Means dominates and Lowther debuts in 8-1 win (updated)

Means dominates and Lowther debuts in 8-1 win (updated)
Zac Lowther sat in the Orioles bullpen this afternoon and waited for the phone to ring. A second call in less than 24 hours that would thrill him. That would allow a fourth player on the club to make his major league debut in less than a month. The fly in the ointment was a former All-Star pitcher who's the undisputed ace of the staff. A starter who didn't need a reliever to provide length. John Means was dealing again. Austin Hays was destroying fastballs. Lowther wasn't debuting until the...

Orioles lineup vs. Athletics (updated)

Orioles lineup vs. Athletics (updated)
The Orioles have sent out today's lineup ahead of their roster move, with left-hander Zac Lowther joining them from the alternate training site in Bowie and veteran lefty Wade LeBlanc being designated for assignment. The transaction will be announced shortly. Update: It was just announced. Lowther is wearing No. 59 and waiting to make his major league debut. Lowther will be in the bullpen this afternoon as the Orioles try to avoid a sweep and the Athletics attempt to run their winning streak...

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...

López labors early as Orioles lose 3-1 (updated)

López labors early as Orioles lose 3-1 (updated)
The first time through the order became treacherous territory for Orioles starter Jorge López. As if he decided to go off script for the "Moneyball" sequel. Lopez hadn't allowed a run in three starts until turning over the lineup, but five of nine Oakland batters reached tonight and created an early deficit that the Orioles never made up in a 3-1 loss before an announced crowd of 7,574. Ramón Laureano led off the fifth by homering into the visiting bullpen, the final batter for...

Orioles and Athletics lineups (updated)

Orioles and Athletics lineups (updated)
Austin Hays in the right fielder tonight, DJ Stewart is in left and Ryan Mountcastle is the designated hitter as the Orioles begin their homestand against the Athletics. Trey Mancini is the first baseman and Maikel Franco is in the cleanup spot. Ramón Urías gets the start at second base. Jorge López retired the first 11 Rangers batters with seven strikeouts in his last start. He's allowed seven runs and nine hits in 7 2/3 career innings against the Athletics. Oakland left-hander Cole...

Zimmermann falters in fifth and Orioles fall 3-0 (updated)

Zimmermann falters in fifth and Orioles fall 3-0 (updated)
Orioles catcher Pedro Severino and manager Brandon Hyde gave rookie pitcher Bruce Zimmermann the same encouraging, and perhaps consoling, pat on the backside today - in rapid succession as if rehearsed - after he handed over the baseball and turned toward the dugout. Zimmermann sat on the bench expressionless in the fifth inning, staring straight ahead, as captured by the MASN cameras. He could have been thinking about the elevated fastball that Jesús Aguilar lined into left-center field for...

Santander leaves tonight's game with injury (O's win 7-5)

Santander leaves tonight's game with injury (O's win 7-5)
The wealth of outfielders on the Orioles roster took an unfortunate and potentially serious hit tonight in the first inning. It barely had time to evolve. Anthony Santander appeared to roll his left ankle while getting back to the bag on an attempted pickoff throw from Marlins starter Nick Neidert. Santander jammed his foot, collapsed in the dirt and pounded a fist into it as the pain radiated through his leg. Head athletic trainer Brian Ebel and manager Brandon Hyde lifted Santander and...

O's game blog: Harvey on mound in Miami series opener

O's game blog: Harvey on mound in Miami series opener
The Orioles have gotten five straight outings where their starting pitcher allowed two earned runs or less. This run began with right-hander Matt Harvey in Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader, and Harvey is back on the mound tonight. He will make his fourth start of 2021 when the Orioles open a quick, two-day series at Miami. The Orioles lost 1-0 in 10 innings Sunday at Texas as they came up a win short of a series sweep at Globe Life Field. The Orioles (7-9) are 6-3 on the road. They are 2-3 in...

No runs, no win: O's lose in 10 and fail to sweep

No runs, no win: O's lose in 10 and fail to sweep
The Orioles were locked in another pitcher's duel this afternoon. Last night they trailed 1-0 after six innings but won 6-1. It was 0-0 today in Arlington, Texas through six. And through seven. And eight and nine. But the Orioles finally cracked. Nate Lowe's bases loaded single to left won it 1-0 in 10 innings for Texas as the O's failed to sweep and fall to 7-9 for the year. The O's missed a chance in the top of the 10th. With Maikel Franco on third and one out, pinch-hitter Trey Mancini...

Means shines again on road in Orioles' 1-0 10-inning loss (updated)

Means shines again on road in Orioles' 1-0 10-inning loss (updated)
There's nothing wrong with the mound at Camden Yards, the home clubhouse or the ballpark atmosphere. The routine at home isn't disruptive. John Means just happens to pitch better on the road this month, for reasons that can't be explained beyond the ridiculously small sample size. In Means' lone outing in Baltimore, he faced the Mariners in the first game of a doubleheader and allowed three runs in five innings with two home runs attached to his line. In starts made on three trips, he's...

