Showalter pregame on O'Day and the challenge of the Texas trip

Showalter pregame on O'Day and the challenge of the Texas trip
Orioles reliever Darren O'Day, on the disabled list since June 3 with a right hamstring strain, did some throwing on the field today at Camden Yards, but not yet on a mound. Manger Buck Showalter was asked if he has a timetable yet for O'Day's return. "We can see one developing," Showalter said. "You know he has played catch and thrown but today was the first day where he simulated his delivery on flat ground and felt good. That is a good sign. So hopefully we are headed that way, but...
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Brach on Britton: "I knew a double play was coming" (plus 101-year-old fan's first pitch)

Brach on Britton: "I knew a double play was coming" (plus 101-year-old fan's first pitch)
About the time O's closer Zach Britton allowed a single and back-to-back walks to load the bases in the ninth inning yesterday, Brad Brach thought, 'What, me worry?' Brach has seen Britton pitch too well too many times to think this one would get away from one of the best closers in baseball. Seconds later, Brach was on the field shaking hands after Britton got Josh Donaldson to bounce into a game-ending double play and the Orioles had a much-needed 4-2 win over Toronto. "I knew a double...
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Machado on dropping appeal of suspension (plus Gallardo quotes)

Machado on dropping appeal of suspension (plus Gallardo quotes)
Orioles manager Buck Showalter announced after today's game that Manny Machado will drop his appeal of a four-game suspension and begin serving the ban tomorrow when the Orioles host Toronto. Minutes later in the O's clubhouse, Machado said he made the decision in consultation with team management. "First off, just trying to get this past us," Machado said. "It has been lingering for a while now. Me, Buck and Dan (Duquette), we all sat down and came up with a situation. Try to see what was...
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Yovani Gallardo allows two runs over five innings, O's beat Jays

Yovani Gallardo allows two runs over five innings, O's beat Jays
Since the Toronto Blue Jays had scored 34 runs in their last three games against Orioles pitching, a starter holding them to two runs over five innings today was a step forward. Right-hander Yovani Gallardo returned to the O's rotation this afternoon for the first time since April 22 and held Toronto in check as the Orioles posted a 4-2 win to even the series at a victory each. The Orioles improved to 39-28, winning for the 11th time in their last 17 games. After being outscored 12-2 in the...
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O's game blog: Yovani Gallardo faces Toronto, plus some farm notes

O's game blog: Yovani Gallardo faces Toronto, plus some farm notes
The Orioles host the surging Toronto Blue Jays today in the second game of this three-game series. Since beating Toronto 6-5 on June 9 at Rogers Centre, the Orioles have lost four in a row to the Blue Jays. O's pitching has allowed 38 runs in those four games, with 34 runs coming in the last three games against the Blue Jays. Toronto has put together some amazing offensive numbers lately. During their four-game win streak, the Blue Jays have outscored their opponents 44-10 and outhomered them...
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Notes on O's pitching, Yovani Gallardo and Michael Saunders

Notes on O's pitching, Yovani Gallardo and Michael Saunders
Captain Obvious said the Orioles need to start giving up fewer runs against the Toronto Blue Jays. They have allowed 10, 11 and 13 runs in their last three games against the Blue Jays. They actually almost won one of those games, losing 10-9 last Sunday at Rogers Centre. But the O's are 3-5 this year against the Blue Jays and they've allowed 52 runs in those games. Over those last three games, the Orioles have allowed 34 runs, 40 hits and 10 homers against Toronto. There has to be a concern...
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Mike Wright on his poor outing, J.J. Hardy on returning to the Orioles (updated)

Mike Wright on his poor outing, J.J. Hardy on returning to the Orioles (updated)
It was a little over a year ago when Orioles right-hander Mike Wright pitched 14 1/3 scoreless innings over his first two big league starts. But his current struggles reached another low point tonight. He gave up a career-worst eight runs and six hits, including three homers, over just 3 2/3 innings. The team that has tormented him before did it again, as he took the loss in the Orioles' 13-3 defeat against Toronto. His last two starts have come against this team and Wright has allowed 12 runs...
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Michael Saunders homers three times as Blue Jays rout Orioles

