More on Orioles rotation heading into Royals series

More on Orioles rotation heading into Royals series
Orioles manager Hyde is holding off until after today's game to reveal Monday's starter, saying it's going to require a corresponding move because the pitcher is being recalled from Triple-A Norfolk. This eliminates left-hander Alexander Wells, who's already with the team. "I'm just going to wait on it," he said. Mike Baumann started Tuesday for the Tides and would be working on extra rest. Zac Lowther would be on normal rest. Dean Kremer isn't available because the Orioles won't use...

Taking the Orioles rotation for another spin

Taking the Orioles rotation for another spin
The revisiting of the Orioles rotation could have worn a path deeper than the actual pitching staff. Chris Ellis and Keegan Akin are confirmed to close out the series at Yankee Stadium, and Matt Harvey would stay on turn if he pitches Monday afternoon against the Royals at Camden Yards. John Means won't be ready before Wednesday after starting last night and allowing two runs in five innings. What the Orioles do for the remaining weeks of the season is one of the more interesting topics to...

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...

Because You Asked - The Edge of Reason

Because You Asked - The Edge of Reason
The Orioles aren't playing tonight. They have an off-day in New York. We should all be so lucky. "Excuse me, can you tell me how to get to Broadway?" "Practice, practice, practice." I've already mastered the art of the mailbag. How to gather questions, provide answers - or at least make the attempt - and exhibit tremendous patience while repeating myself. And also how to make it conversational at times, which ain't easy with the mail. I implore everyone to be as expansive as you'd like...

O's game blog: Looking for a series win at Toronto

O's game blog: Looking for a series win at Toronto
Some nights, when you get solid pitching and defense and a few timely hits, you can win and even beat some of the better teams. The Orioles had a game like that last night when they beat Toronto 4-2 at Rogers Centre. They held the Blue Jays to six hits, and while Toronto went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position, the Orioles went 3-for-7 and that was big in a low-scoring, close game. And while the Orioles have been near the bottom of the league in batting with RISP this year, they have hit...

Orioles and Blue Jays lineups, plus notes (updated)

Orioles and Blue Jays lineups, plus notes (updated)
The Orioles enter a new month with pitchers Alexander Wells and Dusten Knight added to their expanded roster. Wells has a 7.71 ERA and a 1.929 WHIP in six games with the Orioles, but he's strung together three consecutive scoreless appearances with Triple-A Norfolk. Knight allowed six earned runs (seven total) and eight hits with four walks and nine strikeouts in his five outings with the Orioles over 7 1/3 innings. Both pitchers were on the taxi squad during the series against the Blue Jays...

Ellis' improvement overshadowed by Guerrero (updated)

Ellis' improvement overshadowed by Guerrero (updated)
The first batter of the fourth inning got Chris Ellis again, except he kept going tonight. Kept himself in the Orioles' pitching plans that otherwise are in their familiar unsettled state. Ellis didn't allow a run against the Blue Jays until Vladimir Guerrero Jr. homered to lead off the fourth and tie the game. He went a career-high 4 2/3 innings, allowing just the one run and two hits. Ryan Mountcastle homered and had an RBI infield hit to drive in both Orioles runs, but Dillon Tate was...

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...

Harvey retires 16 in a row, but O's lose 6-3 (updated)

Harvey retires 16 in a row, but O's lose 6-3 (updated)
Ditching a 19-game losing streak and winning two in a row created a positive energy with the Orioles that couldn't withstand the cold water dumped on it tonight. By a team that brings its own buckets. The Rays maintained their hold on the Orioles tonight, scoring three runs in the first and seventh innings with nothing in between, and registering a 6-3 victory before an announced crowd of 7,155 at Camden Yards. Matt Harvey retired the last 16 batters he faced, beginning with his strikeout that...

O's game blog: Series begins vs. Rays

O's game blog: Series begins vs. Rays
After scoring 23 runs in back-to-back wins that followed a 19-game losing streak, the Orioles have a bit of momentum as they head into the series that begins tonight at Oriole Park. But this series is against the team with which they have had the toughest time this year. The first-place Tampa Bay Rays (79-48) come to Baltimore for a three-game weekend series to wrap up a nine-game homestand for the Orioles. The Rays are 15-1 this season against the Orioles and have outscored Baltimore 128-57 in...

