Checking on Gausman

Checking on Gausman
I've noticed that lots of fans are clamoring for the Orioles to recall Kevin Gausman from Triple-A Norfolk just four games into the 2014 season. Actually, his name came up before the Orioles left Baltimore, but the demands for his services are louder and more pronounced. Gausman will pitch at Camden Yards this year. He may do it this month. But the Orioles aren't looking to make changes to their rotation during the first week of the season. Sorry folks, but they're not going to react that...
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Gausman starting tonight in Norfolk (O's lose 10-4)

Gausman starting tonight in Norfolk (O's lose 10-4)
The Triple-A Norfolk Tides now list Kevin Gausman as tonight's starter after the Orioles held him out of last night's game. Gausman would have flown to Detroit if today's game at Comerica Park had been postponed due to rain, forcing a doubleheader on Saturday. Manager Buck Showalter indicated that Gausman could have served as an extra reliever. The Orioles were subjected to a 34-minute rain delay in the bottom of the fourth inning. Play resumed with Miguel Gonzalez returning to the mound,...
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Lough sets table as Orioles plate two (updated)

Lough sets table as Orioles plate two (updated)
The Orioles look pretty aggressive on the bases for a team working on 17 minutes sleep. David Lough collected his first hit as an Oriole with a one-out single in the first inning. He stole second and scored on Chris Davis' double to right field. Adam Jones also came around from first base after drawing his second walk in four games. He had 25 last season, folks. Lough went 0-for-4 and popped up a bunt attempt in the second game. He only cracked the lineup once at home because the Red Sox...
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Big changes in Orioles lineup (another Hardy update)

Big changes in Orioles lineup (another Hardy update)
Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy is on the bench today for the series opener in Detroit. Matt Wieters isn't starting, but that's no surprise. Steve Clevenger figured to catch a day game following a night game and delayed departure. Jonathan Schoop makes his first start at third base, with Ryan Flaherty shifting to shortstop. Steve Lombardozzi is starting at second base. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF David Lough LF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Nelson Cruz DH Steve Clevenger C Jonathan...
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Orioles notes and Tigers lineup

Orioles notes and Tigers lineup
The Orioles begin a stretch of five consecutive day games this afternoon, their longest stretch of the season. According to Elias, it's the longest since they played five in a row from April 9-14, 1994. I hope they got more sleep before that first game. Chris Davis ranked second in the majors last season with 25 road home runs. Manny Machado was tied for second with 26 road doubles. Adam Jones led current Orioles in road batting average at .279 (95-for-341). Darren O'Day led the Orioles...
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Orioles trying not to sputter in the Motor City

Orioles trying not to sputter in the Motor City
The Orioles will play a game in Detroit today if the weather cooperates and they're able to stay awake. Having a night game at Camden Yards and a 1:08 p.m. game the following day in Detroit made no sense to me, and I didn't get the sense that manager Buck Showalter was enamored with it. I guess it couldn't be adjusted. It got a whole lot worse for the Orioles due to the delay in getting their charter to BWI, which pushed back their departure on bus from Camden Yards until 1:15 a.m. They...
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Showalter speaks after 4-3 loss

Showalter speaks after 4-3 loss
It's not getting any easier for the Orioles. They dropped two of three to the Red Sox and may not leave Camden Yards until 1 a.m. because of a flight issue, which puts their arrival in Detroit around 4 a.m. They have a 1:08 p.m. game against the Tigers. Manager Buck Showalter tried to make light of it, just as he put a positive spin on Wei-Yin Chen's performance tonight. Chen allowed four runs and 12 hits, including 11 singles, in 5 2/3 innings in the Orioles' 4-3 loss to the Red...
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Chen singled out tonight (O's lose 4-3)

Chen singled out tonight (O's lose 4-3)
Oriole left-hander Wei-Yin Chen allowed a career-high 12 hits tonight in 5 2/3 innings. Eleven of them were singles. That's not easy to do. The Orioles are down 4-2 after Jackie Bradley Jr. drove in Will Middlebrooks with an RBI single with two outs in the sixth. Middlebrooks doubled for the only extra-base hit off Chen. Chen didn't walk a batter and struck out five. He threw 98 pitches, 66 for strikes. He's going to carry a 6.35 ERA into his next start in New York. He better use two...
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Game update and a few more notes (O's down 3-2)

Game update and a few more notes (O's down 3-2)
Orioles left-hander Wei-Yin Chen got through the top of the first inning tonight without allowing a run despite singles by Jonny Gomes and David Ortiz. Dustin Pedroia lined to right field, a significant out considering that he's 11-for-20 lifetime against Chen. Mike Napoli, who was 3-for-10 with two home runs, grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. Nick Markakis singled leading off the bottom of the first, just as he did last night. Adam Jones walked with two outs, but Nelson Cruz grounded into...
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Gausman could join Orioles in Detroit

Gausman could join Orioles in Detroit
With rain in the forecast for Friday afternoon's game against the Tigers at Comerica Park, the Orioles have scratched Kevin Gausman from tonight's start with Triple-A Norfolk and may send him to Detroit. A team official confirmed that knuckleballer Eddie Gamboa will start the Tides opener at Harbor Park. Major League Baseball allows teams to bring up one player for 24 hours as part of an expanded roster for doubleheaders scheduled the day after a postponement. The Orioles and Tigers would...
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Orioles and Red Sox lineups for series finale (tarp off field)

