Gausman starting Saturday in Toronto (and more notes)

Gausman starting Saturday in Toronto (and more notes)
PHILADELPHIA - Kevin Gausman will start Saturday against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre following last night's two-inning stint at Single-A Frederick. The Orioles will need to activate Gausman from the disabled list and make a corresponding roster move. Mike Wright will start Friday and Chris Tillman will start Sunday. Gausman allowed one run in two innings at Frederick in his final tune-up before joining the rotation. "Good," he said. "Just getting back in a game, just tried to throw all...

Miguel Gonzalez goes on DL, Mike Wright recalled

Miguel Gonzalez goes on DL, Mike Wright recalled
The Orioles have placed pitcher Miguel Gonzalez on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to yesterday with a strained right groin muscle and recalled pitcher Mike Wright from Triple-A Norfolk. Wright gives the Orioles a seventh reliever, and he will start on Sunday if not needed out of the bullpen. Wright, 25, became the second Orioles starter in club history to begin his major league career with two consecutive scoreless starts - Tom Phoebus also did it on September 15-20, 1966 - after tossing...

Miguel Gonzalez latest Oriole headed to disabled list

Miguel Gonzalez latest Oriole headed to disabled list
Will pitcher Miguel Gonzalez become the latest Oriole today to visit the disabled list? The move is coming. It's just a matter of when, not if, to borrow one of manager Buck Showalter's favorite expressions. I'm still expecting it to happen this afternoon. There's no reason to put it off any longer. Gonzalez is bothered by a strained right groin, the same injury that caused him to miss a start in 2012. The Orioles don't have the benefit of an off-day, however, and the DL is inevitable. If...

Showalter provides updates on Gonzalez, Schoop and more

Showalter provides updates on Gonzalez, Schoop and more
Orioles pitcher Miguel Gonzalez took a few steps toward his locker today and noticed that he was being followed by a pack of reporters wanting an update on his groin injury. Gonzalez turned, smiled at us and said he'd know more about his condition on Thursday, but the soreness was lingering. He was in a rush to watch one of his teammates throw a bullpen session. Judging by manager Buck Showalter's comments later in the day, Gonzalez won't be throwing the ball on Sunday. He's expected to be...

Gonzalez appears headed to disabled list

Gonzalez appears headed to disabled list
Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Miguel Gonzalez's start on Sunday is "definitely in jeopardy," and all signs point to the right-hander going on the disabled list with a strained right groin muscle. Gonzalez said today that he's still sore after leaving last night's start in the fifth inning. No roster move is expected before Thursday's game. Showalter said all of his relievers are available tonight, but he's working with a six-man bullpen and could use another arm before Brian Matusz...

Gonzalez hoping to make next start after leaving in fifth inning tonight (plus clubhouse quotes)

Gonzalez hoping to make next start after leaving in fifth inning tonight (plus clubhouse quotes)
Orioles right-hander Miguel Gonzalez left tonight's start in the fifth inning with a right groin strain. He had a similar injury in 2012 and did not go on the disabled list. He hopes to avoid the DL again this time and is hopeful of making his next start. "I hope so. I hope I can. If not, in 2012, kind of did the same thing. Missed a start and I was able to go after that," Gonzalez said after tonight's game. "Just felt some discomfort and really thought that I could keep going. But it just...

Updating Miguel Gonzalez and wrapping up a 1-0 win

Updating Miguel Gonzalez and wrapping up a 1-0 win
The Orioles are deciding whether to place starter Miguel Gonzalez on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right groin muscle. Gonzalez left tonight's game with one out in the fifth inning and the bullpen completed a 1-0 win over the Red Sox before 28,460 at Camden Yards. Closer Zach Britton recorded his second five-out save in a week. With a six-man bullpen, the Orioles could DL Gonzalez and bring back left-hander Cesar Cabral, who doesn't need to stay down the minimum 10 days if he's...

Gonzalez leaves early, but O's pitchers combine for 1-0 win over Boston

Gonzalez leaves early, but O's pitchers combine for 1-0 win over Boston
The Orioles did not beat their former farmhand who is now pitching well with Boston. But they did beat Boston. Pushing across the game's only run on a wild pitch, the Orioles beat the Red Sox 1-0 at Camden Yards in the series and homestand opener. Miguel Gonzalez was throwing well on his way into the fifth inning of a good pitchers' duel with Eduardo Rodriguez when he was forced from the game by a right groin strain. Four Orioles pitchers combined on a five-hitter as the O's recorded their...

Miguel Gonzalez leaves game with groin injury (O's win 1-0)

Miguel Gonzalez leaves game with groin injury (O's win 1-0)
The Orioles are short a reliever tonight and they just lost their starting pitcher to an injury. Left-hander T.J. McFarland replaced starter Miguel Gonzalez with one out in the fifth inning and Blake Swihart at third base. Manager Buck Showalter, pitching coach Dave Wallace and head athletic trainer Richie Bancells came to the mound after Dustin Pedroia bounced out. Gonzalez walked to the dugout and McFarland was given ample time to warm up. McFarland got a strikeout and fly ball to strand...

O's game blog: Matt Wieters on returning to Camden Yards (Rajsich on today's draft)

O's game blog: Matt Wieters on returning to Camden Yards (Rajsich on today's draft)
Matt Wieters was pretty happy to return to the Orioles roster over the weekend, and tonight he gets to play in front of the home fans for the first time since May 10, 2014. "I'm excited, this is a great place to play," Wieters said this afternoon. "Been looking forward to getting back to playing at Camden Yards for a long time now. I'm ready to go and excited we have a big series here with Boston." Wieters is 5-for-12 with a double, a triple, a homer, 3 RBIs and an OPS of 1.301 in his...

