masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThree Orioles minor league affiliates play season openers tonight, while Single-A Frederick is set to open Friday night at home against Salem.

Zach Clark, who was added to the Orioles’ 40-man roster over the winter, pitches tonight at Harbor Park as Triple-A Norfolk hosts Durham with Chris Archer on the mound. The Tides have lost five straight season openers.

Clark went 3-1 with an ERA of 0.36 in four home starts for the Tides in 2012 and Norfolk went 44-30 at home last year.

Norfolk used…Three Orioles minor league affiliates play season openers tonight, while Single-A Frederick is set to open Friday night at home against Salem.

Zach Clark, who was added to the Orioles’ 40-man roster over the winter, pitches tonight at Harbor Park as Triple-A Norfolk hosts Durham with Chris Archer on the mound. The Tides have lost five straight season openers.

Clark went 3-1 with an ERA of 0.36 in four home starts for the Tides in 2012 and Norfolk went 44-30 at home last year.

Norfolk used an International League-record 75 players last season. What is the over/under for 2013?

Double-A Bowie opens at Harrisburg tonight in an Orioles-Nationals matchup. The Birds’ No. 8 prospect as rated by Baseball America, pitcher Mike Wright, gets the start. In 12 Bowie starts last year, he went 5-3 with a 4.91 ERA.

Single-A Delmarva hosts Hagerstown tonight at Perdue Stadium in the Shorebirds’ opener and the start of a four-game series. Parker Bridwell gets the start as Delmarva begins its 18th season.

Tonight is also the debut of Delmarva’s Luis Pujols as a manager in the O’s organization.

The Shorebirds’ opening day roster features eight players that rank among the top 31 prospects in the Orioles farm system according to Baseball America. The eight are Branden Kline (9th), Adrian Marin (10th), Christian Walker (12th), Torsten Boss (15th), Josh Hader (19th), Bridwell (23rd), Gregory Lorenzo (29th) and Roderick Bernadina (31st).

Norfolk’s lineup for tonight:

CF – Chris Dickerson
LF – LJ Hoes
DH – Russ Canzler
3B – Danny Valencia
1B – Travis Ishikawa
RF – Conor Jackson
2B – Yamaico Navarro
SS – Jonathan Schoop
C – Luis Exposito

Bowie’s lineup:

CF – Xavier Avery
2B – Ty Kelly
RF – Lew Ford
DH – Caleb Joseph
LF – Buck Britton
1B – Aaron Baker
3B – Zelous Wheeler
C – Luis Martinez
SS – Garabez Rosa