O's partner with T. Rowe Price, tonight's lineups in series finale

burnes pitching gray

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Orioles announced a multi-year partnership today with T. Rowe Price that makes the company “the exclusive investment and wealth management sponsor of the baseball club.”

A patch with the Baltimore-based investment firm’s ram logo will be worn on the right sleeve beginning Tuesday night for the series opener against the Braves at Camden Yards.

“We are ecstatic to enter into this partnership with T. Rowe Price and welcome them as the first organization to associate their name and brand on our uniforms,” Orioles senior vice president and chief revenue officer T.J. Brightman said in a statement. “This partnership acknowledges the strong Baltimore Orioles brand, and we are elated to bring together two Baltimore institutions to positively impact our Birdland community.”

“The future of the Baltimore Orioles and the City of Baltimore is bright,” control person David Rubenstein said in a statement. “We are delighted to welcome T. Rowe Price to Birdland at such an eventful time on and off the field. Our organizations share a dedication to hard work, innovation, professionalism, and integrity, and we have committed our long-term futures to this city. We look forward to a long, successful partnership as we work to bring the World Series trophy back to Baltimore.”

“T. Rowe Price has called Baltimore home since our founding. We are deeply committed to the City — as is the Orioles organization,” Rob Sharps, CEO and president of T. Rowe Price, said in a statement. “We are very excited to invest in our hometown team and our community, and we believe this partnership will help us attract more clients in the years to come.”

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Mullins makes most of his latest opportunity

Cedric Mullins

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Manager Brandon Hyde has tried to cure Cedric Mullins by feeding him a steady diet of at-bats. He’s sat Mullins in consecutive games to provide a reset. He’s studied matchups and made decisions to show his center fielder that confidence isn’t lost, but also, games must be won.

Mullins, in turn, has hit early, watched video and consumed every ounce of data until he’s stuffed.  

No one is outworking him. Every player is outhitting him. But Mullins finally had his day in the dome.

Leading off the top of the second inning yesterday, Mullins swung at a first-pitch slider from Zack Littell and flied to center field. He made the turn around first base and jogged across the infield to the visiting dugout. An all-too-familiar site for a player who was batting .170/.221/.301.

Up first again in the fifth inning, Mullins ripped a splitter into right field at 102 mph after falling behind 0-2 in the count and taking a fastball outside the zone. A single that seemed like a life preserver for a guy with the sinking stats who was 0-for-25 and 1-for-32.

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Rodriguez hitless until sixth, Rutschman sets career high with six RBIs in 9-2 win (updated)

Adley Rutschman grand slam

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Grayson Rodriguez hopped into the driver’s seat today and took his turn cruising the dome. Adley Rutschman rode shotgun.

After watching teammate Kyle Bradish retire 18 batters in a row yesterday, Rodriguez disposed of the first 15 Rays and didn’t allow a hit until Yandy Díaz lined a two-out, full-count single into right-center field in the sixth.

Rodriguez threw a career-high 107 pitches in 5 2/3 innings, the last 10 to Brandon Lowe, who dumped a broken-bat RBI single into right field. He walked off the mound, head bowed, to a standing ovation from another huge turnout of Orioles fanatics.  

Rutschman brought them to their feet again. He called a good game and took over it.

Anthony Santander homered again leading off the top of the fourth inning, Rutschman put the game out of reach with a grand slam in the eighth, and the Orioles moved closer to a series sweep with a 9-2 victory over the Rays before an announced crowd of 20,386 at Tropicana Field.

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Orioles and Rays lineups for third game of series

Grayson Rodriguez

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Kyle Stowers is out of the Orioles lineup this afternoon after leaving yesterday's game with a sore right elbow.

Cedric Mullins gets the start in center field, with the Orioles trying to claim another series against a division opponent. The worst they can do is a split.

Ryan Mountcastle is the designated hitter, with Ryan O’Hearn at first base. Jordan Westburg is at second base and Ramón Urías is at third. Colton Cowser, with his right calf wrapped, is in left field.

Austin Hays remains out of the lineup. He came off the bench yesterday, played left field and doubled.

