Orioles lineup vs. Rays

Orioles lineup vs. Rays
SARASOTA, Fla. - Trey Mancini remains out of the Orioles lineup today as he tries to shake the flu-like symptoms that have bothered him for much of the camp. Mason Williams is playing right field for the 1:05 p.m. game against the Rays in Port Charlotte. Andrew Velazquez is the center fielder. Austin Hays, Chris Davis and José Iglesias are staying back in Sarasota. Dilson Herrera is playing first base and Pat Valaika is the shortstop. Ryan Mountcastle gets another start in left field. Chance...
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Leftovers from Elias

Leftovers from Elias
SARASOTA, Fla. - No matter what happened last night in Tampa, the Orioles were keeping their exhibition record above .500. A 5-1 win over the Yankees left them with an 8-5-2 mark heading into today's game against the Rays in Port Charlotte. Does it really matter? Absolutely not, except that winning is more enjoyable than losing, and a team going through the painful steps of a rebuild shouldn't have to apologize for feeling good. "I think it's just fun for the atmosphere," said executive...
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Orioles return Bailey and Rucker to their former organizations

Orioles return Bailey and Rucker to their former organizations
SARASOTA, Fla. - The second round of roster cuts for the Orioles this afternoon includes Rule 5 pitchers Brandon Bailey and Michael Rucker, who are being returned to their respective organizations after clearing waivers. Bailey is headed back to the Astros and Rucker to the Cubs. Top prospect Adley Rutschman was reassigned to minor league camp within a series of moves that left the camp roster at 54 players. The Orioles optioned pitcher Dean Kremer and outfielder Ryan McKenna to Triple-A...
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Phillips to start season on injured list (plus O's lineup)

Phillips to start season on injured list (plus O's lineup)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Outfielder Ryan McKenna's locker is empty today, perhaps a sign that the Orioles are making more camp cuts. Evan Phillips received a second opinion on his right elbow yesterday from Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles, and while no structural damage was found, the reliever said he's going to be shut down for the next two weeks and might not be able to pitch for a month. Phillips will have to begin the season on the injured list. Meanwhile, Renato Núñez is playing first...
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Valaika powering his way into utility role with Orioles

Valaika powering his way into utility role with Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. - One more home run and Orioles infielder Pat Valaika can match the number of times he hit the waiver wire in the offseason. Baseball is such a crazy game. Valaika began yesterday tied with Chris Davis for the lead in Grapefruit League homers with three, including his two-run shot Wednesday off Marlins pitcher Caleb Smith. He's equaled his total with the Rockies in 108 games over the past two seasons. It isn't just the longball. Valaika has seven hits in 19 at-bats and is...
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Phillips undergoes MRI on elbow (O's and Twins tie 3-3)

Phillips undergoes MRI on elbow (O's and Twins tie 3-3)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles reliever Evan Phillips underwent an MRI on his sore right elbow this week and was sent out today for a second opinion. Phillips struggled in his debut against the Rays on Feb. 23 with three runs and two walks in two-thirds of an inning. He registered a scoreless inning against the Braves three days later with a walk and strikeout. "We gave him an MRI. It showed OK. Mild," said manager Brandon Hyde. "He's seeing a second opinion and it's going on today. That's why...
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Injury updates on Milone, Iglesias and Wynns

Injury updates on Milone, Iglesias and Wynns
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles left-hander Tommy Milone played catch on flat ground yesterday and is waiting to be cleared to throw a simulated game. Milone was supposed to start Tuesday against the Nationals in West Palm, but the Orioles kept him back in Sarasota. He would have worked the equivalent of three innings at the complex. Discomfort in the trapezius/neck area is preventing Milone from pitching. His only start came on Feb. 27 against the Pirates and resulted in two scoreless innings. "We...
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Orioles lineup vs. Twins

Orioles lineup vs. Twins
SARASOTA, Fla. - Brandon Bailey no longer is starting today's game against the Twins in Sarasota, with a scheduling change putting left-hander Keegan Akin on the mound. We're told that Bailey is fine physically. The Orioles just made a switch. Hanser Alberto is starting at shortstop today. José Iglesias was scratched yesterday with cramping in his quadriceps muscle, but said he's fine and could have played this afternoon. Dilson Herrera is the second baseman. Ryan Mountcastle is in left...
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Orioles lineup vs. Marlins (updated)

Orioles lineup vs. Marlins (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Richie Martin is starting at second base today as the Orioles continue their East Coast trip with a 1:05 p.m. game against the Marlins in Jupiter. Austin Hays is leading off and playing center field - another hint, perhaps, of where he'll be slotted on opening day. José Iglesias, who had three hits yesterday against the Nationals, is batting second. Anthony Santander remains the designated hitter. Pat Valaika is playing first base while vying for a utility job. Stevie...
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Some Orioles observations halfway through spring training

Some Orioles observations halfway through spring training
SARASOTA, Fla. - Watching the Orioles play the back nine in spring training allows the observers - tanned unevenly from hours spent on the field and in outdoor media scrums - to draw their own conclusions on a few important subjects and others that might not warrant a mention. Including those that should have been obvious before the first workout. Here are a few: The Orioles are serious about evaluating Renato Núñez again at third base. They don't want to surrender to a lineup that...
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Harvey happy with debut appearance and role

