Orioles and Rays lineups

Orioles and Rays lineups
Richie Martin is starting at shortstop again tonight and Ramón Urías is playing second base, as the Orioles begin a three-game series against the Rays at Camden Yards. Maikel Franco is the third baseman. No sign of new infielder/outfielder Jorge Mateo. Ryan Mountcastle is the first baseman again with Trey Mancini serving as designated hitter. Anthony Santander is in right field and batting sixth. Cedric Mullins has a 13-game hitting streak, batting .385 (20-for-52) with three doubles, a...
Continue reading

Prospect list, Zimmermann update, Mateo and more

Prospect list, Zimmermann update, Mateo and more
Baseball America has published its updated top 30 prospects list for the Orioles, and first-round pick Colton Cowser ranks fifth while beginning his professional career in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League. Heston Kjerstad, last year's first-rounder, hasn't appeared in a single game after being diagnosed with myocarditis, but he's sixth. This year's second-round pick, infielder Connor Norby, is 10th. A big jump was made by Double-A Bowie shortstop Joey Ortiz, who's 12th in the system...
Continue reading

Orioles claim Mateo off waivers and DFA Valaika

Orioles claim Mateo off waivers and DFA Valaika
Moving past the trade deadline didn't create slower movement on the Orioles' active and 40-man rosters. A day after retooling their bullpen, the Orioles tweaked their infield again by claiming Jorge Mateo off waivers from the Padres and announcing Pat Valaika would be designated for assignment. Mateo, 26, became available on Tuesday after the Padres designated him to make room for left-hander Matt Strahm. He's one of the fastest players in the majors but also a career .195/.235/.310 hitter...
Continue reading

Because You Asked - Heading Home

Because You Asked - Heading Home
The month of July is behind us and the ol' mailbag is swollen like a tick on a Doberman. The dog days of summer are upon us. I need to get back to answering your questions - over and over without complaint or pointing out how many of them are repetitious. It can be done with sincerity or a dash of sarcasm. It can be informative and fun. It's a floor wax, it's a dessert topping. There is no editing for length, clarity, style or brevity. It's the internet. We have room. Also, my mailbag cup...
Continue reading

Hyde on rotation, Alexander and Tyler Wells and new relievers

Hyde on rotation, Alexander and Tyler Wells and new relievers
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said left-hander Keegan Akin, who tossed three scoreless innings last night in relief, will enter the rotation in Alexander Wells' spot. The Orioles are staying with five starters and keeping them in turn. Extra rest comes with the off-days Thursday and Monday, "which is needed right now for everybody," Hyde said. The Rays are starting Ryan Yarbrough, Shane McClanahan and Michael Wacha in the weekend series at Camden Yards. The Orioles are starting John Means,...
Continue reading

Orioles promote Knight and Diplán, DFA Anderson and Leyba

Orioles promote Knight and Diplán, DFA Anderson and Leyba
The Orioles retooled their bullpen today by selecting the contracts of right-handers Dusten Knight and Marcos Diplán from Triple-A Norfolk, two more potential major league debuts. Forty-nine players have been used this season, with 12 making their debuts. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Orioles decided pitcher Shaun Anderson and infielder Domingo Leyba would be designated for assignment. Leyba was in Norfolk. Knight is wearing No. 67 and Diplán No. 78. Rule 5 pick Tyler Wells...
Continue reading

Orioles begin 2022 season at home vs. Blue Jays

Orioles begin 2022 season at home vs. Blue Jays
As long as Major League Baseball doesn't experience another work stoppage, the Orioles will be opening the 2022 season at home on Thursday, March 31 against the Blue Jays. The league released schedules for all 30 teams this afternoon. The three-game series will be followed by the first road trip, beginning April 4 in Boston and continuing in St. Petersburg, Fla. for a heavy early dose of division opponents. The first West Coast trek also is in April, with a four-game series in Oakland and a...
Continue reading

Knight and Diplán poised to make major league debuts

Knight and Diplán poised to make major league debuts
The Orioles are shaking up their bullpen and 26-man roster. A source confirmed that relievers Dusten Knight and Marcos Diplán are traveling to New York today to join the Orioles and could have their contracts selected from Triple-A Norfolk. There's only one opening on the roster after the Orioles optioned starter Alexander Wells following last night's 13-1 loss to the Yankees. Knight, known for his backflips after recording saves, has registered a 1.30 ERA and 1.084 WHIP in 25 appearances...
Continue reading

Yankees make short work of Wells and defeat O's 13-1 (updated)

Yankees make short work of Wells and defeat O's 13-1 (updated)
The home debut for Orioles rookie Alexander Wells remains on hold through five major league appearances. His acts are played on the road. Auditions that he hoped would lead to a regular gig. Off-days Thursday and Monday can jumble the rotation again, but Wells appeared to have a shot at pitching at Camden Yards against the Rays or, more likely, the Tigers before the Orioles flew to Boston next weekend. In the meantime, tonight marked his first appearance at Yankee Stadium. The audition hit a...
Continue reading

Martin: "I'm excited, obviously, to be here"

Martin: "I'm excited, obviously, to be here"
Richie Martin played five games on his injury rehab assignment and was redirected to New York. Never assuming that the Orioles wanted him back at Triple-A Norfolk. Just grateful for another chance in the majors. He's still waiting for his first start since Sept. 29, 2019 in Boston, happily settling last night for an entrance in the sixth inning as shortstop Ramón Urías' replacement. Martin had back-to-back two-hit games to conclude his Rule 5 season, including a double and home run. He...
Continue reading

