Reviewing the rotation

Reviewing the rotation
Going back over the Orioles' rotation, Jake Arrieta is starting tonight, followed by Tommy Hunter on Thursday, Brian Matusz on Friday and Jason Hammel on Saturday. Arrieta is taking Matusz's place. Manager Buck Showalter wanted to give Matusz a few more days to recover from being hit in the nose by a ball yesterday during a bunting drill. Also, Hammel will only have to pitch once in a National League ballpark, which puts less strain on his right knee. Hammel's next turn wouldn't come...
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Arrieta starting, Chavez on the bench (updated)

Arrieta starting, Chavez on the bench (updated)
Wishing reliever Pedro Strop a happy 27th birthday and passing along an Orioles lineup that once again includes Brian Roberts at the leadoff spot and second base. Jake Arrieta is getting the start tonight in place of left-hander Brian Matusz, who fouled a bunt off his nose yesterday. Arrieta will work on normal rest. Matusz is still expected to pitch Friday in Atlanta, with Tommy Hunter taking the ball tomorrow night. We're waiting for official word. Matusz is taking batting practice today...
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Concussion specialist talks about Roberts' rehab and return

Concussion specialist talks about Roberts' rehab and return
Among the fans in attendance at last night's game at Camden Yards was a gentleman who's practically become part of Brian Roberts' family. No one else outside of it talks to him more - almost on a daily basis - or has a better understanding of what the Orioles' second baseman has gone through since he suffered his first concussion late in the 2010 season. Dr. Michael Collins, director of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Sports Medicine Concussion Program, wouldn't have missed...
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Is another roster move coming?

Is another roster move coming?
A day without an Orioles roster move is like a day without sunshine. Second baseman Brian Roberts was activated from the 60-day disabled list yesterday, with Steve Tolleson being optioned to Triple-A Norfolk and Nolan Reimold being transferred to the 60-day disabled list. That's three in one press release. Endy Chavez limped off the field last night after straining his right hamstring. Brian Matusz avoided the DL, but Chavez could be headed to it. Hamstring strains don't usually go away...
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Matusz prepared to start tomorrow, but could be pushed back

Matusz prepared to start tomorrow, but could be pushed back
The Orioles already were listing their Thursday starter as TBA. Now they've got the same uncertainty with tomorrow's pitcher. Brian Matusz was scheduled to start before being hit in the nose by a bunted ball during an afternoon drill. X-rays were negative, but the Orioles could push back Matusz until perhaps Friday in Atlanta to give him a little more time to heal. "For me, I'm mentally prepared to pitch tomorrow and I'm ready to go, but with the nose being something that could swell up,...
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Roberts talks about his triumphant return

Roberts talks about his triumphant return
Brian Roberts had bad dreams last night, the kind that shook him out of a sound sleep and made him stare at the ceiling. In none of them did he collect three hits and drive in a run in his first game back in the majors in more than a year. "I had to wake up and cross some stuff out of my mind," he said, smiling. "I have no idea why. But I didn't know what to expect. I wasn't expecting three hits. I was just trying to go out there and, as cliche as it sounds, try to have good at-bats and...
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Showalter speaks after 8-6 win

Showalter speaks after 8-6 win
Kevin Gregg made things interesting in the ninth inning after surrendering a two-run homer to Neil Walker, but Jim Johnson picked up his 19th save in 20 tries to preserve the Orioles' 8-6 victory over the Pirates before 15,618 at Camden Yards. Gregg had posted a 1.32 ERA in his last 12 appearances before tonight. The biggest story, of course, was Brian Roberts' three-hit, one-RBI return to the lineup. His last single came from the right side of the plate. "Oh, it was great," said manager...
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Reynolds continues to torment the Pirates (Chavez strained hammy)

Reynolds continues to torment the Pirates (Chavez strained hammy)
I couldn't come up with a "walk the plank" joke, and nothing about an eye patch or a parrot or a hook hand struck me as particularly funny, so I played the headline straight. Mark Reynolds began tonight's game batting .348/.419/.661 in 112 career at-bats against the Pirates, with seven doubles, two triples, eight homers and 21 RBIs. You know what happened tonight. He hit a two-run homer off Brad Lincoln in the second inning to give the Orioles a 2-1 lead. Reynolds is 1-for-2 tonight...
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Roberts back in the swing of things (Matusz X-rays negative, Reynolds HR)

Roberts back in the swing of things (Matusz X-rays negative, Reynolds HR)
Brian Roberts received a nice ovation tonight as he walked to the plate for his first Orioles at-bat since May 16, 2011. Many of the fans stood and applauded. It's far from a packed house, but they made a lot of noise. Roberts looks a little different wearing a specially designed batting helmet with ear flaps on both sides to provide extra protection, but the swing is the same. Roberts ran the count full against Pirates starter Brad Lincoln and lined a single into center field, bringing...
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Showalter talks about Matusz, Roberts and more (Tolleson optioned)

Showalter talks about Matusz, Roberts and more (Tolleson optioned)
The Orioles received a dose of good news and a dose of bad news, so they're playing .500 today. The bad news is related to left-hander Brian Matusz, who fouled a bunted ball off his nose and might miss tomorrow night's start against the Pirates. Matusz was preparing for the next round of interleague games on the road, where the pitcher is required to hit. He was squaring up against a pitching machine, since batting practice was cancelled due to the rain. "It's off the machine," manager...
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Matusz injured in bunting drill (updated)