O’Hearn has hit safely in 11 of his last 13 games, batting .326 (15-for-46) with two doubles, three home runs, five RBIs, two walks and nine runs scored.

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Making room for Mateo, Urías producing in spare role, O'Hearn's odd stat, Mountcastle's short home run

mateo

PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Orioles are inching closer to a potentially tough roster decision. It won’t be their first or last.

Jorge Mateo is eligible to return from the seven-day concussion injured list on Monday. Connor Norby had his contract selected last Monday. The team could just reverse it and option Norby, who singled yesterday and is 3-for-14 with a home run since his promotion.

The bolder move would be to option Cedric Mullins, who went 0-for-3 with a walk yesterday and is 0-for-24 and 1-for-31.

We don’t know whether the Orioles have reached that point or gotten anywhere near it.

Mullins fell behind two strikes in his first at-bat, worked the count to 2-2 and struck out on a 97.6 mph fastball from Taj Bradley. He struck out on three pitches in the fifth, the last a 97.1 mph fastball, and popped up in the seventh with the count 2-2. He was down 1-2 in the ninth before walking, and he scored on Gunnar Henderson’s three-run shot.

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Bradish retires 18 in a row, O'Hearn and Henderson homer in 5-0 win (updated)

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Kyle Bradish never left the Orioles rotation, he just stepped back for a few days. Recharged the battery and waited until the club devised a new order. Shook off the season’s worst start and rattled the other team.

Pitching for the first time since last Saturday, Bradish retired 18 batters in a row after Yandy Díaz’s leadoff single in the first inning. The Rays didn’t get a ball out of the infield against him.

Bradish struck out nine batters in six scoreless innings, Ryan O’Hearn hit a leadoff homer in the fourth, and the Orioles defeated the Rays 5-0 before an announced crowd of 20,485 at Tropicana Field that was decorated in orange on the third base side.

Jordan Westburg delivered an RBI triple with two outs in the eighth, Gunnar Henderson lined a three-run homer into the right field seats in the ninth, and the Orioles improved to 41-22 overall and 15-6 in the division. They moved within three games of the first-place Yankees, who face the Dodgers later tonight.

They came within Díaz's two-out single in the ninth of their second one-hitter of the season, the first on May 26 in Chicago, when Bradish tossed seven hitless innings. They retired 26 Rays in a row before Díaz bounced a single into right field and notched their fifth shutout.

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Orioles pregame notes on Kremer, Hays, Wells, Mullins and more

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Orioles starter Dean Kremer was eligible to be reinstated from the 15-day injured list on Wednesday but his status hasn’t changed. He remains with the club and off the active roster.

Kremer is sidelined with a strained right triceps muscle. He could go on a brief rehab assignment with an affiliate. The plan remains in the formative stages.

“Not really sure,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “We’re going to throw another side with him here in the next few days and kind of take it from there. You just don’t want any setbacks.

“Right now everything is kind of trending in the right direction. He’s going to throw a side here in the next few days and hopefully he’s back with us sometime soon.”

The rotation could use him.

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Stowers and Norby in Orioles lineup this afternoon

norby spring 2024

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Austin Hays remains out of the Orioles lineup today with bruised ribs.

Kyle Stowers is in left field and Cedric Mullins is in center. Ryan O’Hearn is starting in right field while Anthony Santander serves as the designated hitter.

Connor Norby starts at second base.

Ramón Urías is 8-for-16 with two doubles, two home runs and five RBIs during a seven-game hitting streak, which matches his longest of the season. He’s on the bench today.

Adley Rutschman’s 10-game hitting streak ended last night. He’s catching.

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Circling back to yesterday's happenings with the Orioles

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Orioles manager Brandon Hyde didn’t wait to field the first question in yesterday’s pregame media session in the visiting dugout at Tropicana Field. He beat reporters to the punch, sharing Kyle Bradish’s status and the rest of his starters for the Rays series in one quick quote.

Bradish threw a bullpen session earlier in the day, which seemed to eliminate him from consideration for this afternoon. But that was incorrect.

It was light work, he felt good and he’s pitching later today.

Everyone exhale in unison.

