O's hit three homers and Baumann gets win in debut (updated)

O's hit three homers and Baumann gets win in debut (updated)
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...

Lowther impresses but Orioles lose lead and game (updated)

Lowther impresses but Orioles lose lead and game (updated)
The door opens so wide for Orioles in search of an opportunity, it's a wonder that the hinges don't snap in half. Faces have been reddened by that same door slamming shut, the failures bound to leave a mark. Zac Lowther got his latest chance this afternoon after making one appearance each in April, May and June, and two in July. Manager Brandon Hyde suggested that the rookie would receive multiple starts and, hopefully, open some eyes in the front office. Maybe wider than the door. Lowther...

More thoughts on yesterday's comeback win in the Bronx

More thoughts on yesterday's comeback win in the Bronx
Say what you will about the 2021 Orioles, and the dialogue fills a lot of pages, but there's no denying that they're playing hard with the season down to its final month and hopes of staying competitive buried a long time ago. You don't overcome a trio of three-run deficits yesterday at Yankee Stadium if you're already booking offseason vacations. You don't win two one-run games in the series. You don't keep grinding. There are obvious signs and more subtle ones, the latter including how...

The benefit of playing and winning the close ones

The benefit of playing and winning the close ones
When a team has the record the Orioles team has, it's kind of hard to take a small sample of five games and put a lot of importance on it. But, at the same time, the last five games did produce three wins in close games at both Toronto and New York. So the Orioles have played five in a row, all on the road in the division, and all decided by two runs or by one, and they went 3-2. Small steps, and maybe some small progress was made as some players had to make clutch plays against two clubs...

Mullins joins 25/25 club and O's rally for 8-7 win (updated)

Mullins joins 25/25 club and O's rally for 8-7 win (updated)
Nine consecutive four-seam fastballs to Gary Sánchez in the second inning today showed tremendous confidence in the pitch. But also with the obvious risks and other potential repercussions. Sánchez got the barrel on the ninth, with the bases loaded and the Orioles ahead by a run, and launched it into the second deck for a grand slam. The chance at a rare series win on the road seemed to disappear with the ball, but the Orioles kept clawing, kept putting runners on base and finally found...

A few thoughts and notes on a series win in the Bronx

A few thoughts and notes on a series win in the Bronx
A few thoughts, notes and impressions on today's game and this weekend as the Orioles ended a six-game road trip to Toronto and New York going a respectable 3-3. They take two of three at New York, winning a series in the Bronx for the first time since March 28-31, 2019. * The last five games of this trip were each decided by two runs or less, with the Orioles going 3-2. That is certainly a sign of progress, but in a very small sample size. But you take that in the American League East on the...

Orioles and Yankees lineups

Orioles and Yankees lineups
Ryan Mountcastle and Jahmai Jones are out of the Orioles lineup today as they conclude their series at Yankee Stadium. DJ Stewart is the designated hitter with the Orioles finally facing a right-handed starter. Ramón Urias moves to shortstop and Jorge Mateo to second base. Trey Mancini has hit safely in 11 of his last 13 games, batting .358/.404/.472 (19-for-53). He's the first baseman today. Left-hander Keegan Akin has held opponents to one run in each of his last two starts totaling 12...

O's break tie in ninth vs. Chapman, beat Yankees 4-3 (updated)

O's break tie in ninth vs. Chapman, beat Yankees 4-3 (updated)
On a day they let a late three-run lead get away, the Orioles were still able to win. And they pulled it out by scoring in the top of the ninth off Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman. The lefty took the mound in the ninth of a 3-3 tie and fanned Ryan Mountcastle, but Mountcastle reached first on the wild pitch to start the inning. An Austin Hays single to left and a walk to Trey Mancini followed to load the bases with no outs. After a strikeout, catcher Pedro Severino ran the count full. He then...

Orioles and Yankees lineups (updated)

Orioles and Yankees lineups (updated)
Pedro Severino returns to the Orioles lineup this afternoon against the Yankees after a two-game absence. Severino replaced Austin Wynns behind the plate last night in the 10th inning. Ryan McKenna is in left field and Austin Hays is in right. Trey Mancini has hit safely in 10 of his last 12 games, batting .320 (16-for-50) with three doubles, a home run, four RBIs, two walks and seven runs scored. He homered and singled last night and is the designated hitter this afternoon. Hays has hit safely...

Orioles rally to tie and lose in 11th 4-3 (updated)

Orioles rally to tie and lose in 11th 4-3 (updated)
The Orioles couldn't carry pitcher Nestor Cortes Jr. as a Rule 5 selection. Tonight, they couldn't break through against him until the sixth inning. Trey Mancini's first home run since Aug. 14 sent Cortes to the bench with two outs and sliced the deficit in half. Jorge Mateo was a three-time Top 100 prospect who began his professional career with the Yankees, finally made it to the Bronx tonight and hit a game-tying homer in the seventh. The redemption angle held up through regulation. Four...

