Hyde defends Tate in Pham controversy

Hyde defends Tate in Pham controversy
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles manager Brandon Hyde denied this afternoon that rookie pitcher Dillon Tate intended to throw near Tommy Pham's head yesterday in the 10th inning and noted how players in his dugout weren't "chirping." Or making any sounds. "I was surprised," Hyde said when asked about Pham's postgame comments. "I'm sitting in the dugout. I've never heard one of our guys all year. This is one of the quietest groups in the world and we're in a place that's kind of like...
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Tate responds to Pham accusations

Tate responds to Pham accusations
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The venom and confrontational accusations that flowed out of the Rays' Tommy Pham following yesterday's game have left the Orioles a bit confused. Pham apparently thought Tanner Scott hit him intentionally in the eighth inning and Dillon Tate buzzed him in the decisive 10th, right before a walk-off single in Tampa Bay's 5-4 win. He also told the media that the Orioles dugout was "chirping" as if to encourage the rookie to keep coming inside. "First pitch, he threw...
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Orioles DFA Peterson and announce call-ups (updated)

Orioles DFA Peterson and announce call-ups (updated)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles designated infielder Jace Peterson for assignment today to make room for outfielder Mason Williams on the 40-man roster. Williams had his contract selected today from Triple-A Norfolk. Pitchers Ty Blach, David Hess, Evan Phillips and Chandler Shepherd and catcher Austin Wynns were recalled today. Peterson batted .220/.269/.330 in 29 games. Williams is wearing No. 40. Shepherd was named the International League's Player of the Month for August after going 3-1...
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More on Orioles' expanded roster and exclusions

More on Orioles' expanded roster and exclusions
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The visiting clubhouse at Tropicana Field is running low on available locker space. Roster expansion can shrink a room. It also can trigger some fans, depending on which players are kept out of it. The pitching staff is gaining more arms for the bullpen and perhaps the rotation with the arrivals of David Hess, Chandler Shepherd, Ty Blach and Evan Phillips. A third catcher always is desired, and Austin Wynns boarded a flight last night. Blach is starting the opener of...
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Trumbo makes triumphant return in Orioles' 5-4 loss (updated)

Trumbo makes triumphant return in Orioles' 5-4 loss (updated)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Mark Trumbo stood on the on-deck circle today in the top of the first inning, waiting for an opportunity that was a year in the making. A chance to bat again in a major league game. No longer a prisoner to the pain in his surgically repaired right knee. Just putting on the uniform and checking the lineup card felt like a win for Trumbo. Finding his name in it, grabbing a bat and walking past the indoor cage and onto the field was the greatest reward. The Orioles left two...
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The pitching, expanded roster, Trumbo's return and more (tied 4-4)

The pitching, expanded roster, Trumbo's return and more (tied 4-4)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles manager Brandon Hyde and Rays manager Kevin Cash aren't ready to list their starters for Tuesday's doubleheader at Tropicana Field. There's too much uncertainly to finalize pitching plans. Hyde knew he'd need a spot starter and Hurricane Dorian created a complication by forcing the teams to play a doubleheader in order for the Orioles to fly back home a day earlier. The bullpen obviously comes into play. Hyde is waiting to find out who's available after...
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Orioles reinstate Trumbo from injured list and DFA Eshelman

Orioles reinstate Trumbo from injured list and DFA Eshelman
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles have reinstated Mark Trumbo from the 60-day injured list, setting him up for his first major league action since Aug. 19, 2018. Trumbo is serving as the designated hitter today and batting sixth at Tropicana Field. Renato Núñez is playing first base. Chris Davis is situated among the reserves. DJ Stewart is in left field and Anthony Santander is playing center. Hanser Alberto is starting at third base and leading off against Rays left-hander Ryan...
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Trumbo making it back to active roster

Trumbo making it back to active roster
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Mark Trumbo is expected to have a locker inside the visiting clubhouse at Tropicana Field this morning as the latest roster addition for the Orioles. The reaction on Twitter will include such unique and classy gems as "Who cares?" and "It doesn't matter." Because ... Twitter. Well, try telling that to the Orioles. Try telling that to Trumbo, who's returning from a complicated procedure on his right knee one year ago that threatened to end his career without allowing...
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Orioles and Royals lineups

Orioles and Royals lineups
The Orioles placed four players on their expanded September roster this morning, recalling outfielder Dwight Smith Jr. and pitchers Branden Kline and Tanner Scott from Triple-A Norfolk and reinstating pitcher Shawn Armstrong from the 10-day injured list. More moves are coming after Monday. Smith is starting in left field today as the Orioles close out their series in Kansas City. Trey Mancini is playing first base with the lineup leaning heavy to the right side. Smith is the only Oriole who...
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Update on Orioles series against Rays at Tropicana Field

Update on Orioles series against Rays at Tropicana Field
The Orioles still intend to play three games against the Rays next week, but they'll be packed into two days. An adjustment has been made in the schedule due to threatening weather conditions caused by Hurricane Dorian. The Tampa Bay Times reported that the Orioles and Rays will play a doubleheader on Tuesday and remove Wednesday's game. The series opens Monday afternoon as planned. An Orioles official has confirmed the news. Hurricane Dorian has been upgraded to a Category 4 storm but no...
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This, that and the other

