Quality start for Means can't prevent 4-3 loss (updated)

Quality start for Means can't prevent 4-3 loss (updated)
The Orioles keep a shorter bench to provide manager Brandon Hyde with an extra reliever, a survival tactic with his starters routinely unable to provide much length. More position players are coming with rosters expanding on Wednesday. Meanwhile, with the timing odd, Hyde's rotation is attempting to produce the kind of streak that the Orioles won't regret. Keegan Akin closed out the Angels series by going a career-high seven innings. Matt Harvey logged six last night before succumbing to the...
Continue reading

Hyde on Hays, Stewart, Zimmermann, Scott and more

Hyde on Hays, Stewart, Zimmermann, Scott and more
Manager Brandon Hyde sat Austin Hays again tonight with the opposition starting a right-hander. DJ Stewart is in left field and batting fifth against Tampa Bay's Michael Wacha. Hays came off the bench Wednesday and Thursday against the Angels and was 3-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs. He was in left field last night with the Rays starting southpaw Shane McClanahan and went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer. The splits are factoring into the lineup decisions. Hays is slashing .214/.267/.355...
Continue reading

Orioles and Rays lineups

Orioles and Rays lineups
Jorge Mateo returns to the Orioles lineup for tonight's game against the Rays at Camden Yards. Mateo hasn't played since leaving Tuesday's game with discomfort in his lower back. He reached base twice on infield singles. Ramón Urías, who is 13-for-29 in his last eight games, starts again at shortstop. Mateo is playing second base. Austin Hays and Jahmai Jones are on the bench. DJ Stewart is in left field and Anthony Santander in right. Kelvin Gutiérrez is the third baseman. Trey...
Continue reading

Harvey retires 16 in a row, but O's lose 6-3 (updated)

Harvey retires 16 in a row, but O's lose 6-3 (updated)
Ditching a 19-game losing streak and winning two in a row created a positive energy with the Orioles that couldn't withstand the cold water dumped on it tonight. By a team that brings its own buckets. The Rays maintained their hold on the Orioles tonight, scoring three runs in the first and seventh innings with nothing in between, and registering a 6-3 victory before an announced crowd of 7,155 at Camden Yards. Matt Harvey retired the last 16 batters he faced, beginning with his strikeout that...
Continue reading

López looks relieved to be changing responsibilities

López looks relieved to be changing responsibilities
Jorge López joined the other Orioles pitchers yesterday throwing in the outfield, dark clouds rolling in but failing to produce rain that would have rushed the group back inside the clubhouse. He cut through the dugout after he finished, a big smile on his face, a stark contrast to his mood during and after his last start in St. Petersburg, Fla. López was removed from the game after two innings, and after he received a mound visit to check on his physical condition and a conversation with...
Continue reading

Hyde on Harvey, Mateo, Urías, and López

Hyde on Harvey, Mateo, Urías, and López
The Orioles didn't take batting practice this afternoon. Their pitchers threw in the outfield before the Rays went into the cage. Ominous clouds are hovering about the ballpark, but so far no rain. The forecast keeps pushing back the precipitation in Baltimore. Manager Brandon Hyde's media session was moved from the dugout to the Zoom format. He provided an update on reliever Hunter Harvey, who's made three injury rehab appearances with Norfolk and allowed two runs and five hits in three...
Continue reading

Orioles and Rays lineups

Orioles and Rays lineups
The Orioles will attempt to win their third game in a row tonight, weather permitting, with Jahmai Jones staying at second base and Ramón Urías at shortstop while Jorge Mateo is day-to-day with soreness in his lower back. Manager Brandon Hyde said Mateo is feeling better and could be available in an emergency. Hyde hopes Mateo will return to the lineup in another day or two. Pedro Severino is catching after driving in a career-high six runs yesterday. Ryan Mountcastle is the first...
Continue reading

Leftover thoughts on Wells and López in bullpen roles

Leftover thoughts on Wells and López in bullpen roles
While wondering how I possibly could have missed using a "sage advice" pun in Wednesday night's game story ... So much could get lost in the streak-breaking victory, including the importance of Chris Ellis completing three innings in a bullpen game and burning herbs in the clubhouse. Seems like a small detail - the Ellis part - but one-and-done could have left manager Brandon Hyde in a real bind. Tyler Wells was denied a chance at his first major league save after the Orioles added a fifth...
Continue reading

Akin goes career-high seven innings in O's 13-1 romp (updated)

Akin goes career-high seven innings in O's 13-1 romp (updated)
Given new life late in their baseball season, the Orioles are trying to avoid a new losing streak. They may never lose again. Rearranging the outcomes can't be done without turning the tables. Shohei Ohtani lofted a ball onto the flag count on the second pitch from starter Keegan Akin, but the left-hander did his finest work as a professional with one run allowed in seven innings. The Orioles tied the game in the third, Pedro Severino hit a grand slam as part of a six-run fifth and they...
Continue reading

Hyde on Ellis, Mateo, Hays and ballpark arrival

Hyde on Ellis, Mateo, Hays and ballpark arrival
The fifth spot in the Orioles rotation is unoccupied while manager Brandon Hyde sifts through the candidates. Chris Ellis could start again after completing three innings last night. Jorge López is serving in a relief role, but the assignment isn't necessarily permanent for the remainder of the season. "I think we're still discussing what we're going to do," Hyde said. "We have that open spot in our rotation right now by moving López in the 'pen. I don't know if that's going to...
Continue reading

