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...

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...

Orioles select contract of Jay Flaa (updated)

Orioles select contract of Jay Flaa (updated)
A fifth Orioles player is poised to make his major league debut this month. The Orioles selected the contract of right-handed reliever Jay Flaa from the alternate training site this afternoon and optioned left-hander Zac Lowther to the Bowie complex. The Orioles wanted a fresh bullpen arm to begin their four-game series against the Yankees. Lowther pitched the ninth inning yesterday. Flaa's stay could be short. Dean Kremer is eligible to return on Wednesday and a spot must be cleared for...

Rain falls before Orioles do in 7-2 loss (Lowther joining O's)

Rain falls before Orioles do in 7-2 loss (Lowther joining O's)
The Orioles are recalling pitching prospect Zac Lowther from the alternate training site in Bowie, according to an industry source, and he'll be available in the bullpen for Sunday afternoon's series finale against the Athletics. Wade LeBlanc, who started tonight, will be designated for assignment to create roster space. Lowther, who turns 25 on Friday, is the No. 11 prospect in the system, according to MLBPipeline.com, and he's on the verge of making his major league debut. The Orioles...

Because You Asked - Saturday Night Cleaver

Because You Asked - Saturday Night Cleaver
If I've been negligent in sorting through my "mailbag," as I like to call it. That's because it was accidentally sent to the alternate blogging site in Bowie. Perhaps there was no need for a fifth mailbag with multiple off-days this week. I don't really know. But what's important here is that I'm ready to tackle more questions. Welcome to the latest sequel to this classic original. You ask 'em, I answer 'em and someone else asks again as if the subject is untapped. We laugh, we cry, we...

Updating rotation plans and more

Updating rotation plans and more
The Orioles are pushing back John Means to Sunday afternoon against the Athletics and waiting until later tonight to choose Saturday's starter. The options are a bullpen game or recalling a pitcher from the alternate training site in Bowie. "Just going to give John an extra day," manager Brandon Hyde said today in his Zoom call. Means will get a full week with his most recent outing Sunday against the Rangers. Normal rest would have put him on the mound tonight, but the Orioles had two...

Mountcastle lowered to sixth in order (game postponed)

Mountcastle lowered to sixth in order (game postponed)
An opposing left-handed starter didn't tempt manager Brandon Hyde to keep Ryan Mountcastle as the cleanup hitter. Mountcastle has been lowered to sixth in the order tonight against the Mariners' Justus Sheffield. He batted fourth in eight of nine games. Though he's doubled twice and homered this month, Mountcastle is 7-for-38 (.184) with a .541 OPS and 17 strikeouts that lead the majors. He's 3-for-18 with nine strikeouts in the last four games. Mountcastle doubled in his second at-bat...

Orioles surrender six homers, get swept (updated)

Orioles surrender six homers, get swept (updated)
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde can keep talking about the bad at-bats and tough luck that run through his lineups, or he can just lean on the dugout railing and make mental notes as examples play out in front of him. There isn't much that Hyde can do to silence the effects of a screaming line drive today from Maikel Franco in the second inning that produced a double play and another layer of frustration. Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers making a backhanded grab - the glove somehow staying...

A take on the rotation so far and moving forward

A take on the rotation so far and moving forward
The Orioles bullpen, which was pretty airtight in the big win Wednesday night at New York, had a few leaks on Thursday afternoon in the home opener in Baltimore. We know the team is heavy on long-relief options, and we're going to find out over time how the late-game relievers hold up and protect leads. So far, right-hander César Valdez had been outstanding in recording two saves and a win. On Wednesday night when the Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman was limited to one inning, the O's...

Early returns on Rule 5 pitchers (and more)

Early returns on Rule 5 pitchers (and more)
The Orioles are only seven games into their season, but they don't have a reason to second-guess the decision to carry two Rule 5 pitchers on the opening day roster. The risk made sense back in Sarasota and it makes sense further north. Tyler Wells surrendered his first major league home run Thursday, but he also struck out three batters in the inning. Franchy Cordero was fed two changeups and two four-seam fastballs and swung through an 87 mph slider. Wells got swinging strikes on Bobby...

Mancini's return to Camden Yards high point in loss (updated)

Mancini's return to Camden Yards high point in loss (updated)
Trey Mancini heard his name called, stepped out of the dugout, jogged to the first base line, tapped fists with manager Brandon Hyde and center fielder Cedric Mullins, and gave the crowd what it wanted. Himself. Back in uniform. Back in Baltimore. The Orioles played their first home game this afternoon after a two-city road trip, tweaking the traditional ceremonies as a concession to health and safety protocols. Maybe the bullpen would have been too crowded for introductions. Matt Harvey...