Get rid of the injury theories and paranoia. The Orioles just wanted to give Bradish extra rest after last Saturday’s outing. They’re protecting the elbow and also trying to provide breathers for everyone in the rotation.

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Home runs by Santander, Mountcastle and Westburg lead Orioles to 6-3 win over Rays (updated)

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Anthony Santander made loud contact, paused to watch the ball begin its flight toward the right field seats, and heard the ovation as he rounded the bases with his 13th home run. Orioles fans packed the area behind the visiting dugout at Tropicana Field tonight, the usual turnout that makes the road venue feel like home – except for the catwalks, of course.

They stayed patient as the Rays fought back to tie and erupted again after Ryan Mountcastle broke it with a two-run shot in the fifth. And again after Jordan Westburg joined the double-digit home run club in the eighth.

And finally, when Ramón Urías squeezed a popup to end it.

Santander hit his fourth homer in the last seven games, Mountcastle bagged his fifth in the last seven, and the Orioles defeated the Rays 6-3 before an announced crowd of 17,822.

Westburg’s two-run shot to right field after Ryan O’Hearn’s leadoff double gave him 10 and made it easier for the Orioles to post their 40th victory. They also knocked the Rays (31-32) below .500 again.

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Orioles updates on rotation, Hays, Mateo, Bautista and more

Kyle Bradish white jersey

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Kyle Bradish threw a light bullpen session this afternoon and he’s starting Saturday afternoon against the Rays at Tropicana Field.

Bradish is working on six days’ rest after starting last Saturday against the Rays at Camden Yards and allowing five runs and seven hits in 2 2/3 innings. He walked his last three batters.

The rest of the rotation is also confirmed. Grayson Rodriguez starts Sunday afternoon and Corbin Burnes starts Monday night, giving them an extra day with the Orioles in the midst of a brutal stretch that includes only one break in the schedule this month.

The Orioles host the Braves next week in a three-game series at Camden Yards. Albert Suárez and Cade Povich are lined up to start Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. However, the club could choose to move Suárez to the bullpen and give Povich the ball on regular rest following yesterday’s major league debut.

X-rays on Austin Hays’ rib cage came back negative but he’s out of tonight’s lineup.

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Orioles and Rays lineups to begin four-game series in St. Petersburg

irvin pitching gray

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Cole Irvin is starting for the Orioles tonight on normal rest, the only certainty in the rotation for the four-game series against the Rays at Tropicana Field.

Irvin has allowed two runs in 11 1/3 innings since returning to the rotation, and he’s carrying a 2.61 ERA and 1.142 WHIP in nine starts. He faced the Rays on Sunday at Camden Yards and allowed two runs in 6 1/3 innings. José Caballero led off the seventh with a homer.

Irvin has a 3.86 ERA and 1.169 WHIP in five career games (four starts) against the Rays. He’s surrendered six runs and 14 hits in 13 1/3 innings at Tropicana Field.

The starters for the next three games remain TBA.

Jordan Westburg is starting at second base and Ramón Urías is at third. Connor Norby goes to the bench.

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Because You Asked - Now You See Me 2

Gunnar Henderson

The mailbag won’t enter Canada unless it’s the postseason, but Florida is fine.

The Orioles begin another four-game series tonight at Tropicana Field and hope to do better than a split. The bar is raised. It wasn’t that long ago that winning twice against the Blue Jays would have been cause for celebration.

Let’s get to the latest sequel to the beloved 2008 original, which is always worth celebrating. You know the rules. You send ‘em and I answer ‘em, with little to no editing.

Your level of clarity won’t ruin the hilarity. Your particular style won’t get me riled.

Also, my mailbag is at home beneath the dome and yours is allergic to fake grass.

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Vespi optioned again, today's lineups with Povich pitching

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Cade Povich makes his major league debut this afternoon in Toronto to close out the four-game series. His contract was selected from Triple-A Norfolk, and the Orioles optioned reliever Nick Vespi to make room on the active roster.

The 40-man roster is full.

Povich is wearing No. 37.

Jordan Westburg is leading off, with Gunnar Henderson sliding down to fourth. Connor Norby starts at second base for the third time in four games.

