Updating Miguel Gonzalez and more

Updating Miguel Gonzalez and more
Miguel Gonzalez threw off flat ground today in his first session since going on the disabled list with tendinitis in his right shoulder and inflammation in his right elbow. "Felt really good, no problems," said manager Buck Showalter. "Actually got more aggressive toward the end and didn't feel anything, so that's good news today." The next step probably involves another flat ground session. "Would do that again, I think," Showalter said. "That was the first time in a long time....

Brian Matusz talks about being nominated for Roberto Clemente Award

Brian Matusz talks about being nominated for Roberto Clemente Award
Orioles relief pitcher Brian Matusz has been very active in the community for several seasons. Today he was named as the Orioles' nominee for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award. Prior to Wednesday's game, the Orioles will observe Major League Baseball's annual Roberto Clemente Day and present Matusz his award during an on-field ceremony. "I'm absolutely honored to be the Orioles' representative," Matusz said this afternoon. "And to be included with the guys in the past that have...

Orioles lineup vs. Red Sox

Orioles lineup vs. Red Sox
The Orioles are breaking out their right-handed lineup tonight against Red Sox lefty Eduardo Rodriguez. Nolan Reimold is leading off again and serving as the designated hitter. Steve Pearce is in left field and Dariel Alvarez is in right. Caleb Joseph is behind the plate. Manny Machado needs three more stolen bases for the seventh 20/20 season in Orioles history. He already has 28 home runs. Machado would join Paul Blair (26/20 in 1969), Don Baylor (25/32 in 1975), Reggie Jackson (27/28 in...

Wrapping up a 14-6 loss

Wrapping up a 14-6 loss
Heading into today's game at Camden Yards, the Orioles' bullpen led the American League and ranked third in the majors with a 2.70 ERA since April 29. Opponents were batting .230 during the span, which ranked fifth in the majors. Maybe they were due for a dud. The relievers who followed starter Chris Tillman combined to allow 10 runs. Two of Tillman's inherited runners also crossed the plate in a 14-6 loss to the Royals. Tillman was charged with four runs, the last two scoring as he sat on...

Updating Adam Jones' injury and wrapping up an 8-6 loss

Updating Adam Jones' injury and wrapping up an 8-6 loss
NEW YORK - The Orioles announced that they optioned reliever Oliver Drake and outfielder Junior Lake to Triple-A Norfolk following today's 8-6 loss to the Yankees. They can assist the Tides in their push toward the International League championship. Norfolk faces Columbus on Wednesday in the first round of the playoffs. Center fielder Adam Jones said he expects to be in Tuesday night's lineup against the Yankees after leaving today's game in the eighth inning with soreness in his right...

Is O's staff ready for challenge of Toronto? (Bowie wins division title)

Is O's staff ready for challenge of Toronto? (Bowie wins division title)
As you know, the Orioles have had plenty of problems on offense recently, but they've had their share on the mound as well. The Tampa Bay Rays rank 14th out of 15 American League teams in runs scored. But in three games at Camden Yards this week, the Rays produced 23 runs, 38 hits and seven homers off Baltimore pitching. O's starters pitched a combined 11 2/3 innings in that serie, allowing 25 hits and 16 runs (15 earned) for an ERA of 11.57 the last three games. The bullpen was forced to...

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...

Matt Wieters leaves game with hamstring injury

Matt Wieters leaves game with hamstring injury
The Orioles need a do-over in tonight's game in Seattle. Chris Tillman exited after only 2 1/3 innings and catcher Matt Wieters followed him to the dugout with the Orioles behind 5-2. The Orioles announced that Wieters was removed due to a strained right hamstring, which he apparently suffered while fielding Mark Trumbo's roller in front of the mound. Manager Buck Showalter summoned reliever Brian Matusz, noticed that Wieters was grimacing and made another change. Caleb Joseph replaced...

Latest loss brings more concern that Orioles will be on the outside looking in come October

Latest loss brings more concern that Orioles will be on the outside looking in come October
Hopefully, yesterday's loss will not turn out to be a microcosm for an entire season for the Orioles. They rallied, they came close, they were right there until the last pitch. But they just didn't do enough to win. It was frustrating for Birdland in a season where there have been a few frustrations. The one-run loss on Sunday by a 5-4 score in 11 innings to the Los Angeles Angels meant the difference between being one game or three games out for the second wild card in the American League....

Playing the numbers game after yesterday's loss

Playing the numbers game after yesterday's loss
With yesterday's 5-4, 11-inning loss to the Angels, the Orioles fell three games back for the second wild card spot and failed to gain ground on the Yankees, who remain five games ahead of them in the division. An opportunity also was lost, and the second-guessing carried through the night. Manager Buck Showalter took a huge risk by ordering intentional walks to Mike Trout and Albert Pujols to load the bases with two outs. Brian Matusz fell behind in the count and eventually ran it full before...

Walk-off loss: David Murphy's single in 11th lifts Angels over Orioles

Walk-off loss: David Murphy's single in 11th lifts Angels over Orioles
After leading early by two runs and then trailing by two, the Orioles tied today's game. They never could get the lead back and then lost in walk-off fashion. David Murphy's single to deep left field on a 3-2 pitch from Brian Matusz with the bases loaded in the last of the 11th gave the Los Angeles Angels a 5-4 win over the Orioles in the series finale. No. 9 Carlos Perez hitter led off the last of the 11th and doubled off Chaz Roe. After a strikeout on a bunted third strike, Matusz came on...

