non-displaced rib fracture and recalled Cedric Mullins from the alternate camp site at Bowie. Hays had four plate appearances and played center field in last night's 15-3 loss to the Nationals. He's batting .203/.273/.246 with an inside-the-park home run in 19 games. Injuries have slowed Hays' progression through the organization. He made the opening day roster this summer and has struggled at the plate, moving...

Updating Means, Akin, Iglesias, attempted steal of home

Updating Means, Akin, Iglesias, attempted steal of home
Orioles pitchers John Means and Jorge López are going through the intake process and remain on the injured list rather than joining the active roster. "Hoping soon," manager Brandon Hyde said during today's Zoom conference call, "but I don't have a for-sure date yet because we have to wait for results and other things." Hyde dismissed the possibility of Means pitching in Friday's suspended game against the Nationals at Camden Yards. The game will resume in the top of the sixth inning...