Manager Buck Showalter has made major changes to the lineup today, moving Nick Markakis to first base for only the second time, putting Matt Angle in right and giving Kyle Hudson his first major league start in left field. For the Orioles: Matt Angle RF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis 1B Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Mark Reynolds 3B Robert Andino 2B Kyle Hudson LF Craig Tatum C Jeremy Guthrie RHP For the Rays: Jennings CF Damon DH Longoria 3B Joyce RF Lobaton C Kotchman 1B Guyer...

The season series between the Orioles and Rays is tied, 7-7. The Orioles are 1-5 in Baltimore, but 6-2 at Tropicana Field. The all-time series is tied, 118-118. A win today would give the Orioles consecutive road series wins for the first time since they took two of three from the Rays on Sept, 27-29, 2010 and swept the Rays in the opening series of 2011 (April 1-3). Kevin Gregg notched his 20th save Friday night and became the 16th Oriole pitcher ever to record 20 or more saves in a season -...

Pedro Strop, acquired from the Rangers on a waiver claim that sort of qualified him as a player to be named later, struck out two Rays during a perfect eighth inning tonight. I know very little about Strop besides how he was signed by the Rockies as a shortstop and became a pitcher four years later. I heard he threw in the mid-90s and had a live arm, which is much better than having a dead one. Strop fanned B.J. Upton and Sean Rodriguez tonight, and retired Casey Kotchman on a fly ball to...

Brian Matusz was skipped in the rotation tonight, but manager Buck Showalter told reporters in St. Petersburg that the left-hander will start Monday afternoon at Yankee Stadium. So much for a long wait. Alfredo Simon is taking the mound tonight. Hopefully, he'll still be there when MASN2 begins to air the game at 7:06 p.m. It's a Fox window issue, and I don't mean Jake. But anyway ... Matusz is 1-7 with a 9.07 ERA this season. He's 2-4 with a 3.65 ERA in six career starts against New...

The Orioles are sticking with a familiar lineup tonight against Tampa Bay right-hander Wade Davis. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Robert Andino 3B Nolan Reimold LF Ryan Adams 2B Alfredo Simon RHP For the Rays: Desmond Jennings LF Johnny Damon DH Evan Longoria 3B Matt Joyce RF B.J. Upton CF Casey Kotchman 1B Sean Rodriguez 2B John Jaso C Reid Brignac SS Wade Davis RHP

Jim Johnson retired all six batters he faced last night after replacing Zach Britton in the seventh inning. I'll say it again: He's got to be in the top three voting for Most Valuable Oriole. His name will appear on my ballot. I talked to one reporter who said he'd choose Mark Reynolds over Johnson for third place behind Adam Jones and J.J. Hardy. I can't omit Johnson, who leads American League relievers in innings pitched and lowered his ERA last night to 2.58. We can continue to...

Triple-A Norfolk center fielder Felix Pie left tonight's game in the top of the fourth inning with a strained hamstring. My guess is he'll be listed as day-to-day. Pie grounded to short to end the bottom of the third, making him 0-for-2 and leaving his average at .250. Tyler Henson moved to center as Pie's replacement, Brandon Snyder went from first base to left field, and Adam Donachie took over as the first baseman and leadoff hitter - something you're not likely to see happen again with...

For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Robert Andino 3B Nolan Reimold LF Ryan Adams 2B Zach Britton LHP Brian Roberts is at Tropicana Field. He's scheduled to meet with reporters in manager Buck Showalter's office around 5:10 p.m. His interview will air on O's Xtra on MASN2, which begins at 6:30 p.m. Update: Roberts told reporters that he's continuing to progress, but while he hasn't ruled out playing...

I've warned you that math isn't my thing, and it challenged me again this week during the flurry of 40-man roster moves. It reminded me of the ol' shell game. Guys were moving on and off the roster so fast, my eyes began to cross. I thought Mark Hendrickson's addition after his 48-hour removal, and the Michael Gonzalez trade, left the Orioles without any more room for an outsider. I had Hendrickson pegged as the 40th. Mike Ballard and Mitch Atkins came off, Kyle Hudson and Rick VandenHurk...

I'm dealing with serious laptop issues today, so you'll have to be patient with me. I had to borrow my daughter's computer, which made her a little uncomfortable. I could tell. And I don't know why. It's not like a teenage girl has anything to hide from her father. I had to charge the battery, download Verizon wireless and basically bring it back to life. Unfortunately, it doesn't have everything that I need to make this blog function at its usual efficiency, but I'm getting some...

