This, that and the other

This, that and the other
As Spenser Watkins jogged from the Orioles dugout to the mound last night to begin warming for his first major league start, each step sent vibrations all the way down to Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles needed a starter to fill out their rotation before the break, maybe a one-and-done but with the possibility of a longer stay. Anyone who can get into and through the middle innings has a shot to take the ball every fifth day. Maybe have a sandwich named after him. The easy move would have been to...

Orioles put Lakins on IL, add Watkins and Mattson

Orioles put Lakins on IL, add Watkins and Mattson
The Orioles placed pitcher Travis Lakins Sr. on the 10-day injured list today with right elbow pain, selected the contract of pitcher Spenser Watkins from Triple-A Norfolk and recalled reliever Isaac Mattson. Watkins and Mattson were on the taxi squad. Left-hander Alexander Wells was optioned to the Tides after earning his first major league win last night. The Orioles also declared infielder Stevie Wilkerson has been designated for assignment to create room for Watkins on the 40-man...

Lakins leaves with injury, Orioles erupt late in 13-3 win (updated)

Lakins leaves with injury, Orioles erupt late in 13-3 win (updated)
A bullpen game to compensate for optioning a starter to the minors is a shakier proposition when six relievers are used the previous night. At least the Orioles planned on it tonight. Well, part of it. The Astros unexpectedly tapped into their bullpen in the second inning to replace injured starter José Urquidy. Travis Lakins Sr. exited with an injury after loading the bases with two outs in the bottom of the second. There are bullpen games and then there are emergency situations, mad...

Orioles and Astros lineups (with more notes)

Orioles and Astros lineups (with more notes)
The latest Orioles lineup combination tonight has Ryan McKenna batting fifth and playing left field, with Austin Hays in right field and Anthony Santander serving as the designated hitter. Domingo Leyba is playing second base and Maikel Franco returns to the lineup at third. Austin Wynns is catching. Meanwhile, with a marathon win last night, the Orioles summoned right-hander Conner Greene from Triple-A Norfolk and put him on the taxi squad. A fresh arm is close. Greene would become the 11th...

Wells good again in series opener, Tides pitch shutout on the farm

Wells good again in series opener, Tides pitch shutout on the farm
It was kind of a tough night for one young Orioles pitcher last night, and a better one for another as they lost 4-2 to the Tampa Bay Rays to start a weekend series. Lefty Keegan Akin pitched with traffic on the bases most of his night, allowing five hits and three runs over four innings. The Rays forced him to throw 95 pitches, and two walks to start the game didn't help his cause. But Akin pitched out of that and minimized a jam in the third inning, allowing just one run. But second baseman...

López falters in fifth and offense late to fire up in 4-2 loss (updated)

López falters in fifth and offense late to fire up in 4-2 loss (updated)
The Orioles gambled today by leaving their tired bullpen intact and counting on Jorge López to provide some length. But they didn't necessarily bypass an obvious solution. The pitching staff at Triple-A Norfolk isn't loaded with 40-man options. Hard decisions are pending, with Hunter Harvey's return from the 60-day injured list, perhaps by early June, just one of them. Manager Brandon Hyde wasn't going to use a couple of his relievers tonight after an exhausting homestand. Finding a hot...

Santander reinstated from IL (plus lineups)

Santander reinstated from IL (plus lineups)
The Orioles reinstated outfielder Anthony Santander from the injured list today, the obvious corresponding roster move after they optioned Ryan McKenna to Triple-A Norfolk. Santander is in tonight's lineup against the Nationals in D.C., batting cleanup and playing right field. He's going to be facing Stephen Strasburg, who's coming off the injured list. Santander has been on the IL since April 20 with a sprained left ankle. "Basically, the timetable was two-to-four weeks depending on how I...

Orioles spot starter still a secret

Orioles spot starter still a secret
The Orioles are going to need a spot starter for Saturday night at Camden Yards, the pitcher's identity withheld as they finish their series today in Seattle and board a flight home. Optioning left-hander Bruce Zimmermann has created an opening and the Orioles decided again to move it up, as they did after removing Dean Kremer from the roster. "Right now it's our friend TBA," manager Brandon Hyde said in today's Zoom call. This could indicate a bullpen game, the course chosen after Kremer...

The RISP issues and a look at opening night on the farm

The RISP issues and a look at opening night on the farm
For the Orioles, it has been a recurring problem with their offense: a lack of clutch hits. This issue showed up again big time in the second game of the Seattle series Tuesday night. The Orioles had the bases loaded and one out in the second inning. They had bases loaded and two outs in the sixth and the same situation in the eighth. The last two times, catcher Chance Sisco grounded out in each instance to end the threat. He went hitless and is now batting .162 with a .414 OPS. He had company...

The plan for Zimmermann and minors update

The plan for Zimmermann and minors update
No longer in the Orioles rotation or on their active roster, rookie left-hander Bruce Zimmermann is reporting to Triple-A Norfolk and tasked with getting back to the majors after he's eligible to return. The Orioles optioned Zimmermann to the alternate training site last night and recalled reliever Isaac Mattson. The camp is shut down with the minor leagues starting tonight and Zimmermann is listed on the Tides roster. Zimmermann isn't immediately available after throwing 87 pitches Sunday...