Checking on Orioles who have a lot to play for this month

Checking on Orioles who have a lot to play for this month
What can we expect from the Orioles in September and those three October games in Toronto that attach to the schedule like skin tags? Probably more losses than wins, considering their record and the teams awaiting them, though four games at home against the Royals and four against the Rangers will be spun as soft spots. That's not what I'm talking about. Let's move beyond the schedule and look closer at how the Orioles could use these final weeks. Some players who could really benefit from...

Orioles rally to tie, but lose 5-4 in Toronto (updated)

Orioles rally to tie, but lose 5-4 in Toronto (updated)
A couple of bases-loaded walks tonight in the second inning gave the Orioles a lead and some evidence that they can work a count and offer their manager the type of at-bats he's been pleading for during the season. Those walks, by Cedric Mullins and Ryan Mountcastle, weren't intended to provide the bulk of the offense. The Orioles would need to back them with some clutch hitting and hope the bullpen also could step up. Jorge Mateo led off the sixth with a double against Tayler Saucedo, his...

More thoughts on September roster expansion

More thoughts on September roster expansion
The Orioles can happily push aside August, giving it a hard shove after losing 24 of 28 games, and get down to September business. There's always something to keep them active and it's usually about the roster. The difference now is they can expand it rather than just plugging holes. With the team in Canada and transporting a taxi squad, the logical moves today would be to recall left-hander Alexander Wells and right-hander Dusten Knight since they're already in the visiting clubhouse at...

Orioles go from no-hit to no loss in Toronto (updated)

Orioles go from no-hit to no loss in Toronto (updated)
In a season with so many challenges for the Orioles, testing them seemingly in every way imaginable, the attempt to win a game on a particular night can suddenly become a struggle of a different sort. Just trying to get a hit. Blue Jays left-hander Hyun Jin Ryu allowed two baserunners in the first inning tonight but retired 15 batters in a row and flirted with history until Ryan Mountcastle lined a double into right field with two outs in the sixth in a one-run game. Austin Hays drove in the...

Orioles lineup vs. Blue Jays (plus notes, updated)

Orioles lineup vs. Blue Jays (plus notes, updated)
Keegan Akin will try to build on his last start and the Orioles will try to end a four-game losing streak tonight against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Akin earned his second major league win Thursday by holding the Angels to one run and three hits in seven innings with six strikeouts and lowering his ERA from 7.92 to 7.26. He faced the Blue Jays on June 26 in Buffalo and allowed six runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings. Marcus Semien and Bo Bichette hit home runs. Akin also faced the Blue...

Orioles lineup, Hyde on bench and Fry, Burdi on new team

Orioles lineup, Hyde on bench and Fry, Burdi on new team
Center fielder Cedric Mullins is out of tonight's Orioles lineup for the opener of a three-game series in Toronto. Manager Brandon Hyde is resting him. There isn't an injury situation. Ryan McKenna, recalled this afternoon, is playing center and batting seventh. Austin Hays is leading off and playing left field. Jahmai Jones also is counted among the four reserves. Jorge Mateo is the second baseman tonight, with Ramón Urías at shortstop. Ryan Mountcastle is batting second again. A...

Mateo moving fast into Orioles' future plans

Mateo moving fast into Orioles' future plans
The freedom to expand their roster by two players on Wednesday also is going to increase the Orioles' level of health. Lowering the chances of the bench running out of available bodies. Anthony Santander is playing with a sore ankle. Ramón Urías is dealing with soreness in his upper right leg and groin area. Jorge Mateo was unavailable for a few days with discomfort in his lower back. DJ Stewart had a sore knee that kept him on the bench. Pedro Severino also was restricted by a sore knee...

Rays take final swings at Orioles in 12-8 win (updated)

Rays take final swings at Orioles in 12-8 win (updated)
The Orioles won't have the Rays to kick them around anymore. Not this year, at least. The schedule for the remainder of the season doesn't include another series between the teams, with the Rays' parting shot a 12-8 victory before an announced crowd of 8,353 at Camden Yards. The three-game sweep, pretty much sealed by Joey Wendle's grand slam off Paul Fry in the seventh, left the Orioles 1-18 against the Rays and 0-9 in Baltimore. They've lost the last 12 games. This is the club's first...

Alexander Wells rejoins Orioles, today's lineups

Alexander Wells rejoins Orioles, today's lineups
Alexander Wells worked two innings and threw 26 pitches in last night's start at Triple-A Norfolk, but he's healthy. The Orioles are keeping him available to work in relief this week. Chris Ellis is starting on Monday in Toronto, but Wells can be a bulk guy behind him if he's added to the active roster. He's making the trip. The 26-man roster expands to 28 on Wednesday. Last night's outing was the equivalent of a side session for Wells, who hasn't allowed a run in his last three...

Quality start for Means can't prevent 4-3 loss (updated)

Quality start for Means can't prevent 4-3 loss (updated)
The Orioles keep a shorter bench to provide manager Brandon Hyde with an extra reliever, a survival tactic with his starters routinely unable to provide much length. More position players are coming with rosters expanding on Wednesday. Meanwhile, with the timing odd, Hyde's rotation is attempting to produce the kind of streak that the Orioles won't regret. Keegan Akin closed out the Angels series by going a career-high seven innings. Matt Harvey logged six last night before succumbing to the...