More on O'Day, Gonzalez, Norris and the rotation

More on O'Day, Gonzalez, Norris and the rotation
BOSTON - Orioles manager Buck Showalter indicated today that reliever Darren O'Day could join the team in Boston before Wednesday night's game against the Red Sox. O'Day threw all of his pitches off a mound this morning in Sarasota. If his hand responds favorably, he could grab a flight to Boston. O'Day received another injection to reduce the inflammation that was causing discomfort and tingling in the index and middle fingers on his right hand. There are still small traces of it, but...

Chris Davis hits No. 50 as Orioles beat Blue Jays in road trip opener

Chris Davis hits No. 50 as Orioles beat Blue Jays in road trip opener
Well, that was a great time to hit an historic home run. Chris Davis hit his 50th homer tonight to tie Brady Anderson's club record, and it was a big one. The solo shot gave the Orioles a 4-3 lead over the Blue Jays in the eighth inning, and they beat Toronto 5-3 at Rogers Centre. With the homer, Davis became just the third player in major league history to have a season with at least 50 homers and 40 doubles, joining Babe Ruth (1921) and Albert Belle (1995). Davis led off the eighth and...

Orioles' offense muted by Redmond (game tied)

Orioles' offense muted by Redmond (game tied)
The first inclination among some Orioles fans tonight will be to rip Jason Hammel for his start in Toronto. Two home runs in five innings. A 3-0 deficit. I'm focused more on how Todd Redmond shut out the Orioles over 6 1/3 innings. Todd Redmond. Sound familiar? The Orioles selected him off waivers from the Reds on Feb. 8. He didn't do much to impress in spring training, and the Blue Jays claimed him off waivers in late March. Barely worth a mention in the transactions. Redmond absolutely...

A few pregame notes

A few pregame notes
The Orioles are looking for their first road series win against an American League East opponent since April 8-11, when they took two of three at Fenway Park. Since the start of the 2012 season, the Orioles are 11-4 at home against the Blue Jays. They're 9-14 in their last 23 games in Toronto. The Orioles are averaging 5.7 runs per game in their seven games at Rogers Centre this season, more than a full run (4.5) higher than their average in their other 64 road games. The Orioles are batting...

Jason Hammel talks about rejoining the rotation tonight

Jason Hammel talks about rejoining the rotation tonight
When the Orioles acquired Bud Norris on July 31, Jason Hammel went on the disabled list with a right flexor mass strain. Now, several weeks later, Norris is having his scheduled start tonight skipped due to elbow inflammation and Hammel is taking his spot this evening at Toronto. He's not excited how it happened, but is looking forward to his latest chance to pitch as an O's starter. "Definitely. It was disappointing to go on the DL," Hammel said. "Bud came in and filled in very well and...

State of the Orioles in Canada

State of the Orioles in Canada
The Orioles are 77-69 and 11 games out of first place in their division. The Nationals are 77-69 and 11 games out of first place in their division. Did anyone see this coming a few weeks ago? The Nats are in second place. The Orioles have dropped to fourth, but they're only 2 1/2 games back in the wild card chase. I write "only" in comparison to the Nats. Make no mistake, the Orioles are losing ground and running out of time. They're also running out of healthy pitchers. Bud Norris...

More pregame notes

More pregame notes
With a victory tonight, the Orioles would clinch their first season series win over the Yankees since 1997. Prior to that year, they hadn't won a season series against New York since 1982. Chris Davis needs one more home run to reach 50 and tie Brady Anderson's single-season club record set in 1996. Also, Davis would become the third player in major league history with 50 homers and 40 doubles in a season, joining Babe Ruth (59 homers/44 doubles in 152 games in 1921) and Albert Belle (52...

Norris skipped with elbow discomfort

Norris skipped with elbow discomfort
After Bud Norris threw his bullpen session this afternoon, the Orioles decided to skip his next turn because of discomfort in his right elbow. Jason Hammel will start the series opener on Friday in Toronto. Norris will be shut down and allow the elbow to "quiet down," said manager Buck Showalter. "How do I put it? Elbow," Showalter said when asked why the Orioles changed starters. "Had a work day. It barked a little bit in Arizona but resolved itself real well. And then the work day...

Jason Hammel and Steve Johnson talk about returning to the Orioles

Jason Hammel and Steve Johnson talk about returning to the Orioles
Jason Hammel is back on the Orioles' active roster. Out since July 29 due to a right flexor mass strain, Hammel has made two rehab outings in the minors and today is back in the majors. "Very excited to be back," Hammel said. "Being healthy, number one. But being back with these guys, a fun group. I tried to get back as quick as I could. It was tough to watch on TV. I want to be there with them and go through the ups and downs together. I know I can help and tried to get back as quick as I...

Orioles recall Steve Johnson (Britton optioned, Hammel reinstated)

Orioles recall Steve Johnson (Britton optioned, Hammel reinstated)
The Orioles have recalled pitcher Steve Johnson, who had been part of the instructional league roster in Sarasota. Johnson is currently tossing a football in the outfield at Camden Yards. Later, he'll watch the game from the bullpen, providing a fresh arm for manager Buck Showalter. Johnson is 1-1 with a 7.82 ERA in six games with the Orioles, including one start. He was 2-3 with a 4.11 ERA in 10 games with Triple-A Norfolk, including eight starts. In other news, the Astros claimed...

