Machado hits grand slam, Wright talks about start (O's lose 10-9)

Machado hits grand slam, Wright talks about start (O's lose 10-9)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Manny Machado chose today to hit his first home run of the spring and he decided to clear the bases with it. Go big or go home. Machado's grand slam to left field off Cardinals right-hander Jack Flaherty with no outs in the bottom of the third inning gave the Orioles a 4-0 lead and sent a jolt through the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium. Caleb Joseph reached on an infield hit, Colby Rasmus walked, Jonathan Schoop singled and Machado sent a screaming liner into the seats. Flaherty...
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Two scoreless innings for Mike Wright

Two scoreless innings for Mike Wright
SARASOTA, Fla. - Mike Wright Jr. retired six of the seven batters he faced today, a harmless single the only smudge on his line. Tommy Pham bounced a single up the middle with one out in the first inning, but Wright retired Paul DeJong on a fly ball to right field and Jose Martinez on a bouncer to second baseman Jonathan Schoop, who ranged past the bag and threw across his body. Mark Trumbo, switched from designated hitter to first base, played the hop to record the final out. Carson Kelly...
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Lineup change, Showalter on Lee, Hays and Barlow

Lineup change, Showalter on Lee, Hays and Barlow
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have made another lineup change today, with Chris Davis switching from first base to the designated hitter role. Mark Trumbo will play first base. The order remains the same, with Davis batting fifth and Trumbo seventh. No reason given for the change, but manager Buck Showalter hinted at the possibility during batting practice. Left-hander Chris Lee's attempt to break camp with the team lasted two pitches. Lee exited yesterday's game against the Rays with an...
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Updating MRIs on Chris Lee and Austin Hays (plus more notes)

Updating MRIs on Chris Lee and Austin Hays (plus more notes)
SARASOTA, Fla. - An MRI administered this morning confirmed that Orioles left-hander Chris Lee sustained an injury to his right oblique muscle and he's expected to be sidelined at least four weeks. Lee wasn't expected to break camp with the team, but the injury totally eliminates the possibility. The MRI on Austin Hays was more favorable. Hays has some inflammation behind his right shoulder, but he could be available to hit. The Orioles will prevent him from throwing for about three days,...
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Orioles lineup vs. Cardinals

Orioles lineup vs. Cardinals
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles reliever Darren O'Day will make his spring debut in today's 1:05 p.m. game against the Cardinals at Ed Smith Stadium. Pedro Álvarez is listed among a group of reserves that also includes outfielder Jaycob Brugman, catcher Andrew Susac and infielder Éngelb Vielma. Outfielder Austin Hays is counted, too, though he was scheduled to receive an MRI today on his right shoulder/lat. Colby Rasmus is leading off and playing right field. Tim Beckham is batting...
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Araujo getting noticed in crowded Rule 5 field

Araujo getting noticed in crowded Rule 5 field
SARASOTA, Fla. - So much gets lost over the course of a game, especially when a top pitching prospect has overcome a series of injuries to make his first career Grapefruit League start and another promising hurler walks off the field after one batter with an oblique injury. Hunter Harvey and Chris Lee overshadowed right-hander Pedro Araujo yesterday, for good and bad reasons. No one is celebrating Lee's latest physical ailment, which requires an MRI this morning and likely will sideline him...
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Chris Lee's oblique injury and a 2-1 win (updated)

Chris Lee's oblique injury and a 2-1 win (updated)
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Chris Lee most likely injured his right oblique today while facing only one batter. The club will know more about the injury later and how long it could keep him off the mound. Lee appeared in only eight games with Double-A Bowie in 2016 due to an injury to his left lat muscle. He departed today after replacing starter Hunter Harvey, throwing two pitches and inducing a ground ball from Denard Span leading off the bottom of the third...
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Harvey and his 95 mph fastball go two innings (O's win 2-1)

Harvey and his 95 mph fastball go two innings (O's win 2-1)
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - The first career Grapefruit League start today for Hunter Harvey lasted two innings and featured a 95 mph fastball and glimpses of how he became the top pitching prospect in the organization. Harvey became the club's fourth starter this spring to allow one run over two innings, joining Mike Wright Jr., Nestor Cortes Jr. and Gabriel Ynoa. Harvey gave up three hits, walked one and struck out three - all of them with a heater that topped out at 95. Getting ahead of hitters...
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Notes on Gausman, Hays, Tillman, Castro and more (O's down 1-0)

Notes on Gausman, Hays, Tillman, Castro and more (O's down 1-0)
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said today that Kevin Gausman remains on schedule to start Saturday afternoon's game against the Phillies in Clearwater. Gausman's work day on Wednesday or Thursday will provide confirmation. "If he continues to have the indications he had today, he'd stay in turn," Showalter said. Gausman avoided a serious injury after yesterday's collision with the Tigers' Jeimer Candelario that left him with a cut above his left eyelid and some...
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Updating Gausman, Castro and Gentry (lineup change)

Updating Gausman, Castro and Gentry (lineup change)
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Kevin Gausman played a game of table tennis inside the Orioles clubhouse this morning and joked with teammates, nothing to indicate that he was bothered by the after effects of yesterday's collision with the Tigers' Jeimer Candelario that forced him out of the game and left him bloodied. Gausman has a cut above his left eyelid and there appears to be a little more swelling today, but it doesn't require stitches. He also managed to avoid a concussion after the training...
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Orioles lineup vs. Rays

