Orioles swept for 14th time with 6-2 loss (updated)

Orioles swept for 14th time with 6-2 loss (updated)
The Orioles had their brief moment this afternoon. The early rally, the hit with a runner in scoring position, a lead against the Red Sox. Keegan Akin took his turn on the mound in the bottom of the first inning and surrendered a three-run homer to J.D. Martinez among his 22 pitches. The next three innings saw Akin bend but not break, keeping the Orioles in the game, unsure whether it keeps him in the rotation. But the losing streak is rolling into St. Petersburg, Fla., for the next stop on the...

O's fell in first-inning hole as losing streak continues

O's fell in first-inning hole as losing streak continues
In baseball, what happens in all nine innings counts. and what happened today in the first inning at Boston was pretty big as the Orioles saw their losing streak to extended 11 games in a row. They fell behind 3-1 after one frame on their way to a 6-2 loss. Boston swept this three-game series by a combined score of 30-5 after being swept there in the first series of the season when they were outscored by Baltimore 18-5. Former O's farmhand Eduardo Rodriguez took the mound for Boston today,...

O's game blog: Looking to end losing streak in series finale

O's game blog: Looking to end losing streak in series finale
With two losses this weekend at Boston and a riding 10-game losing streak, the Orioles are desperate for a win this afternoon at Fenway Park in the finale of this three-game series. The Orioles swept three from Boston at Fenway to begin the 2021 season, winning the games by a combined 18-5 score. But they have lost the first two games this weekend by a combined 24-3 score. Boston had 17 hits, bashed five homers and went 7-for-12 with runners in scoring position Saturday in pounding the Orioles...

Orioles add Abad and Wade to bullpen, plus lineups (updated)

Orioles add Abad and Wade to bullpen, plus lineups (updated)
The expected bullpen changes came today, with the Orioles designating Adam Plutko for assignment and optioning Dusten Knight to Triple-A Norfolk. In their place, the Orioles selected the contracts of Konner Wade and veteran left-hander Fernando Abad from Norfolk. They made room on the 40-man roster by transferring left-hander Bruce Zimmermann to the 60-day injured list. Plutko allowed home runs in a club-record six relief appearances in a row. He posted a 6.71 ERA and 1.633 WHIP in 38...

Orioles allow season-high 16 runs in latest loss (updated)

Orioles allow season-high 16 runs in latest loss (updated)
If it really does start with starting pitching, as baseball folks preach, the Orioles really are having a rotten weekend in Boston. Spenser Watkins allowed six runs last night in four innings, the sweat making it harder to find his grip on the ball. Manager Brandon Hyde revealed earlier today that left-hander Bruce Zimmermann must remain on the injured list after spraining his ankle in a training mishap, which prohibits the rookie from joining the rotation on Sunday. Jorge López loaded the...

Zimmermann unable to start due to injury

Zimmermann unable to start due to injury
Orioles left-hander Bruce Zimmermann no longer is a candidate, and the overwhelming favorite, to make Sunday afternoon's start in Boston. Zimmermann was expected to be reinstated from the injured list, but an ankle sprain is keeping him off the active roster. Manager Brandon Hyde provided the surprising update in today's media Zoom call while also naming left-hander Keegan Akin as Sunday's starter to close out the series. "Bruce Zimmermann had a training accident," Hyde said. "He sprained...

How Zimmermann's return impacts rotation and roster

How Zimmermann's return impacts rotation and roster
The TBA for the Orioles' starter Sunday afternoon is expected to become rookie left-hander Bruce Zimmermann in the latest change to the rotation. The tweaking never stops. It just takes a brief rest. John Means and Matt Harvey are staying for the obvious reasons. The Orioles were reluctant to move Jorge López into a bullpen role, though they saw the same logic as everyone else, and he's completed six innings in both starts this month with only three runs allowed to lower his ERA from 6.19...

Updates on Zimmermann, Wells, Mountcastle, Kremer

Updates on Zimmermann, Wells, Mountcastle, Kremer
The Orioles are going to adjust their rotation again by early next week. Whenever left-hander Bruce Zimmermann is deemed ready to start again. Zimmermann tossed five hitless innings last night at Triple-A Norfolk in his third injury rehab game and second with the Tides. The Orioles wanted to stretch him out a little more before reinstating him from the injured list. "We're seeing how he recovers today and probably make that decision in the next day or two," said manager Brandon Hyde. Asked...

O's losing streak continues; Elias on Rutschman's Triple-A debut

O's losing streak continues; Elias on Rutschman's Triple-A debut
It was night when too many streaks continued for the Orioles. They lost their sixth game in a row. They allowed runs in the eighth inning for the sixth consecutive game and they allowed nine or more runs for the sixth straight game. Captain Obvious called to state this was not a good development. The Orioles (38-73) lost the series opener 9-4 to Detroit last night and have been outscored 63-23 during the losing streak. Where once they were 10-6 since the All-Star break, now they are 10-12. On...

Wells throws off mound again (and lineups)

Wells throws off mound again (and lineups)
Rule 5 reliever Tyler Wells pitched to outfielders Ryan McKenna and DJ Stewart this afternoon at Camden Yards in a live batting practice session. The Orioles are deciding whether Wells is ready to be reinstated from the injured list. Soreness in his right wrist delayed his return after his last mound session. Wells hasn't pitched for the Orioles since July 19 due to tendinitis in the wrist. He's the closer in waiting for a bullpen that needs a trustworthy option for manager Brandon Hyde. The...