Orioles recall Cole Sulser, give Trey Mancini the day off

Orioles recall Cole Sulser, give Trey Mancini the day off
The Orioles filled the opening on their 26-man roster today by recalling reliever Cole Sulser from the alternate training site in Bowie. Sulser is riding the proverbial shuttle. He broke camp with the team, was optioned to make room for reliever Shawn Armstrong and served as the 27th man in Thursday's doubleheader. In two appearances, Sulser has tossed three scoreless innings with no walks and five strikeouts. He was on the taxi squad. Dean Kremer was optioned late last night because the...

Mancini's hit, Galvis' defense, Kremer's bounceback part of O's winning night

Mancini's hit, Galvis' defense, Kremer's bounceback part of O's winning night
On a night when it looked like they might get shut out, instead the Orioles scored six late runs to beat the Texas Rangers Saturday night. They have started their road trip with 5-2 and 6-1 wins. It had to be nice to win coming from behind, as they were down 1-0 heading to the seventh. But to see Trey Mancini get the go-ahead run home was big-time icing on a cake that tasted pretty darn good. There were positive signs all around. Mancini doubled in the run in the eighth that provided a 2-1...

O's win at Texas was led by previously struggling players (with quotes)

O's win at Texas was led by previously struggling players (with quotes)
It was not just that the Orioles produced a comeback win in Texas, one that gives them a series victory. It was how they did it and who was responsible that was also quite big. Struggling Trey Mancini lined a go-ahead double in the eighth. Right-hander Dean Kremer, who had a 10.50 ERA at game time, pitched a strong game on three days' rest. Shortstop Freddy Galvis had four hits and started one sensational double play. And the improving Orioles bullpen had another good night. And down by 1-0...

Mountcastle moves to first base tonight

Mountcastle moves to first base tonight
Ryan Mountcastle is starting at first base tonight for the first time this season as the Orioles try to secure a series win over the Rangers. Mountcastle has been the designated hitter in eight games and the left fielder in six. He started nine games at first base last summer. Trey Mancini is batting fifth as the designated hitter, followed by Mountcastle. Mancini struck out four times last night to give him 18 for the season, second on the club behind Mountcastle. Rio Ruiz stays at second...

López completes fifth and bats catch fire in 5-2 win (updated)

López completes fifth and bats catch fire in 5-2 win (updated)
The starting pitcher was dealing early and a leadoff triple in the third inning led to a run and thoughts that the offense might have awakened. Deep in the heart of Texas, the Orioles were trying to bury everything that hurt them back home. What needed to be addressed was whether Jorge López could remain upright while taking another turn through the Rangers order and if settling for one run in that inning would bring regrets. Trying to stay in the rotation with other options available to the...

Kremer starts Saturday, Hays nearing return and more

Kremer starts Saturday, Hays nearing return and more
The Orioles have filled out their rotation for the weekend series in Texas and Dean Kremer is replacing TBD for Saturday night. Kremer is working on short rest after starting Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Mariners, but he threw 54 pitches and has indicated that he's feeling good. Otherwise, the Orioles could have selected one of their long relievers, with the candidates including Wade LeBlanc and Adam Plutko. "We feel confident that he's going to be fine for it," said...

Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
The starters need to get deeper into games. The bullpen needs to get more outs. The defense needs to tighten. A team doesn't slide into last place if these three areas are secured. But there may not be a heavier weight dragging down the Orioles than a light-hitting lineup. The Orioles went 7-for-47 (.149) in yesterday's doubleheader and scored only three runs while being swept by the Mariners. They've registered a .218 average in 13 games, the sixth-lowest in the majors as they boarded their...

Orioles bats go silent again in doubleheader sweep (updated)

Orioles bats go silent again in doubleheader sweep (updated)
The comparisons and contrasts keep jabbing at the Orioles like heavyweight fighters. Sticking and moving, sticking and moving. And there's the occasional big blow that sends them to the canvas again. Rio Ruiz strikes out to end the second inning, flips his bat to the ground, drops his helmet and gloves and walks away from the pile in disgust. Seattle's Dylan Moore leads off the next inning and hits a home run on the first pitch thrown by Bruce Zimmermann. Mariners starter Justin Dunn strikes...

Starters were solid, the bats were not as O's lose twice

Starters were solid, the bats were not as O's lose twice
Orioles right-hander Matt Harvey gave up just two runs and lefty Bruce Zimmermann gave up just two as well. But neither pitcher would get a win in today's doubleheader against Seattle. And neither would the Orioles, who scored just three runs over two games and 14 innings. They fall twice to Seattle today by scores of 4-2 in the first game and 2-1 in the second. Now they head to Texas for a series that begins on Friday. In the first game, Harvey was pounding his fastball, throwing it 64...

Harvey loses shutout in fifth and Orioles drop Game 1 (updated)

Harvey loses shutout in fifth and Orioles drop Game 1 (updated)
The rotation is motoring through its third turn in 2021. Traveling a road that hasn't appeared on any map, with the baseball season accelerating from 60 to 162 games. Potholes can look like canyons. The Orioles are packing 14 pitchers for the early portion of their trip as needed protection, uncertain how many innings can be handled by their starters and unwilling to risk injury or any semblance of strain. Only John Means and rookie Bruce Zimmermann (twice) have been able or allowed to...