Quick hits before today's game

Quick hits before today's game
BRADENTON, Fla. - Kevin Gausman could be placed on the disabled list and still pitch on April 10, when the Orioles need a fifth starter. The confusion has dissipated. Gausman actually would be eligible to return the previous day. He doesn't need to miss the first 10 days of the season. Manager Buck Showalter said Gausman could pick up a ball for the first time on Friday. He's been shut down after receiving a cortisone injection in his right shoulder. Showalter left open the possibility that...

Updating Matt Wieters, more on today's game and Zach Phillips

Updating Matt Wieters, more on today's game and Zach Phillips
BRADENTON, Fla. - Catcher Matt Wieters stayed back in Sarasota this morning to catch bullpen sessions with Chris Tillman and Yovani Gallardo. He was a consideration to serve as the designated hitter here today against the Pirates. "I think tomorrow's on the table, too," Wieters said. "I think it came down to actually feeling like I can get a little bit more work in here than going and taking three at-bats. I'll get to catch Gallardo and Tillman's bullpen today and just get back behind the...

Orioles sign reliever Zach Phillips

Orioles sign reliever Zach Phillips
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have signed left-hander Zach Phillips to a major league deal and designated Chris Jones for assignment, providing an insurance policy for their bullpen. Phillips took his physical last night and was re-introduced to the media this morning in an informal interview session. This is a reunion for Phillips, who pitched for the Orioles in 2011 and 2012 after being acquired from the Rangers in July 2011. He went 0-0 with a 3.21 ERA in 16 appearances. Phillips, 29, elected...

Orioles and Pirates lineups

Orioles and Pirates lineups
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles first baseman Chris Davis is making the trip to Bradenton for today's game against the Pirates. Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard is leading off and playing center field. Caleb Joseph is serving as the designated hitter. Former Pirate Pedro Alvarez isn't in the lineup. Catcher Matt Wieters is staying back to catch Chris Tillman and Yovani Gallardo during their bullpen sessions. He considered making the trip and serving as the DH, but figured he would get more work done at the...

Wondering about the roster

Wondering about the roster
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are making their first trip to Bradenton today to play the Pirates. They return to McKechnie Field in four nights. Have they changed the bulbs in the lights? Twenty-five watts aren't enough. Miguel Gonzalez is making his fourth start. Two have been acceptable, two have been awful. He'd like to break the tie by dominating the Pirates and solidifying his place in the rotation. Chris Tillman no longer is bothered by a sore hip. Ubaldo Jimenez is the king of minor...

Wrapping up a 5-1 loss

Wrapping up a 5-1 loss
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Dylan Bundy stranded three inherited runners today and shut out the Twins in the sixth inning in his latest impressive outing for the Orioles, who lost 5-1 at Hammond Stadium. Bundy walked one and struck out one in the sixth. He's allowed one unearned run and one hit in his last four appearances covering 5 1/3 innings. "I thought Bundy pitched well again. We're really happy with where Dylan is. It's good to see," said manager Buck Showalter. "I'll tell you, the last...

Game update and Mike Wright on today's outing (O's fall 5-1)

Game update and Mike Wright on today's outing (O's fall 5-1)
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Orioles 5, Twins 1 Recap: Joe Mauer hit a wind-aided two-run homer off Mike Wright in the first. Wright was charged with three runs and five hits in four innings, with one walk, three strikeouts and a wild pitch. Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard had an RBI double in the third inning. Trevor Plouffe hit a two-run homer off Odrisamer Despaigne, who worked only two-thirds of an inning, allowed two hits and walked three batters. Dylan Bundy stranded three inherited runners after...

Showalter on whether Matusz goes on DL: "There's that possibility with him" (updated)

Showalter on whether Matusz goes on DL: "There's that possibility with him" (updated)
FORT MYERS, Fla. - The news on Matt Wieters today is good. It's somewhat encouraging on Kevin Gausman. It's pretty bad on Brian Matusz and Jimmy Paredes. As I wrote earlier, Wieters played catch from 90 feet today and his right elbow continues to improve. He also continues to take batting practice and was a consideration for the designated hitter role in Wednesday's game in Bradenton. "That's an attendance game, so I don't want to put us in any jeopardy," said manager Buck Showalter....

Notes on Gausman, Matusz, Paredes and Wieters

Notes on Gausman, Matusz, Paredes and Wieters
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter expressed confidence that Kevin Gausman will be ready on opening day after receiving a cortisone injection Sunday in his right shoulder. If Gausman isn't fully recovered from the tendinitis in his shoulder, the Orioles will place him on the disabled list and choose another starter to fill out their rotation. They need a fifth starter on April 10 due to having only one off day, which comes after the April 4 opener against the Twins at Camden...

Pitching updates and Yovani Gallardo on his Twin Lakes start

Pitching updates and Yovani Gallardo on his Twin Lakes start
FORT MYERS, Fla. - The pitchers listed behind Orioles starter Mike Wright today include Odrisamer Despaigne, Dylan Bundy, Pedro Beato, Todd Redmond, Chaz Roe, Oliver Drake, Richard Rodriguez and Stefan Crichton. Rodriguez and Crichton made the trip from minor league camp, along with infielder Garabez Rosa and outfielders Quincy Latimore, Josh Hart and Julio Borbon. Miguel Gonzalez starts for the Orioles on Wednesday against Pirates left-hander Jeff Locke in Bradenton. Tyler Wilson starts...