Orioles and Red Sox lineups for series finale (tarp off field)
A light rain is falling and the tarp is on the field at Camden Yards. Jonathan Schoop will be playing second base for the Orioles tonight if we don't have a postponement. Ryan Flaherty remains at third. Nelson Cruz is back in left field. He's homered in both games. Update: The tarp is off the field and the Orioles are taking batting practice. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Chris Davis 1B Adam Jones CF Nelson Cruz LF Matt Wieters C Delmon Young DH Jonathan Schoop 2B Ryan...
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Tigers claim Belfiore

Tigers claim Belfiore
The Orioles announced today that the Tigers claimed left-hander Mike Belfiore off waivers. Belfiore was designated for assignment on Sunday as the Orioles cleared space for reliever Evan Meek and outfielder Delmon Young on their 40-man roster. They also placed reliever Edgmer Escalona on the 60-day disabled list. Belfiore, acquired from the Diamondbacks on May 12, 2012 as the player to be named in the Josh Bell trade, allowed one run and five hits in two innings with the Orioles last season...
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Leading off with Markakis

Leading off with Markakis
The Orioles faced Red Sox left-hander Jon Lester on opening day and right-hander John Lackey last night. They're scheduled to face left-hander Felix Doubront tonight in the final game of the series. The lineup will keep changing. Nelson Cruz figures to start again in left field, as he did on Monday, with Delmon Young or Steve Pearce serving as the designated hitter. Jonathan Schoop most likely will start at second base in another duplication of the opening day lineup. Nick Markakis remains...
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Showalter speaks after 6-2 loss

Showalter speaks after 6-2 loss
Ubaldo Jimenez struck out six batters in six innings tonight in his Orioles debut, but he also gave up four runs and took the loss. Jimenez is 1-1 with a 10.47 ERA lifetime against the Red Sox. "He was good. Made a couple mistakes," said manager Buck Showalter. "Wasn't going to be much of a margin for error with (John) Lackey. From the get-go, he was going to be sharp tonight. He pitches like that all year, he'll win his share of games." Jimenez was done in by poorly located fastballs...
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Jimenez done after six innings (O's lose 6-2)

Jimenez done after six innings (O's lose 6-2)
Ryan Webb has replaced Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez in the top of the seventh inning with the Red Sox leading 4-2. Jimenez allowed four runs and five hits in six innings, with three walks, six strikeouts, two home runs and a hit batter. He threw 96 pitches, 63 for strikes. Both home runs came on 0-2 pitches to David Ortiz in the third and Mike Napoli in the fifth. Jimenez grooved a fastball to Napoli down the middle of the plate. Right in the heart of it. And he knew what was coming. Napoli...
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Game, Reimold and Peguero updates (Ortiz, Cruz and Napoli homer)

Game, Reimold and Peguero updates (Ortiz, Cruz and Napoli homer)
Ubaldo Jimenez's first inning as an Orioles starter tonight included a hit, walk and two strikeouts. Jimenez got a called third strike on leadoff hitter Daniel Nava before Dustin Pedroia singled into right field and David Ortiz walked. Mike Napoli popped up and Jonny Gomes struck out looking to strand two runners. Jimenez threw 17 pitches, including 10 for strikes. Xander Bogaerts singled off Jimenez with one out in the second, but A.J. Pierzynski flied out and Will Middlebrooks struck out...
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Updating Santana, Bundy, Peguero, Markakis, Patton and more

Updating Santana, Bundy, Peguero, Markakis, Patton and more
Left-hander Johan Santana threw 30 pitches off a full mound yesterday in Saraosta, mixing in everything in his repertoire. "That's progressing well," said manager Buck Showalter. "Don't ask me exactly what's next. I haven't heard anything else. Scotty McGregor updates us every day. "It's encouraging to see that Johan is throwing all his pitches. He's pitching like he's in a five-man rotation. Pitch, work day, pitch." Assistant athletic trainer Chris Correnti, who worked with...
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Orioles and Red Sox lineups

Orioles and Red Sox lineups
Steve Lombardozzi is starting at second base tonight for the Orioles, while Ryan Flaherty remains at third. Jonathan Scoop takes a seat on the bench. David Lough is in left field and Nelson Cruz is serving as the designated hitter. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF David Lough LF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Nelson Cruz DH Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Ryan Flaherty 3B Steve Lombardozzi 2B Ubaldo Jimenez RHP For the Red Sox Daniel Nava RF Dustin Pedroia 2B David Ortiz DH Mike Napoli 1B Jonny...
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More on Matusz

More on Matusz
Red Sox slugger David Ortiz made it through the first game of the 2014 season without having to face Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz. What are the chances that he makes it two in a row? Ortiz is 1-for-20 with 12 strikeouts against Matusz. They're bound to meet again - if not tonight or this series, maybe in Boston later this month. Matusz pitched to one batter on opening day and retired A.J. Pierzynski on an 0-2 changeup to strand two runners in the eighth inning. Pierzynski bounced to the...
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Looking ahead to Jimenez's debut

Looking ahead to Jimenez's debut
With no game to obsess over today, we may as well look ahead to Ubaldo Jimenez's official debut with the Orioles on Wednesday night at Camden Yards. Jimenez made four appearances in Grapefruit League games while trying to get caught up to the other starters. He allowed nine runs and 15 hits in 15 1/3 innings, with six walks, eight strikeouts and a hit batter. He also consented to one interview with me for a feature story in the first edition of Orioles Magazine, which will be available at...
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