Harvey happy with debut appearance and role
SARASOTA, Fla. - The first spring outing for Hunter Harvey confirmed a couple of important points. The illness that shut him down in camp didn't hurt his velocity, and high winds are murder on a mullet. Harvey tossed a scoreless seventh inning yesterday afternoon against the Rays, a one-out single unable to leave a mark. Brian O'Grady directed a ground ball into right field and Austin Wynns threw him out attempting to steal. The radar gun at Ed Smith Stadium had Harvey's fastball...
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Mancini held back from road trip

Mancini held back from road trip
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles outfielder Trey Mancini isn't making the two-day trip to the East Coast due to flu-like symptoms that he can't shake. Mancini said he's going to be fine, but advised a couple of reporters to keep their distance from him. He quipped that they didn't want the details. Manager Brandon Hyde removed Mancini after two at-bats yesterday because he "isn't feeling great." Mancini is 4-for-14 with two RBIs in five Grapefruit League games. Rather than take every position...
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Orioles lineup vs. Nationals

Orioles lineup vs. Nationals
SARASOTA, Fla. - Trey Mancini, who was removed yesterday after two at-bats because of some lingering effects from his illness, isn't in today's lineup against the Nationals in West Palm. Austin Hays also is sitting out the game, with Yusniel Diaz getting the start in center field. Diaz tripled yesterday for his first spring hit. Hanser Alberto is leading off and playing second base. Mason Williams is in right field. Anthony Santander continues to serve as the designated hitter. Ryan...
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Pitching market losing appeal for Orioles

Pitching market losing appeal for Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are on a rotation roll of late, with Asher Wojciechowski the latest starter to impress yesterday with three scoreless innings. They've got Tommy Milone throwing this morning at the Ed Smith Stadium complex and Wade LeBlanc prepping for Wednesday's start in Jupiter. John Means retired all nine batters he faced Sunday in Clearwater. Alex Cobb impressed in his simulated game and hasn't experienced any discomfort in his hip or knee. Other candidates are making their...
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Velazquez and Valaika in thick of utility competition (3-3 tie)

Velazquez and Valaika in thick of utility competition (3-3 tie)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Andrew Velazquez lined a single into right-center field this afternoon off Rays starter Charlie Morton, who handed the ball to his manager and exited one out short of completing the third inning. At the plate again in the fifth, Velazquez coaxed a walk out of former Orioles reliever Oliver Drake. He's 4-for-9 with three stolen bases this spring. Velazquez is the last Orioles player to crack the camp roster after a Feb. 19 waiver claim. He's also migrating toward the front of...
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Hyde on Cobb, Harvey, Hardy and more

Hyde on Cobb, Harvey, Hardy and more
SARASOTA, Fla. - Alex Cobb is going to wait a little longer before making another start. Cobb will pitch in a simulated game Friday while the Orioles play the Yankees in Tampa. His next start is March 11 versus the Blue Jays in Dunedin. "He threw right around 50 pitches yesterday and looked great and he felt great after," said manager Brandon Hyde. "Actually threw a little bit more than we had planned for and he felt outstanding during it and after, so we're good to go." The adjustments...
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LeBlanc finally gets chance to make second spring start

LeBlanc finally gets chance to make second spring start
SARASOTA, Fla. - The device used by Orioles pitcher Wade LeBlanc to measure his spring training is built with the most basic parts. "They haven't told me to go home yet," he said, "so it's going pretty good." Sounds pretty accurate. LeBlanc has made only one exhibition start, back in the Feb. 23 home opener. He's scheduled to take the ball again Wednesday afternoon against the Marlins in Jupiter. Part of a "pretty standard" camp for the 35-year-old lefty, who's getting lots of work on...
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Orioles lineup vs. Rays

Orioles lineup vs. Rays
SARASOTA, Fla. - Reliever Hunter Harvey is making his exhibition debut today with the Orioles hosting the Rays. Harvey is recovered from his illness and threw a simulated game to pass his final test. Pat Valaika is playing shortstop today and Andrew Velazquez is the second baseman. Martin Cervenka is the designated hitter. Chris Davis is batting third and playing first base and Renato Núñez is getting another start at third base. Chance Sisco is catching Asher Wojciechowski. Available...
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Sister's motivation moving Mason McCoy toward majors

Sister's motivation moving Mason McCoy toward majors
SARASOTA, Fla. - The pushing started at a young age. Brother and sister inspiring each other to be better in sports. In games played at the family table. Pretty much anything that determined a victor and a loser. Trash talking was optional but pretty much a constant. Verbal jousting also qualified as a sport. Bending the rules was an exercise. Breaking them, as Madison McCoy accuses Mason McCoy of doing, was a ploy that illustrated, better than anything she can cite, just how badly he wanted to...
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Five Orioles reassigned to minor league camp

Five Orioles reassigned to minor league camp
SARASOTA, Fla. - Five non-roster players have been removed from the Orioles spring training camp roster, including infield prospects Rylan Bannon and Mason McCoy and left-handers Zac Lowther and Alexander Wells. Infielder Malquin Canelo, a longshot candidate to win a utility job, also has been reassigned to minor league camp. Bannon, McCoy, Lowther and Wells never were in line to head north with the club. They'll report to Twin Lakes Park and await their assignments, which could lead to a...
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