Kevin Gausman updates the condition of his right shoulder

Kevin Gausman updates the condition of his right shoulder
SARASOTA, Fla. - Though Kevin Gausman said his right shoulder feels much better this morning, he can't be certain that he's going to be available by opening day on April 4. Gausman received a cortisone injection on Sunday to combat the tendinitis, and he plans on playing catch Friday morning at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. However, his primary goal is to be ready by the first or second week of the regular season. The Orioles don't need a fifth starter until the sixth game of the season on...

Orioles lineup vs. Twins

Orioles lineup vs. Twins
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are bringing a decent amount of regulars to Fort Myers for today's game against the Twins, the list including Manny Machado, Adam Jones, J.J. Hardy, Mark Trumbo and Jonathan Schoop. Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard is batting leadoff and playing left field while Hyun Soo Kim plays in a minor league game at Twin Lakes Park. Nolan Reimold is serving as the designated hitter and Dariel Alvarez is in right field. For the Orioles Joey Rickard LF Manny Machado 3B Adam Jones CF...

Taking a look at a few spring performances

Taking a look at a few spring performances
SARASOTA, Fla. - Left-hander Jeff Beliveau made his spring debut yesterday at Twin Lakes Park and threw a scoreless inning against low Single-A Bowling Green. He walked one batter. Beliveau hadn't pitched since undergoing labrum surgery in April. I wondered yesterday why the Orioles hadn't brought over first baseman/outfielder Mike Carp from minor league camp. Well, I've got my answer. He's sidelined with a right rotator cuff strain. We're less than two weeks away from opening day at...

Updating Yovani Gallardo's minor league start

Updating Yovani Gallardo's minor league start
SARASOTA, Fla. - Yovani Gallardo got in his work today at the minor league complex at Twin Lakes Park. It wasn't an off-day for everyone on the team. Gallardo, facing Single-A Charlotte in the Rays organization, allowed two runs and six hits over four innings. He walked three and struck out one. The final line was provided by a club official.The media will check with Gallardo in the clubhouse Tuesday morning before heading to Fort Myers for the latest game against the Twins. Heavy rains washed...

Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have their first and only scheduled off-day, with most players allowed to sleep late, play golf or vacation with their families. I'm guessing that Disney is a popular destination. Meanwhile, Yovani Gallardo must report to Twin Lakes Park for a start in a minor league game. Jeff Beliveau will pitch in relief his first spring inning. This is a good day to reheat some leftovers. * A scout from another organization checked the Orioles transactions page and noted how...

Wrapping up an 8-8 tie

Wrapping up an 8-8 tie
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles reassigned left-hander Jeff Beliveau and outfielder Alfredo Marte to minor league camp today, leaving 43 players in major league camp, including eight non-roster invitees. Beliveau will pitch in his first game on Monday at the minor league complex. Marte was 7-for-25 with a home run and four RBIs. "Good swing," manager Buck Showalter said of Marte. "You can see he's a professional hitter. A little better defensively than I was led to believe. That's why you...

Game update and Chris Tillman talks about his outing (O's, Rays tie 8-8)

Game update and Chris Tillman talks about his outing (O's, Rays tie 8-8)
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Orioles 8, Rays 8 Recap: Pedro Alvarez's first home run as an Oriole was a grand slam to left-center field in the second inning. He added a game-tying RBI double in the sixth. Mark Trumbo hit his second home run in two games and third this spring, a two-run shot in the third inning. Logan Morrison and Evan Longoria hit back-to-back home runs off Chris Tillman in the third. Tillman allowed three runs and five hits in four innings, with one walk and five strikeouts....

Pedro Alvarez hits grand slam (updated)

Pedro Alvarez hits grand slam (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Pedro Alvarez chose an opportune time to hit his first home run with the Orioles. Alvarez also provided another reminder that he can strike quickly, no matter how he's been faring at the plate. He's always a threat. Batting with the bases full today and two outs in the second inning, Alvarez drove a Jhan Marinez pitch over the left-center field fence for a grand slam that gave the Orioles a 4-0 lead over the Rays. Logan Morrison and Evan Longoria hit back-to-back home runs...

Buck Showalter on Kevin Gausman: "I don't know if it's a big concern"

Buck Showalter on Kevin Gausman: "I don't know if it's a big concern"
SARASOTA, Fla. - Kevin Gausman is on the shelf for at least a few more days after receiving a cortisone injection this morning in his right shoulder. Manager Buck Showalter informed the media during batting practice that Gausman would miss his next start. "Gausman has had some shoulder tendinitis, just kind of working his way through and decided to take an injection today," Showalter said. "He decided to take one just to hopefully get it cleared up. He'll be down for about three days from...

Kevin Gausman receives cortisone injection for shoulder tendinitis

Kevin Gausman receives cortisone injection for shoulder tendinitis
SARASOTA, Fla. - Kevin Gausman won't make his scheduled start Monday morning at the minor league complex due to right shoulder tendinitis. Gausman has been on the medical sheet for the past week. He received a cortisone injection in the shoulder earlier today and is expected to be shut down for the next two to three days. Gausman sat at his locker with an ice pack on the shoulder. However, he talked about making his start versus the Rays' Single-A team, with a goal of throwing about 75...