Orioles lineup vs. Rays
SARASOTA, Fla. - Austin Hays in starting in right field today for the Orioles' game against the Rays in Port Charlotte. Hays had been used only as the designated hitter in Grapefruit League competition due to a sore lat muscle. Chance Sisco is catching again and batting fifth. Ryan Mountcastle is starting at third base. The Orioles continue to use Garabez Rosa at first base. For the Orioles Alex Presley CF Joey Rickard LF Anthony Santander DH Austin Hays RF Chance Sisco C Ryan Mountcastle 3B...
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Harvey finally gets the chance to make exhibition start

Harvey finally gets the chance to make exhibition start
SARASOTA, Fla. - As a regular presence in major league camp whether healthy, injured or recovering, Hunter Harvey would figure to own at least a couple of Grapefruit League starts. He's always been thrust into a rotation, the bullpen only serving as a place to warm up. Three relief appearances in 2015 and 2016. That's the extent of his spring training experience. The streak ends today with Harvey, no longer slow-played or stalled due to physical issues, including Tommy John surgery in July...
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Wrapping up an 8-6 loss

Wrapping up an 8-6 loss
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he didn't see the collision earlier today involving Orioles pitcher Kevin Gausman and Tigers infielder Jeimer Candelario. He heard it. Gausman avoided a trip to the hospital after passing a series of concussion tests, but the Orioles will check him closely on Tuesday after he reports to the complex. "I was watching the ball, the play," Showalter said. "It's one of your players that has a collision. Concerned about it. It's not a...
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Gausman on his "battle scar" and start (Orioles lose 8-6)

Gausman on his "battle scar" and start (Orioles lose 8-6)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Kevin Gausman never made it to a local hospital today, passing the concussion tests at the Ed Smith Stadium complex while sporting a cut above his left eyelid. He lost some blood but kept his sense of humor. Gausman expects to be back on the field in a few days after colliding with the Tigers' Jeimer Candelario while backing up home plate in the top of the second inning. Gausman stayed on the ground for several minutes and left the stadium on the back of a cart after head...
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Gausman leaves game in second after collision (O's down 6-4)

Gausman leaves game in second after collision (O's down 6-4)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Kevin Gausman's first start of the spring today ended with him sitting behind home plate with a towel pressed against his face. Gausman appeared to collide with the Tigers' Jeimer Candelario while backing up the plate on Leonys Martin's RBI single with one out in the top of the second inning. Candelario returned to the on-deck circle, flexing his leg, while head athletic trainer Brian Ebel and manager Buck Showalter checked on Gausman. As the Orioles prepared to bat in the...
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Álvarez on return: "Anything is possible, right?"

Álvarez on return: "Anything is possible, right?"
SARASOTA, Fla. - Pedro Álvarez spent the morning at the Ed Smith Stadium complex fielding ground balls at first base - alternating with Chris Davis - hitting in the cage and engaging in a four-minute interview with media near the home dugout. The scene was familiar except Álvarez arrived a month earlier than usual and he didn't take fly balls in right field. The Orioles extended their streak of signing Álvarez to three years in a row, the last two on minor league deals. He's reached...
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Gentry sidelined with hamstring injury (and other notes)

Gentry sidelined with hamstring injury (and other notes)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Veteran outfielder Craig Gentry injured his hamstring yesterday in Fort Myers and his return isn't imminent. "Could be a little issue for us for a little while, I think," said manager Buck Showalter. "We took him out yesterday. He told the trainer he kind of felt it tighten a little bit on the ball he dove for in center field, and the last time he ran the bases, same thing, so we got him out there an inning earlier. He's got some soreness today, so it might be a little...
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Álvarez signing official, upcoming pitchers, Brugman's return

Álvarez signing official, upcoming pitchers, Brugman's return
SARASOTA, Fla. - Pedro Álvarez has passed his physical and signed his minor league contract with the Orioles. Álvarez is guaranteed $1 million if he returns to the majors and can make an additional $3 million based on incentives for plate appearances. Today's signing marks the third year in a row that the Orioles have brought Álvarez to camp - the last two on minor league contracts. He batted .313/.353/.438 with one home run in 14 games after a September call-up. Hunter Harvey makes...
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Orioles lineup vs. Tigers

Orioles lineup vs. Tigers
SARASOTA, Fla. - Colby Rasmus makes his Orioles debut this afternoon, starting in right field and leading off for a 1:05 p.m. game against the Tigers at Ed Smith Stadium. Tim Beckham has moved down to eighth in the order. Chance Sisco is catching. Kevin Gausman makes his first appearance today and he's hoping to solve the slow-start issue that's hounded him the past. He owns a career 4.94 ERA and 1.473 WHIP in the first half and a 3.58 ERA and 1.243 WHIP after the break. Gausman began an...
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Orioles remain open to signing a starting pitcher

Orioles remain open to signing a starting pitcher
SARASOTA, Fla. - Agreeing to terms with slugger Pedro Álvarez on a minor league deal is the latest move made by the Orioles since they arrived at spring training. Toss him into the same sack as pitchers Andrew Cashner and Chris Tillman and outfielders Alex Presley and Colby Rasmus. Corban Joseph and Sharlon Schoop get their own container over at Twin Lakes Park. The Orioles aren't done attempting to upgrade their roster, with a source confirming yesterday that they remain in contact with...
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