Andrew Stetka: Bundy and Gausman continue to progress

Andrew Stetka: Bundy and Gausman continue to progress
The Orioles are getting exactly what they need from one of their keys to a successful season. That sounds strange to say for a team that has the worst record in baseball, but if you look back about six weeks, there was one big thing everyone was pointing to as crucial to the team's success. It's the development of their two young starting pitchers, Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman. The pair has been great, there's no other way to put it really. Both have taken steps to be productive members of...
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Zach Wilt: Defense has let down Orioles this season

Zach Wilt: Defense has let down Orioles this season
It's easy to point to the Orioles' struggles on offense and in the bullpen for their 8-23 record. You don't have the American League's worst winning percentage when your bats and arms are going good. There are many stats to point to and blame for the O's place in the standings. A 25.2 strikeout percentage is one of them, it's the highest in the AL and third in baseball behind the Padres and Phillies. A 4.37 ERA for the bullpen is another, nearly half a run higher than their total a season...
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Opposite dugout: For A's, bats have produced better than arms

Opposite dugout: For A's, bats have produced better than arms
Manager: Bob Melvin (8th year) Record: 15-16 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: 2B Jed Lowrie (.346/.399/.614 qurg 8 HR, 30 RBIs), LF Khris Davis (7 HR, 23 RBIs), 3B Matt Chapman (6 HR, 15 RBIs), SS Marcus Semien (13 RBIs), RHP Trevor Cahill (1-1, 3.00 ERA), RHP Blake Treinen (5 saves, 1.2( ERA) Season series vs. Orioles: First meeting (3-4 in 2017) Pitching probables: May 4: RHP Andrew Cashner (1-4) vs. RHP Daniel Mengden (2-3), 10:05 p.m., MASN2 May 5: RHP Kevin Gausman (2-2) vs. RHP Trevor...
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Josh Michael: With O's on West Coast, check out affiliates' promotions

Josh Michael: With O's on West Coast, check out affiliates' promotions
This week, I wanted to shift gears, just like the weather finally seems to be, and focus on some fun things going on at some of the Orioles' minor league affiliates' ballparks this weekend. Three of the four O's full-season affiliates will be home this weekend, with the high Single-A Frederick Keys being the lone affiliate on the road. The Triple-A Norfolk Tides, Double-A Bowie Baysox and low Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds will all be home and there is a lot of fun to be had at their...
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Andrew Stetka: Davis' struggles don't mean contract was a mistake

Andrew Stetka: Davis' struggles don't mean contract was a mistake
Orioles manager Buck Showalter benched first baseman Chris Davis for a second straight game yesterday, giving him time to clear his head and work on some adjustments at the plate. Hitting coach Scott Coolbaugh was providing instruction this weekend for Davis, who is off to perhaps the worst start of his career. The 32-year-old is hitting just .167/.257/.256 with two home runs, 33 strikeouts and 10 walks. He's carrying around an OPS+ of 44 with 25 games under his belt. Any way you slice it, he...
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Opposite dugout: Angels flying low after quick takeoff

Opposite dugout: Angels flying low after quick takeoff
Manager: Mike Scioscia (19th season) Record: 16-12 Last 10 games: 3-7 Who to watch: CF Mike Trout (10 HR, 18 RBIs, 5 steals), 1B Albert Pujols (5 HR, 14 RBIs), SS Andrelton Simmons (15 RBIs), DH Shohei Ohtani (4 HR, .341 average), RHP Garrett Richards (3-1, 4.88 ERA), RHP Kenyan Middleton (six saves, 2.40 ERA) Season series vs. Orioles: First meeting (4-2 in 2017) Pitching probables: May 1: RHP Alex Cobb (0-3) vs. RHP Nick Tropeano (1-2), 10:07 p.m., MASN2May 2: RHP Dylan Bundy (1-3) vs. LHP...
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Opposite dugout: Tigers in middle of the pack, but still battling and still surprising

