Gold Glove exclusion, Álvarez and AFL updates

Gold Glove exclusion, Álvarez and AFL updates
The Orioles will be shut out in Rawlings Gold Glove voting for a third consecutive year. The lack of a finalist in 2018 sealed their fate. Manny Machado made the final three last year at third base, but was denied his third Gold Glove. He isn't a finalist after a change in positions and teams, but the World Series provides a nice distraction for him. Yesterday's news was anticlimactic, with the Orioles having no obvious candidates at any position. Machado was traded prior to the non-waiver...

Adam Jones on Cedric Mullins and playing in right, plus farm notes

Adam Jones on Cedric Mullins and playing in right, plus farm notes
Maybe playing right field is going to be good for Adam Jones on offense. I'm kidding here, but Jones did go 2-for-4 last night with a double and solo homer. In five games as a right fielder, he's 7-for-20 and batting .350/.409/.600 with an OPS of 1.009. Interviewed after last night's 6-3 win over the New York Mets, Jones wasn't offering much yet when asked how he's getting along in right field. "Fine," he said. "Less running. I've only been at it five games, so I'll let you know when...

Núñez set to join the Orioles

Núñez set to join the Orioles
The first move following Manny Machado's departure from the Orioles will be selecting Renato Núñez's contract from Triple-A Norfolk as part of a restructuring of the left side of the infield. Núñez, 24, is batting .289/.361/.443 in 565 games with the Tides, including 14 doubles, a triple, five home runs and 25 RBIs. He's a career .265/.321/.466 hitter in 757 minor league games and belted 32 home runs in 2017 with Triple-A Nashville in the Athletics' system. The Rangers claimed...

Orioles lament defensive shortcomings (O's down 5-4)

Orioles lament defensive shortcomings (O's down 5-4)
Whatever the return for shortstop Manny Machado in the coming hours, days or weeks, the Orioles will be focused in part on improving a defense that has been in steady decline for the past three seasons. It's become a familiar refrain, but executing the plan has proven to be as challenging as stringing together wins. Team officials vowed again to make defense a priority over the winter, but the Orioles moved Platinum Glove winner Machado to shortstop and put Tim Beckham at third base, where his...

Updates on Beckham and Trumbo (O's down 5-3)

Updates on Beckham and Trumbo (O's down 5-3)
ATLANTA - The Orioles will decide Monday whether to activate third baseman Tim Beckham from the 60-day disabled list. They seem to be leaning in that direction. Beckham remains with Triple-A Norfolk on his injury rehab assignment. He's 2-for-15 with the Tides after going 1-for-8 with Double-A Bowie since recovering from core muscle surgery. The Orioles haven't been able to put Beckham in their lineup since April 23. He's appeared in 23 games with a .179/.247/.262 slash line. "I'm not sure....

Davis expected in lineup tomorrow, plus other notes (game update)

Davis expected in lineup tomorrow, plus other notes (game update)
WASHINGTON - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he expects first baseman Chris Davis to return to the starting lineup tomorrow night when the Orioles begin a three-game series in Atlanta. When the Orioles play in Washington tonight, Davis will not be in the lineup for the eighth consecutive game since his last start, June 11 versus Boston, when he went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts to drop his average to .150. Davis' OPS has decreased each month, from .559 in April to .453 in May to .254 in...

More roster changes coming for Orioles

More roster changes coming for Orioles
Orioles right-hander Andrew Cashner comes off the disabled list today after missing only one start with soreness in his lower back. Two off-days lessened the impact of his absence. It's going to necessitate another roster move, but more on that later. Cashner has one win since April 5, though decisions stray from a pitcher's control. He's trying to lower a 4.98 ERA and 1.687 WHIP accumulated over 13 starts. He's averaging 10.9 hits and 4.2 walks per nine innings. Tonight marks Cashner's...

Showalter on roster moves and more (O's down 9-6)

Showalter on roster moves and more (O's down 9-6)
WASHINGTON - The Orioles roster was bound to undergo some changes with players ready to come off the disabled list, but the club got a head start by optioning rookie catcher Chance Sisco to Triple-A Norfolk after Sunday's game and recalling Caleb Joseph this afternoon. "I think Chance can back up a little bit and take a breath and kind of get back to some of the things that he's capable of," said manager Buck Showalter. "We all know what a good player Chance has got a chance to be. I think...

Orioles lineup vs. Nationals (Wilkerson selected, Álvarez DFA)

Orioles lineup vs. Nationals (Wilkerson selected, Álvarez DFA)
WASHINGTON - The Orioles made a flurry of roster moves this afternoon before the opening game of their three-game interleague series against the Nationals. The promotion of catcher Caleb Joseph from Triple-A Norfolk was known after the club optioned catcher Chance Sisco to the Tides following Sunday's game. Joseph will be reunited with his brother, Corban Joseph, who joined the Orioles from Double-A Bowie over the weekend. Caleb Joseph is behind the plate and hitting eighth tonight against the...

Hitting on some offensive topics as O's try to avoid sweep

Hitting on some offensive topics as O's try to avoid sweep
A loss today would be the 10th in a row for the Orioles, their longest streak since May 26-June 5, 2010. A home losing streak of 12 games would establish a club record. Being swept by the Marlins wouldn't do much for their confidence, either. This team is trying so hard to tank, its mascot should include an ammunition rack. But the Orioles have dropped the first two games of the series. How can rock bottom keep moving on them? The removal of Chris Davis from the lineup hasn't cured everything...

