Kjerstad cleared for workouts at Bowie site (and other notes)

Kjerstad cleared for workouts at Bowie site (and other notes)
Outfielder Heston Kjerstad, the second overall pick in the 2020 draft out of the University of Arkansas, has been cleared medically and will report Wednesday to the Orioles alternate training site in Bowie. Kjerstad was held out of last year's camp and fall instructional league while recovering from myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle that can cause an abnormal rhythm and be a side effect of COVID-19. The Orioles withheld Kjerstad from spring training and had him report directly...
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Hays activated from injured list (with both lineups)

Hays activated from injured list (with both lineups)
The Orioles activated outfielder Austin Hays from the 10-day injured list this afternoon, returning him to the club after his removal on April 4 due to a strained right hamstring. The injury occurred after Hays ran out a double in Boston. Hays is 2-for-10 with a double, two RBIs and four strikeouts. He's on the bench tonight as the Orioles begin a two-game series against the Marlins in Miami. Outfielder Ryan McKenna was optioned to the alternate training site in Bowie. DJ Stewart is in left...
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Orioles prepared to try again in Miami

Orioles prepared to try again in Miami
The Orioles return from their first break this week to open a two-game series in Miami, where they've gone 2-13. It was a little complicated last summer. A rash of positive COVID-19 tests on the Marlins forced them to stay in Philadelphia, where they had opened their season. The Orioles remained in their Miami hotel, with no opponent, until flying back home with confirmation of the postponements. After some creative maneuvering in the schedule, the teams played four consecutive games in...
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Revisiting decision to option Kremer and logic behind it

Revisiting decision to option Kremer and logic behind it
The Orioles toyed with the idea of going with a six-man rotation, settled on the more traditional five and are downsizing to four. It's still April, only 16 games into the season. The roster will undergo plenty of changes and various circumstances are going to force the adjustments, whether due to injuries, postponements or quirky off-days stuffed into one week. Dean Kremer was optioned late Saturday night because he's a fifth starter on a team that isn't playing today or Thursday. Having to...
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Means shines again on road in Orioles' 1-0 10-inning loss (updated)

Means shines again on road in Orioles' 1-0 10-inning loss (updated)
There's nothing wrong with the mound at Camden Yards, the home clubhouse or the ballpark atmosphere. The routine at home isn't disruptive. John Means just happens to pitch better on the road this month, for reasons that can't be explained beyond the ridiculously small sample size. In Means' lone outing in Baltimore, he faced the Mariners in the first game of a doubleheader and allowed three runs in five innings with two home runs attached to his line. In starts made on three trips, he's...
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Hyde on Galvis, Kremer, Akin, Santander and more

Hyde on Galvis, Kremer, Akin, Santander and more
Following the first game of an April 13 doubleheader against the Mariners, Freddy Galvis was batting .143/.211/.171 and attracting some heat for his inconsistent play at shortstop. The comparisons to José Iglesias weren't flattering. Some fans were demanding that the Orioles recall Richie Martin from the alternate training site, especially after he collected two hits, including an RBI double, a walk and two stolen bases in Tuesday's game against the Nationals in Bowie. But Galvis had two...
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Orioles recall Cole Sulser, give Trey Mancini the day off

Orioles recall Cole Sulser, give Trey Mancini the day off
The Orioles filled the opening on their 26-man roster today by recalling reliever Cole Sulser from the alternate training site in Bowie. Sulser is riding the proverbial shuttle. He broke camp with the team, was optioned to make room for reliever Shawn Armstrong and served as the 27th man in Thursday's doubleheader. In two appearances, Sulser has tossed three scoreless innings with no walks and five strikeouts. He was on the taxi squad. Dean Kremer was optioned late last night because the...
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Notes on Hays, Hanhold, Abad and Fry

Notes on Hays, Hanhold, Abad and Fry
A roster move is pending for the Orioles, with outfielder Austin Hays appearing ready to be activated Tuesday in Miami. Exactly how it was expected to happen. Hays felt fine after playing seven innings Friday afternoon against the Nationals in Fredericksburg, Va., and he was back in left field yesterday for four innings in an intrasquad game at the alternate training site in Bowie. I heard that he looked good again at the plate and in the field. What's left now is a recovery day with camp...
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Mountcastle moves to first base tonight

Mountcastle moves to first base tonight
Ryan Mountcastle is starting at first base tonight for the first time this season as the Orioles try to secure a series win over the Rangers. Mountcastle has been the designated hitter in eight games and the left fielder in six. He started nine games at first base last summer. Trey Mancini is batting fifth as the designated hitter, followed by Mountcastle. Mancini struck out four times last night to give him 18 for the season, second on the club behind Mountcastle. Rio Ruiz stays at second...
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Updating Austin Hays' quest to come off the injured list

Updating Austin Hays' quest to come off the injured list
The progression that's supposed to return Austin Hays to the Orioles put him in Fredericksburg, Va., yesterday for a secondary training site game against the Nationals. Not quite the majors, but four important at-bats in a more intense environment than simulated action. Hays played seven innings in left field, and his most impressive swing drove a ball to the wall in right-center. The Orioles will check on him today and decide whether he starts in a four-inning intrasquad game in Bowie. The...
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López completes fifth and bats catch fire in 5-2 win (updated)

