Orioles put Urías on injured list and DFA Valdez

Orioles put Urías on injured list and DFA Valdez
The Orioles' roster moves are official and their 28-man roster has been refreshed again. The club has recalled infielder Jahmai Jones and reliever Konner Wade from Triple-A Norfolk today, placed infielder Ramón Urías on the 10-day injured list with a right adductor strain and designated reliever César Valdez for assignment. Reliever Joey Krehbiel, claimed off waivers yesterday from the Rays, was optioned to Norfolk. Urías was a late scratch from the lineup yesterday, but he...

Notes on Mullins, upcoming starters, playing spoiler and more

Notes on Mullins, upcoming starters, playing spoiler and more
Orioles outfielder Cedric Mullins is just getting a rest day, according to manager Brandon Hyde. He isn't injured and he isn't necessarily staying on the bench for tonight's series opener in Philadelphia. "After a busy weekend, it's a good day to give him a rest and he'll be ready for a pinch-hit or coming into the game," Hyde said. Mullins is one home run short of joining the 30/30 club and being the lone member with the Orioles. Mullins is trying to become the first center fielder,...

Wells retires 11 of 12, but O's lose 8-6 to complete sweep (updated)

Wells retires 11 of 12, but O's lose 8-6 to complete sweep (updated)
BOSTON - The last of the three young starters for the Orioles took his lumps today just like everyone else. With the Red Sox showing no mercy early in their quest to earn a wild card spot in the playoffs. Go easy and you might be going home, and not to host a game in the postseason. Alexander Wells stepped into traffic this afternoon, knowing the risks and hoping to come out fine on the other side. Whether he did is open to interpretation, but it sure felt that way. He loaded the bases with no...

Orioles value young contributors as losing gets old

Orioles value young contributors as losing gets old
BOSTON - The Orioles conclude their series against the Red Sox this afternoon with another rookie on the mound. Another enormous challenge that, at the least, can push along the education of a young starting pitcher. As long as it doesn't break him. Alexander Wells receives his turn after Keegan Akin and Zac Lowther pitched in the first two games of the series. Got to make sure the Red Sox get their fill of lefty prospects. So, where does this group go for support? To ensure that any beatings...

Hays' homer can't hold back 100th loss (updated)

Hays' homer can't hold back 100th loss (updated)
BOSTON - They didn't look like the Red Sox tonight. The yellow jerseys and powder blue caps. Promotional uniforms from Nike, also featured by six other clubs. Couldn't fool the Orioles, though. They knew which team was running up Keegan Akin's pitch count early, wrestling away a lead and preparing to hand them a 100th loss in 2021. Four of the first five hits off Akin were for extra bases, including Bobby Dalbec's leadoff home run in the fourth, left-hander Chris Sale marked his return from...

Orioles and Yankees lineups (and notes)

Orioles and Yankees lineups (and notes)
Trey Mancini and Pedro Severino remain out of the Orioles lineup this afternoon for the series finale against the Yankees that also closes out the homestand. "Both of those guys a little bit better today," said manager Brandon Hyde. "Trey's testing it right now in the batting cage and obviously not starting, but hopefully in the lineup in the next couple days." Infielder Jahmai Jones remains on the bench, but he isn't hurt. "Just playing Richie (Martin) at short tonight, keeping...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
The Orioles went through their off-day without making any changes to their roster. There's still time to tweak the pitching staff before the series opener against the Yankees at Camden Yards. I've seen a lot in my 25 years on the beat, much of it good and some stuff that made me rub my eyes and wish I could cleanse my mind. Pretty much the entire 2018 season needs to be burned like unwanted film. And that 30-3 loss to the Rangers in 2007. And every attempt to interview Erik Bedard. Losing a...

Orioles no-hit Jays for six innings and lose 11-2 (updated)

Orioles no-hit Jays for six innings and lose 11-2 (updated)
The starts will keep coming to Orioles left-hander Keegan Akin. What he does with them is up to him. The Orioles can only provide the opportunities, sit back and hope that he flourishes. Just as they did while making Cedric Mullins their everyday center fielder. Akin issued a leadoff walk to George Springer tonight in the second game of the doubleheader, retired 15 batters in a row and turned in six hitless innings, and Mullins belted his 29th home run. But the Orioles still couldn't achieve...

Orioles and Blue Jays Game 1 lineups (updated)

Orioles and Blue Jays Game 1 lineups (updated)
The Orioles are sending rookies Keegan Akin and Dean Kremer to the mound for today's doubleheader against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards. Kremer is starting the opener. Kremer has been recalled from Triple-A Norfolk as the 29th man, rejoining a team he hasn't pitched for since June 24 in Buffalo, where he allowed six runs and walked five batters in one-third of an inning. In his previous start, he held the Jays to two runs and three hits with six strikeouts in six innings at Camden Yards....

Orioles lineup vs. Blue Jays

Orioles lineup vs. Blue Jays
Jorge Mateo and Ramón Urías are out of the lineup tonight due to their physical issues, which puts Richie Martin back in the Orioles lineup for the series opener against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards. Martin is playing shortstop in his first game since the Orioles recalled him. Urías continues to receive treatment on his right upper leg and Mateo is enduring some unspecified discomfort. Manager Brandon Hyde saw Mateo struggle to get out of the box last night and wondered if the...

