The Orioles will attempt to win their third game in a row tonight, weather permitting, with Jahmai Jones staying at second base and Ramón UrÃas at shortstop while Jorge Mateo is day-to-day with soreness in his lower back.
Manager Brandon Hyde said Mateo is feeling better and could be available in an emergency. Hyde hopes Mateo will return to the lineup in another day or two.
Pedro Severino is catching after driving in a career-high six runs yesterday.
Ryan Mountcastle is the first...
While wondering how I possibly could have missed using a "sage advice" pun in Wednesday night's game story ...
So much could get lost in the streak-breaking victory, including the importance of Chris Ellis completing three innings in a bullpen game and burning herbs in the clubhouse. Seems like a small detail - the Ellis part - but one-and-done could have left manager Brandon Hyde in a real bind.
Tyler Wells was denied a chance at his first major league save after the Orioles added a fifth...
Given new life late in their baseball season, the Orioles are trying to avoid a new losing streak.
They may never lose again. Rearranging the outcomes can't be done without turning the tables.
Shohei Ohtani lofted a ball onto the flag count on the second pitch from starter Keegan Akin, but the left-hander did his finest work as a professional with one run allowed in seven innings. The Orioles tied the game in the third, Pedro Severino hit a grand slam as part of a six-run fifth and they...
The fifth spot in the Orioles rotation is unoccupied while manager Brandon Hyde sifts through the candidates.
Chris Ellis could start again after completing three innings last night. Jorge López is serving in a relief role, but the assignment isn't necessarily permanent for the remainder of the season.
"I think we're still discussing what we're going to do," Hyde said. "We have that open spot in our rotation right now by moving López in the 'pen. I don't know if that's going to...
Austin Hays and Jorge Mateo are on the bench again today as the Orioles close out their series against the Angels and try to put together back-to-back wins for the first time since July 30-31 in Detroit.
DJ Stewart stays in left field. Ramón UrÃas is the shortstop.
Mateo is day-to-day with soreness in his lower back.
Jahmai Jones gets another start at second base.
Anthony Santander has recorded back-to-back games with three hits or more for the first time in his career. He's in right...
The streaks keep trying to suffocate the Orioles. Putting the squeeze on them like a boa constrictor.
Number of games lost in a row was the biggie, of course. If not for last night's rally, they would have drawn within one of tying the franchise and American League records of 21 in a row.
They'd also be on the verge of suffering their sixth series sweep in a row. Say that three times fast.
They don't have to worry about a 17th sweep this season.
Brandon Hyde appreciates the support he's...
The old reverse lock theory is supposed to have its limits.
A team riding a 19-game losing streak, its last victory on Aug. 2, and resorting to a bullpen tactic rather than using a starting pitcher, already is operating from an extreme disadvantage.
The bench had two healthy players. The best hitter in 2021 fell into an August slump.
The Orioles needed to catch a monumental break last night. Instead, they got Shohei Ohtani - on the mound and in the Angels lineup. An anchor tossed to a club with...
Orioles middle infielder Jorge Mateo reached base twice last night on infield singles and is out of tonight's lineup with soreness in his lower back/hip, his status listed as day-to-day, per manager Brandon Hyde.
Mateo has 21 hits in 17 games with the Orioles and is slashing .356/.387/.492 with six doubles and a triple.
"Just a little sore today. Hoping he'll be back in there in a day or two," Hyde said.
"He kind of jammed his leg when he hit the base there last night, so he's just a...
The Orioles recalled reliever Conner Greene from Triple-A Norfolk this afternoon, two days after claiming him off waivers from the Dodgers. He replaces Konner Wade, who was optioned late last night.
Greene returned to the organization after appearing in three games and allowing six runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings. He walked one batter and struck out five.
The Dodgers claimed him off waivers on Aug. 9 and he tossed two scoreless innings in his two appearances.
Greene, who's wearing No. 81,...
The "mix and match" bullpen game that Orioles manager Brandon Hyde referenced late last night begins with right-hander Chris Ellis.
The team announced that Ellis will start tonight against the Angels and two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani.
Ellis becomes the 55th player used this season, three short of the club record set in 2019.
A different record looms heavier over the organization. Two more losses and the Orioles will match the 21 straight to begin the 1988 season.
