Will splitter be there again tonight for Alex Cobb?

Will splitter be there again tonight for Alex Cobb?
Orioles right-hander Alex Cobb is expected to rejoin the rotation tonight, coming off the injured list for the second time this year. When he made his only start of 2019 on April 4 in the home opener, he went 5 2/3 and allowed five hits and two runs versus the New York Yankees. Cobb threw a heavy percentage of split-finger fastballs in that outing and it was a good sign. Because he did the same in the second half last year when he pitched so well. As the season wore on, his splitter got better...
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O's game blog: Andrew Cashner pitches series finale

O's game blog: Andrew Cashner pitches series finale
The Orioles will try to end their two-city road trip with a victory tonight, as they meet the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. The Rays go for the sweep after posting wins by 4-2 and 8-1 over the last two nights. The Orioles (7-12) have lost seven of nine and are 2-4 on this road trip to Boston and St. Petersburg. They've scored just three runs in this series on 10 hits against a Tampa Bay pitching staff that leads the majors in team ERA at 2.33 and in rotation ERA at 1.54. Orioles starting...
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A look at the Orioles' draft bonus pool and more

A look at the Orioles' draft bonus pool and more
The Orioles have a bonus pool of $13,821,300 with which to sign their picks in the first 10 rounds of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft in June. That according to figures published by Baseball America. The Orioles have the No. 1 pick in the draft for the second time in team history. They selected LSU right-hander Ben McDonald with the overall top pick in 1989. The slot amount available to sign the top pick is just over $8.4 million dollars. The Orioles may wind up signing that player for an...
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O's game blog: David Hess gets the ball against the Rays

O's game blog: David Hess gets the ball against the Rays
Right-hander David Hess (1-2, 3.32 ERA) gets the start tonight as the Orioles play the second game of their three-game set at Tropicana Field. The Tampa Bay Rays won 4-2 last night to improve to 13-4, while the Orioles are now 7-11 on the year, 6-5 on the road and 2-3 on the current road trip. The Rays have the best record in the majors and their plus-40 run differential also tops all teams. Tampa Bay leads the American League East by 5 1/2 games. The total division lead in the sport's other...
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Now Dylan Bundy needs to build on good starts to his starts

Now Dylan Bundy needs to build on good starts to his starts
For the second outing in a row, Orioles right-hander Dylan Bundy had a real encouraging start to his start. But once again, he could not keep it going. Two outings ago at home versus Oakland, Bundy had a shutout and no-hitter through three innings. His slider was sharp and he got five of his first nine outs on strikeouts. Last night he had a strong pitch mix to get through three without allowing a run or hit versus Tampa Bay. But against Oakland, Bundy allowed six runs and four homers over the...
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O's game blog: O's face AL East-leading Tampa Bay

O's game blog: O's face AL East-leading Tampa Bay
The Orioles (7-10) begin the second stop on their two-city road trip tonight when they play the Tampa Bay Rays (12-4) at Tropicana Field. The Orioles went 2-2 at Boston and open a three-game series tonight. The Rays are the only team in the American League East at .500 or better, with every other team at least three games under .500. Tampa Bay's division lead is 5 1/2 games over the Orioles and New York Yankees (6-9). The Rays have held a divisional lead this large in only two previous seasons...
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There were a few things to like in the Boston series

There were a few things to like in the Boston series
Yes the Red Sox have some rotation issues and some injury issues. But they won 108 games and the World Series last year while the Orioles lost 115 games. And the Orioles went 3-16 against Boston last season. So for them to split a four-game series at Fenway Park is, at the very least, surprising and not bad for this team. There were some things to like about the last four days. The rotation was solid: The Orioles' four starters in the series - David Hess, Andrew Cashner, John Means and Dan...
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O's game blog: Dan Straily pitches in Boston series finale

O's game blog: Dan Straily pitches in Boston series finale
New Orioles right-hander Dan Straily, signed by the team on April 5, has certainly struggled in his first two appearances with the team. He is 0-1 with a 19.29 ERA after allowing 10 runs over 4 2/3 innings. In his first Baltimore appearance, he gave up five runs in 1 1/3 in relief versus the Yankees. Then in a start last Wednesday versus Oakland, he allowed five runs and eight hits over 3 1/3 innings. Opponent batters have produced a slash line against him of .500/.536/1.077, going 13-for-26,...
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John Means was strong against Boston, plus farm notes

John Means was strong against Boston, plus farm notes
As the Orioles are looking for some solid starting pitching - they don't have a quality start over their last 11 games - John Means provided an encouraging outing on Sunday at Boston. Means went five innings, allowing four hits and one run with one walk and three strikeouts in Boston's 4-0 win. He took the loss and is now 1-2 but has a 1.98 ERA over five outings. In 13 2/3 innings on the season, he has walked four and fanned 13. Means threw 82 pitches Sunday, averaging 91.5 mph on his 50...
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O's game blog: John Means gets the start at Fenway Park

O's game blog: John Means gets the start at Fenway Park
Not only did Chris Davis end his hitless streak yesterday, but his hits were big ones as the Orioles beat Boston 9-5 to even the four-game series at a win each. Davis went 3-for-5 with four RBIs, producing three hits for the first time since Aug. 28 and four RBIs for the first time since July 29. Davis ended his 0-for-54 run with a two-run single in the top of the first to start his big day. The Orioles have now outscored opponents 15-5 in the first inning, making it their best inning of the...
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Lefty Zac Lowther made strong Bowie debut, plus O's notes

