More on O'Day, Gonzalez, Norris and the rotation

More on O'Day, Gonzalez, Norris and the rotation
BOSTON - Orioles manager Buck Showalter indicated today that reliever Darren O'Day could join the team in Boston before Wednesday night's game against the Red Sox. O'Day threw all of his pitches off a mound this morning in Sarasota. If his hand responds favorably, he could grab a flight to Boston. O'Day received another injection to reduce the inflammation that was causing discomfort and tingling in the index and middle fingers on his right hand. There are still small traces of it, but...
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Updates on Gonzalez and Pearce

Updates on Gonzalez and Pearce
BOSTON - Orioles pitcher Miguel Gonzalez, who left his most recent start in the sixth inning with a strained right groin, will play catch today and throw a bullpen session on Thursday. Gonzalez said he's feeling "a lot better." "Yesterday, I was sore, but today I can walk better and move around, so it's progressing a lot better than what I expected," he said. Gonzalez limped off the mound at Rogers Centre with one out in the sixth inning Sunday in a 3-1 victory over the Blue Jays. He...
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Orioles and Red Sox lineups and O'Day update

Orioles and Red Sox lineups and O'Day update
BOSTON - Outfielder Steve Pearce has rejoined the Orioles today after being placed on the disabled list with inflammation in his left wrist and receiving cortisone injections to lessen the discomfort. He's been swinging a bat in Sarasota. Nate McLouth is leading off tonight after being hit on the left knee Sunday by a Kyle Drabek pitch. Danny Valencia remains the designated hitter. Darren O'Day threw off a mound today in Sarasota and mixed in his breaking ball. Yesterday, he threw only...
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It's Feldman vs. Dempster tonight in Boston

It's Feldman vs. Dempster tonight in Boston
Is this a make-or-break series for the Orioles? Three games in Boston. Get swept and get out of the race? Probably not, considering that there isn't a single team that seems capable of putting a stranglehold on a wild card spot. For the Orioles, it starts tonight at Fenway Park with Scott Feldman opposing Ryan Dempster. The Orioles should feel good about handing the ball to Feldman, who's allowed three earned runs or fewer in each of his last six starts. He's given up only four runs in...
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Updates on O'Day, Urrutia and Pearce (Betemit DFA'd, quote added)

Updates on O'Day, Urrutia and Pearce (Betemit DFA'd, quote added)
Orioles reliever Darren O'Day threw off flat ground this morning in Sarasota and may progress to a mound on Tuesday if his hand responds favorably. O'Day hasn't pitched since Sept. 7 because of soreness and tingling in the index and middle fingers on his right hand. He didn't accompany the team to Boston. O'Day threw only fastballs today, but will mix in his break ball on Tuesday - a pitch that has brought the most discomfort. The Orioles are aiming to get O'Day ready for the Tampa Bay...
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Jones nominated for Clemente award

Jones nominated for Clemente award
Major League Baseball has announced the names of the 30 club nominees for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award, and Orioles center fielder Adam Jones is included on the list. The annual award recognizes a Major League Baseball player who best represents the game of baseball through positive contributions on and off the field, including sportsmanship and community involvement. Clemente, a 15-time All-Star and Hall of Famer, died in a plane crash on New Year's Eve 1972 while attempting to...
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Scoping out Schoop's chances at second base

Scoping out Schoop's chances at second base
The Orioles are off today, the only open date on their September schedule. They arrived in Boston last night after taking two of three games from the Blue Jays. Outfielder Henry Urrutia comes off the restricted list, which requires a corresponding 40-man roster move. The Orioles could remove Dan Johnson, who took Urrutia's spot in Toronto. Darren O'Day may do some throwing today in Sarasota. The Orioles' bullpen covered the last 3 2/3 innings yesterday, shutting out the Jays, but it had to...
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Orioles take the bad with the good (updated)

Orioles take the bad with the good (updated)
So, how about those Orioles? They were 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position today, but the hit was Danny Valencia's two-run double in the third inning that gave them a 2-1 lead over the Blue Jays. The Orioles were 7-for-30 with RISP in the series, and they're 37-for-171 (.216) in their last 22 games. Valencia is batting .472 (25-for-53) with eight doubles, four homers and 13 RBIs in his last 15 games. If the Orioles make the playoffs, Valencia will be quite the celebrity in Baltimore....
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Can the Orioles be clutch today?

Can the Orioles be clutch today?
The Orioles were 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position yesterday, and a lead that they nursed through the middle innings dissolved into a 4-3 loss to the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Can't blame customs or the exchange rate in Canada. The Orioles are prone to these lapses in the clutch on any side of the border. The Orioles are 6-for-22 with RISP in the first two games of the series after going 13-for-63 (.206) with on their most recent eight-game homestand. Before Friday, the Orioles...
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Orioles and Blue Jays lineups

Orioles and Blue Jays lineups
Nick Markakis is leading off today for the final game between the Orioles and Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Danny Valencia is batting fifth as the designated hitter, and Michael Morse is batting eighth as the left fielder. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Manny Machado 3B Chris Davis 1B Adam Jones CF Danny Valencia DH J.J. Hardy SS Matt Wieters C Michael Morse LF Brian Roberts 2B Miguel Gonzalez RHP For the Blue Jays Jose Reyes SS Brett Lawrie 3B Edwin Encarnacion DH Adam Lind 1B...
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It's Gonzalez vs. Buehrle today

