Orioles lineup vs. Yankees

Orioles lineup vs. Yankees
Hanser Alberto is on a roll and facing the Yankees, who are starting left-hander CC Sabathia. There's no way he was going to sit out tonight's game. Alberto, who's starting at third base and leading off, is 8-for-15 in his last four games and 12-for-25 against the Yankees this season. He's slashing .442/.442/.628 against southpaws, with 19 hits in 43 at-bats. Joey Rickard is in left field to provide another right-handed bat. Pedro Severino is catching and batting fifth. Chris Davis is at...
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Orioles acquire Broxton and DFA Ramirez

Orioles acquire Broxton and DFA Ramirez
The Orioles have a new outfielder and a decision to make regarding how to fit him on the 25-man roster. Keon Broxton has been acquired from the Mets in exchange for international signing bonus slots. He isn't reporting today, which delays the corresponding roster move. Does the club remove a position player or go with a four-man bench and send down a pitcher? Does his arrival affect Joey Rickard, a backup at all three outfield spots and valuable to the Orioles because he can play...
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Orioles running short on starter replacements

Orioles running short on starter replacements
The latest failed start from Orioles right-hander David Hess last night raised more questions about his stay in the rotation. As in, how much longer? It's the same with Dan Straily, who's carrying an 8.51 ERA and 1.891 WHIP into tonight's start against the Yankees. And therein lies the problem. The Orioles don't have an abundance of choices and Hess isn't riding alone on the struggle bus. The bullpen doesn't offer a worthy candidate short of going back to an opener. Gabriel Ynoa made...
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Orioles reach 100 home runs surrendered in 11-4 loss (updated)

Orioles reach 100 home runs surrendered in 11-4 loss (updated)
The Orioles waited for it. The bounce back that has come within a day or two. The displays of resiliency and pride and the short memories that allow them to march forward after an ugly loss. They did it after a 15-3 thrashing by the Yankees, defeating the Athletics 12-4 in the next game. David Price and two relievers shut them out in Boston and they gain a series split with an 8-1 win. They lose 12-2 to the White Sox and win the next two. The Rays' Tyler Glasnow shoves, bringing another...
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Notes on Wilkerson, last night's loss and pitchers' BP (O's down 11-4)

Notes on Wilkerson, last night's loss and pitchers' BP (O's down 11-4)
Stevie Wilkerson hasn't batted in the leadoff spot in the majors until tonight. However, he isn't a novice. Wilkerson has been perched atop the order at Clemson University and in the minors. "I've hit almost everywhere one through nine at some point in my career," he said. "I do have some experience hitting leadoff." It won't change his approach - a question that's always asked when someone rises to the top. "Not really," he said. "A lot of it is still dictated by the situation in...
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Orioles lineup vs. Yankees

Orioles lineup vs. Yankees
The Orioles are switching leadoff hitters again tonight, with Stevie Wilkerson getting the call for the first time. Rio Ruiz is batting cleanup and Hanser Alberto has moved down to eighth after collecting a career-high four hits last night while atop the order. Jonathan Villar is playing shortstop and batting fifth. Chris Davis returns to first base after sitting out last night's 10-7 loss. Austin Wynns is catching. Alberto is 10-for-22 (.455) in seven games against the Yankees this season and...
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The bullpen, Alberto at leadoff and Mountcastle at first base

The bullpen, Alberto at leadoff and Mountcastle at first base
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde can envision how he'd like to line up his bullpen, though some of the names could change. How he'd want an innings-eater or two in long relief, a couple of left-handers and sturdy bridges to closer Mychal Givens, who in an ideal setting would be saved for the last inning. The games and certain individuals won't allow it to come to fruition. Gabriel Ynoa allowed one run in his first 11 1/3 innings after the Orioles selected his contract, I wrote about him and now...
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Orioles mishandle late lead and lose 10-7 (with quotes)

Orioles mishandle late lead and lose 10-7 (with quotes)
The fundamentals that Orioles manager Brandon Hyde demands of his team, no matter how far away it sits from contention, disappeared tonight along with a late-inning lead. And the outcome was predictable. The Yankees scored four runs in the ninth while taking advantage of poor throws and a missed pop up and produced a 10-7 win over the Orioles before an announced crowd of 16,457 at Camden Yards. Mychal Givens couldn't get the four-out save. The Orioles couldn't rescue him while falling to...
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Notes on Lucas, Karns, Trumbo, Villar and more (O's up 7-6)

Notes on Lucas, Karns, Trumbo, Villar and more (O's up 7-6)
The Orioles needed a fresh bullpen arm tonight to begin a four-game series against the Yankees and they brought Josh Lucas to the majors for the second time this season. His contract has been selected again from Triple-A Norfolk and he's available to pitch in relief. Lucas has made only four appearances with the Tides since the Orioles designated him for assignment on April 22. "Just trying to be more repeatable, just get my mechanics right," he said. "Tinkered with a couple things here and...
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Orioles select Lucas' contract (plus O's lineup and notes)

Orioles select Lucas' contract (plus O's lineup and notes)
The Orioles have replaced Yefry Ramirez with Josh Lucas in their latest attempt to find a fresh and productive bullpen arm. Lucas had his contract selected this afternoon from Triple-A Norfolk, with pitcher Nate Karns moving to the 60-day injured list to free up room on the 40-man roster. Lucas made three appearances with the Orioles before they designated him for assignment and outrighted him. He allowed two earned runs (three total) and four hits in 4 1/3 innings before coming off the 40-man...
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Orioles return home needing improved play and roster replacement

