Pat Valaika grounded into a force against Adam Cimber this afternoon and the Orioles' 2021 season was a wrap. The fifth in a row below .500. A final record of 52-110, with two fewer wins than the last full season in 2019. With 56 road losses that are third-most in team history. And with a minus-297 run differential. The Blue Jays did their part to stay alive in the wild card race by winning 12-4 at Rogers Centre, a game that included George Springer's leadoff home run against Orioles rookie...

The Orioles keep building new streaks as if tool belts are now part of the uniform. Usually the kind that feel like a drill bit twisting through the temples of their manager. Brandon Hyde was able to joke about the most recent streak, the one-run games that reached five in a row going into tonight. How he told his players it was OK to win 7-2 once in a while. They didn't exactly follow orders against the Royals, but a four-run first inning hinted that they no longer wanted to be so...

The Orioles made their latest bullpen move this afternoon, claiming right-hander Chris Ellis off waivers from the Rays and designating César Valdez for assignment. Left-hander Ryan Hartman cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk. Ellis, 28, made his second major league appearance Tuesday night against the Orioles and earned the win with four scoreless innings in relief. He allowed three hits, walked one, struck out seven and was designated for assignment to create room for...

Is this going to be the night? The Orioles' losing streak has reached 13 games, one short of their season high that closed out May. Rookie Spenser Watkins will try to be the stopper while making his third appearance against the Rays. Watkins held them to one run in six innings and struck out seven batters on July 19 at Tropicana Field and allowed four earned runs (five total) and eight hits in six innings on Aug. 7 in Baltimore. Yandy Díaz and Nelson Cruz homered off Watkins in the rematch....

The new rule in 2021 that September rosters expand to just 28 players creates another headache for baseball's front offices. As if more were needed. I never liked the idea of stuffing 40 players on a club for the final month and completely altering how the game is managed. The strategy of matching up is destroyed. Benches and bullpens are bursting at the seams. It just doesn't make sense. The sport shouldn't morph into something so unrecognizable while teams are trying to reach the...

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...

Type the name in an internet search and a professional hockey winger appears, a former first-round draft pick who plays for the Minnesota Wild. If you want the Ryan Hartman who's a pitcher in the Orioles organization, the word "baseball" is required to distinguish the two. Otherwise, he's buried beneath the National Hockey League results. "I actually messaged him this off-season," said the Orioles' Hartman, claimed off waivers last week from the Astros and optioned to Triple-A...

The Orioles are shaking up their bullpen and 26-man roster. A source confirmed that relievers Dusten Knight and Marcos Diplán are traveling to New York today to join the Orioles and could have their contracts selected from Triple-A Norfolk. There's only one opening on the roster after the Orioles optioned starter Alexander Wells following last night's 13-1 loss to the Yankees. Knight, known for his backflips after recording saves, has registered a 1.30 ERA and 1.084 WHIP in 25 appearances...

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...

The Orioles managed to make another trade at the 4 p.m. deadline and again didn't touch a player on their active roster. After dealing Triple-A reliever Shawn Armstrong to the Rays this morning for cash considerations, the Orioles sent injured shortstop Freddy Galvis to the Phillies for 23-year-old Single-A pitcher Tyler Burch. Galvis hasn't played since straining his quadriceps muscle June 26 in Buffalo, the last image of him as an Oriole being carted off the field. He batted .249/.306/.414...