West Coast trip presents next challenge for Orioles

West Coast trip presents next challenge for Orioles
The Orioles can't avoid it any longer. The dreaded West Coast trip is upon them. Three cities and nine games in 10 days. It's always a grind, no matter how the opponents are playing. A travel day would have been nice, but the folks making out the schedule aren't doing the Orioles any favors. They boarded a flight last night for Oakland and begin a three-game series tonight. The Orioles were 2-4 against the Athletics last season, going 1-2 in both ballparks. They were outscored...

Orioles lineup vs. Braves

Orioles lineup vs. Braves
Manny Machado returns to the leadoff spot tonight as the Orioles attempt to run their winning streak to four games. Travis Snider is in left field and Chris Davis is in right, putting David Lough and Nolan Reimold on the bench. Chris Parmelee is playing first base. Ryan Flaherty has moved from first base to second. Jonathan Schoop is on the bench. Left-hander Brian Matusz has allowed one earned run in his last 14 outings, with 21 strikeouts in 12 1/3 innings. The Orioles are trying to move...

Notes on Tillman, Machado, Schoop, Britton, Matusz and more

Notes on Tillman, Machado, Schoop, Britton, Matusz and more
I loaded up my morning blog entry on information related to Chris Tillman's one-hit gem last night against the Tigers at Comerica Park. As it turns out, there's more stuff to pass along. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Tillman is the only Orioles pitcher since the franchise relocated to Baltimore in 1954 to allow a hit to the opposition's leadoff batter and finish at least eight innings without surrendering another hit. He also did it on Sept. 28, 2012. Tillman and Joe Kennedy are the...

Buck Showalter on Sunday starter, Kevin Gausman and 2-0 loss

Buck Showalter on Sunday starter, Kevin Gausman and 2-0 loss
Orioles manager Buck Showalter named Miguel Gonzalez as Sunday's starter against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. Bud Norris was lined up to make the start, but Gonzalez is moving ahead of him. Showalter also said Kevin Gausman will accompany the team to Chicago. He didn't promise that Gausman will get another start, but the right-hander is staying with the club and appears to be staying in the rotation. The Orioles won't add another reliever before Friday night's game, so Norris could...

Mike Wright and Brian Matusz talk about the top of the fifth in loss to New York Yankees

Mike Wright and Brian Matusz talk about the top of the fifth in loss to New York Yankees
The game probably came down to the three batters right-hander Mike Wright faced in the top of the fifth inning. On a hot day, he tried to battle his way through the second, third and fourth hitters in the New York lineup, but three walks led to three runs as the Yankees beat the Orioles 5-3 this afternoon. The rookie walked Chase Headley, Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira to start the fifth, and all three scored as the Yankees turned a 3-2 deficit into a 5-3 lead. "It was a hot day and I got a...

Showalter speaks after 5-3 loss

Showalter speaks after 5-3 loss
Leadoff walks can come back to bite a pitcher. Issuing four consecutive walks to start an inning will leave a much deeper gash. Today's game basically was decided in the top of the fifth inning, when Mike Wright walked Chase Headley, Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira to load the bases with no outs and Brian Matusz walked left-handed hitting Garrett Jones to force in a run. Matusz struck out the next two batters, but John Ryan Murphy lined a two-run double to left field, the ball glancing off...

Yankees take advantage of walks to get lead, beat Orioles 5-3

Yankees take advantage of walks to get lead, beat Orioles 5-3
Orioles right-hander Mike Wright had worked out of some jams earlier in the game and retired the Yankees 1-2-3 in the fourth inning. So manager Buck Showalter probably felt confident the rookie could give him another inning as Wright took the mound for the fifth inning with his pitch count at 86 and a 3-2 lead. But he walked the Yankees' Chase Headley to lead off the frame. Then, he walked Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira to load the bases with no outs. Handed a rally, the Yankees cashed that...

Orioles lineup vs. Yankees (Tyler Wilson recalled)

Orioles lineup vs. Yankees (Tyler Wilson recalled)
After a sweep of the Red Sox in their last series, the Orioles are going for a sweep of the Yankees this afternoon while trying to extend their winning streak to seven games. Brian Matusz is back in the bullpen. Right-hander Tyler Wilson, who has made three appearances (one start) for the Orioles this season, has been scratched from his Triple-A Norfolk start today. He hasn't been seen in Baltimore. Nolan Reimold will get another start in left field, and he's moved to fifth in the lineup....

More roster moves and today's game

More roster moves and today's game
The Orioles' roster is undergoing more changes today. Hope you didn't get too attached to the old one. Left-hander Brian Matusz comes off the suspended list and the Orioles are expected to recall another reliever. As I speculated last night, left-hander T.J. McFarland could be optioned. He's allowed baserunners in all 10 appearances this season, though his ERA is 1.93. A win today would give the Orioles a sweep of the Yankees and extend their winning streak to seven games, the longest under...