Orioles facing many more 40-man moves

Orioles facing many more 40-man moves
The early work on the Orioles' 40-man roster consisted of one move that probably didn't require hours of study, deliberation and angst. The team likes Travis Lakins Sr. Manager Brandon Hyde talked about the reliever's recovery from elbow surgery and the likelihood that he'd be ready for spring training. But it made no sense to move Lakins from the 60-day injured list to a 40-man roster that requires heavy cuts. A chain saw rather than a pocket knife. Teams figured to pass on Lakins after he...

Wells wrestling ninth inning away from Orioles relievers

Wells wrestling ninth inning away from Orioles relievers
Sometimes, a manager's plans for a player become more evident through actions rather than words. Brandon Hyde isn't proclaiming that Rule 5 selection Tyler Wells is the Orioles' unopposed and unchallenged closer. He doesn't put that much emphasis on the role during a rebuild, though he understands how crushing it is to lose a lead in the ninth inning - like what happened in Anaheim after Cedric Mullins, named to the All-Star team earlier in the day, homered in the top half. Wells has...

Sceroler "thankful for this whole entire situation"

Sceroler "thankful for this whole entire situation"
The Tuesday drive from Mac Sceroler's home in Louisiana to Chattanooga, Tenn., didn't show it on any map, but he traveled down a steep hill to get there. The peak of it actually back in Baltimore. The descent from the majors to Double-A baseball is common with Rule 5 selections. Sceroler sensed that it might be coming. Braced for it and understanding of the reasons. Two months spent on the injured list and rehabbing his right shoulder tore through whatever odds of success existed with...

Orioles aren't done debuting players

Orioles aren't done debuting players
Knuckleballer Mickey Jannis, and the law states that he can't be referenced without his signature pitch proceeding his name, became the eighth Oriole on Wednesday to make his major league debut this season. Konner Wade was the ninth, and the 42nd player used by the club, when he replaced starter Keegan Akin yesterday and allowed six runs and seven hits in 1 2/3 innings. Alexander Wells became Nos. 10 and 43 when he replaced Wade in the seventh and tossed two scoreless innings. And it's only...

Galvis leaves game with leg injury (Orioles lose 12-4, updated)

Galvis leaves game with leg injury (Orioles lose 12-4, updated)
Falling behind by four runs today wasn't the only pain inflicted on the Orioles. They watched shortstop Freddy Galvis leave the game in the top of the second inning with an injury to his right leg, which likely is going to force him onto the injured list and bring more roster moves. Galvis reached on a bunt single and limped off the field, grabbing the front of his leg to indicate a possible quadriceps injury. The club announced only that he had right quad discomfort. Galvis was making his...

Orioles unable to carry two Rule 5 pitchers through season

Orioles unable to carry two Rule 5 pitchers through season
The rarity of breaking camp with two Rule 5 pitchers is followed by the rarity of keeping them through an entire season. The Orioles took a stab at it, needing right-handers Tyler Wells and Mac Sceroler to remain on the active roster for 90 days. Sceroler didn't make it. He was designated for assignment on Tuesday. Let me begin by pointing out that the reference order used to be Mac Sceroler and Tyler Wells based on their selections at the Winter Meetings, though the former had less...

Jannis talks about making the majors at age 33

Jannis talks about making the majors at age 33
The latest reliever swap by the Orioles has put knuckleballer Mickey Jannis in the bullpen, his major league debut at age 33 perhaps coming later tonight against the Astros. The Orioles selected Jannis' contract yesterday from Triple-A Norfolk, with the news passed along by Tides manager Gary Kendall via a phone call. The team didn't play yesterday. Kendall wanted to tell Jannis in person, but he couldn't do it. "I don't think I could put into words what this means," Jannis said earlier...

Orioles DFA Mac Sceroler and select Mickey Jannis' contract

Orioles DFA Mac Sceroler and select Mickey Jannis' contract
The Orioles have cut ties with Rule 5 pitcher Mac Sceroler. The club designated Sceroler for assignment this afternoon and selected the contract of knuckleballer Mickey Jannis from Triple-A Norfolk. Jannis is wearing No. 76, a first in team history, and waiting to make his major league debut. Sceroler, the nephew of former Orioles pitcher and current MASN analyst Ben McDonald, made five appearances and allowed 12 earned runs (15 total) and 15 hits in 7 2/3 innings. He walked seven batters,...

Orioles avoid no-hitter but not a 10-2 loss (updated)

Orioles avoid no-hitter but not a 10-2 loss (updated)
The only stickiness for Keegan Akin tonight was a third-inning jam. A worse mess for the Orioles was their inability to get a hit until the eighth inning. Three Astros pitchers beginning with Jake Odorizzi combined for only a walk and hit batter before Maikel Franco's two-run homer off reliever Brandon Bielak in the Orioles' 10-2 loss before an announced crowd of 7,414, a potential eighth no-hitter against them and second at Camden Yards sailing into the bullpen. Bielak nailed Austin Hays on...

Jorge López allows three homers as road losing streak continues

Jorge López allows three homers as road losing streak continues
As they tried to end a couple of losing streaks today, the Orioles fell into a three-run hole in the first inning at Cleveland this afternoon. They got close mid-game, but when Cleveland opened up a four-run lead in the sixth the Indians were on their way to a 10-3 win, and they swept a four-game series from the Orioles. The Orioles started this road trip to St. Petersburg, Fla., and Cleveland by scoring 12 runs in the first five games of the trip. But in the last three losses to the Indians...

