Wrapping up a 1-0 win

Wrapping up a 1-0 win
Orioles manager Buck Showalter isn't ready to announce his starter for Sunday's series finale against the Rangers, which also closes out the season's first half. He's going to let everyone know in the morning, with the likely choices Miguel Castro and Mike Wright Jr. Showalter seems intent on taking someone out of the bullpen and leaving Chris Tillman at Triple-A Norfolk. Wright logged 1 1/3 innings and threw 39 pitches on Wednesday. Castro worked a scoreless inning the following night...
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Ramirez throws five scoreless innings in Orioles' 1-0 win

Ramirez throws five scoreless innings in Orioles' 1-0 win
The Orioles didn't plan on sending down Yefry Ramírez after tonight's game, no matter how he pitched. They need a starter for Sunday and were ready to recall Jimmy Yacabonis before an illness nixed those plans, but Ramírez wasn't going to be the corresponding move. Filling out the rotation after the All-Star break includes keeping Ramírez in it, a byproduct of the team falling out of contention early and a spot remaining open after Chris Tillman was placed on the disabled list. They...
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Brooks Robinson hired by Orioles as special advisor (O's up 1-0)

Brooks Robinson hired by Orioles as special advisor (O's up 1-0)
Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson never lost his love for the Orioles. He's now been given more avenues to show it. The Orioles have hired Robinson, 81, as a special advisor to the team, bringing him back to Camden Yards and in the community. Robinson walked into the press box and announced that he won't be playing or managing. He won't be offering baseball advice, the game becoming too complicated with its analytics and new rules. But he's prepared to do whatever is asked to...
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Yacabonis won't start Sunday (and other notes)

Yacabonis won't start Sunday (and other notes)
The Orioles need a starter for Sunday's series finale. Jimmy Yacabonis is unavailable due to an illness - he was tested yesterday for strep throat - and manager Buck Showalter might resort to a bullpen game against the Rangers. His options depend on which relievers are needed tonight to back up rookie starter Yefry Ramírez. Showalter mentioned Chris Tillman again as a "possibility," but the club prefers to keep him at Triple-A Norfolk for Sunday's game against Gwinnett at Harbor...
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Orioles lineup vs. Rangers

Orioles lineup vs. Rangers
Catcher Austin Wynns has his locker set up in the clubhouse, and his return will be made official later today. Wynns is replacing Chance Sisco on the roster, as I mentioned last night. Instant update: The Orioles just announced the move. Tim Beckham remains the leadoff hitter tonight against the Rangers. Caleb Joseph is catching. Nothing much to talk about. Rangers left-hander Martin Pérez is making his sixth start of the season. His most recent came on April 29, before Pérez went on the...
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Jones remains unsure of destination or his decision

Jones remains unsure of destination or his decision
While reports have surfaced that the Indians are expressing interest in Orioles center fielder Adam Jones, the first real buzz attached to the five-time All-Star and pending free agent, he still hasn't been approached by the club regarding his 10-5 status. Jones has earned the right to refuse a trade based on his 10 years in the majors and five with the Orioles. Could they be waiting until they have an actual offer in hand before taking it to Jones, rather than just seeking blanket approval...
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Orioles option Sisco, Yacabonis illness jeopardizes Sunday start

Orioles option Sisco, Yacabonis illness jeopardizes Sunday start
The Orioles are swapping out catchers again tonight by returning rookie Chance Sisco to Triple-A Norfolk. They made the announcement following a 5-4 loss to the Rangers at Camden Yards. The corresponding move will become official on Saturday with rookie Austin Wynns recalled from Norfolk. Sisco also was sent down on June 17, and returned 11 days later. He's batting .195/.306./.289 with eight doubles, two home runs and 16 RBIs in 58 games. Since rejoining the Orioles, Sisco has collected only...
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Orioles rally but again fall short in 5-4 loss

Orioles rally but again fall short in 5-4 loss
Alex Cobb never imagined that he'd have 12 losses before the All-Star break. Not while he waited to sign with a club after spring training camps opened, not after agreeing to a four-year, $57 million deal with the Orioles, not after getting off to a sluggish start based on his limited work prior to opening day. Though a pitcher's record shouldn't define him - considering how much of it is out of his hands - Cobb also carried a 6.67 ERA into tonight's series opener against the Rangers at...
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Notes on rotation, Ramírez's next chance, Gilmartin (O's down 5-4)

Notes on rotation, Ramírez's next chance, Gilmartin (O's down 5-4)
Jimmy Yacabonis appears to be the choice to start Sunday afternoon's game against the Rangers, which closes out the first half. The Orioles are keeping him available and intend to recall him before the game. Meanwhile, Chris Tillman remains the starter at Triple-A Norfolk. The assignment will mark Yacabonis' third major league start. He's allowed a combined five runs and 12 hits over nine innings, with two walks and 10 strikeouts. Yefry Ramírez gets the start Saturday night and is...
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Orioles and Rangers lineups

Orioles and Rangers lineups
Danny Valencia is in right field tonight and Trey Mancini is in left for the Orioles' series opener against the Rangers. Chris Davis is batting seventh against left-hander Cole Hamels. Alex Cobb returns to the mound after leaving Sunday's start in Minnesota with a blister on his right index finger. He's made five career starts against the Rangers and gone 1-0 with a 2.91 ERA and 0.971 WHIP in 34 innings. Shin-Soo Choo is 5-for-12 with two doubles and a home run against him. Elvis Andrus is...
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About last night ...

