O's may take the field again on Wednesday, plus other notes

O's may take the field again on Wednesday, plus other notes
It is the luck of the schedule. The bad luck of the schedule for the Orioles. After winning two of three in Boston and with the hopes of getting off to a decent start, they had the misfortune to be the team next scheduled for four straight games against the Miami Marlins. No offense to the Marlins, but until the team and its medical staff and Major League Baseball get a handle on how hard the coronavirus has hit their team, they probably should not play any club. And the prospect of playing...
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New Oriole Isaac Mattson is closing in on the majors (with video)

New Oriole Isaac Mattson is closing in on the majors (with video)
The date was Dec. 4, 2019. That was the day that Isaac Mattson's world briefly got turned upside down. A right-handed relief pitcher, he was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in round 19 of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft and had completed three good years in their system. He reached Triple-A last summer and he was finally closing in on that major league dream. Then he got a call. He was traded to the Orioles, one of four players coming to Baltimore in the deal for pitcher Dylan Bundy. "Kind...
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O's build big early lead and hang on to take series

O's build big early lead and hang on to take series
Heading into this series, the Orioles had only won two of the last 13 series against the Boston Red Sox. They went 7-12 against Boston last year and 4-6 at Fenway Park. Then they got blasted 13-2 on opening night. But behind two wins on back-to-back days, the 2020 Orioles are off to a 2-1 start and have a rare series win against Boston. They got more early offense today and another solid starting pitcher effort in a 6-4 victory. They built a five-run lead and held on for the win. Now they head...
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O's game blog: Shooting for a series win at Boston

O's game blog: Shooting for a series win at Boston
The Orioles (1-1) and Boston Red Sox (1-1) wrap up their season-opening three-game series this afternoon at Fenway Park. Monday night the Orioles start a two-game series at Miami. They open their home season Wednesday against the Marlins. After allowing 13 runs and 17 hits on Friday as Boston went 10-for-19 with runners in scoring position, the O's pitchers came up big in Saturday's 7-2 win. They allowed nine hits and no walks and Boston went 1-for-7 with RISP. On their way to 108 losses last...
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O's pitching better in second game and today they go for series win

O's pitching better in second game and today they go for series win
After Friday's opening night loss, a result of some poor pitching, the Orioles got the season's first win less than 24 hours later. They beat the Boston Red Sox 7-2 Saturday at Fenway Park and they can win the series there this afternoon. In the 13-2 loss in the opener, Baltimore pitchers threw 191 pitches over eight innings with seven walks. Yesterday five pitchers threw 140 pitches over nine innings with no walks and 11 strikeouts. Boston went 10-for-19 with runners in scoring position...
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O's win behind Cobb's outing and aggressive early swinging

O's win behind Cobb's outing and aggressive early swinging
The Orioles turned in a much different start today, with a strong pitching effort that got an early boost from some aggressive swinging. They beat Boston 7-2 to even the three-game series at Fenway Park. We all understand the need to work the count and get pitchers pitch counts up, but sometimes early count hacking can get the job done - if you swing at hittable pitches. The Orioles did that early in today's game against Boston lefty Martín Pérez, scoring three runs in the first and two...
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O's game blog: Alex Cobb makes season debut at Fenway Park

O's game blog: Alex Cobb makes season debut at Fenway Park
The first game of the shortened 2020 season was a dud for the Orioles. So let's see, after a quick turnaround, what will unfold in the second one. The Orioles (0-1) play at Boston (1-0) this afternoon in the second game of a three-game series. The Red Sox scored four runs in the third and six in the fourth on opening night. They banged out eight doubles and 17 hits in a 13-2 win. It's the most runs the Orioles have ever allowed on opening day. After winning eight straight openers through...
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After blowout loss, Alex Cobb tries to pitch O's to a win today

After blowout loss, Alex Cobb tries to pitch O's to a win today
Between 2011 and 2018, the Orioles won eight opening day games in a row. Starting in 2011, they beat Tampa Bay, followed by Minnesota and Tampa Bay again. Then they beat Boston, Tampa Bay, Minnesota, Toronto and Minnesota again. But they lost 7-2 last year at Yankee Stadium and 13-2 last night at Boston. Starter Tommy Milone cruised through two innings but then gave up four doubles and four runs in the third. Cody Carroll and Travis Lakins Sr. allowed six runs an inning later. So Boston led...
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Opening night blowout: O's lose big at Boston

Opening night blowout: O's lose big at Boston
In search of their ninth opening day win in the last 10 years, a couple of bad innings happened to the Orioles tonight. A couple of really, really bad innings. They got bombed 13-2 at Fenway Park in the 2020 season opener. Instead of another opening day win - and the club was 15-4 its previous 19 openers coming in - the Orioles have lost back-to-back opening day games for the first time since 2007 and 2008. Lefty Tommy Milone was making his first career opening day start and his Orioles debut....
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O's Austin Hays on first road trip travels and season outlook

O's Austin Hays on first road trip travels and season outlook
For the Orioles it was another step along the way in trying to stay healthy to both begin and complete this unique 2020 Major League Baseball season. It was a flight to a road city, the hotel check-in and some things that were not exactly as they had been in previous seasons. But center fielder Austin Hays said the trip to Boston went smoothly. He spoke to reporters via Zoom today, just a few hours before tonight's season opener. "Actually, it wasn't too crazy," said Hays. "Everything is...
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O's game blog: The season opener arrives