Orioles and Yankees lineups (updated)

Orioles and Yankees lineups (updated)
Cedric Mullins brings an 11-game hitting streak into tonight's game against the Yankees in the Bronx. Mullins is 17-for-44 (.386) with three doubles, a triple, two home runs, four walks and four stolen bases during his streak. Last night marked his team-leading 33rd multi-hit game of the season. He's batting .318 (14-for-44) with two doubles, four home runs, five RBIs, three walks, four stolen bases and eight runs scored in 11 games against the Yankees this season. Left-hander Nestor Cortes...
Continue reading

López goes six innings, Orioles hit four homers in 7-1 win (updated)

López goes six innings, Orioles hit four homers in 7-1 win (updated)
An organization that's emphasizing drafting and developing, talent infusion and patience isn't going to find many soft spots in its major league schedule. The challenges just get more daunting for stretches, especially in the American League East. The heights from the tightrope seem to reach the clouds. The falls that much harder. The Orioles weren't the team crashing to the ground tonight. Jorge López went from rattled early to unhittable through the fifth inning, his run support...
Continue reading

Two more players gone from Orioles' 2018 deadline deals

Two more players gone from Orioles' 2018 deadline deals
Yesterday's news that the Orioles released Triple-A pitchers Cody Carroll and Evan Phillips forced the latest revisit to the trades that brought them into the organization. Reliever Dillon Tate is the last man standing in the Zack Britton deal with the Yankees in July 2018. The Orioles released left-hander Josh Rogers in June and he signed a minor league deal with the Nationals. Rogers recovered from another surgical procedure on his elbow but hasn't pitched in the majors since 2019. His...
Continue reading

Orioles activate Richie Martin from injured list

Orioles activate Richie Martin from injured list
Infielder Richie Martin is back in the majors. In a surprise move, the Orioles reinstated Martin from the 60-day injured list this afternoon and he's in New York for tonight's series opener against the Yankees. The Orioles optioned infielder Domingo Leyba to Triple-A Norfolk to make room on the active roster. They also put left-hander Ryan Hartman, claimed off waivers from the Astros, on the injured list. Hartman is going through the necessary COVID-19 protocols after joining the organization...
Continue reading

Orioles and Yankees lineups

Orioles and Yankees lineups
Cedric Mullins is back in the lineup, after a rare rest yesterday, as the Orioles begin a three-game series against the Yankees in the Bronx. Austin Hays is in left field and Anthony Santander is in right. Ryan Mountcastle is the first baseman and cleanup hitter. Pat Valaika is starting at second base. The Yankees won two of three games against the Orioles in New York in April. The teams split four games later in the month in Baltimore and the Yankees won two of three at Camden Yards in...
Continue reading

Cowser homers in professional debut (and other notes)

Cowser homers in professional debut (and other notes)
Orioles first-round draft pick Colton Cowser and second-rounder Connor Norby made their professional debuts this afternoon in the Florida Complex League. Cowser started in center field and batted third for the orange team against the Rays' Matthew Peguero. He lined a single into center field in his first at-bat, homered to right and was called out on strikes. Norby started at second base and batted second. He grounded out 3-1 and struck out twice. The Orioles made Cowser the fifth-overall...
Continue reading

More changes for Orioles as new series begins

More changes for Orioles as new series begins
The Orioles are in New York for the next three nights, with their roster again reset, a role changed and one confirmed. Keegan Akin isn't a starter and has been assigned to the bullpen as a second left-hander after Tanner Scott was placed on the 10-day injured list with a sprained left knee. He can provide more length than Scott, but also might be needed just to get three outs in a matchup-type role late in games. Akin tried to play the part of Scott yesterday, at least in terms of usage, by...
Continue reading

Watkins retires 14 straight, but Orioles lose 6-2 (updated)

Watkins retires 14 straight, but Orioles lose 6-2 (updated)
A fastball from Spenser Watkins in the first inning this afternoon caught the top of the strike zone or just missed it, depending on the perspective from the mound and behind home plate. Watkins wanted the call, which would have closed out the inning without a runner reaching base. Umpire Marvin Hudson didn't give it to him. Hudson had the final word. The ensuing walk led to another, followed by the only two hits off Watkins through the fifth. The Tigers finally broke through again in the...
Continue reading

Scott placed on injured list (and other notes)

Scott placed on injured list (and other notes)
The Orioles are placing reliever Tanner Scott on the 10-day injured list with a sprained left knee. Pitcher Keegan Akin is taking his place on the active roster and in the bullpen. Akin is reinstated today from the COVID-19 injured list. Pitcher Thomas Eshelman has been designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster. Scott is 4-4 with a 3.95 ERA and 1.488 WHIP in 48 games. He's averaging 6.8 walks and 13 strikeouts per nine innings. The injury came as Scott remained in the...
Continue reading

Orioles and Tigers lineups

Orioles and Tigers lineups
Austin Hays is leading off today and playing left field and Ryan McKenna is in center as the Orioles close out their series in Detroit and attempt to win three of four games. Maikel Franco moves up to fifth in the lineup. Pat Valaika is playing shortstop. Austin Wynns is behind the plate. Cedric Mullins and Ramón Urías get a breather. Ryan Mountcastle is the designated hitter today. He has 10 hits and seven RBIs in his last 10 games. Spenser Watkins is making his fifth major league start...
Continue reading