Orioles lineup vs. Marlins

Orioles lineup vs. Marlins
Trey Mancini is starting at first base today while Chris Davis stays on the bench for the Orioles' second game of their series against the Marlins. Davis has sat out the last four games. He joined Manny Machado and Pedro Álvarez on the field today for early hitting. The session including hitting coach Scott Coobaugh tossing the ball underhanded from close range and each player driving the ball to the opposite field. It ended with vice president of baseball operations Brady Anderson throwing...

Scott can step up in Bleier's absence

Scott can step up in Bleier's absence
One man's torn latissimus dorsi muscle is another man's opportunity to become an established major league reliever. It sounds harsh, but it's also baseball reality. No one is celebrating Richard Bleier's season-ending injury, and that's especially true of Tanner Scott. They're friends who sat next to each other in the clubhouse. They traded playful insults while I sought their opinions on the movie "The Sandlot" for a MASN pregame segment. Scott had to be highly upset by the news of...

Davis remains out of the Orioles' lineup

Davis remains out of the Orioles' lineup
The Orioles will try to snap a seven-game losing streak tonight and win at home for the first time in 10 games as the Marlins make a rare visit to Camden Yards. The Orioles lost two of three games in Miami in 2015 and two of three in Baltimore in 2010. The Marlins swept a three-game series at home in 2009 and took two of three at Camden Yards in 2006. They lead the all-time series 20-7, including 7-5 in Baltimore. Corban Joseph is leading off and playing first base, with Chris Davis remaining...

Orioles and Red Sox lineups (and notes)

Orioles and Red Sox lineups (and notes)
The Orioles are deciding on their corresponding roster move for Yefry Ramirez, who makes his major league debut today. They're leery of removing a reliever and being short in the bullpen. Chris Davis is out of the lineup again today as the Orioles close out their series against the Red Sox, who are sending left-hander Chris Sale to the mound. Davis also sat last night against left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez. Adam Jones also is on the bench today to provide some rest. He's fine physically other...

How will Orioles fit Britton in their bullpen and on the roster?

How will Orioles fit Britton in their bullpen and on the roster?
The Orioles swept a two-game series against the Mets at Citi Field and led the Blue Jays 4-1 with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning at Rogers Centre. I foolishly let myself believe that they were getting on a roll with three straight wins, that they might move into a more respectable neighborhood. Brad Brach blew the save and the Jays walked off in the 10th against Miguel Castro to point them toward a four-game sweep and another soul crushing moment in the 2018 season. Darren O'Day...

Does Davis stay on the bench today?

Does Davis stay on the bench today?
Orioles manager Buck Showalter waited until about an hour before first pitch yesterday to reveal his lineup. The right decision was made regarding Chris Davis. Whether it came from Davis or Showalter. Davis needed to sit again no matter his track record against Blue Jays starter Aaron Sanchez. The .348 career average in 23 at-bats was meaningless. The only reason to pause was Sanchez's difficulties versus left-handed hitters, who posted a .304 average against him. Davis isn't the same...

O'Day activated and Scott optioned (plus lineups)

O'Day activated and Scott optioned (plus lineups)
The Orioles have activated reliever Darren O'Day from the disabled list and optioned left-hander Tanner Scott to Triple-A Norfolk. They're keeping a four-man bench and seven-man bullpen. O'Day hasn't pitched for the Orioles since May 4 in Oakland. He went on the DL with a hyperextended right elbow, the result of a mishap in the bullpen, where a teammate accidentally ran into him while he stretched. O'Day is 0-1 with a 3.77 ERA and 0.977 WHIP in 13 appearances. He's allowed six earned runs...

Gausman trying to keep the quality coming while bats stay cold

Gausman trying to keep the quality coming while bats stay cold
The starting pitching isn't really the issue. Andrew Cashner's quality start last night in Toronto was the Orioles' fourth straight on the current road trip and the eighth in the last nine games. But they were held to one run in a 5-1 loss, the latest adjustments to the lineup failing to create a spark. Kevin Gausman has fallen short of the quality line in his last two attempts since shutting out the White Sox in 6 1/3 innings on May 22. He allowed seven runs in 2 2/3 innings against the...

Orioles lineup doesn't include Davis

Orioles lineup doesn't include Davis
The offensive funk that followed Chris Davis into the 2018 season won't leave him. It's wrapped around him like a scarf. Davis went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts last night in Toronto and is batting .152/.232/.232 with four doubles, four home runs, 15 RBIs and nine runs scored in 220 plate appearances. He's drawn 19 walks and struck out 81 times. The Orioles are facing a left-hander tonight, J.A. Happ, as their series continues in Toronto and Davis is on the bench. Trey Mancini moves to...

The rookie battery created a mostly feel-good night for the Orioles

The rookie battery created a mostly feel-good night for the Orioles
Maybe we can set aside for the moment the fact that manager Buck Showalter gambled and lost, pitching Brad Brach three days in a row. And also leaving him in too long when he was struggling. If we could put aside a blown three-run lead in the ninth and the latest gut-punch loss we can realize that something pretty neat happened last night at Rogers Centre. The Orioles sent out a rookie battery of catcher Austin Wynns, drafted in round 10 in 2013 out of Fresno State and pitcher David Hess,...