O's game blog: The season opener arrives
The Orioles begin their 2020 season tonight with the beginning of a three-game series at Fenway Park in Boston. Tonight the Orioles begin their 67th season in Baltimore. The year starts with a five-game trip to Boston and Miami. The Orioles tuned up for this with three exhibition games. They won 5-1 at Philadelphia and lost by scores of 4-2 and 6-4 to the Washington Nationals. The Orioles lost on opening day last year to the Yankees in New York. Before that they had won the previous three...
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It's the Orioles and Red Sox as a new season begins

It's the Orioles and Red Sox as a new season begins
Their opening day roster does not include John Means, Hunter Harvey or Trey Mancini. But ready or not, the Orioles begin their 67th season tonight at Fenway Park in Boston. The Orioles, individually and collectively, seem anxious to show the rest of baseball they are not a complete pushover and that they are making improvements. In a season shortened to 60 games, could they make a playoff run? Sure they could. It seems quite improbable. But I guess it became even more possible as Major League...
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At Bowie, players will look to stay sharp and ready

At Bowie, players will look to stay sharp and ready
The Orioles currently have 13 staff members working with a group of players at Prince George's Stadium, the alternate site for the club's 60-man player pool. Soon the player numbers will grow at Bowie, as the O's today cut down to their 30-man opening day roster. The challenge for coaches at Bowie will be to keep that group energized during a hot summer where they currently are not allowed to face outside competition or players from other teams. Daily intrasquad games will help, but after a...
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The offense was trending up last year, but does that continue?

The offense was trending up last year, but does that continue?
Is it possible, even minus Trey Mancini and Jonathan Villar, that the Orioles offense improves in the 2020 season? Those are two huge losses. Mancini was the club's Most Valuable Oriole and became the 10th player in club history with 30 doubles, 30 homers and 100 runs. He hit .291 with an .899 OPS. Villar set career highs in hits (176), runs (111), triples (5), home runs (24) and RBIs (73). The 111 runs were the most by an Oriole since Melvin Mora also scored 111 in 2004. According to...
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Mullins in battle for outfield roster spot, plus other notes

Mullins in battle for outfield roster spot, plus other notes
When Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias was interviewed on the MASN telecast on Monday night in Baltimore, he was asked if any players had jumped out at him during summer camp. Elias cited catcher Pedro Severino and outfielder Cedric Mullins and said there are plenty of others that have looked good, better than they had in Sarasota in the first spring training. He said Severino has been swinging the bat very well. Elias said of Mullins: "He's looked great, which...
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O's game blog: O's and Nats in exhibition finale

O's game blog: O's and Nats in exhibition finale
The Orioles (1-1) play their third and final exhibition game tonight ahead of Friday's opener at Boston. The Birds travel to Washington to face the Nationals (1-1) at Nats Park. The club will hold a workout at Camden Yards tomorrow and then travel to Boston on Thursday for the start of that three-game series. Washington won 4-2 over Baltimore last night at Oriole Park. O's right-hander Alex Cobb allowed two hits and two runs over four innings. He fanned five, including four of the first six...
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Rays' loss is O's gain in the bullpen

Rays' loss is O's gain in the bullpen
He has had not one, but two Tommy John surgeries and pitched in the minor leagues since 2013 before finally getting his first big league chance last September. It went well for Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Cole Sulser. After a very strong finish to his Triple-A season, he made his big league debut that month with 7 1/3 scoreless innings and nine strikeouts for the Rays. Then he was designated for assignment. That might have been a bit surprising, even for the pitching-rich Rays. Sulser can throw...
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O's game blog: O's host Nats in Oriole Park exhibition game

O's game blog: O's host Nats in Oriole Park exhibition game
With four days left before opening night, the Orioles will play their only home exhibition game tonight at Oriole Park. The Orioles (1-0) host the Washington Nationals (0-1). The same clubs meet at Nats Park on Tuesday night. The Orioles beat the Phillies 5-1 in game that went 9 1/2 innings last night at Citizens Bank Park. Pedro Severino, Cedric Mullins, Pat Valaika and Ryan Mountcastle hit solo homers for the Orioles and Hanser Alberto added an RBI single. Right-hander Thomas Eshelman pitched...
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Thomas Eshelman's latest solid pitch and other notes

Thomas Eshelman's latest solid pitch and other notes
The Orioles could have some big decisions to make later today. They'll check on All-Star left-hander John Means and his availability to make the opening day start Friday night at Boston. Means was scratched from last night's start due to arm fatigue and a case of dead arm. But pitching in his place at Philadelphia, 26-year-old right-hander Thomas Eshelman, he of the 6.50 ERA last year, threw another solid outing. Between four games in the first spring training and three in the current summer...
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Eshelman throws scoreless ball in win over Phillies

Eshelman throws scoreless ball in win over Phillies
Thomas Eshelman might be making a late push for a rotation spot. Or if John Means can't make his first start, that could make room for right-hander Eshelman, who made a case for himself tonight in Philadelphia. Eshelman threw 4 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing four singles, as the Orioles beat the Phillies 5-1 at Citizens Bank Park. It is the first of three exhibitions for the Orioles ahead of their July 24 opener at Fenway Park in Boston. Eshelman actually made the last exhibition game start...
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