Hammel ready to rejoin Orioles and for possible bullpen role

Hammel ready to rejoin Orioles and for possible bullpen role
Jason Hammel has pitched in 41 games for the Orioles the last two years and each one has been as a starter. But as he is set to return to the team now, if they want to use him out of the bullpen, he's up for that. "Obviously I'd like to be a starter, but it's September and everybody is used in any situation," Hammel said after his outing last night in Aberdeen. "I am just happy to be healthy and feeling good and I know I can help the team. "It is a completely different mindset, but I...

Jason Hammel: "I'd say I'm ready"

Jason Hammel: "I'd say I'm ready"
ABERDEEN, Md. - After throwing 57 pitches over four innings tonight at short-season Single-A Aberdeen, Orioles pitcher Jason Hammel pronounced himself ready to return to the big leagues. "I'd say I'm ready," Hammel said after his outing. "I don't exactly know what the plan is for the next couple of days. But I've done my work and they've taken good care of me. I feel healthy and ready to go when they want me." Hammel had a very sharp first two innings tonight, getting six quick outs...

Tillman through five (O's lose 4-3)

Tillman through five (O's lose 4-3)
Chris Tillman has held the Indians to one run over five innings tonight. What he can't do so far is enjoy a lead. Indians starter Ubaldo Jimenez is shutting out the Orioles over six innings. He left the bases loaded in the sixth, allowing a single to Manny Machado and walking Chris Davis and Matt Wieters. Michael Morse, who singled in his first at-bat tonight, bounced to the mound to end the threat. He's 3-for-7 in two games with the Orioles. Morse was a career .350 hitter with the bases...

Hammel allows one run through four frames with Aberdeen (now out of game)

Hammel allows one run through four frames with Aberdeen (now out of game)
ABERDEEN, Md. - Making a rehab start tonight for the short-season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds, O's right-hander Jason Hammel has pitched two 1-2-3 innings against the Lowell Spinners, a Red Sox farm club. Hammel has gotten four groundouts and two flyouts on just 17 pitches, throwing 10 for strikes with his fastball sitting mostly at 93 mph. Hammel is expected to go about five innings and around 65 pitches in this game. Wearing a No. 49 home Aberdeen jersey, Hammel got off to a strong start...

Showalter updates Morse and Hammel

Showalter updates Morse and Hammel
NEW YORK - Orioles manager Buck Showalter isn't certain whether Michael Morse will join the team Saturday or Sunday. Showalter spoke to Morse earlier today after the Orioles acquired him from the Mariners for Triple-A Norfolk outfielder Xavier Avery. Morse will go directly from Houston to New York. "He and Jessica are trying to round up their life and head this way shortly," Showalter said. "He's a professional hitter with some pedigree of success. Big, strong hitter that can play...

Jason Hammel talks about his outing tonight at Bowie (Waring hits three homers)

Jason Hammel talks about his outing tonight at Bowie (Waring hits three homers)
BOWIE, Md. - After throwing 47 pitches and going 2 2/3 scoreless innings tonight for Double-A Bowie in a rehab outing, Jason Hammel said he feels fine physically and was able to throw all his pitches. The Orioles right-hander said the right flexor mass strain that sent him to the disabled list July 29 was a problem for most of this year but he tried to pitch through it. It's no longer an issue for him. Tonight he gave up three hits with no walks, three strikeouts and two hit batters,...

Jason Hammel pitches out of bases loaded jam in the first at Bowie (Hammel goes 2 2/3)

Jason Hammel pitches out of bases loaded jam in the first at Bowie (Hammel goes 2 2/3)
BOWIE, Md. - Pitching in a game for the first time since he faced the Boston Red Sox on July 28, Orioles right-hander Jason Hammel is making a major league rehab start tonight for the Double-A Bowie Baysox. Hammel pitched out of a bases loaded jam to keep the Binghamton Mets off the board in the top of the first. The right-hander is expected to go three innings for the Baysox, as the play their last regular season home game at Prince George's Stadium. He is facing a Mets team that has the...

Hammel completes another bullpen session, and other notes

Hammel completes another bullpen session, and other notes
Jason Hammel threw 60 pitches in the bullpen today and will report to Double-A Bowie for Thursday's game against Binghamton. "As of right now, everything is good to go," Hammel said. "I threw an extra inning's worth of pitches today. I probably threw 45 like I did yesterday, and then after that I did some sequences, throwing all pitches to simulated batters, stuff like that." The Orioles want Hammel to throw 45-50 pitches for Bowie on Thursday and are hoping to get him through three...

Hammel expected to start Thursday at Bowie

Hammel expected to start Thursday at Bowie
Orioles pitcher Jason Hammel is scheduled to make his first injury-rehab start on Thursday at Double-A Bowie. The club also discussed Wednesday as a possibility, but Hammel is expected to take the mound Thursday against Binghamton. The Orioles want Hammel to pitch in two minor league games before activating him from the disabled list and placing him on the expanded roster. He could be used as a reliever in the second game and remain in that role with the Orioles. Hammel, on the DL since...

More notes before tonight's game against the A's

More notes before tonight's game against the A's
Scott Feldman is available in the bullpen tonight for the Orioles, and he will start Sunday's series finale against the A's if he isn't needed in relief. The A's changed their rotation for the series. Jarrod Parker will start Saturday instead of left-hander Tommy Milone, who was scratched, and Sonny Gray will start Sunday. The Red Sox tentatively are scheduled to start Felix Doubront, John Lackey and Jon Lester in the three-game series against the Orioles that begins Tuesday at Fenway...