Kremer leaves early, Orioles avoid shutout in ninth (updated)

Kremer leaves early, Orioles avoid shutout in ninth (updated)
Dean Kremer's three most important pitches tonight didn't require a batter or plate umpire. His line and the score wouldn't be impacted. He did, however, draw a small crowd near the mound. An unexpected pod. Aaron Judge lined a fastball up the middle that slammed off the back of Kremer's leg in the first inning, threatening the rookie's start just two batters into the game. An exit velocity near 110 mph could have sent Kremer to the clubhouse almost as quickly. But Kremer convinced manager...

Hyde on youth, home opener details and more

Hyde on youth, home opener details and more
The news frenzy yesterday has been followed this afternoon by pregame tranquility, as evidenced by the six minutes that manager Brandon Hyde spent on his media Zoom call. Nothing worth stopping the real and proverbial presses. No roster moves or injury updates. Five Orioles made their major league debuts in 2020. Three earned the honor this season within the first four games - Rule 5 pitchers Mac Sceroler and Tyler Wells and outfielder Ryan McKenna. More pitchers should walk through the door...

Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
The two scoreless innings Sunday afternoon from Orioles reliever Cole Sulser didn't spare him an option yesterday to the alternate training site. It didn't erase the struggles last summer that cost him the closer's job, with the loss of control and skyrocketing walk totals forcing manager Brandon Hyde to scrounge for lower-leverage situations. Those innings, however, were important to a team knowing that it's going to need him in a 162-game season. Knowing that he must be trustworthy no...

Orioles lose Hays and win again in Boston (updated)

Orioles lose Hays and win again in Boston (updated)
Adam Plutko was kidding. He didn't bite when challenged to place a guarantee on it. He did, however, ramp up the humor yesterday by saying the Orioles "obviously" would go 162-0 this season. The newest Orioles pitcher also offered to hand over his salary if they ran the table. It's much too soon to hit the ATM, but the Orioles cashed in on an opportunity to sweep the Red Sox. They haven't hit a home run in three games, but they keep manufacturing runs and wins. They jumped Garrett Richards...

Bats join the fun as O's sweep Boston

Bats join the fun as O's sweep Boston
For Orioles batters, it was like a stroll in the park today. Fenway Park. They came through early and often. The pitchers carried the club to the first two wins in this series and the O's got more solid pitching today. But the batters really broke out the lumber. Cedric Mullins had five hits, including three doubles, and the O's scored seven runs in the top of the third as they routed the Red Sox 11-3. They sweep the series and have their first 3-0 start since the 2017 club won its first...

O's long relief depth includes two Rule 5 pitchers

O's long relief depth includes two Rule 5 pitchers
If it's a long reliever you seek, check out the Orioles bullpen. They have several there, waiting their chance. They include newcomer Adam Plutko and former starter Wade LeBlanc, along with the club's two Rule 5 draft picks - right-handers Tyler Wells and Mac Sceroler. Plutko made his O's debut on Saturday and pitched very well in his long relief outing. He threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings and got the win against Boston. Wells, drafted out of the Minnesota Twins organization, has not pitched in...

Hyde on catchers, Ruiz, Rule 5 pitchers, Harvey and more

Hyde on catchers, Ruiz, Rule 5 pitchers, Harvey and more
Pedro Severino is behind the plate again today for the Orioles after catching yesterday's combined two-hit shutout at Fenway Park and collecting two hits. The Red Sox are starting three right-handers in the series, which could get Chance Sisco in the lineup. Or he'll wait until the Orioles resume their road trip in the Bronx. The life of a backup. "I was really impressed with Sevie," manager Brandon Hyde said today in his Zoom call. "I thought we didn't talk enough about what Sevie did...

Lineup changes, switches in designated hitters and more

Lineup changes, switches in designated hitters and more
No matter how the opening day lineup is stacked today, and it should duplicate the one wasted yesterday by the postponement, the Orioles are going to make at least five changes from the 2020 version. They shouldn't need to wait another day unless the Red Sox determine that the sun is too bright. José Iglesias won't be batting third and playing shortstop. Renato Núñez won't be batting fourth and serving as designated hitter. Chris Davis won't be playing first base and batting fifth....

Orioles set 26-man roster

Orioles set 26-man roster
The Orioles won't play today in Boston, but they're able to set their opening day roster by the noon deadline. There are no surprises beyond the early rainout. Outfielder DJ Stewart is on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring. Reliever Shawn Armstrong is on the paternity list, keeping him away from the team for a maximum of three days. Reliever Travis Lakins Sr. is optioned to Triple-A Norfolk, but manager Brandon Hyde indicated yesterday that the assignment could be...