Jones in Orioles lineup

Jones in Orioles lineup
The Orioles will try to avoid stretching their losing streak to 19 games tonight with the Angels in town. Kelvin Gutiérrez was recalled this afternoon from Triple-A Norfolk to fill out the 26-man roster. He joins Jahmai Jones, who received the news yesterday. Jones is starting at second base tonight against his former team. Jorge Mateo is the shortstop and Ramón Urías is playing third base. Anthony Santander is in right field. Trey Mancini is the designated hitter. Urías has five...
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Proud father Steenstra has two games to follow today

Proud father Steenstra has two games to follow today
As Triple-A Norfolk's pitching coach, Kennie Steenstra won't divide his attention this afternoon. His focus will stay on the field. He'll be locked into Tides starter Alexander Wells and anyone else who comes into the game. But the final out will send him scurrying for updates on the College World Series in Omaha, where son Logan's University of Tennessee Volunteers are playing the University of Virginia at 2 p.m. A coach can turn back into a nervous father real fast. Also a proud...
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Means on mound as Orioles try to move win streak to four games

Means on mound as Orioles try to move win streak to four games
John Means is bringing a 2.05 ERA into this afternoon's start against the Indians and he's technically in a slump. This is how good he's been since September 2020. The bar has been raised to such heights that a bump is noticeable. Means had a 1.21 ERA after following up his May 5 no-hitter with six scoreless innings against the Mets at Citi Field. He's allowed nine runs and 16 hits in his last three starts over 18 1/3 innings. Opponents have hit six home runs, giving him 11 to tie Dean...
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Jahmai Jones injury ruins call-up rumors

Jahmai Jones injury ruins call-up rumors
Pat Valaika was on the field early yesterday for infield drills and later placed in the Orioles lineup for the series opener against the Yankees at Camden Yards. Kill the rumors and speculation regarding Jahmai Jones. Jones was scratched from Triple-A Norfolk's lineup on Tuesday and replaced at second base by Mason McCoy. Stevie Wilkerson started at second the following night, Rylan Bannon Thursday and McCoy last night. Were the Orioles preparing to recall Jones rather than keep rotating...
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Orioles ride big inning to 8-4 win (updated)

Orioles ride big inning to 8-4 win (updated)
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde watched César Valdez wiggle out of a jam last night to preserve the slimmest of leads, tossed a few compliments at his closer and pointed out how it would be easier on everyone if his club didn't skimp on the runs. "It would be nice," Hyde said, "to score a couple more to give a little breathing room in the ninth for all of our pitchers." Matt Harvey stepped out of the dugout for the bottom of the third today with a six-run lead. A direct path to the mound...
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Orioles and MSA agree to lease extension for Camden Yards

Orioles and MSA agree to lease extension for Camden Yards
The Orioles and the Maryland Stadium Authority agreed earlier today to a two-year extension on the lease for Camden Yards. The MSA approved an amendment to the agreement at an ad hoc meeting of its board of directors. The extension will run through Dec. 31, 2023. The Orioles have the option of exercising a five-year extension, with a decision needed by Feb. 1, 2023. The amendment is contingent upon and subject to the approval of the Maryland Board of Public Works (BPW). Once signed by both the...
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O's hire scout Quincy Boyd, Chris Davis talks about offseason

O's hire scout Quincy Boyd, Chris Davis talks about offseason
Today's virtual Winter Meetings activity for the Orioles on its third day impacts the scouting department, the kind of behind-the-scenes move that's common during the traditional in-person gatherings. According to an industry source, the Orioles are hiring Quincy Boyd as an area scout. Boyd has served as a national scouting supervisor with the Red Sox since February 2018. He was promoted to regional crosschecker in December 2012 after working as an area scout for North Carolina and South...
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Graffanino felt connection to Orioles via Hardy prior to trade

Graffanino felt connection to Orioles via Hardy prior to trade
Before AJ Graffanino had the opportunity to join the Orioles, before he received a phone call months earlier from a former Braves employee who prepared him for the news, he began to bond with the organization as a fifth-grader taking ground balls next to a shortstop who would beat him to it by 10 years. If this sounds a little confusing, just imagine Graffanino accompanying his father, Brewers shortstop Tony Graffanino, to the ballpark in 2007. Imagine the kid on the field for pregame drills...
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Bringing opposites together in Akin and Kremer

Bringing opposites together in Akin and Kremer
No one is going to mistake Keegan Akin and Dean Kremer for carbon copies as pitchers and personalities, but they seem destined to be linked. It's hard to separate them and there's no real motivation to attempt it. Not as long as their talents and energy are so vital to the current playoff run and the future success of the organization. Two highly touted prospects making their major league debuts in 2020. Working back-to-back in the rotation last weekend. Doing it again this week, with Kremer...
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Wojciechowski the starter choice over Akin

Wojciechowski the starter choice over Akin
Nothing against Asher Wojciechowski, who's been chosen to make today's start for the Orioles to close out the series in D.C., but confirmation that he'd get the assignment stung a fan base that's itching to watch Keegan Akin's major league debut. The Orioles recalled Akin from the alternate camp site in Bowie and the jumping to conclusions looked like an Olympic event. They needed a starter with John Means away from the team. A bullpen game was an undesirable option. Akin was summoned to...
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Orioles select contracts of LeBlanc and Milone

Orioles select contracts of LeBlanc and Milone
The Orioles appear to have made a couple of important roster decisions as they approach opening day. The club announced tonight that it purchased the contracts of left-handers Wade LeBlanc and Tommy Milone, who are likely to be included on the pitching staff that breaks summer training camp. LeBlanc is in line to be the No. 3 starter after signing a minor league deal on Feb. 1. Milone could be slotted as the fourth or fifth starter or be used in a long relief/swingman role. Either way, he also...
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More thoughts on the bullpen and roster

More thoughts on the bullpen and roster
The Orioles broke camp with two Rule 5 picks in their bullpen. Nestor Cortes Jr. and Pedro Araujo are gone, the latter still in the organization but on the disabled list. The dip in experience now comes from rookies Ryan Meisinger and Paul Fry, who made their major league debuts on the same night. Miguel Castro has appeared in 110 games with three teams, but he's only 23 and striving to gain consistency and a better relationship with the strike zone. Tanner Scott has appeared in only 23 games...
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Orioles lineup doesn't include Schoop

Orioles lineup doesn't include Schoop
Slumping Jonathan Schoop is out of the Orioles' lineup for today's game against the Angels. Steve Wilkerson is starting at second base with Schoop's average down to .197. Tim Beckham is leading off. Danny Valencia remains in right field and Chris Davis is batting seventh against left-hander Tyler Skaggs. Caleb Joseph is catching. For the Orioles Tim Beckham 3B Adam Jones CF Manny Machado SS Danny Valencia RF Trey Mancini LF Mark Trumbo DH Chris Davis 1B Steve Wilkerson 2B Caleb Joseph...
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Gausman goes three, Hays makes debut in 9-1 loss to Yanks

Gausman goes three, Hays makes debut in 9-1 loss to Yanks
The Orioles lost their off-day and an important series. Forced to play this afternoon after yesterday's postponement, the Orioles fell behind by three runs in the first inning and seven in the fourth and never threatened the Yankees in a 9-1 loss before an announced crowd of 14,946 at Camden Yards. So much for Manny Machado's dramatic walk-off home run Tuesday night somehow creating momentum for the Orioles. Again, it's dependent largely on the starting pitching, and Kevin Gausman turned in...
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