Jimmy Paredes trying to break out of his slump (O's win 8-5)

Jimmy Paredes trying to break out of his slump (O's win 8-5)
KANSAS CITY - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he wanted to put Jimmy Paredes in the lineup the day after a costly fielding error in the 12th inning allowed the Twins to score the tiebreaking run and complete a four-game sweep. He prefers to get a player back on the field rather than have him sit on the bench and dwell on the mistake, wondering whether the club has lost confidence in him. Paredes didn't make it into Monday's lineup in Kansas City, but he's returned to it tonight, serving...

Notes on Ryan Flaherty and Steve Pearce

Notes on Ryan Flaherty and Steve Pearce
KANSAS CITY - Ryan Flaherty has played 174 games at second base, 68 at third, 50 at shortstop, 18 at first and 26 in the outfield over his four seasons in the majors. He's the ultimate utility guy, trusted with the glove at any position, and his responsibilities have grown again following J.J. Hardy's injury. Hardy went on the disabled list today with a strained left groin. He's gone for at least 15 days, and Flaherty will be called upon as his replacement. Flaherty is starting at shortstop...

Reimold designated for assignment

Reimold designated for assignment
KANSAS CITY - The Orioles designated outfielder Nolan Reimold for assignment today, one of their four roster moves before their series opener against the Royals. Shortstop J.J. Hardy was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left groin strain. The Orioles activated Steve Pearce from the disabled list and recalled reliever Jorge Rondon from Triple-A Norfolk. Reimold, 31, appeared in 39 games for the Orioles this season and batted .227 (22-for-97) with three doubles, one triple, two home runs...

Orioles now dealing with roster moves and Royals (Pearce on flight to Kansas City)

Orioles now dealing with roster moves and Royals (Pearce on flight to Kansas City)
The Twins staggered into Camden Yards and swept a four-game series. Can the Orioles repeat those moves in Kansas City? They're 6 1/2 games out of first place in the American League East. They're two games back for the second wild card, with the Angels and Twins now ahead of them. Adding injury to insult, shortstop J.J. Hardy is headed to the disabled list with a groin injury and will be lost for a minimum of 15 days. Steve Pearce will be activated and reliever Jorge Rondon will be recalled...

Hardy headed to DL, Pearce ready to be activated following 4-3 12-inning loss (updated)

Hardy headed to DL, Pearce ready to be activated following 4-3 12-inning loss (updated)
Shortstop J.J. Hardy is going on the disabled list with a groin injury, leaving the Orioles with two roster moves as they head to Kansas City. The club will activate Steve Pearce from the disabled list and call up a reliever. The Orioles could option Mychal Givens, who worked two scoreless innings today. T.J. McFarland also has options, but he's fresher. Pearce went 1-for-3 with a double today at Double-A Bowie. He's been on the disabled list since July 19 with a strained left oblique. Hardy...

Steve Pearce staying at Bowie today

Steve Pearce staying at Bowie today
The Orioles will keep Steve Pearce on his injury rehab assignment at Double-A Bowie today rather than activate him from the disabled list. Pearce is batting third and playing left field today at Prince George's Stadium. He started at first base last night and went 0-for-2 with an RBI. He also was hit by a pitch. Pearce was 2-for-7 with two games with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Orioles. Manager Buck Showalter said Pearce won't fly with the Orioles to Kansas City later today because he...

Orioles and Twins lineups

Orioles and Twins lineups
Shortstop J.J. Hardy is in tonight's lineup and the Orioles are hoping he can stay there. Hardy felt some discomfort in his groin last night. He ran earlier today and will take batting practice and field ground balls. Manager Buck Showalter was late posting the lineup because of Hardy's uncertain status. Steve Pearce is playing first base and batting third tonight at Double-A Bowie. Gerardo Parra is batting .354/.398/.579 (85-for-240) since June 11, which leads the majors in that span...

Pearce's pending arrival puts Orioles in position to make corresponding move

Pearce's pending arrival puts Orioles in position to make corresponding move
While the Orioles are continuing their home series tonight against the Twins, trying to figure out a way to beat them in 2015, Steve Pearce will be slipping on a Bowie Baysox uniform and checking out Eastern League pitching. The Baysox are hosting the Altoona Curve, and Pearce is expected to start at first base after playing left and right field yesterday for the Gulf Coast League team. He may continue to occupy the leadoff spot to receive extra at-bats. Pearce could be activated from the...

Avoiding doubleheader only victory for Orioles last night

Avoiding doubleheader only victory for Orioles last night
One reason why the Orioles were concerned about a possible postponement of last night's game against the Twins, besides the usual distain for playing a doubleheader, was the challenge in finding a sixth starter for Tuesday night's game in Kansas City. Tyler Wilson is on the minor league disabled list with a strained left oblique. He's throwing on flat ground and nearing a bullpen session, but a Tuesday start would have been too ambitious. Mike Wright is on the major league disabled list with...

Orioles lineup vs. Twins

Orioles lineup vs. Twins
Henry Urrutia gets another start in left field tonight after his walk-off home run last night in the bottom of the ninth inning. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Urrutia is the first Cuban-born player whose first major league home run was a walk-off since 1968, when Cubs rookie Jose Arcia went deep at Wrigley Field for the only homer of his three-year career. Also according to Elias, the Orioles hadn't hit three game-tying or go-ahead home runs in the sixth inning or later in one game...