Orioles return home needing improved play and roster replacement
The Orioles concluded a road trip yesterday that didn't cooperate in any fashion. The weather worked against them. The opponents worked against them. Pitching, hitting and defense broke down at various stages, leading to five losses in the six games and a 15-31 record heading into a four-game series against the Yankees that begins tonight at Camden Yards. The Yankees swept a doubleheader Wednesday that followed back-to-back postponements due to unplayable field conditions and the threat of...
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Orioles lineup vs. Indians

Orioles lineup vs. Indians
The Orioles close out their four-game series today against the Indians, and their road trip, with Hanser Alberto at second base and Jonathan Villar playing shortstop. Renato Núñez is the designated hitter while Trey Mancini goes back to right field. Stevie Wilkerson continues to play center field and bat fifth. Austin Wynns is catching Yefry Ramirez. Indians right-hander Shane Bieber is 2-2 with a 3.81 ERA and 1.087 WHIP in nine games (eight starts) covering 49 2/3 innings. He's...
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Ramirez chosen to make today's start

Ramirez chosen to make today's start
The Orioles flirted with the idea of switching to a six-man rotation earlier in the year and now they're doing it - for one game. The doubleheader in New York forced manager Brandon Hyde to find another starter today in Cleveland instead of using someone on short rest and he's chosen right-hander Yefry Ramirez. The alternative would have been an opener or recalling a starter from the minors, with left-hander Josh Rogers one of the possibilities. Gabriel Ynoa threw 54 pitches in relief...
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Orioles lineup vs. Indians (updated)

Orioles lineup vs. Indians (updated)
Joey Rickard is in right field today and Trey Mancini is the designated hitter as the Orioles try to build on last night's 5-1 win over the Indians. Chris Davis continues to bat cleanup, with Stevie Wilkerson behind him. Richie Martin is the shortstop and Pedro Severino is catching. John Means is making his seventh start and 11th appearance. He's 5-3 with a 2.33 ERA and 1.034 WHIP in 38 2/3 innings. Left-handers are 3-for-28 with 12 strikeouts against Means, who's allowed one earned run in...
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Hays happy with health

Hays happy with health
Austin Hays indulged a reporter yesterday by taking inventory of his health. "I feel really good," he said, having unfortunately grown accustomed to the initial line of questioning. "My legs feel good, my thumb feels good, my ankle still feels good, like it did during spring training. So my body's healthy and I'm moving in the right direction." This is the most important aspect of Hays' professional life. Not the one hit in 18 at-bats through four games of his injury rehab assignment at...
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Orioles lineup vs. Indians

Orioles lineup vs. Indians
Richie Martin is playing shortstop tonight and Chris Davis is batting cleanup again as the Orioles continue their series in Cleveland. Austin Wynns is catching right-hander Dylan Bundy. Indians right-hander Jefry Rodriguez is 1-2 with a 2.92 ERA and 1.176 WHIP in four starts over 24 2/3 innings. He's surrendered only two home runs. Rodriguez's last three starts have been quality by definition and he came within one-third of an inning in his season debut. His first major league start came...
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Bundy's start tonight, Trumbo's first game and more on the draft

Bundy's start tonight, Trumbo's first game and more on the draft
Dylan Bundy was supposed to open the four-game series in Cleveland last night until two days of rain in New York necessitated an adjustment of the Orioles' pitching plans. Dan Straily took the mound last night after missing the Yankees and allowed four runs and six hits in 3 1/3 innings. Bundy goes tonight, knowing that the radar readings at Progressive Field will garner most of the attention. Manager Brandon Hyde removed Bundy from his last start after only 80 pitches, the right-hander losing...
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Orioles and Indians lineups

Orioles and Indians lineups
Chris Davis is batting in the cleanup spot again tonight as the Orioles start their four-game series in Cleveland. Jonathan Villar is playing shortstop, with Richie Martin again moving to the bench. Martin has been sitting frequently against right-handers and the Indians are starting four of them in the series. Pedro Severino is catching. Dan Straily gets another chance to reverse a tough start with the Orioles. He's appeared in seven games and posted an 8.23 ERA and 1.829 WHIP over 27 1/3...
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Orioles activate Bleier from injured list

Orioles activate Bleier from injured list
The Orioles have made a significant adjustment to reliever Richard Bleier's pitching schedule. He won't report to Triple-A Norfolk as planned. He won't stay in the minors. Bleier was removed from his injury rehab assignment at Single-A Frederick this afternoon and activated from the 10-day injured list, giving the bullpen a second left-hander along with Paul Fry as the Orioles begin a four-game series tonight in Cleveland. The corresponding roster move again involves reliever Jimmy...
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Wondering about Rogers, Castro's improvement and more

Wondering about Rogers, Castro's improvement and more
NEW YORK - The Orioles had become roster move slackers after lots of early activity, but they're trying to pick up the pace again. They optioned reliever Evan Phillips on Saturday, recalled him yesterday as the 26th man for the doubleheader, returned him to Triple-A Norfolk after Game 2 and were prepared to recall left-hander Josh Rogers. Rogers was on standby for a flight to Cleveland, where the Orioles begin a four-game series tonight. The Tides are in Toledo, making for a short trip. But it...
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