Matusz injured in bunting drill (updated)
Brian Matusz was hit on the nose by a ball while performing a bunting drill, and he may not make tomorrow's start against the Pirates. The Orioles' corresponding 25-man roster move to accommodate Brian Roberts could hinge on Matusz's status. Also, Nolan Reimold likely will go on the 60-day disabled list to make room on the 40-man roster. He's having another MRI tomorrow. Update: OK, sorry for the short blog entry, but I was racing from the press conference to manager Buck Showalter's...
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Roberts in lineup, leading off against Pirates

Roberts in lineup, leading off against Pirates
The Orioles have posted their lineup for tonight's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates and, weather permitting, Brian Roberts will lead off and play second base. It will be Roberts' first appearance in a major league game since May 16, 2011 in Boston and the culmination of a long recovery from concussion symptoms. No official roster move has been made, so we'll have to wait for the Orioles to accommodate Roberts' return to the 25- and 40-man rosters. It's raining right now at Camden...
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Britton talks about Roberts and Moyer

Britton talks about Roberts and Moyer
The last time Brian Roberts took the field with his Orioles teammates for something besides batting practice and infield drills was May 16, 2011 in Boston. I'm expecting to feel a bit nostalgic today when I walk into the clubhouse and glance at the magnetic board across from manager Buck Showalter's office. Roberts should be batting leadoff and starting at second base against the Pittsburgh Pirates. It would be quite a shocker if he's not activated from the 60-day disabled list. The...
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Britton talks about Roberts and Moyer

Britton talks about Roberts and Moyer
The last time we saw Brian Roberts' name in an Orioles lineup was May 16, 2011 in Boston. I'm expecting to feel a bit nostalgic today when I walked into the clubhouse and glance at the magnetic board across from manager Buck Showalter's office. Roberts should be batting leadoff and starting at second base against the Pittsburgh Pirates. It would be quite a shocker if he's not activated from the 60-day disabled list. The trickle-down effect on the lineup should be minimal. If Robert...
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Wieters slips to third in All-Star voting (Eyre released)

Wieters slips to third in All-Star voting (Eyre released)
Major League Baseball released the latest All-Star Game vote totals in the American League, and Orioles catcher Matt Wieters has dropped to third behind the Rangers' Mike Napoli and the Twins' Joe Mauer. Wieters was second a week ago, but Mauer has passed him with 912,997 votes. Wieters has received 904,425 votes. J.J. Hardy ranks third among shortstops. Robert Andino is fourth among second basemen, Adam Jones ranks fifth among outfielders, and Nick Markakis slipped to 15th among...
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Britton's progress at Norfolk not measured in stats

Britton's progress at Norfolk not measured in stats
The most encouraging news on pitcher Zach Britton is he's in good health. As a bonus, he also says that his stuff is getting better. The results at Triple-A Norfolk might not reflect it, but he's looking beyond the statistics. First, here's what Britton says about his physical condition: "I'm feeling good. I definitely feel like I'm starting to get stronger. My arm is getting back in its natural slot, especially yesterday. I was definitely getting back to where I should be with my arm...
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This, that and the other

This, that and the other
LSU's baseball season ended last night with a shocking upset loss to Stony Brook in the Super Regionals. Let the Kevin Gausman negotiations begin. The Orioles made Gausman the fourth overall pick in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft and watched helplessly Saturday as he pitched the 12th inning of Game 1 and seven innings of Game 2 on the same day. Now that LSU has been bounced, the Orioles can work toward signing him and determining how that prized right arm is used. Were the Orioles a bit...
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Showalter speaks after 5-4, 10-inning win

Showalter speaks after 5-4, 10-inning win
The Orioles are 9-2 in extra innings this season and have won nine in a row, the longest streak in franchise history. There have been different heroes, and today's roll call included Steve Tolleson, who tied the game with a three-run homer, Ronny Paulino, who had an RBI single, Jason Hammel, who gutted out six innings, Troy Patton, who gave the Orioles two scoreless innings in relief, and Matt Wieters, who doubled to score Adam Jones with the game-winner. "You try to present a lineup that...
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More free baseball (and another walk-off win!)

More free baseball (and another walk-off win!)
Who needs nine innings when you can play 10? Or 11? Or... The Orioles will try for their ninth consecutive win in extras, which would set a franchise record. They also won eight in a row in 1997 and 2010. The current streak is the longest in the majors. They're 8-2 beyond regulation, including yesterday's 12-inning victory that was secured by Adam Jones' walk-off home run. The Phillies are 2-5. The Orioles have played 30 extra innings this season and have outscored their opponents,...
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Hammel having hard time (Tolleson ties game, Hammel done)

Hammel having hard time (Tolleson ties game, Hammel done)
Jason Hammel hasn't walked more than three batters in his first 11 starts. He matched that total today after 1 2/3 innings. Hammel has allowed three runs and five hits, walked three, struck out one and hit a batter in two innings. He's already thrown 51 pitches, including 27 for strikes. The Phillies loaded the bases in the first inning without scoring. They loaded the bases twice in the second and received a two-run single by Hunter Pence on a ground ball that scooted up the middle. Jim...
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