This, that and the other
Exactly how much has Jonathan Villar increased his trade value in the offseason? The Orioles couldn't move Villar at the deadline, failing in attempts to work out a deal with the Cubs. He slashed .225/.320/.382 with three home runs in 26 games in June. Contenders had to be leery of a player with a reputation for being reckless on the basepaths and not always exhibiting, shall we say, the best judgment. How was their judgment in passing on him? Villar slashed .298/.336/.442 with three home runs...
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Orioles and Royals lineups

Orioles and Royals lineups
Chris Davis returns to the Orioles lineup tonight in Kansas City and is batting sixth for the 12th time this season. Trey Mancini is in right field and Anthony Santander is the designated hitter. DJ Stewart is in left field and batting cleanup. Hanser Alberto, playing second base tonight, is leading the majors with a .417 average against left-handers. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last Orioles player with a .400 average versus lefties was shortstop Mike Bordick (.402) in...
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Ortiz, Carroll, Bundy and Dorian

Ortiz, Carroll, Bundy and Dorian
The list of Orioles who are going to join the expanded September roster is bound to include some pitchers who have spent the summer on the shuttle. Extra arms are coveted over the final month. We can speculate about guys like David Hess, Evan Phillips, Branden Kline, Chandler Shepherd, Tom Eshelman, Tanner Scott and Tayler Scott. We'll wonder about Keegan Akin. We'll assume that it's not happening for Dean Kremer, who's assigned to the Surprise Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League. Luis...
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Orioles and Royals lineups

Orioles and Royals lineups
Hanser Alberto is leading off tonight for the Orioles, bringing a .407 average against left-handers to Kansas City that leads the majors. The 72 hits off left-handed pitching this season are tied with Rafael Palmeiro in 1996 for second-most in Orioles history. Palmeiro holds the club record with 73 hits in 1998. The last player to exceed 80 hits off southpaws was the Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki (84) in 2004. Alberto hasn't struck out in his last 44 plate appearances since Aug. 14, the longest...
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Means starting tonight in Kansas City

Means starting tonight in Kansas City
John Means has been reinstated from the family medical emergency list and is starting tonight in Kansas City, where he attended games as a kid. The native of Olathe, Kan., left the team Sunday after holding the Rays to one run over seven innings the previous night. The Orioles kept the matter private out of respect for Means and his family. Reliever Tayler Scott was optioned yesterday to Triple-A Norfolk, opening a spot on the active roster that Means is filling. Means has allowed three earned...
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Thoughts on Núñez, series at The Trop and Bleier/Flores

Thoughts on Núñez, series at The Trop and Bleier/Flores
Leaving D.C. behind has allowed the Orioles to get back to a normal lineup. They can use a designated hitter again in Kansas City, which more easily puts Renato Núñez into play. Núñez started at first base Tuesday night against Nationals left-hander Patrick Corbin, sending Chris Davis to the bench, and the arrangement could be repeated tonight with the Royals sending lefty Eric Skogland to the mound. Otherwise, Núñez is the DH as he tries to reach 30 home runs for the...
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Scott optioned to Norfolk (updated)

Scott optioned to Norfolk (updated)
Less than 24 hours after registering his first scoreless appearance with the Orioles, right-hander Tayler Scott has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. The move likely has been made in order to reinstate left-hander John Means from the family medical emergency list and allow him to start Friday night's series opener in Kansas City. Manager Brandon Hyde indicated yesterday that Means could start one of the first two games. Dylan Bundy would start the other game. Means left the club on Sunday,...
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Long on Villar: "He's really under control"

Long on Villar: "He's really under control"
Jonathan Villar's daring on the basepaths, an aggressive approach that allows him to collect stolen bases and criticisms for running into ill-timed outs, isn't the same mindset that he's bringing into the batter's box. Not since the All-Star break. Not since the calendar turned to August. There's an element of restraint that's working for him. Villar began last night slashing .308/.381/.547 in 43 games in the second half, compared to .259/.326/.421 over 89 games in the first. He drew 16...
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First inning dooms Orioles in 8-4 loss to Nationals (updated)

First inning dooms Orioles in 8-4 loss to Nationals (updated)
WASHINGTON - Asher Wojciechowski struck out the first and last batter he faced tonight in the first inning. The stuff in between eventually would decide the outcome. All of it bad for the Orioles. The Nationals hit for the cycle in the span of four batters, scored five runs and made the Orioles settle for another split of a two-game series with an 8-4 victory in D.C. Juan Soto delivered a two-run triple, Kurt Suzuki launched a two-run homer and the Orioles' winning streak ended at three games....
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Hyde updates Means (and other notes, O's down 8-4)

Hyde updates Means (and other notes, O's down 8-4)
WASHINGTON - Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said he's expecting left-hander John Means to start Friday or Saturday night in Kansas City. Means left the team Sunday and was placed on the family medical emergency list. He's been gone for the required minimum of three days. "We're hoping first or second day in Kansas City," Hyde said. "Still got a couple things to figure out, but if all goes well, first or second game." The club is listing Friday and Saturday as TBD, with Aaron Brooks closing...
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