O's game blog: The series opener against Detroit, plus farm notes

O's game blog: The series opener against Detroit, plus farm notes
The Orioles homestand continues tonight as they welcome the Detroit Tigers to Oriole Park for the first of three games. They will also host Detroit on Wednesday night and Thursday afternoon. The Orioles got swept three straight over the weekend by the American League East-leading Tampa Bay Rays. They lost by scores of 10-6, 12-3 and 9-6. They scored 15 runs in the series but gave up 31 runs with more than half of them, 16, coming in the eighth inning. As the Orioles (38-72) have lost five in a...

Orioles trying to find ways to fix a frustrating situation

Orioles trying to find ways to fix a frustrating situation
There are no easy or obvious solutions to the Orioles' explosive bullpen, holes in the rotation and thinning roster due to injuries. Not unless the production picks up at its highest affiliate. That would at least provide an option. Relievers have surrendered 52 runs in the past five games - 16 scored in the eighth inning in the Rays' sweep - and manager Brandon Hyde can't be criticized for running the same group into games every night. He can't be ripped for ignoring hot hands that simply...

Mountcastle on concussion IL, notes and lineups (updated)

Mountcastle on concussion IL, notes and lineups (updated)
The Orioles placed Ryan Mountcastle on the seven-day concussion injured list today and recalled left-hander Alexander Wells from Triple-A Norfolk. Wells was eligible to return in fewer than the minimum 10 days based on an injury. He was scheduled to start today for the Tides. Manager Brandon Hyde said the club will re-evaluate going with an extra pitcher after Monday's off-day. The bench includes catcher Pedro Severino, who left last night's game with a sore right knee but should be available...

Prospect list, Zimmermann update, Mateo and more

Prospect list, Zimmermann update, Mateo and more
Baseball America has published its updated top 30 prospects list for the Orioles, and first-round pick Colton Cowser ranks fifth while beginning his professional career in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League. Heston Kjerstad, last year's first-rounder, hasn't appeared in a single game after being diagnosed with myocarditis, but he's sixth. This year's second-round pick, infielder Connor Norby, is 10th. A big jump was made by Double-A Bowie shortstop Joey Ortiz, who's 12th in the system...

The young pitchers try to find their way, plus other notes

The young pitchers try to find their way, plus other notes
During a season when Major League Baseball teams have gone from playing 60 to 162 games, all clubs have scrambled at times to cover innings from their pitchers. In the Orioles' case, a rotation that had a very poor first half, coupled with injuries to some key pitchers, may have, in a way, conspired to get some pitchers here before the team was truly comfortable with them getting a big league chance. But they were, in some cases, on the 40-man roster and they got the call. Look at some of the...

Hyde on rotation, Alexander and Tyler Wells and new relievers

Hyde on rotation, Alexander and Tyler Wells and new relievers
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said left-hander Keegan Akin, who tossed three scoreless innings last night in relief, will enter the rotation in Alexander Wells' spot. The Orioles are staying with five starters and keeping them in turn. Extra rest comes with the off-days Thursday and Monday, "which is needed right now for everybody," Hyde said. The Rays are starting Ryan Yarbrough, Shane McClanahan and Michael Wacha in the weekend series at Camden Yards. The Orioles are starting John Means,...

Yankees make short work of Wells and defeat O's 13-1 (updated)

Yankees make short work of Wells and defeat O's 13-1 (updated)
The home debut for Orioles rookie Alexander Wells remains on hold through five major league appearances. His acts are played on the road. Auditions that he hoped would lead to a regular gig. Off-days Thursday and Monday can jumble the rotation again, but Wells appeared to have a shot at pitching at Camden Yards against the Rays or, more likely, the Tigers before the Orioles flew to Boston next weekend. In the meantime, tonight marked his first appearance at Yankee Stadium. The audition hit a...

More changes for Orioles as new series begins

More changes for Orioles as new series begins
The Orioles are in New York for the next three nights, with their roster again reset, a role changed and one confirmed. Keegan Akin isn't a starter and has been assigned to the bullpen as a second left-hander after Tanner Scott was placed on the 10-day injured list with a sprained left knee. He can provide more length than Scott, but also might be needed just to get three outs in a matchup-type role late in games. Akin tried to play the part of Scott yesterday, at least in terms of usage, by...

Watkins retires 14 straight, but Orioles lose 6-2 (updated)

Watkins retires 14 straight, but Orioles lose 6-2 (updated)
A fastball from Spenser Watkins in the first inning this afternoon caught the top of the strike zone or just missed it, depending on the perspective from the mound and behind home plate. Watkins wanted the call, which would have closed out the inning without a runner reaching base. Umpire Marvin Hudson didn't give it to him. Hudson had the final word. The ensuing walk led to another, followed by the only two hits off Watkins through the fifth. The Tigers finally broke through again in the...

Spenser Watkins pitches into sixth, but O's lose series finale

Spenser Watkins pitches into sixth, but O's lose series finale
Only three Tigers got hits today off former Detroit farmhand and current O's right-hander Spenser Watkins. But his day was a mixed bag of a rough start and some late frustration as Detroit beat the Orioles 6-2 to level the four-game series at two wins each. After he gave up three runs after getting the first two batters out in the last of the first, Watkins settled in nicely. He gave the O's a solid outing and retired 14 in a row from the end of the first into the sixth. Watkins went 5 2/3...