About last night ...
Zach Britton began to warm in the Orioles' bullpen last night as they tried to rally in the bottom of the eighth inning. Manny Machado singled with one out and his club down by a run, and a save situation loomed. And then it was gone. Adam Jones flied to center field, the Phillies brought in left-hander Adam Morgan and Chris Davis struck out for the third time. (It might have seemed like a bold move to pinch-hit Danny Valencia, but if the club was willing to ignore the contract and sit Davis...
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Rally falls short, O's are 42 games below .500 (with quotes)

Rally falls short, O's are 42 games below .500 (with quotes)
As Manny Machado walked to the plate tonight with two outs and no one on base in the bottom of the first inning, a couple of visiting fans yelled, "Come to Philly!" Their club is doing just fine without him, completing a delayed sweep of the Orioles with a 5-4 victory before an announced crowd of 20,100 at Camden Yards. Kevin Gausman allowed five runs and a career-high 12 hits, weak contact still hurting him, and the Orioles had their 16th loss in 19 games. With a 26-68 record, they're 42...
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Orioles lament defensive shortcomings (O's down 5-4)

Orioles lament defensive shortcomings (O's down 5-4)
Whatever the return for shortstop Manny Machado in the coming hours, days or weeks, the Orioles will be focused in part on improving a defense that has been in steady decline for the past three seasons. It's become a familiar refrain, but executing the plan has proven to be as challenging as stringing together wins. Team officials vowed again to make defense a priority over the winter, but the Orioles moved Platinum Glove winner Machado to shortstop and put Tim Beckham at third base, where his...
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Injury updates on O'Day, Hays and Cashner

Injury updates on O'Day, Hays and Cashner
Orioles reliever Darren O'Day underwent his hamstring surgery today in Baltimore and manager Buck Showalter said the procedure "went great." "There were no surprises," Showalter said, adding that he's looking forward to O'Day "returning to form." Head athletic trainer Brian Ebel spoke with O'Day earlier today. Double-A Bowie outfielder Austin Hays had an injection in his ankle on Monday and will be shut down for a week before resuming baseball activities. Showalter remains confident...
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Orioles lineup vs. Phillies

Orioles lineup vs. Phillies
Trey Mancini's absence from the Orioles lineup lasted one game. He's starting at first base for tonight's makeup game against the Phillies. Chris Davis is the designated hitter and Mark Trumbo is in right field. Jace Peterson's knee must be feeling better because he's in left field. Adam Jones is batting cleanup, with Jonathan Schoop moving up to second in the order. Kevin Gausman is making his first career start against the Phillies. Trevor Plouffe is 4-for-12 with two doubles and a home...
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Joseph on Britton: "He's getting really, really close"

Joseph on Britton: "He's getting really, really close"
To gain a more complete understanding of the improvement in reliever Zach Britton's sinker, count the bruises on catcher Caleb Joseph. I didn't do it - we're friendly, but the relationship has its limits - but he wore a few more Tuesday night after knocking down multiple pitches in the dirt in the ninth inning to keep the game tied and set up Jonathan Schoop for the walk-off single. Britton at his best, like during the 2016 season, is a tremendous challenge for the guy squatting behind the...
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Bundy lasts four innings and O's shut out for ninth time (with quotes)

Bundy lasts four innings and O's shut out for ninth time (with quotes)
Dylan Bundy can't seem to regain his footing after a hamstring injury. Bundy served up Greg Bird's grand slam tonight in a five-run third inning, his pitch count soaring to 78, and the Orioles settled for a split of their four-game series with a 9-0 loss to the Yankees before an announced crowd of 17,808 at Camden Yards. The Orioles were shut out for the ninth time while falling to 26-67 overall 14-31 at home. They've been held to one run or fewer in 25 games. In two starts since coming off...
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Showalter on Mancini, Cashner, Tillman and more (O's down 8-0)

Showalter on Mancini, Cashner, Tillman and more (O's down 8-0)
The Orioles' lineup has taken on many forms in the first half, and tonight it doesn't include Trey Mancini, who's 2-for-25 this month to lower his season average to .220 with a .657 OPS. It's a startling drop for a player who finished third in Rookie of the Year balloting in the American League last season after batting .293/.338/.488 with 26 doubles, four triples, 24 home runs and 78 RBIs in 147 games. A player with a career .306/.357/.472 slash line in four minor league seasons. "Trey's...
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Cashner returns to DL

Cashner returns to DL
Andrew Cashner is making his second stop on the disabled list this season. The Orioles placed Cashner on the 10-day DL today with a strained muscle in his neck and recalled right-hander Yefry Ramírez from Triple-A Norfolk. Ramirez is eligible to return because he's replacing an injured player. Cashner worked 6 1/3 innings last night, his second-longest outing of the season, but he received a trigger point injection in his neck today to quiet the spams that crop up periodically. Manager Buck...
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Cashner questionable to make next start

Cashner questionable to make next start
Andrew Cashner is receiving a trigger point injection in his neck this afternoon due to spasms, a procedure he's undergone in the past around the All-Star break. The latest one puts Sunday's start in jeopardy. Cashner could go on the disabled list and return immediately after the break. The Orioles' options for Sunday's starter include Yefry Ramírez, who would be eligible to return if replacing an injured player, and Jimmy Yacabonis, who can return at any time because he was the 26th man...
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