More on Harvey and the Orioles rotation

More on Harvey and the Orioles rotation
The Orioles resume their season tonight after yesterday's break and reset following a 14-1 loss to the Mets, now faced with a stretch of playing 20 days or nights in a row. Seriously, who's responsible for a schedule that keeps lumping off-days together and then withholding them as if the commissioner's office is hoarding? The latest off-day had to be savored, and it allowed the bullpen to recover after Matt Harvey worked just three innings Wednesday night. Manager Brandon Hyde said...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
One of manager Brandon Hyde's favorite descriptions for Ryan Mountcastle's at-bats is how the rookie "snorkels" the ball. Which leads to one very important question: What exactly is snorkeling a ball? Hyde couldn't provide a demonstration yesterday because an afternoon storm canceled batting practice and stuck the media on another Zoom call. Otherwise, he gladly would have grabbed a bat and swung into action. "I guess I use it as when someone throws a breaking ball or slider or...

Harvey hit hard again in 14-1 loss (updated)

Harvey hit hard again in 14-1 loss (updated)
Matt Harvey placed a hand on his hip and stared at the ball landing in the left field seats. Reliever Adam Plutko reached down for his glove in the bullpen, the call coming for him to warm up. Actions done almost simultaneously. Actions that signaled another abbreviated start for Harvey. A second chance at his former team produced a near identical result with seven runs and eight hits allowed, though tonight's outing fell 1 1/3 innings short of Harvey's return last month to Citi Field. An...

Orioles rotation unsettled after Akin

Orioles rotation unsettled after Akin
The Orioles rotation is undergoing more changes with John Means on the injured list and another off-day approaching on Thursday. Rookie left-hander Keegan Akin is starting Friday night against the Rays at Tropicana Field. The Orioles are listing the next two starters as TBA. Jorge López could get the ball Saturday afternoon on an extra day of rest, followed by rookie left-hander Bruce Zimmermann on his normal turn. However, the Orioles could decide to plug in a fifth starter earlier than...

Wells working toward bigger bullpen role with Orioles

Wells working toward bigger bullpen role with Orioles
The return of Rule 5 pitcher Mac Sceroler yesterday has left two Orioles on the 10-day injured list. Outfielder Austin Hays began his rehab assignment last night with Triple-A Norfolk and hit a solo home run. Pitcher John Means is with the team but shut down due to a strained left shoulder. Hays should be activated later this week. Means won't be back in games for a while, the Orioles taking every precaution with their ace and aiming for no further interruptions in his status over the second...

Hyde's bullpen stocked again with two Rule 5 picks (with lineups)

Hyde's bullpen stocked again with two Rule 5 picks (with lineups)
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde leaned against the dugout railing this afternoon at Camden Yards and had his first face-to-face interaction with the media since spring training shut down on March 12, 2020. No more Zoom interviews during his pregame session. And for Hyde, no mask. The return to pre-pandemic days is creeping along. The key is how it's moving forward. "This feels normal," Hyde said as his players took batting practice. "It's been strange, for you, too, doing everything through...

Orioles activate Sceroler

Orioles activate Sceroler
Two days after optioning left-hander Zac Lowther to Triple-A Norfolk, the Orioles filled out their 26-man roster by reinstating Rule 5 pick Mac Sceroler from the injured list prior to tonight's series opener against the Mets at Camden Yards. The Orioles also reinstated infielder Pat Valaika from the bereavement list and optioned infielder Ramón Urías to Norfolk. Sceroler has made two appearances, none since April 11, due to right shoulder tendinitis. He's allowed three runs and five...

Notes on Armstrong, Harvey, Hays and more

Notes on Armstrong, Harvey, Hays and more
Orioles reliever Shawn Armstrong began the 2021 season on the paternity list, was transferred to the injured list in a procedural move caused by the intake process and spent two months unable to regain his effectiveness out of the bullpen. The next move for Armstrong could be joining a new organization. The Orioles designated Armstrong for assignment this afternoon while also recalling reliever Travis Lakins Sr. from Triple-A Norfolk, and claiming infielder Domingo Leyba on waivers from the...

Orioles evaluating players while trying to stop their losing streak

Orioles evaluating players while trying to stop their losing streak
As the Orioles tried unsuccessfully yesterday to close out their road trip with a victory and slam the brakes on a losing streak that grew to 13 games, unable to make the flight home a little more enjoyable, some of the organization's top pitching prospects were given starts at the upper levels of the farm system. Kyle Bradish was handed the ball at Triple-A Norfolk, with Dean Kremer and Zac Lowther on the mound for the next two games in Durham. Mike Baumann and DL Hall started for Double-A...

Orioles see logic and challenges with short bench

Orioles see logic and challenges with short bench
The idea of a 14-man pitching staff still makes sense during a season with heightened injury concerns. The increase in games and innings endangering the arms. The handling of workloads done with care. Carrying two Rule 5 picks on opening day solidified the logic. Hard to punch holes through it. The complication resides in the trainers' room. Keeping nine relievers on a 26-man roster allows for only a three-man bench and the Orioles have found themselves stripped down to the extra...