It's Gonzalez vs. Buehrle today
The Orioles will try to improve their series record to 26-17-4 with a win today in Toronto, but it's more important to improve their spot in the wild card race. Taking a lead hasn't been an issue for the Orioles. Holding it in the late innings is another matter. A few more hits with runners in scoring position also would provide a boost. Might actually prevent all these one- and two-run losses. The Orioles are seeing another left-hander today, veteran Mark Buehrle, who's 11-8 with a 4.18...
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Will Orioles regret missed opportunities? (O's lose 4-3)

Will Orioles regret missed opportunities? (O's lose 4-3)
The Orioles carried a a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning at Rogers Centre, but Chris Tillman issued a four-pitch walk to Moises Sierra and Colby Rasmus hit a two-run homer. Tillman hadn't allowed any runs since the first inning. Now he trails the Blue Jays 4-3. Oh, those leadoff walks. And those two-out walks. Just the walks in general. Tillman has allowed 30 home runs in 30 starts this season. He's surrendered 71 in his career, including 50 solo shots. Rasmus homered on a...
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Make Machado's a double (O's lead 3-2)

Make Machado's a double (O's lead 3-2)
The Yankees lost today, which would enable the Orioles to pass them in the wild card standings with a win today in Toronto. The Orioles are wearing their black jerseys instead of the usual orange on Saturday. They won last night. Superstitious? Last night, Chris Davis hit his 50th home run. Today, Manny Machado hit his 50th double. Apparently, 50 is the new ... 50. Machado, Brian Roberts and Miguel Tejada are the only Orioles with 50 or more doubles in a season. Roberts holds the record...
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Orioles and Blue Jays lineups

Orioles and Blue Jays lineups
Danny Valencia remains in the Orioles' lineup today against the Blue Jays at Rogers Center. Brian Roberts is playing second base and batting ninth, one spot below Valencia. Chris Davis hit his 50th home run last night to tie Brady Anderson's single-season club record. Davis' 47 homers as a first baseman are the most in the AL since Jim Thome had 48 for Cleveland in 2002. Davis leads the majors with 90 extra-base hits, 20 more than Miguel Cabrera and two shy of Anderson's club record set...
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Choosing the MVO

Choosing the MVO
Manager Buck Showalter started Danny Valencia against a right-hander last night, and he put Steve Clevenger behind the plate for the Baltimore native's debut with the Orioles. He also inserted Ryan Flaherty at second base instead of Brian Roberts. And it worked. Showalter handed the ball to closer Jim Johnson in the ninth inning, and the Orioles headed back to their hotel with a 5-3 win over the Blue Jays. Showalter has been an easy second-guess target of late, but his lineup and...
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Davis gives Orioles lead and makes history (O's win 5-3)

Davis gives Orioles lead and makes history (O's win 5-3)
Chris Davis turned 50 tonight. Not his age. Heaven forbid. But Davis hit his 50th home run in the top of the eighth inning to give the Orioles a 4-3 lead. Davis crushed a changeup from Blue Jays' right-hander Steve Delabar leading off the inning, sending the ball to the opposite field, as he tends to do. Delabar had replaced Sergio Santos. Davis has tied Brady Anderson's single-season club record for home runs set in 1996. Anderson also reached the milestone in Toronto, connecting off Pat...
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Orioles' offense muted by Redmond (game tied)

Orioles' offense muted by Redmond (game tied)
The first inclination among some Orioles fans tonight will be to rip Jason Hammel for his start in Toronto. Two home runs in five innings. A 3-0 deficit. I'm focused more on how Todd Redmond shut out the Orioles over 6 1/3 innings. Todd Redmond. Sound familiar? The Orioles selected him off waivers from the Reds on Feb. 8. He didn't do much to impress in spring training, and the Blue Jays claimed him off waivers in late March. Barely worth a mention in the transactions. Redmond absolutely...
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A few pregame notes

A few pregame notes
The Orioles are looking for their first road series win against an American League East opponent since April 8-11, when they took two of three at Fenway Park. Since the start of the 2012 season, the Orioles are 11-4 at home against the Blue Jays. They're 9-14 in their last 23 games in Toronto. The Orioles are averaging 5.7 runs per game in their seven games at Rogers Centre this season, more than a full run (4.5) higher than their average in their other 64 road games. The Orioles are batting...
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Valencia, Clevenger starting tonight for Orioles (and Jays lineup)

Valencia, Clevenger starting tonight for Orioles (and Jays lineup)
Danny Valencia's hot bat stays in the Orioles' lineup tonight against Blue Jays right-hander Todd Redmond, and Baltimore native Steve Clevenger will make his first appearance with the team he rooted for growing up. Clevenger is behind the plate for Jason Hammel's first start since Aug. 28. Valencia is batting .212 against right-handers and .380 vs. left-handers, but he's 23-for-42 (.548) since Aug. 4 and had a game-tying three-run homer last night against the Yankees. Edwin Encarnacion,...
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Dan Johnson joins Orioles in Toronto

Dan Johnson joins Orioles in Toronto
The Orioles have selected the contract of infielder Dan Johnson, who joined the team in Toronto. To make room for Johnson on the 40-man roster, outfielder Henry Urrutia has been placed on baseball's restricted list. Urrutia, a Cuban defector, isn't allowed to travel into Canada. He's down in Sarasota and could rejoin the Orioles in Boston, where they begin a three-game series on Tuesday. The club hasn't made a decision on Urrutia's status beyond today. Johnson, 34, batted a combined...
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