Lefty Zac Lowther made strong Bowie debut, plus O's notes
After a standout 2018 season that ended with him being named the Orioles' co-Minor League Pitcher of the Year, lefty Zac Lowther moved up to Double-A Bowie this year. His first start went as many of his 2018 starts did. He threw five scoreless innings on two hits with two walks and six strikeouts. Lowther is scheduled to make his second start for Bowie this afternoon. In 23 games last summer between Single-A Delmarva and Single-A Frederick, the 22-year-old Lowther went 8-4 with a 2.18 ERA and...
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O's game blog: Birds look to end four-game slide in Boston

O's game blog: Birds look to end four-game slide in Boston
After losing their road trip opener 6-4 at Boston last night, the Orioles face the Red Sox again today at Fenway Park. Both clubs are 5-9 after Friday's result. Boston has won two in a row, while the Orioles have lost four straight and eight of nine games. Right-hander Andrew Cashner (2-1, 5.28 ERA) will make his fourth start. He's thrown 15 1/3 innings allowing 19 hits and 10 runs (nine earned) with a WHIP of 1.761. In 31 starts over two seasons with the Orioles, Cashner is 6-16 with an ERA...
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Farm work: John Means made a slow yet steady rise to majors

Farm work: John Means made a slow yet steady rise to majors
When he makes his second major league start Sunday afternoon at Boston, we might be reminded that lefty John Means beat some odds to get to that mound at Fenway Park. He was not a high draft pick, selected in round 11 in 2014 out of West Virginia University. He was never a highly ranked prospect and has never been listed among the Orioles' top 30 prospects by Baseball America. Numerous times, he saw others rated more highly get more attention, but he slowly and surely kept moving his way up...
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O's game blog: Orioles road trip begins at Fenway Park

O's game blog: Orioles road trip begins at Fenway Park
Will going on the road be good for Orioles pitchers? So far in 2019, they've been much better and allowed fewer homers on the road than at home. During the season-opening 4-2 trip to Yankee Stadium and Rogers Centre, O's pitchers allowed six homers and posted an ERA of 4.33. During the just-completed 1-6 homestand they yielded 28 homers with an ERA of 8.29. Right-hander David Hess (1-1, 2.70 ERA) gets the start tonight to open a four-game series at Boston. For the year, Hess has thrown 13 1/3...
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After rough homestand, an O's road trip begins in Boston tonight

After rough homestand, an O's road trip begins in Boston tonight
The Orioles lost on opening day at Yankee Stadium. But they followed that up with a four-game win streak, matching their longest streak from all of last year. But since that run, the Orioles have now lost seven of eight games. During this 1-7 stretch, the Orioles have lost by scores of 15-3, 13-2 and 10-3. They have been outscored 69-36 in those eight games. They just completed a 1-6 homestand in which they gave up 28 homers and 64 runs. O's pitchers lead the majors in homers allowed with 37...
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The A's add five more homers to take series finale

The A's add five more homers to take series finale
In an attempt to get his 2019 season trending up, Orioles right-hander Dylan Bundy went through the Oakland A's lineup easily through three innings today. He fanned five without allowing a hit on 44 pitches. He was rolling. But it suddenly went south from there. Bundy allowed four homers over the next three innings as Oakland beat the Orioles 8-5 at Camden Yards to take three of four in this series. The Orioles have lost three straight and are 1-7 since a 4-1 start. They take a 5-8 record on...
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O's game blog: Dylan Bundy on the mound in homestand finale

O's game blog: Dylan Bundy on the mound in homestand finale
After they lost three straight to the Yankees and two of three to the Oakland Athletics in this current series, the Orioles host the A's again this afternoon. The game marks the end of this four-game series and seven-game homestand before a road trip begins in Boston Friday night. The Orioles beat Oakland 12-4 Monday, but lost the last two nights by 13-2 and 10-3 scores. During this homestand, O's pitching has allowed 23 homers and 56 runs. MLB leaders, homers allowed: 32 - Orioles23 -...
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Right-hander Josh Lucas talks about joining the Orioles

Right-hander Josh Lucas talks about joining the Orioles
After he made a favorable impression during his first spring training with the Orioles, manager Brandon Hyde told right-hander Josh Lucas he expected to see him during the regular season. And now, just 12 games into the 2019 season, that has happened. With Richard Bleier headed to the injured list and Josh Rogers optioned back to the minors after last night's game, today the Orioles added two pitchers - lefty Tanner Scott and Lucas, a 28-year-old right-hander. Lucas had his contract selected...
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Pedro Severino brings experience catching Max Scherzer to Baltimore

Pedro Severino brings experience catching Max Scherzer to Baltimore
We could not have known he would even be on the Orioles' opening day roster when spring training began. He wasn't even in the organization yet. But Pedro Severino, the O's backup catcher, joined the club when he was claimed off waivers from the Nationals on March 23. He is still settling in with his new team. Severino is 3-for-14 (.214) in four games as an Oriole. Washington signed him out of the Dominican Republic in December 2010. He was ranked among the Nats' top 16 prospects by Baseball...
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O's done in by the longball again in loss to A's

O's done in by the longball again in loss to A's
It has been a homestand where Orioles pitchers have simply given up too many homers. And it happened again tonight. Oakland homered three times in the first five innings and five times in the game to beat the Orioles 10-3 at Camden Yards. The A's (8-8) have won two of three in this series. The Orioles (5-7) are 1-5 on this homestand and have lost six of seven since their 4-1 start. O's pitchers began this game leading the majors in homers allowed with 27. They've given up 23 in the six games...
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