Orioles lineup vs. Angels

Orioles lineup vs. Angels
Austin Hays and Jorge Mateo are on the bench again today as the Orioles close out their series against the Angels and try to put together back-to-back wins for the first time since July 30-31 in Detroit. DJ Stewart stays in left field. Ramón Urías is the shortstop. Mateo is day-to-day with soreness in his lower back. Jahmai Jones gets another start at second base. Anthony Santander has recorded back-to-back games with three hits or more for the first time in his career. He's in right...
Continue reading

Hyde won't share rebuild stories with players

Hyde won't share rebuild stories with players
The streaks keep trying to suffocate the Orioles. Putting the squeeze on them like a boa constrictor. Number of games lost in a row was the biggie, of course. If not for last night's rally, they would have drawn within one of tying the franchise and American League records of 21 in a row. They'd also be on the verge of suffering their sixth series sweep in a row. Say that three times fast. They don't have to worry about a 17th sweep this season. Brandon Hyde appreciates the support he's...
Continue reading

Orioles rally in eighth, end losing streak at 19 games (updated)

Orioles rally in eighth, end losing streak at 19 games (updated)
The old reverse lock theory is supposed to have its limits. A team riding a 19-game losing streak, its last victory on Aug. 2, and resorting to a bullpen tactic rather than using a starting pitcher, already is operating from an extreme disadvantage. The bench had two healthy players. The best hitter in 2021 fell into an August slump. The Orioles needed to catch a monumental break last night. Instead, they got Shohei Ohtani - on the mound and in the Angels lineup. An anchor tossed to a club with...
Continue reading

Hyde on Mateo, Mullins and Ohtani

Hyde on Mateo, Mullins and Ohtani
Orioles middle infielder Jorge Mateo reached base twice last night on infield singles and is out of tonight's lineup with soreness in his lower back/hip, his status listed as day-to-day, per manager Brandon Hyde. Mateo has 21 hits in 17 games with the Orioles and is slashing .356/.387/.492 with six doubles and a triple. "Just a little sore today. Hoping he'll be back in there in a day or two," Hyde said. "He kind of jammed his leg when he hit the base there last night, so he's just a...
Continue reading

Greene recalled, Orioles lineup vs. Angels

Greene recalled, Orioles lineup vs. Angels
The Orioles recalled reliever Conner Greene from Triple-A Norfolk this afternoon, two days after claiming him off waivers from the Dodgers. He replaces Konner Wade, who was optioned late last night. Greene returned to the organization after appearing in three games and allowing six runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings. He walked one batter and struck out five. The Dodgers claimed him off waivers on Aug. 9 and he tossed two scoreless innings in his two appearances. Greene, who's wearing No. 81,...
Continue reading

Ellis gets start tonight for Orioles

Ellis gets start tonight for Orioles
The "mix and match" bullpen game that Orioles manager Brandon Hyde referenced late last night begins with right-hander Chris Ellis. The team announced that Ellis will start tonight against the Angels and two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani. Ellis becomes the 55th player used this season, three short of the club record set in 2019. A different record looms heavier over the organization. Two more losses and the Orioles will match the 21 straight to begin the 1988 season. Ellis, 28, is serving as an...
Continue reading

More thoughts on Orioles' infield situation

More thoughts on Orioles' infield situation
Orioles infielder Jahmai Jones has plus interview skills, which he exhibited again yesterday during a Zoom call with the media following his promotion from Triple-A Norfolk. Smart, articulate, thoughtful in his answers. Eager to assist others, giving back to his community and school. Never let success go to his head. A good teammate. Scouts give him high grades for his makeup. Now comes the chance to impress the Orioles on the field and stay in the majors. Better days and nights are ahead after...
Continue reading

Orioles face big early deficit and lose 19th straight (updated)

Orioles face big early deficit and lose 19th straight (updated)
Multiple roster moves on Monday weren't intended to distract from an 18-game losing streak. They weren't designed to spare manager Brandon Hyde from the daily bombardment of questions about it. But he lasted the full seven minutes of today's media session without going into another deep dive. The closest he came was expanding on a suggestion that the jolt of energy provided by new second baseman Jahmai Jones could benefit a team that's beaten down. The streak doesn't care about any of it....
Continue reading

Jones on promotion, popularity, playing Angels and more

Jones on promotion, popularity, playing Angels and more
Jahmai Jones is the 54th player used by the Orioles this season, his return to the majors including a start tonight at second base. He's facing the organization that traded him on Feb. 2 for pitcher Alex Cobb. The Orioles kept Jones at Triple-A Norfolk to work on his defense at second. He had to wait for the call, with no complaints. "It really allowed me to really just focus on things down at Norfolk that I felt like I needed to work on before I came up here, and it really just allowed me to...
Continue reading

Jones in Orioles lineup

Jones in Orioles lineup
The Orioles will try to avoid stretching their losing streak to 19 games tonight with the Angels in town. Kelvin Gutiérrez was recalled this afternoon from Triple-A Norfolk to fill out the 26-man roster. He joins Jahmai Jones, who received the news yesterday. Jones is starting at second base tonight against his former team. Jorge Mateo is the shortstop and Ramón Urías is playing third base. Anthony Santander is in right field. Trey Mancini is the designated hitter. Urías has five...
Continue reading