The draft, the next roster move and today's game

The draft, the next roster move and today's game
The 2015 First-Year Player Draft resumes this afternoon and I strongly advise that you continue to breathe normally. Talk about an inexact science. Look up the first-round picks in any year and see how many names are recognizable. How many players actually reached the majors, let alone had long and productive careers? The biggest bust for the Orioles? There are plenty of candidates, just like the other teams, but any top five list should include left-hander Chris Smith. Smith was a tremendous...

Losing streak reaches five as Lance McCullers pitches four-hitter

Losing streak reaches five as Lance McCullers pitches four-hitter
The Houston Astros do what they do. They struck out a lot and hit home runs. Lately what they do includes beating the Baltimore Orioles. Rookie right-hander Lance McCullers pitched a complete-game four-hitter and Houston hit three solo homers to top Miguel Gonzalez and the Orioles 3-1 tonight at Minute Maid Park. With their fifth loss in a row, the Orioles fall to 23-29 on the year and to a season-worst six games under the .500 mark. They are now five games out of first place. The 21-year-old...

This, that and the other (updated)

This, that and the other (updated)
In case you didn't notice, Ryan Flaherty has become a triples machine in Houston. Flaherty has tripled in consecutive games for the first time in his career. He's going for three in a row tonight. Before the Astros series, Flaherty had collected a grand total of two triples in 283 major league games. Flaherty is the first Oriole to triple in consecutive games since Felix Pie on Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 2010. Tonight's starter, Miguel Gonzalez, is 3-0 with a 0.92 ERA in six starts when logging eight...

O's game blog: Orioles look to break losing streak tonight at Houston

O's game blog: Orioles look to break losing streak tonight at Houston
On Friday night, the Orioles posted a 2-1, walk-off win over Tampa Bay to improve their record to 23-24. They had won four of six games and were 8-5 over the last 13 to move within one game of first place in the American League East. Were the Orioles starting to make their move? Since then, they have lost four in a row and three games in the standings. Tonight, as they play the third game of a four-game series at Houston, they are 23-28, 4 1/2 games out of first place and now just 1/2-game out...

With his back to the wall, O'Day went for the strikeout (plus other notes)

With his back to the wall, O'Day went for the strikeout (plus other notes)
Darren O'Day said sometimes you do go for a strikeout. Take the top of the ninth inning last night: the game was tied 1-1 with Tampa Bay, and O'Day gave up two singles and hit a batter to load the bases with no outs. Then Steven Souza Jr. came up. He had homered earlier in the game. "Yeah, a sac fly can score a run there," O'Day said. "You have to be able to strike a guy out once in a while when you are in the bullpen. So yeah, either strikeout, double play or pop up would have been good...

Hardy on winning hit, O'Day on his escape act and more from the clubhouse

Hardy on winning hit, O'Day on his escape act and more from the clubhouse
The Orioles were 0-16 this year when scoring two runs or less until tonight's 2-1, walk-off win over the Tampa Bay Rays. J.J. Hardy began the night batting .194, but he ended it getting mobbed by his teammates after his single provided the winning run and broke a 1-1 tie in the last of the ninth. He hit a 1-0 pitch from Steve Geltz into left, pinch-runner Everth Cabrera scored and the celebration was on for 45,505 at the Yard. "Just see the ball and put a good swing on it," Hardy said....

Hearing from Showalter after 2-1 win

Hearing from Showalter after 2-1 win
Manager Buck Showalter said the Orioles won't need to make a roster move for a fresh bullpen arm Saturday after Miguel Gonzalez worked eight innings in a 2-1 victory over the Rays. Darren O'Day was the only reliever used, and he escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the top of the ninth. It still may be a few more days before the bullpen can be viewed as properly rested, but the Orioles made it through tonight. Gonzalez allowed one run and three hits in eight innings, but he didn't get the...

Walk-off win: O's top Rays on Hardy's single in last of the ninth

Walk-off win: O's top Rays on Hardy's single in last of the ninth
After a strong starting pitching performance and amazing escape act in the top of the ninth, the Orioles' offense did its part in the bottom of the ninth. J.J. Hardy's two-out RBI single gave the Orioles a 2-1 win walkoff win over the Tampa Bay Rays in front of a loud sellout crowd of 45,505. This was Buck Showalter's 400th win as O's manager and the Orioles' second walkoff win of the year. The first was April 25 versus Boston. Travis Snider led off the winning rally with an infield single...

Lavarnway elects free agency and other notes (O's win 2-1)

Lavarnway elects free agency and other notes (O's win 2-1)
Catcher Ryan Lavarnway, designated for assignment on Tuesday, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk. However, Lavarnway elected to become a free agent and will attempt to sign with another team. Lavarnway went 3-for-28 in 10 games with the Orioles. He was removed from the roster when the Orioles recalled catcher Steve Clevenger. Miguel Gonzalez retired the Rays in order tonight in the top of the first inning, striking out Kevin Kiermaier and Joey Butler. He threw 13...

O's game blog: Back to the East as the Orioles host Tampa Bay

O's game blog: Back to the East as the Orioles host Tampa Bay
It has been over two weeks since the Orioles played another American League East team, but that streak ends tonight as they begin a weekend series against the Tampa Bay Rays here at Camden Yards. The Orioles are 4-2 against the Rays, winning two road series in St. Petersburg earlier this season. The games have been very low scoring. In the last four, between the teams, the total runs scored in each game were two, two, four and six. O's pitchers have an ERA of 2.21 in the six games where the...