Steve Pearce ready for rehab assignment

Steve Pearce ready for rehab assignment
Orioles outfielder Steve Pearce is beginning his injury rehab assignment today with the Gulf Coast League team in Sarasota. He singled in his first at-bat as the leadoff hitter and designated hitter against the GCL Twins. Pearce is on the disabled list retroactive to July 19 with a strained left oblique muscle. He took live batting practice again yesterday and survived a pitch from Chris Perez that nailed him in the back. Pearce experienced a slight setback last week when his oblique tightened...

Hearing from Buck Showalter before tonight's game

Hearing from Buck Showalter before tonight's game
The Orioles did more than check on catcher Matt Wieters' right hamstring following last night's game. They also made sure his right knee wasn't creating a health issue. Wieters took a foul tip off his knee, which brought head athletic trainer Richie Bancells out of the dugout. Wieters stayed in the game and collected two hits. "He feels good today," said manager Buck Showalter. "I'm going to talk to him out on the field a little bit and see. Hoping he gets through tomorrow and he'll be...

Notes on Pearce, Wieters, Roe and more

Notes on Pearce, Wieters, Roe and more
Orioles outfielder Steve Pearce took live batting practice today in Sarasota and was hit by a pitch in his third at-bat. Chris Perez, serving a 50-game suspension that was handed down in June for a second positive test for a drug of abuse, drilled Pearce in the back. The Orioles ended the BP session and will check on Pearce Thursday before determining how close he is to going on a rehab assignment. Pearce is on the disabled list retroactive to July 19 with a strained left oblique. The Orioles...

Matt Wieters on his return to the lineup (and other notes)

Matt Wieters on his return to the lineup (and other notes)
Steve Pearce took live batting practice today in Sarasota and the Orioles will check on Wednesday to make sure the tightness in his oblique doesn't resurface. They want to reach the point where he's ready to go on an injury rehab assignment. Triple-A Norfolk pitcher Tyler Wilson, also on the disabled list with a strained oblique, threw off flat ground today from 75 feet. He's been feeling a little better each day. Manager Buck Showalter said the Orioles will keep all three catchers - Matt...

Buck Showalter provides injury updates

Buck Showalter provides injury updates
Major League Baseball announced today that the American League Wild Card Game will be played on Oct. 6. The World Series starts on Oct. 27 in the AL representative's ballpark, and Game 7 would be played on Nov. 4. Plan accordingly. Matt Wieters ran the bases today and his right hamstring felt good. Manager Buck Showalter said Wieters will play on Tuesday "if there are no repercussions." "It was as good a day for him as you could hope for," Showalter said. Steve Pearce, on the disabled list...

Notes on Monday starters, Pearce, Harvey, Wright and more

Notes on Monday starters, Pearce, Harvey, Wright and more
Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter are sitting on top of the visiting dugout at Camden Yards for the annual season ticket holders' Q&A session. A young boy asked Duquette about the chances of the club re-signing its top free agents. Duquette said the Orioles should be able to keep some of them, and he made it clear that Chris Davis is a priority. Showalter said he expects the Athletics to start right-hander Sonny Gray in Monday's series finale at...

Orioles facing another early deficit (O's lose 6-1)

Orioles facing another early deficit (O's lose 6-1)
Last night was the exception. The Orioles are off to another slow start today against the Tigers. Once again, the Orioles are behind in the first inning. The saving grace is the Tigers' bullpen. No lead is really safe. J.D. Martinez hit a three-run homer off Ubaldo Jimenez after Jose Iglesias singled and Ian Kinsler walked with one out. Jimenez grooved a 1-2 pitch down the middle of the plate, and the ball landed in the Orioles bullpen. Martinez exited last night's game after fouling a ball...

Chris Tillman's next start pushed back to Friday

Chris Tillman's next start pushed back to Friday
Tyler Wilson is on the taxi squad today and is expected to start Monday night in the series opener in Oakland. Wilson was in the clubhouse this morning. The Orioles will need to create a spot on the 25-man roster. They can option reliever Jorge Rondon, who was recalled yesterday after Mike Wright went on the disabled list. Chris Tillman, whose turn falls on Monday, said his sprained left ankle continues to feel better. He's scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday and would start...

Showalter on Parra: "Everybody tells me he loves to win"

Showalter on Parra: "Everybody tells me he loves to win"
Outfielder Steve Pearce and pitcher Mike Wright will fly down to Sarasota on Sunday to rehab their respective injuries. Pearce is on the disabled list with a strained left oblique muscle, and Wright went on the DL today with a strained left calf. Manager Buck Showalter said he's hopeful that Wright can "make the DL period." Pearce is eligible to return on Monday, which isn't realistic. Showalter said he probably needs a starter for Monday while Chris Tillman recovers from a sprained left...

Tillman receiving treatment on ankle (and other notes)

Tillman receiving treatment on ankle (and other notes)
Orioles pitcher Chris Tillman is receiving treatment on his right ankle today after rolling it last night while covering first base in the ninth inning. Tillman took a throw from second baseman Jonathan Schoop after Nick Markakis' grounder deflected off first baseman Chris Parmelee. Cameron Maybin followed with a double, and Tillman was removed one out shy of a complete-game shutout. Britton earned his 26th save in a 2-0 victory over the Braves. Tillman had some swelling in the ankle today and...