A few O's notes as they await the Toronto weekend series

A few O's notes as they await the Toronto weekend series
A few thoughts and notes on the Orioles, who were shut out 6-0 by Kansas City last night. The Orioles were held to three singles as they fell to 45-94 and now await a series with the Toronto Blue Jays that begins tonight at Oriole Park. No runs, no win: A night after their nine-run last of the eighth inning and comeback win, the Baltimore offense was quiet. They got three straight singles with two outs in the last of the second. They got no other hits before that brief rally and none after. And...

Matt Harvey placed on 10-day injured list

Matt Harvey placed on 10-day injured list
The Orioles found their infield coverage this afternoon while creating room in their rotation. Veteran starter Matt Harvey is on the 10-day injured list with right knee inflammation, the move coming after he made his 28th start last night. Infielder Richie Martin has been recalled from Triple-A Norfolk and gives the Orioles five players on their bench. Harvey is 6-14 with a 6.27 ERA and 1.543 WHIP in 127 2/3 innings. His 28 starts rank first on the club, three ahead of Jorge López, who was...

Orioles and Royals lineups (updated)

Orioles and Royals lineups (updated)
Trey Mancini returns to the Orioles lineup tonight for the first time since Sunday, batting cleanup and serving as the designated hitter. Austin Hays and Ramón Urías are on the bench. DJ Stewart is in left field and batting fifth. The double play combination remains Jorge Mateo at shortstop and Jahmai Jones at second base. Ryan Mountcastle's 26 home runs are the third-most by an Orioles rookie in a single season, trailing Cal Ripken Jr. (28 in 1982) and Eddie Murray (27 in 1977). Hays...

Orioles rolling out the rookies in rotation

Orioles rolling out the rookies in rotation
Matt Harvey made his 28th start last night, the former Orioles reclamation project in spring training who turned into the No. 2 guy in the rotation breaking camp. Before all the shuffling that wrecked the order like a wet NASCAR track. Whether Harvey receives a 29th, or when he does, is under discussion. Whether the Orioles bend to the need to evaluate and offer chances to their prospects who suddenly have formed a conga line to Camden Yards. Mike Baumann made his major league debut Tuesday...

Mike Baumann's thrilling debut highlights win over K.C.

Mike Baumann's thrilling debut highlights win over K.C.
It's exciting - thrilling, really - when a rookie gets his big chance and runs with it like Mike Baumann did last night. Nights like that can give Birdland hope that there may be more talents like Baumann still to come. They hope the young talent comes crashing into Camden Yards like waves into the shoreline. And the waves keep coming. And coming. It was before the game in the Orioles dugout when Baumann spoke with reporters and told us how excited he was to get the shot to make his major...

Expanded roster still stretching Orioles thin

Expanded roster still stretching Orioles thin
Grant manager Brandon Hyde one baseball wish and he could go in pretty much any direction, no GPS capable of leading him to an exact spot. Give him a bunch, however, and he's demanding more length out of an expanded roster. The bump from 26 to 28 players just doesn't cut it. He'd rub the shine off the genie lamp for a deeper bench and pitching staff. "I wish we had a 35-man roster in September this year," he said yesterday morning, sitting in the dugout for his media session and confirming...

Mullins joins 25/25 club and O's rally for 8-7 win (updated)

Mullins joins 25/25 club and O's rally for 8-7 win (updated)
Nine consecutive four-seam fastballs to Gary Sánchez in the second inning today showed tremendous confidence in the pitch. But also with the obvious risks and other potential repercussions. Sánchez got the barrel on the ninth, with the bases loaded and the Orioles ahead by a run, and launched it into the second deck for a grand slam. The chance at a rare series win on the road seemed to disappear with the ball, but the Orioles kept clawing, kept putting runners on base and finally found...

A few thoughts and notes on a series win in the Bronx

A few thoughts and notes on a series win in the Bronx
A few thoughts, notes and impressions on today's game and this weekend as the Orioles ended a six-game road trip to Toronto and New York going a respectable 3-3. They take two of three at New York, winning a series in the Bronx for the first time since March 28-31, 2019. * The last five games of this trip were each decided by two runs or less, with the Orioles going 3-2. That is certainly a sign of progress, but in a very small sample size. But you take that in the American League East on the...

O's game blog: Looking for a series win over Yankees

O's game blog: Looking for a series win over Yankees
The Orioles (42-92), after Saturday's 4-3 win at Yankee Stadium, can end this two-city road trip with a series win in the Bronx if they win this afternoon versus the Yankees. The O's lost 4-3 in 11 innings Friday night and won by the same score yesterday when they broke a 3-3 tie in the ninth against lefty closer Aroldis Chapman. Ryan Mountcastle led off the ninth and reached on a strikeout and wild pitch. Austin Hays singled and Trey Mancini walked to load the bases. Mancini went 3-for-3...

Orioles and Yankees lineups

Orioles and Yankees lineups
Ryan Mountcastle and Jahmai Jones are out of the Orioles lineup today as they conclude their series at Yankee Stadium. DJ Stewart is the designated hitter with the Orioles finally facing a right-handed starter. Ramón Urias moves to shortstop and Jorge Mateo to second base. Trey Mancini has hit safely in 11 of his last 13 games, batting .358/.404/.472 (19-for-53). He's the first baseman today. Left-hander Keegan Akin has held opponents to one run in each of his last two starts totaling 12...