Michael Saunders homers three times as Blue Jays rout Orioles
When the Orioles last saw the them - last weekend at Rogers Centre - the Toronto Blue Jays scored 11 runs Saturday and 10 runs on Sunday. The Blue Jays' pounding of O's pitching continued tonight at Camden Yards. Toronto scored seven runs in the fourth to open an 11-2 lead and went on to win 13-3 in the series opener. Toronto left fielder Michael Saunders has feasted on O's pitching this year. Tonight, he hit three-run homers in the first and fourth innings, and added a two-run homer in the...
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O's game blog: First-round pick Cody Sedlock signs, plus tonight's matchup

O's game blog: First-round pick Cody Sedlock signs, plus tonight's matchup
Orioles first-round draft pick Cody Sedlock said today that when he was 5, he wrote down on paper that he wanted to be a pro ballplayer. Today, that dream has been realized for him. The right-hander out of the University of Illinois today signed his first pro contract for a slot bonus of $2,097,200. Taken 27th overall in the First-Year Player Draft, Sedlock is expected to report to Sarasota, Fla., for an orientation and then join the short season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds. It is possible he...
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Chris Davis partners with Casey Cares Foundation, talks about Toronto series

Chris Davis partners with Casey Cares Foundation, talks about Toronto series
Orioles first baseman Chris Davis will serve as race ambassador for the seventh annual Casey Cares 5K Run/Walk at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Saturday, Aug. 6, as the Orioles and OriolesREACH once again partner with the Casey Cares Foundation to host the race. All proceeds will benefit the Casey Cares Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides personalized, uplifting and ongoing programs with a special touch to critically ill children and their family members throughout the mid-Atlantic...
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Are the Toronto Blue Jays now biggest threat to O's in AL East?

Are the Toronto Blue Jays now biggest threat to O's in AL East?
As the Orioles head home coming off a big series win in Boston, they will be greeted by another big series with the hard-charging Toronto Blue Jays. The American League East is now a three-team race, with the Orioles (38-27) leading the Red Sox (37-28) by one game and the Jays (38-31) by two games. The Blue Jays match the Orioles in the win column, but are four back in the loss column. For all the talk about how good Boston's offense is and how its young players have come on, and they have,...
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Tyler Wilson pitches eight scoreless as O's take series in Boston

Tyler Wilson pitches eight scoreless as O's take series in Boston
Right-hander Tyler Wilson pitched a huge game at Fenway Park for the Orioles tonight, leading the Birds past the Red Sox 5-1 and back alone in first place in the American League East. Why was this start so big? * O's starters had an ERA of 7.57 in the first six games of this road trip. O's starters had pitched just 10 1/3 innings the past three games. * The Orioles won the series at Fenway Park. * The O's end with a respectable 3-4 road trip to Toronto and Boston, rather than going 2-5. *...
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O's game blog: Tyler Wilson and Eduardo Rodriguez were teammates on O's farm

O's game blog: Tyler Wilson and Eduardo Rodriguez were teammates on O's farm
Coming up through the Orioles' farm system, right-hander Tyler Wilson and left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez were teammates at four different O's affiliates and often pitched in the same rotations. Tonight, they face each other at Fenway Park for the Orioles and Red Sox, respectively, with first place on the line. Wilson (2-5, 4.73 ERA) is making his 10th start of the season and Rodriguez (1-1, 6.06 ERA) his fourth. The two teams are 37-27 after exchanging wins the last two nights, with the Red...
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Scott Coolbaugh talks about Machado (plus O's-Boston notes)

