Orioles lineup vs. Braves and LeBlanc on his quick return
Orioles lineup vs. Braves and LeBlanc on his quick return
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Orioles outfielder Anthony Santander is out of the lineup again tonight for their game against the Braves in North Port. Santander is marked absent for the fourth game in a row. Manager Brandon Hyde said yesterday that Santander has been accumulating at-bats on the back fields. Yusniel Diaz is in right field and Stevie Wilkerson is playing left. Ryan McKenna is in center. Adley Rutschman is serving as the designated hitter. Many of the projected regulars are staying back in Sarasota. John Means...
Hudson seeks spring intensity, Harrison makes case to play more
Hudson seeks spring intensity, Harrison makes case to play more
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Daniel Hudson was prepared to enter from the Nationals bullpen during the bottom of the third Friday night in Port St. Lucie, Fla., should teammate Javy Guerra not be able to complete the inning before reaching his pitch limit. When Guerra did retire the side, Hudson had a little time to rest before warming up again to pitch the bottom of the fourth. It may not sound like a big deal, but for a reliever who needs to be prepared to deal with such a scenario during the season, this was an...
O's hitting coach Long on Mountcastle and Hays
O's hitting coach Long on Mountcastle and Hays
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Are there any hitters in Orioles camp that have had better springs than young outfielders Austin Hays and Ryan Mountcastle? That is a pretty easy answer. No, there really isn't anyone else. Hays is batting .404/.440/.723 with four doubles, a triple, three homers, 12 RBIs and an OPS of 1.163. Mountcastle is batting .261/.271/.630 with five doubles, four homers and 13 RBIs along with an OPS of .901. Mountcastle's stats took a hit last night when he went 0-for-4, but he produced outs against...
More thoughts on spring training roster, trends and surprises
More thoughts on spring training roster, trends and surprises
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Three more exhibition games and the Orioles can break camp. Three more and they can put the finishing touches on their active roster, which must get down to 26 players prior to Thursday afternoon's opening day in Boston. Last night's hatchet job got them to 36. More on that confusion later. Spring training statistics can't always be trusted, but we've been reminded again that Austin Hays is a special talent. "We just need to keep him healthy" should be printed on orange T-shirts. What...
Jorge López makes strong case (O's win with Hyde quotes)
Jorge López makes strong case (O's win with Hyde quotes)
Steve Melewski
Orioles
It was a night when the Orioles rotation competition got reduced by one pitcher. Meanwhile, another stated his case, pitching very well against an American League East rival. Lefty Keegan Akin was optioned to Triple-A during a game where right-hander Jorge López was mowing down the New York Yankees in Tampa with pretty solid regularity. López threw five scoreless innings, his best outing of a good spring, allowing just two hits, and he matched Yankees ace Gerrit Cole in a scoreless duel...
Orioles option Akin and put Davis on 60-day injured list
Orioles option Akin and put Davis on 60-day injured list
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Keegan Akin has fallen out of the rotation competition in Orioles camp. First baseman Chris Davis has gone on the 60-day injured list. There's more activity this evening than the game against the Yankees in Tampa. Akin, second baseman/outfielder Jahmai Jones and middle infielder Richie Martin were optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. Left-hander Fernando Abad and infielder/outfielder Chris Shaw were reassigned to Twin Lakes camp. The Orioles also announced the signing of left-hander Wade LeBlanc to a...
LeBlanc returning to Orioles (and other notes)
LeBlanc returning to Orioles (and other notes)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
One day after left-hander Wade LeBlanc was granted his release from the Orioles, he's on the verge of returning to them on a split contract. The Orioles are working on finalizing the latest agreement, according to an industry source. LeBlanc will go back on the camp roster and earn $700,000 if he's in the majors, as first reported by USA Today. The minor league deal that he signed in late January reportedly paid $800,000. The pitching staff remains unsettled with opening day less than a week...
Harris didn't have blood clot, Soto and Castro optimistic (updated)
Harris didn't have blood clot, Soto and Castro optimistic (updated)
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Despite an initial diagnosis of a blood clot in Will Harris' pitching arm, the Nationals learned tonight a procedure performed on the veteran reliever today found no such evidence, and now they're suddenly hoping to have him back pitching for the team soon. "Tonight, not only did we win, but we got some really, really good news," manager Davey Martinez said during his Zoom session with reporters following a 7-3 exhibition victory over the Mets. "We're excited about that." Only seven...
J.J. Hardy and Mike Devereaux on the O's Hall of Fame
J.J. Hardy and Mike Devereaux on the O's Hall of Fame
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Former Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy remembered being a part of the group of players that turned the Orioles from losers into winners and returned the club to the playoffs. Former outfielder Mike Devereaux remembered his great 1992 season and being a part of the first team to play at Camden Yards. The former O's duo has been elected to the Orioles Hall of Fame. They are joined by radio broadcaster Joe Angel, who will be inducted as this year's Herb Armstrong Award winner. The trio will be...
Lineups: Nats vs. Mets in Port St. Lucie
Lineups: Nats vs. Mets in Port St. Lucie
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
The bad news: Neither Juan Soto nor Starlin Castro is in the Nationals lineup for tonight's game against the Mets. The good news: Both players appear to be fine, and their statuses for opening night (also against the Mets) do not appear to be in danger. Soto was upbeat today talking to reporters after departing Thursday night's game when his right calf cramped during his one and only at-bat. He wanted to play tonight, but manager Davey Martinez wants him to sit out "just to make sure he's...