Opposite dugout: Tigers in middle of the pack, but still battling and still surprising
Manager: Ron Gardenhire (1st season) Record: 10-13 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: RF Nicholas Castellanos (.330 with 16 RBIs), 1B Miguel Cabrera (.325 with 16 RBIs), OF JaCoby Jones (.275, .345 OBP), C James McCann (10 RBIs), LHP Francisco Liriano (2-1, 3.13 ERA) Season vs. Orioles: 3-0 Pitching probables: April 27: RHP Mike Fiers (2-1) vs. RHP Chris Tillman (0-4), 7:05 p.m., MASN2April 28: LHP Francisco Liriano (2-1) vs. RHP Andrew Cashner (1-3), 7:05 p.m., MASN2April 29: LHP Daniel Norris...
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Zach Wilt: What has to happen in May for O's

Zach Wilt: What has to happen in May for O's
As a baseball fan, April is a month that I look forward to all year long. As an Orioles fan in 2018, I can't wait for this April to be over. The O's have just three more games remaining in this terrible month. They're currently 6-19, 13 1/2 games back of first place in the American League East and 8 1/2 games back of a wild card spot - it's never too early to think about the wild card. Another couple of weeks of losing baseball and the Orioles will most certainly be looking to sell at the...
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"MASN All Access" podcast: Enrolling in the School of Roch

"MASN All Access" podcast: Enrolling in the School of Roch
Attention, attention: Class is in session. Even though it's late April, Paul and I are heading back to school - the School of Roch that is - as MASNsports.com's Orioles beat writer Roch Kubatko joins us on the latest episode of the "MASN All Access" podcast. The Orioles are in a slump. Everyone knows that. They have lost three straight, are 1-9 in their last 10 games and are in last place 11 1/2 games back in the American League East. Are there any rays of sunshine in sight? Roch tries to...
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Josh Michael: Lefty Lowther continues to improve his stock

Josh Michael: Lefty Lowther continues to improve his stock
Before the season began, I was extremely excited about the starting rotation that the low Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds were going to have due to the vast amount of talent it contained. So far, that excitement has been justified and the standout of the group has been left-hander Zac Lowther. The Shorebirds have one of the top three pitching staffs in the entire South Atlantic League and Lowther has been the ace of the staff in the early going. Lowther, who turns 22 next week, was drafted by the...
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Opposite Dugout: Rays are in midst of a rebuild

Opposite Dugout: Rays are in midst of a rebuild
Manager: Kevin Cash (4th season) Record: 8-13 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: CF Mallex Smith (.344/.412/.871) 1B C.J. Cron (5 HR, 13 RBIs), OF Denard Span (17 RBIs), 2B Daniel Robertson (.318), RHP Blake Snell (3-1, 2.54 ERA) Season series vs. Orioles: First meeting (11-8 in 2017) Pitching probables: April 24: RHP Jake Faria (1-1) vs. RHP Alex Cobb (0-2), 7:05 p.m., MASNApril 25: RHP Chris Archer (1-1) vs. RHP Dylan Bundy (1-2), 7:05 p.m., MASN2April 26: RHP Blake Snell (3-1) vs. Chris...
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Andrew Stetka: Farm system leaves O's future in doubt

Andrew Stetka: Farm system leaves O's future in doubt
It's been an abysmal start to the 2018 season for the Orioles, and that could even be a massive understatement. In a year that seemed so crucial at the start with so many key cogs in the organization potentially moving on in the near future, the Birds have yet to take flight. It's something that has led many to look ahead, giving up hope of a postseason berth in 2018 before Memorial Day even hits. With organizational uncertainty, the Orioles have done few things to set themselves up for some...
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Zach Wilt: Strikeouts are sapping early Orioles offense

Zach Wilt: Strikeouts are sapping early Orioles offense
The Orioles are in a rut and are watching the losses pile up as they slide down the standings in the American League East. You can only keep telling yourself, "It's early," for so long. Here on April 20, it is still true, but the hole keeps getting deeper and deeper and digging out of it only gets more difficult as time goes on. There have been some gut-wrenching losses, like Wednesday's 6-5 defeat in Detroit, and other times the Orioles just have been outplayed by their opponents, like...
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Opposite dugout: Indians offense still trying to find its rhythm