Scott Coolbaugh talks about Machado (plus O's-Boston notes)
If you thought Orioles infielder Manny Machado had a great year in 2015 - and he certainly did - take a look at his 2016 stats and see where they might him lead him by the end of this year. In 2015, Machado hit .286/.359/.502 with 30 doubles, a triple, 35 homers, 86 RBIs and an OPS of .861. It was a tremendous season. But his numbers are better this year across the board and his power numbers, projected out through 162 games, will blow by what he recorded last year. He is batting .302/.369/.597...
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Kevin Gausman allows six runs as O's fall at Boston

Kevin Gausman allows six runs as O's fall at Boston
Orioles right-hander Kevin Gausman has had a solid year, but he had a bad night in Boston. Gausman allowed six runs and seven hits in three innings tonight as the Orioles lost 6-4 at Fenway Park. It was his shortest outing of the season and the most runs he's given up in 11 starts this year. The O's and Red Sox have split the first two games of the series and once again have identical records. They are 37-27 and tied for the American League East lead. Boston took an early 1-0 on Travis...
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O's game blog: Kevin Gausman looks for first win as O's face Boston

O's game blog: Kevin Gausman looks for first win as O's face Boston
Now leading the American League East by one game over Boston and three games over Toronto, the Orioles play the Red Sox in the second game of their three-game series tonight at Fenway Park. The Orioles are 51-32 (.614) against Boston since the 2012 season and they are 26-16 (.619) at Fenway Park in that stretch. They are 5-3 this year in the season series after last night's 3-2 win. The Orioles lead the majors in home runs after hitting two more last night: 101 - Orioles 95 - Seattle 93 -...
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A look at the Orioles' Dominican Summer League rosters

A look at the Orioles' Dominican Summer League rosters
Here is a look at the Orioles rosters for their two teams that play in the Dominican Summer League. The 2016 DSL season began June 4th and runs thru August 27th. The Orioles rosters include players from the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Aruba, Curacao, Panama and Guatemala. The DSL - 1 team is managed by Elvis Morel and plays in the Baseball City Division. That club is 4-5. The DSL - 2 team is managed by Nelson Norman and plays in the South Division. That club is 3-6 so far. DSL - 1 Jose...
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A look at Chris Tillman's strong 2016 season and other O's notes

A look at Chris Tillman's strong 2016 season and other O's notes
After losing the last three games in Toronto and giving up 21 runs the previous two games, the Orioles were looking for a well-pitched game last night. Enter Chris Tillman. Remember when we were discussing the strong possibility this winter that he could have a bounce-back season based on his track record? He's having it. Comparing two top AL pitchers:* Chris Tillman is 9-1 with a 2.87 ERA and 8.7 strikeouts/9 innings.* Chris Sale is 10-2 with a 2.87 ERA and 8.5 strikeouts/9 innings. The...
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J.J. Hardy talks about his first rehab game at Bowie

J.J. Hardy talks about his first rehab game at Bowie
BOWIE - J.J. Hardy's first minor league rehab game was a success for the Orioles shortstop. He played six innings tonight for Double-A Bowie, went 2-for-3 with a pair of singles and handled the one ball hit to him fine on a routine groudout in the top of the first. This was Hardy's first game since May 1 with the Orioles. Hardy has been out with a fractured bone in his left foot. He has been rehabbing the injury at the Orioles' spring training complex in Sarasota, Fla. He came north to play...
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J.J. Hardy updates his injury as he begins minor league rehab stint (updated)

J.J. Hardy updates his injury as he begins minor league rehab stint (updated)
BOWIE - Orioles shortstop J.J Hardy moves one step closer to rejoining the team soon, potentially as early as Friday, as he begins a minor league rehab assignment tonight with the Double-A Bowie Baysox. He is batting second and playing at shortstop. He said he expects to get at least three at-bats tonight against the Portland Sea Dogs, in his first game since May 1 with the Orioles. Hardy has been out with a fractured bone in his left foot. He has been rehabbing the injury at the Orioles'...
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