Austin Hays is in left field and Colton Cowser is in center.

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Reviewing Orioles with home runs as first major league hits

Connor Norby

The next Orioles prospect to debut in the majors is a pitcher, left-hander Cade Povich, who joined the team yesterday in Toronto and hailed the taxi squad.

Manager Brandon Hyde told the media after last night's walk-off loss that Povich would start this afternoon's series finale against the Blue Jays. He can occupy the last spot on the 40-man roster, but a reliever must be removed from the active roster unless something is wrong with Kyle Bradish that we still don't know about.

The only information shared is that he's pushed back and it could be more than one day. And that TBA is gonna be a common listing among the probables.

The next position player to debut might be third baseman Coby Mayo, but he’s on Triple-A Norfolk’s injured list with a fractured rib. The good news is he’s swinging a bat.

Jackson Holliday already got his first major league hit, a single, before the Orioles optioned him. Connor Norby became the 12th Orioles player to homer for his first hit, delivering a two-run shot to left field Tuesday night at Rogers Centre.

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Orioles and Blue Jays lineups, All-Star balloting

suárez pitching white

Jordan Westburg is starting at second base tonight and Connor Norby is out of the lineup after homering last night for his first major league hit.

Norby is the 12th player in club history whose first hit is a home run.

Ramón Urías is playing third base. Kyle Stowers is in left field, Cedric Mullins is in center and Ryan O’Hearn is in right.

Anthony Santander is the designated hitter.

Ryan Mountcastle homered twice last night and is 29-for-91 (.319) with seven doubles, eight home runs, 26 RBIs and a 1.044 OPS in 24 career games at Rogers Centre.

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Povich joining Orioles in Toronto

povich white

The Orioles haven’t confirmed their starter for Thursday afternoon’s series finale against the Blue Jays. However, one of their top prospects is in the running.

He won’t be far from them.

Left-hander Cade Povich is headed to Toronto and will be placed on the taxi squad later today, according to a source, perhaps setting up his major league debut.

Povich was scheduled to start for Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Now he’s an option for the Orioles, who are undecided about Kyle Bradish’s status.

Bradish would be working on his normal turn Thursday, but manager Brandon Hyde told the assembled media yesterday that the club might push him back. If so, Bradish would open the four-game series against the Rays on Friday night in St. Petersburg, Fla. or pitch the following day.

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Three Orioles questions born from Monday's news

Connor Norby

The Orioles are halfway through their series in Toronto and the roster underwent a few changes since the conclusion of the last homestand.

Tweaking the bullpen was expected. The question was which reliever would be recalled and which would be optioned or designated for assignment. Something had to be done to inject a fresher arm.

A freak accident on the on-deck circle forced the other move.

Here are three questions, raised like fingerprints after Monday’s announcements.

How long will Connor Norby stay with the Orioles?

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Norby batting eighth tonight in Orioles lineup

Connor Norby

Connor Norby stays at second base tonight and moves up to eighth in the order as the Orioles try to guarantee at least a split of their four-game series in Toronto.

James McCann is catching and batting ninth.

Colton Cowser remains in center field, putting Cedric Mullins on the bench. Austin Hays stays in left field.

Hays hit his first two home runs last night since Sept. 19.

Adley Rutschman is the designated hitter. Ryan O’Hearn moves to the bench.

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Orioles bringing back Teheran on minor league deal

Julio Teheran Mets

Running low on starting pitching, the Orioles are bringing back a veteran who didn’t make the team out of spring training.

The club is on the verge of signing Julio Teheran to another minor league deal, according to a source. The sides are "close."

Teheran, 33, agreed to a minor league deal on Feb. 28 that would have paid $2 million if he pitched in the majors. He allowed five runs and nine hits with seven walks and 10 strikeouts in 13 1/3 innings and was granted his release.

The Mets signed Teheran on April 5 and he became a free agent again six days later after making one start and allowing four runs and six hits in 2 2/3 innings in Atlanta.

The Cubs signed Teheran on April 18 and released him Saturday after another opt-out. He posted an 8.82 ERA and 1.806 WHIP in eight starts with Triple-A Iowa.

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