Hyde on Ellis, Mateo, Hays and ballpark arrival

Hyde on Ellis, Mateo, Hays and ballpark arrival
The fifth spot in the Orioles rotation is unoccupied while manager Brandon Hyde sifts through the candidates. Chris Ellis could start again after completing three innings last night. Jorge López is serving in a relief role, but the assignment isn't necessarily permanent for the remainder of the season. "I think we're still discussing what we're going to do," Hyde said. "We have that open spot in our rotation right now by moving López in the 'pen. I don't know if that's going to...

The challenge of trying to stay upbeat during a losing streak

The challenge of trying to stay upbeat during a losing streak
As the Orioles' losing streak reached 16 Friday night, the team was remaining upbeat pregame in the clubhouse and keeping their energy and work ethic up amid mounting losses. Media is not allowed back in big league clubhouses yet, so we'll take manager Brandon Hyde's word for it. But that was the experience I had in 2019. The Orioles were losing games, but maintaining a positive attitude then as they are now, which cannot be easy to do. "I give our guys a ton of credit," Hyde said before...

One-run game, but skid extended as Braves beat O's (updated)

One-run game, but skid extended as Braves beat O's (updated)
Coming into this contest against the Atlanta Braves, the Orioles had not played a game decided by one run since they beat Detroit 4-3 on July 30. During a long losing streak, they had lost every game by two or more runs. Mid-game tonight they were locked in a tight game, but would it still be that way at the finish? It would remain close, and after leading by one early in the game and trailing by one in the fifth, the Orioles went to the ninth down 5-3. Anthony Santander's second homer of the...

O's game blog: Harvey against Smyly at Camden Yards

O's game blog: Harvey against Smyly at Camden Yards
The latest shot to end a long losing streak is tonight for the Orioles. They host the Atlanta Braves in the second game of a three-game series and it's part of the larger nine-game homestand that runs through next weekend. Lefty Max Fried threw a gem as Atlanta blanked the Orioles 3-0 on Friday night. He allowed just four hits - three singles and a double - and no Oriole advanced past second base. Fried improved to 11-7 with an ERA of 3.49, throwing 90 pitches, 66 for strikes. Over his last...

Orioles and Braves lineups (updated)

Orioles and Braves lineups (updated)
Matt Harvey is on the mound tonight trying to snap the Orioles' 16-game losing streak that's the second-longest in club history. Harvey is 6-12 with 6.25 ERA and 1.546 WHIP in 24 starts. He's allowed 10 runs and 16 hits this month in three starts over 13 2/3 innings. Tonight marks Harvey's 15th career appearance and 14th start against the Braves. He owns a 4.94 ERA and 1.366 WHIP in 78 1/3 innings. Anthony Santander returns to the lineup tonight after being day-to-day with a sore ankle....

Elias on Hyde, status of rebuild, injury updates and more

Elias on Hyde, status of rebuild, injury updates and more
Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias spent about 25 minutes in the home dugout this afternoon for his latest media session. The 15-game losing streak, second-longest in club history, the path of the rebuild and the organization's prospects were among the many topics. Elias said he senses the pressure that manager Brandon Hyde is feeling beyond winning games and offers encouragement in their discussions. That Hyde is the right man for the job and it's going to work out....

His stats have fallen off, but O's remain bullish on Gunnar Henderson

His stats have fallen off, but O's remain bullish on Gunnar Henderson
When the Orioles made a host of minor league roster moves on Monday, one player that was staying put - and was expected to - is high Single-A Aberdeen infielder Gunnar Henderson. Rated as the club's No. 4 prospect by Baseball America and No. 84 in their top 100, he is No. 5 and No. 87 in the top 100 by MLBPipeline.com. He began this year at low Single-A Delmarva, where he tore it up as a 19-year-old posting a line of .312/.369/.574/.944. But since moving to Aberdeen, where he turned 20 on June...