Latest check on Orioles roster, moves and more

Latest check on Orioles roster, moves and more
The Orioles maintained their streak yesterday of conducting business or announcing it on an off-day. Well, pretty much every day, under any circumstances. Don't get too attached to the roster. Of course, there's bound to be separation when a team is 38-72 and unable to stay healthy. The Orioles designated reliever Conner Greene for assignment Saturday and recalled Isaac Mattson from Triple-A Norfolk. The Dodgers claimed Greene off waivers yesterday. This was the last loose end, needing...

Mountcastle on concussion IL, notes and lineups (updated)

Mountcastle on concussion IL, notes and lineups (updated)
The Orioles placed Ryan Mountcastle on the seven-day concussion injured list today and recalled left-hander Alexander Wells from Triple-A Norfolk. Wells was eligible to return in fewer than the minimum 10 days based on an injury. He was scheduled to start today for the Tides. Manager Brandon Hyde said the club will re-evaluate going with an extra pitcher after Monday's off-day. The bench includes catcher Pedro Severino, who left last night's game with a sore right knee but should be available...

More thoughts on need to evaluate Martin and Mateo

More thoughts on need to evaluate Martin and Mateo
Maikel Franco spent almost a month trying to come back from a sprained ankle. His pursuit of a foul ball in Houston leading to a spill on the warning track and an injury that coincided with Ryan McKenna's catch for the last out of the game. Franco has resumed his role as the everyday third baseman, but do the arrivals of Richie Martin and Jorge Mateo impact him? The Orioles cleared out two third basemen recently by optioning Kelvin Gutiérrez and having Domingo Leyba designated for...

Orioles recall Mattson and DFA Greene

Orioles recall Mattson and DFA Greene
The bullpen is changing again for the Orioles, who announced this afternoon that they recalled Isaac Mattson from Triple-A Norfolk and that Conner Greene would be designated for assignment. They also reinstated left-hander Ryan Hartman from the injured list at Triple-A Norfolk after he completed the intake process. Hartman goes on the 40-man roster, with Greene's removal opening a spot. Mattson, acquired from the Angels in the Dylan Bundy trade with the Angels in December 2019, made his major...

Orioles claim Mateo off waivers and DFA Valaika

Orioles claim Mateo off waivers and DFA Valaika
Moving past the trade deadline didn't create slower movement on the Orioles' active and 40-man rosters. A day after retooling their bullpen, the Orioles tweaked their infield again by claiming Jorge Mateo off waivers from the Padres and announcing Pat Valaika would be designated for assignment. Mateo, 26, became available on Tuesday after the Padres designated him to make room for left-hander Matt Strahm. He's one of the fastest players in the majors but also a career .195/.235/.310 hitter...

Orioles promote Knight and Diplán, DFA Anderson and Leyba

Orioles promote Knight and Diplán, DFA Anderson and Leyba
The Orioles retooled their bullpen today by selecting the contracts of right-handers Dusten Knight and Marcos Diplán from Triple-A Norfolk, two more potential major league debuts. Forty-nine players have been used this season, with 12 making their debuts. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Orioles decided pitcher Shaun Anderson and infielder Domingo Leyba would be designated for assignment. Leyba was in Norfolk. Knight is wearing No. 67 and Diplán No. 78. Rule 5 pick Tyler Wells...

Orioles activate Richie Martin from injured list

Orioles activate Richie Martin from injured list
Infielder Richie Martin is back in the majors. In a surprise move, the Orioles reinstated Martin from the 60-day injured list this afternoon and he's in New York for tonight's series opener against the Yankees. The Orioles optioned infielder Domingo Leyba to Triple-A Norfolk to make room on the active roster. They also put left-hander Ryan Hartman, claimed off waivers from the Astros, on the injured list. Hartman is going through the necessary COVID-19 protocols after joining the organization...

Cabrera homers twice and Orioles lose 6-2 (updated)

Cabrera homers twice and Orioles lose 6-2 (updated)
Over the past few hours, the Orioles attempted to win a game in Detroit, find a trade partner and gain more clarity on their roster heading into the weekend. They went 0-for-3. Casey Mize was only partially to blame. Rookie Alexander Wells surrendered four runs in five innings, Mize carried a shutout into the seventh, the Tigers won 6-2 and manager Brandon Hyde concluded his postgame Zoom call with the same players who made the ride from the team hotel to Comerica Park earlier in the...

Orioles lineup vs. Tigers and game notes

Orioles lineup vs. Tigers and game notes
Can the Orioles produce another ninth inning win? If so, it's going to happen in Detroit, where they begin a four-game series against the Tigers. Austin Hays is in right field tonight with Ryan McKenna in left. DJ Stewart is batting fourth as the designated hitter. Trey Mancini is playing first base and Ryan Mountcastle is on the bench. Domingo Leyba gets another start at second base and Austin Wynns is catching. McKenna's bases-loaded walk in the ninth inning last night was the club's first...

Bullpen trade chips aren't displayed in 7-3 loss (updated)

Bullpen trade chips aren't displayed in 7-3 loss (updated)
Scouts who descended upon Camden Yards again tonight weren't attracted to the crab cakes and pit beef. Those are just perks of the job. The Orioles are sellers again and the trade deadline is 4 p.m. Friday. Contenders are checking on available players and determining whether there's a potential match and at what cost. The weekend series against the Nationals and the current two-game set against the Marlins comprise the final homestand before August. Remaining observations on Orioles trade...