Opposite dugout: Indians offense still trying to find its rhythm
Manager: Terry Francona (6th season) Record: 9-7 Last 10 games: 7-3 Who to watch: SS Francisco Lindor (15 hits, 7 RBIs); LF Michael Brantley (.333 with 1 HR, 6 RBIs); 3B José Ramirez (4 HR, 8 RBIs); RHP Corey Kluber (2-1, 1.52 ERA); RHP Trevor Bauer (1-1, 2.25 ERA), RHP Cody Allen (0.00 ERA, 3 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: First meeting (6-1 in 2017) Pitching probables: April 20: RHP Trevor Bauer (1-1) vs. RHP Dylan Bundy (0-2); 7:05 p.m., MASNApril 21: RHP Mike Clevinger (1-0) vs. RHP...
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"MASN All Access" podcast: Birds continue to struggle in cold weather

"MASN All Access" podcast: Birds continue to struggle in cold weather
As we continue to wait for spring to arrive, Orioles fans are waiting for the O's offense to heat up as well. What you don't have to wait any longer for is a new episode of the "MASN All Access" podcast. Paul and I discuss the possible effect the recent cold weather has had on the Orioles' bats. Did you know that out of 18 games played so far, only six have been played in temperatures of 60 degrees or warmer? And three of those six were in Houston, where cold doesn't exist and they have a...
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Josh Michael: Alex Wells succeeds by going against the grain

Josh Michael: Alex Wells succeeds by going against the grain
When it comes to pitching prospects, both before they are even drafted and after, all of the talk tends to be about how hard they throw their fastball. While I won't argue that it's nice when a guy can throw a mid-to-upper 90s fastball, I'll take a guy who gets outs, pounds the zone and makes a hitter earn his way on base. Orioles prospect Alex Wells, a left-hander, falls into that latter category, and I'm glad he's in the O's system. Wells, 21, is one of the rare International free agent...
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Opposite dugout: Sleepy bats a factor in Tigers' slow start

Opposite dugout: Sleepy bats a factor in Tigers' slow start
Manager: Ron Gardenhire (1st year) Record: 4-9 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: 1B Miguel Cabrera (.245/.309/.367, 3 doubles), 2B Dixon Machado (7 doubles, 8 RBIs), 3B Jeimer Candelario (4 doubles, 1 HR), RF Nicholas Castellanos (.302/.362/.415, 2 triples), RHP Jordan Zimmermann (0-0, 8.18 ERA), RHP Shane Greene (3.86 ERA, 2 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: First meeting (4-3 in 2017) Pitching probables: April 17: RHP Andrew Cashner (1-1) vs. LHP Francisco Liriano (1-1), 6:40 p.m., MASN2April...
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Andrew Stetka: Firing Showalter would answer only one of many O's questions

Andrew Stetka: Firing Showalter would answer only one of many O's questions
There's been lots of chatter in the last few days and weeks about the status of Orioles manager Buck Showalter. As everyone knows, Showalter is in the final year of his contract. He, executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette and a number of prominent players are all facing a walk year. But the Las Vegas sportsbook Bovada last week released its latest odds on the first major league manager to be fired, and Showalter topped the list at 3/2. He's leaped ahead of the likes of...
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Opposite dugout: It's World Series or bust for the Red Sox

Opposite dugout: It's World Series or bust for the Red Sox
Manager: Alex Cora (1st season) Record: 10-2 Last 10 games: 9-1 Who to watch: RF Mookie Betts (.370 with 2 HR, 9 RBIs); 1B Hanley Ramirez (.357 with 2 HR, 12 RBIs); LF Andrew Benintendi (.231 with 5 RBIs, 11 BB); LHP Chris Sale (1-0, 1.06 ERA); RHP Craig Kimbrel (0.00 ERA, 4 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: 1st meeting (9-10 in 2017) Pitching probables: April 13: RHP Chris Tillman (0-2) vs. LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (0-0), 7:10 p.m., MASNApril 14: RHP Alex Cobb (0-0) vs. TBD, 1:05 p.m., MASNApril...
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Zach Wilt: Cobb's arrival will benefit both offense and mound staff

Zach Wilt: Cobb's arrival will benefit both offense and mound staff
After enjoying a much-needed off-day, their first since March 30, the Orioles are headed north to square off against the first-place Red Sox for a four-game weekend series that includes the annual 11 a.m. Patriot's Day game on Monday. It feels like the Orioles always play that game. The Birds took just one of three in their quick home series against the Blue Jays. Baltimore's offense scored only two runs in the first two games of that series before finally breaking out in the finale with five...
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