López completes fifth and bats catch fire in 5-2 win (updated)
The starting pitcher was dealing early and a leadoff triple in the third inning led to a run and thoughts that the offense might have awakened. Deep in the heart of Texas, the Orioles were trying to bury everything that hurt them back home. What needed to be addressed was whether Jorge López could remain upright while taking another turn through the Rangers order and if settling for one run in that inning would bring regrets. Trying to stay in the rotation with other options available to the...
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Kremer starts Saturday, Hays nearing return and more

Kremer starts Saturday, Hays nearing return and more
The Orioles have filled out their rotation for the weekend series in Texas and Dean Kremer is replacing TBD for Saturday night. Kremer is working on short rest after starting Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Mariners, but he threw 54 pitches and has indicated that he's feeling good. Otherwise, the Orioles could have selected one of their long relievers, with the candidates including Wade LeBlanc and Adam Plutko. "We feel confident that he's going to be fine for it," said...
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Orioles lineup vs. Rangers

Orioles lineup vs. Rangers
DJ Stewart remains in left field and Ryan Mountcastle is the designated hitter as the Orioles begin a three-game series tonight against the Rangers in Arlington, Texas. Stewart gets a turn batting third. Trey Mancini is the cleanup hitter and Mountcastle continues to bat sixth. Jorge López needs a good start. He's allowed 11 runs and 11 hits in 8 2/3 innings and opponents have hit three home runs. López has made one career start against the Rangers and he surrendered five runs and seven...
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Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
The starters need to get deeper into games. The bullpen needs to get more outs. The defense needs to tighten. A team doesn't slide into last place if these three areas are secured. But there may not be a heavier weight dragging down the Orioles than a light-hitting lineup. The Orioles went 7-for-47 (.149) in yesterday's doubleheader and scored only three runs while being swept by the Mariners. They've registered a .218 average in 13 games, the sixth-lowest in the majors as they boarded their...
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Orioles bats go silent again in doubleheader sweep (updated)

Orioles bats go silent again in doubleheader sweep (updated)
The comparisons and contrasts keep jabbing at the Orioles like heavyweight fighters. Sticking and moving, sticking and moving. And there's the occasional big blow that sends them to the canvas again. Rio Ruiz strikes out to end the second inning, flips his bat to the ground, drops his helmet and gloves and walks away from the pile in disgust. Seattle's Dylan Moore leads off the next inning and hits a home run on the first pitch thrown by Bruce Zimmermann. Mariners starter Justin Dunn strikes...
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Harvey loses shutout in fifth and Orioles drop Game 1 (updated)

Harvey loses shutout in fifth and Orioles drop Game 1 (updated)
The rotation is motoring through its third turn in 2021. Traveling a road that hasn't appeared on any map, with the baseball season accelerating from 60 to 162 games. Potholes can look like canyons. The Orioles are packing 14 pitchers for the early portion of their trip as needed protection, uncertain how many innings can be handled by their starters and unwilling to risk injury or any semblance of strain. Only John Means and rookie Bruce Zimmermann (twice) have been able or allowed to...
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Hyde on Kremer, Sceroler and celebrating Jackie Robinson Day

Hyde on Kremer, Sceroler and celebrating Jackie Robinson Day
The 54 pitches thrown by Dean Kremer in Tuesday's doubleheader may not preclude him from starting again on short rest in Texas. Manager Brandon Hyde is listing Saturday's starter as TBD, but Kremer is a possibility. Kremer worked three innings in Tuesday's second game. "We're considering Dean, as well as some other options," Hyde said this morning in his Zoom call with the media. "We're going to talk it over a little bit more today and tomorrow, just because he only threw 54 pitches and...
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Orioles and Mariners Game 1 lineups

Orioles and Mariners Game 1 lineups
The Orioles brought up reliever Cole Sulser from their secondary training site to serve today as the 27th man in the doubleheader against the Mariners at Camden Yards that closes out the first homestand. Sulser was optioned to make room for reliever Shawn Armstrong on the active roster. He threw two scoreless innings with three strikeouts in his only appearance. The switch in opposing starters for the opener returns Trey Mancini to the lineup. He was excluded yesterday before the...
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A few Orioles observations before today's doubleheader

A few Orioles observations before today's doubleheader
A sample size born 11 games into a baseball season trends much closer to small than substantial. Shouldn't overreact or make firm judgements. Can't exert too much energy celebrating the good and burying the bad. This isn't the National Football League. They're trying to play 162. Of course, it's only natural to react to the early successes and failures. We're only human - born to make mistakes. Would we be wrong to assume that Cedric Mullins is going to keep hitting throughout the summer?...
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Hyde on Mancini's day off, Ruiz's slump and more (game postponed)

Hyde on Mancini's day off, Ruiz's slump and more (game postponed)
For the first time in a young 2021 season, Orioles first baseman Trey Mancini will begin a game sitting on the bench. Mancini is getting a break tonight as the Orioles attempt to resume their series against the Mariners with rain returning to the forecast. Maikel Franco is playing first base rather than starting across the infield. Manager Brandon Hyde used Mancini as the designated hitter in one game. Otherwise, the 2019 Most Valuable Oriole has been on the field and struggling to find his...
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