Orioles and Marlins lineups (plus notes)

Orioles and Marlins lineups (plus notes)
DJ Stewart is in right field tonight and Austin Hays is starting in left as the Orioles begin a two-game series against the Marlins at Camden Yards. Ryan Mountcastle is the cleanup hitter and first baseman, and Trey Mancini is serving as the designated hitter. Mancini is 13-for-33 (.394) with two doubles and two home runs during his eight-game hitting streak. He has multiple hits in five of those games. Domingo Leyba took ground balls at second base before batting practice and that's where...

Orioles and Nationals lineups

Orioles and Nationals lineups
The Orioles are going for the sweep this afternoon with John Means making his second start since exiting the injured list. Means allowed five runs in five innings Tuesday night against the Rays and the Orioles held him to 78 pitches. He's made one career start against the Nationals and surrendered three runs and four hits in two-thirds of an inning on Aug. 16, 2020. Ramón Urías gets a break today, with Pat Valaika at shortstop and Domingo Leyba at second base. Trey Mancini is the...

Orioles lineup could change, Greene on promotion (updated)

Orioles lineup could change, Greene on promotion (updated)
Domingo Leyba is starting at second base tonight as the Orioles try to defeat the Nationals and claim the series following last night's 6-1 win at Camden Yards. Ryan McKenna is in left field and DJ Stewart is in right. Trey Mancini is the first baseman, with Ryan Mountcastle serving as designated hitter. Ramón Urías remains in the fifth spot in the order. However, the Nationals scratched starter Max Scherzer due to mild triceps soreness and moved up left-hander Jon Lester. Do the Orioles...

Wells solid in first start, Rays with walk-off win (updated)

Wells solid in first start, Rays with walk-off win  (updated)
The baseball side of Alexander Wells' life came at him hard again, with little interest in his comfort or convenience. The short notice that he'd make his first major league start this afternoon. The leadoff home run by Randy Arozarena. The two walks that followed in the inning and the run-scoring triple before an out was recorded in the second. Wells doesn't get flustered. He doesn't crumble beneath the pressure. He was wearing the uniform and living the dream. Maybe the quality of some...

Orioles get back Means, but can't extend win streak (updated)

Orioles get back Means, but can't extend win streak (updated)
John Means made his return to the Orioles and their rotation tonight and didn't immediately slip into his ace attire. A proper fit wasn't a reasonable expectation given the long layoff. The velocity was fine. The hard contact was not. And there was more of it than usual. Starting his first major league game since June 5, Means allowed two runs in the first inning, Randy Arozarena's solo homer in the third and Francisco Mejía's two-run shot in the fourth, and the Rays erupted again late...

Harvey with six scoreless, first win in two months (updated)

Harvey with six scoreless, first win in two months (updated)
Six pitches thrown in the first inning. Only 18 through the second and 28 through the third. Eleven of 12 first-pitch strikes. No runs against him. Matt Harvey was having himself a day. Manager Brandon Hyde was having visions of a starter plowing through the early and middle innings, removing one of the hardest decisions he routinely makes during the season, which inevitably fuels second-guessing as a first reaction to it. A hit batter, walk and infield single in the fourth, with Domingo...

Orioles and Royals lineups (updated)

Orioles and Royals lineups (updated)
DJ Stewart remains in the cleanup spot today, serving as the designated hitter for the series finale against the Royals in Kansas City. Austin Hays is in right field and Ryan McKenna in left, with Trey Mancini the first baseman. No Ryan Mountcastle or Anthony Santander. Domingo Leyba gets the start at second base and Kelvin Gutierrez is at third. Austin Wynns is catching. Shortstop Ramón Urías has six multi-hit games in his last nine, going 12-for-34 (.353) after being 5-for-36 (.139) in...

Early production from Stewart and Urías leads Orioles to win

Early production from Stewart and Urías leads Orioles to win
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde told the media prior to the break that DJ Stewart would get more chances to play, that their conversation included instructions to keep his head up. A crowded outfield wouldn't push Stewart out the door or too far down the bench. "It's a long season left," Hyde said, "and he's going to get plenty of at-bats here in the second half." In the lineup for only the third time this month, Stewart singled twice and had an RBI and two runs scored by the third inning....

Orioles sign Cowser, tonight's lineups (updated)

Orioles sign Cowser, tonight's lineups (updated)
The Orioles signed outfielder Colton Cowser, their first-round selection in the draft out of Sam Houston State. Cowser received a $4.9 million bonus. The slot value with the fifth pick is $6,180,700. Cowser was in the Baltimore area for his physical, with an announcement of his signing expected over the weekend. He joins infielder Connor Norby, the second-rounder out of East Carolina University, as Orioles draft selections under contract in the last two days. With Cowser and Norby signing...

Non-roster players keep getting chances with Orioles

Non-roster players keep getting chances with Orioles
The Orioles drafted a second baseman in the second round, Connor Norby of East Carolina University, but he isn't blocking Jahmai Jones. I already saw and approved that joke on Twitter. Norby is praised by scouts for his solid tools across the board. He's a career .392/.458/.596 hitter at East Carolina. He led the nation with 102 hits this year. But I'm betting that Jones beats him to the majors. Any takers? Jones is batting .279 with an .863 OPS after Tuesday night's single and triple and...