The starter for Saturday's game against the Rays at Tropicana Field is listed as TBA, but Alfredo Simon will get the call. He's wedged between Zach Britton tomorrow and Jeremy Guthrie Sunday. So what happens to Brian Matusz? The Orioles aren't going with a six-man rotation, so Matusz is being skipped. Matusz is 1-7 with a 9.07 ERA. Simon has two straight quality starts. No word on when Matusz will rejoin the rotation. Keep in mind that Jim Johnson could get some starts this...

Orioles pitcher Tommy Hunter was taken to a nearby hospital after informing the club that he was feeling ill, and he won't make the trip to Tampa Bay. Hunter told manager Buck Showalter and head athletic trainer Richie Bancells that he became ill in the third inning. He lasted through the sixth, but was vomiting after leaving the game. Buck Showalter meets with the media after the Birds' 8-6 loss to Toronto Hunter may have become dehydrated. We'll know more later. Hunter allowed five...

The Orioles claimed minor league pitcher Pedro Strop off waivers from the Texas Rangers to complete yesterday's trade of left-hander Michael Gonzalez. Strop will join the team this weekend for its series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. The ballpark is in St. Petersburg and the team hotel is in St. Petersburg, but the Orioles fly in and out of Tampa. I'm going with The Trop in my headline. Strop is regarded as the player to be named later in the trade, but here's what...

The Orioles grabbed a 1-0 lead against the Blue Jays in the bottom of the second inning on consecutive one-out doubles by Vladimir Guerrero and Matt Wieters. It lasted three batters. Orioles starter Tommy Hunter walked No. 9 hitter Mike McCoy, who eventually scored after Yunel Escobar's double and Eric Thames' ground ball. Not satisfied with a tie, the Blue Jays pushed across the go-ahead run on Jose Bautista's single. Remember how Toronto rookie Henderson Alvarez recorded 22 of his 24...

Let's get the important stuff out of the way first. Rick VandenHurk is wearing No. 54. Kyle Hudson is wearing No. 51. VandenHurk was 9-13 with a 4.43 ERA in 26 starts with Triple-A Norfolk. He's 8-10 with a 5.86 ERA in 42 major league games, including 33 starts, with the Marlins and Orioles. VandenHurk was outrighted during spring training because he was still challenged to throw strikes. The Orioles officially purchased his contract today after he walked 40 and struck out 108 in 154 1/3...

For the Orioles: Robert Andino 3B J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Nolan Reimold LF Ryan Adams 2B

Kyle Hudson was open at his locker, but the Orioles couldn't get him the ball.A few players were tossing around a football in the clubhouse this morning, which brought a smile to Hudson's face. He spent three seasons as a receiver on the University of Illinois football team. Jason Berken was a quarterback on his high school team, and a pretty good one, too. But Hudson insisted, in a voice loud enough for Berken to hear, that he was the better passer during his prep days before changing positions and leading Illinois in receptions twice in his three collegiate seasons. Berken wasn't buying it."He tried to tell me how good he was," Hudson said, grinning.The Orioles have purchased Hudson's contract, completing his rapid rise through the system this season. Hudson began the year at Single-A Frederick. Now he's a major leaguer.Hudson was told about his promotion after last night's doubleheader at Triple-A Norfolk. Manager Gary Allenson notified him that the Orioles were adding him to their expanded roster."I was pretty excited, pretty shocked," said Hudson, a fourth-round pick in 2008. "I felt like I've done a pretty good job this season, but I never really thought, starting the season at Frederick, that I'd be here. I've come a long way. I'm happy to be here. I'm here to work and help the team win some ballgames."Hudson, who was batting .297 with seven doubles, one triple, 11 RBIs, 26 steals and one error in 68 games with Norfolk, made a bunch of calls to family and friends after getting the news."It kept me up so late, trying to let everybody know and getting everything packed up, that I probably got about three minutes of sleep," he said. "I'm running on fumes right now, but I'm ready."It's very exciting. I'm just happy to get an opportunity to do it, and like I'm said, I'm here to work and get better and learn from all the guys here."

It's going to be a long wait. I'm told that the manager's office is empty, though I haven't gone downstairs. That's because I just got here after leaving my Sykesville house at 8:25 a.m. I'm counting five people in the press box. The first guy arrived about 15 minutes ago - 45 minutes after the clubhouse opened to the media. Players will have major problems getting to Camden Yards. It's total gridlock downtown and in the surrounding areas. Has a game ever been postponed because of...

The Orioles will fill up their 40-man roster tomorrow by purchasing outfielder Kyle Hudson's contract from Triple-A Norfolk. Hudson went 1-for-2 with a walk, run scored and two stolen bases tonight while leading off for the Tides in their 2-1 victory over Gwinnett. He's batting .297 with seven doubles, one triple, 11 RBIs and 26 steals in 68 games. It's been quite a climb for Hudson this season. He played in 23 games at Single-A Frederick this season, and 28 at Double-A Bowie, before...