Ellis, 28, is serving as an...
Orioles infielder Jahmai Jones has plus interview skills, which he exhibited again yesterday during a Zoom call with the media following his promotion from Triple-A Norfolk. Smart, articulate, thoughtful in his answers.
Eager to assist others, giving back to his community and school. Never let success go to his head. A good teammate. Scouts give him high grades for his makeup.
Now comes the chance to impress the Orioles on the field and stay in the majors.
Better days and nights are ahead after...
Multiple roster moves on Monday weren't intended to distract from an 18-game losing streak. They weren't designed to spare manager Brandon Hyde from the daily bombardment of questions about it. But he lasted the full seven minutes of today's media session without going into another deep dive.
The closest he came was expanding on a suggestion that the jolt of energy provided by new second baseman Jahmai Jones could benefit a team that's beaten down.
The streak doesn't care about any of it....
Jahmai Jones is the 54th player used by the Orioles this season, his return to the majors including a start tonight at second base. He's facing the organization that traded him on Feb. 2 for pitcher Alex Cobb.
The Orioles kept Jones at Triple-A Norfolk to work on his defense at second. He had to wait for the call, with no complaints.
"It really allowed me to really just focus on things down at Norfolk that I felt like I needed to work on before I came up here, and it really just allowed me to...
The Orioles will try to avoid stretching their losing streak to 19 games tonight with the Angels in town.
Kelvin Gutiérrez was recalled this afternoon from Triple-A Norfolk to fill out the 26-man roster. He joins Jahmai Jones, who received the news yesterday.
Jones is starting at second base tonight against his former team. Jorge Mateo is the shortstop and Ramón UrÃas is playing third base.
Anthony Santander is in right field. Trey Mancini is the designated hitter.
UrÃas has five...
The Orioles are waiting to exhale.
A losing streak that's reached 18 games threatens to turn their cheeks blue. They're frustrated, embarrassed and pressing. Everything that you'd expect during one of the worst periods in club history.
Would it be better if they had spent money and made moves aimed at a run at the postseason, or do the rebuild concept and its on-field sacrifices make their record more palatable?
Does it really matter?
The 2018 season began with the Orioles inserting new...
The Orioles are making changes to their infield before resuming their homestand Tuesday night.
According to a source, the team is designating Maikel Franco for assignment and optioning Richie Martin to Triple-A Norfolk.
In corresponding moves, Jahmai Jones and Kelvin Gutiérrez will be recalled from Norfolk. Jones can become the 54th player used by the Orioles this season.
Franco signed a one-year deal on March 16 that guaranteed $800,000 and included incentives and a trade bonus. He appeared...
The routine nature of a walk increases in visibility and importance when it involves the Orioles, who went through another stretch where a free pass seemed too costly.
Their batters didn't walk in the first two games of the Braves series and totaled one over four nights. Ryan Mountcastle ran the count full in the first inning yesterday and laid off 94 mph sinker out of the strike zone - dropping his bat, trotting to first base and achieving something that shouldn't be celebrated.
Austin Wynns...
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde didn't want starter John Means putting too much pressure on himself to end a 17-game streak. The majors are hard enough without creating ways for it to grow more challenging.
"I felt like he did last time a little bit in his last start," Hyde said early this afternoon. "Just want him to go out and pitch his game and hopefully he gives us a chance to win."
There's no chance if you don't score. The odds improve just a little if it's one run.
Means coasted into...
The Orioles will try to snap a 17-game losing streak this afternoon and avoid their 16th sweep of the season while closing out their series against the Braves.
DJ Stewart, who's receiving treatment for a sore knee, is in left field today. Ramón UrÃas is the third baseman and Jorge Mateo is playing second base.
Anthony Santander is in right field and batting cleanup.
John Means is making his first career start against the Braves. His ERA is a season-high 3.44 after he allowed four earned...
The Orioles don't know who's starting Wednesday night against the Angels. Their game notes this morning are likely to list the spot as TBD or TBA.
Has to be determined before it can be announced.
No matter who's inserted into the rotation, they did the right thing by shifting Jorge López to the bullpen.
Anyone watching his last start could see that he isn't right. His velocity was down and he just appeared to be flinging the ball to the plate. López insisted that he wasn't hurt,...