Updating Baumann, Kjerstad, Akin, Ciuffo, Baumler and more

Updating Baumann, Kjerstad, Akin, Ciuffo, Baumler and more
Mike Baumann's exclusion from a break-camp roster is the result of lingering discomfort in his right arm, leaving one of the top pitching prospects in the Orioles organization at extended spring training in Sarasota, Fla. Baumann, ranked No. 8 by MLBPipeline.com and Baseball America, was shut down last summer at the alternate camp site in Bowie due to a right flexor strain. He was able to throw in spring training, though not competitively. The Orioles placed Baumann on the 40-man roster in...

Orioles and Mariners lineups

Orioles and Mariners lineups
Rio Ruiz, who had a pinch-hit double yesterday in Oakland, is starting at second base tonight for the series opener against the Mariners in Seattle. Ryan Mountcastle is starting at first base. He's hit safely in seven straight games, going 9-for-26 (.346). Trey Mancini is 9-for-28 (.321) with six RBIs in his last seven games. He's the designated hitter. Pedro Severino, who's catching tonight, is 6-for-18 (.333) in his last five games. He's reached base in 10 straight. Freddy Galvis is in...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
The month of April gave left-hander Zac Lowther his first introduction to the majors with a surprise call-up and his scoreless ninth inning on April 25. Optioned back to the alternate training site, he rejoined the Orioles as a member of their taxi squad for the West Coast trip that resumes tonight in Seattle. Good times for the pitcher MLBPipeline.com deems the No. 11 prospect in the organization. The only downside to placing him on the taxi squad was his inability to start Triple-A Norfolk's...

Another rotation check, Franco's opening day vow and 4-3 win

Another rotation check, Franco's opening day vow and 4-3 win
The bullpen game today in Sarasota began with veteran changeup artist César Valdez retiring the last seven batters that he faced. He was done for the afternoon and ready to change clothes when Trey Mancini and Maikel Franco hit two-run homers in the bottom of the third inning. Dillon Tate followed Valdez to the mound and retired only two batters, three other relievers pitched and Adley Rutschman doubled in his first at-bat in the Orioles' 4-3 win over the Rays. Now, back to the...

Versatile Valdez on today's outing (O's beat Rays)

Versatile Valdez on today's outing (O's beat Rays)
He might be the most versatile Orioles pitcher. Right-hander César Valdez could pitch in late relief or long relief. He could start the game. He could serve as an opener. He's ready for anything. Today, he was the starter and pitched three innings at Ed Smith Stadium against the defending American League East champion Tampa Bay Rays. And his outing got better as he went on. Valdez was leaving many of his pitches up in the top of the first and Tampa Bay was putting good swings on them....

Means: "It feels like such a blessing and just so humbling"

Means: "It feels like such a blessing and just so humbling"
John Means used to be a fringe prospect in the Orioles' minor league system or completely ignored by outside evaluators, an anonymity that he relished. A status that no longer applies to him. You can't be chosen as your team's opening day starter two years in a row and fly under the radar. "It definitely did (motivate), but it was also kind of nice, too, to be honest," Means said today on his Zoom call. "You're not the face, you're not getting interviewed from low A all the way to the...

How the latest news jumbles the roster analysis

How the latest news jumbles the roster analysis
Make opening day roster plans and duck the wrenches thrown at them. The Orioles intended to carry first baseman Chris Davis, but he hasn't played since Feb. 28 due to a lower back injury. The result is likely a trip to the injured list, whether 10 or 60 days. Hunter Harvey was a candidate to serve as closer, or at least a high-leverage reliever, but he's on the 60-day injured list with a left oblique strain. Félix Hernández was signed to a minor league deal and penciled into the...

Hyde provides updates on Martin and Stewart (Franco signs)

Hyde provides updates on Martin and Stewart (Franco signs)
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde is withholding Richie Martin from his first game until after Thursday's off-day. Hyde is being cautious with Martin, who had the hamate bone removed from his left hand in January. Martin hit yesterday on a back field at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. "Wrist is feeling pretty good," Hyde said today on his Zoom call. "We're pushing him back a couple days. ... He's going to continue to take at-bats on the back field here. "It's just coming off a hamate and your...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
With the Orioles working out the final details on a deal with free agent third baseman Maikel Franco, their pursuit intensifying late last night, according to an industry source, there are dominos set up to fall upon his arrival. The 40-man roster is full and a major league deal, pending a physical, would require a corresponding move. Rio Ruiz's future in the organization is in question. He could share the position with Franco, which limits the number of super-utility players able to travel...

Rutschman provides lone offensive highlight in 5-0 loss

Rutschman provides lone offensive highlight in 5-0 loss
Offensive support from the Orioles wasn't in vogue again today. Manager Brandon Hyde is trying to remain patient while wondering when it might come back in style. The Orioles were no-hit today in Dunedin, four walks their only noise, until Adley Rutschman's two-out double in the seventh that completed a 10-pitch at-bat against Blue Jays reliever Jordan Romano. Rutschman fouled off five in a row, per the Gameday pitch tracker, and drove a slider to center field in a 5-0 loss. He's 3-for-9...