Not much news coming out of today's pregame media session with Orioles manager Buck Showalter.
If you've been following along, you know that left-hander Wesley Wright's injury rehab assignment at Triple-A Norfolk ends later today. He could re-join the Orioles or extend the assignment for a second time.
Wright followed up his most impressive outing with a dud last night, allowing four runs and five hits, walking two and hitting a Charlotte batter in 1 2/3 innings. He's 0-2 with a 7.71 ERA in...
Chris Davis stopped inside manager Buck Showalter's office this morning, said he felt fine and is included in today's final lineup before the All-Star break.
Davis was a late scratch yesterday with the stomach flu, but he's batting cleanup today and starting in right field.
The Orioles' average with runners in scoring position is down to .290, though they still rank third in the majors.
The Orioles are 19-13 in day games this season and 17-12 in the last game of a series.
For the Orioles...
If the Orioles want to avoid being a .500 team at the All-Star break, all they need to do this afternoon is win a game that's started by the Nationals' Max Scherzer.
What's the big deal?
The Orioles couldn't avoid Scherzer, who's posted a 2.12 ERA and 0.803 WHIP in 17 starts and 123 1/3 innings. He's thrown a no-hitter, he's thrown a one-hitter, he's been covered in enough chocolate syrup to be mistaken for a 215 pound sundae.
Scherzer has allowed two earned runs or fewer in 13 of his...
The Orioles are only one game above .500 again and still unable to solve the riddle of why they can't get a big hit with runners in scoring position.
They'd settle for a small one.
The Orioles went 0-for-8 with RISP tonight in a 7-4 loss to the Nationals before 44,495 at Camden Yards. They had runners on first and second with one out in the ninth, but Chris Parmelee flied out and Adam Jones popped up.
The most recent failings made the Orioles 0-for-15 with RISP in this series, 1-for-35 in the...
The Nationals are sending Max Scherzer to the mound on Sunday as expected for the series finale at Camden Yards. His start became official earlier today, eliminating him from pitching in Tuesday night's All-Star Game.
Scherzer threw a bullpen session yesterday in preparation for the start.
Cora Purcell, a 104-year-old Orioles fan from Frederick, threw out the ceremonial first pitch. She received a loud ovation, the ball and a spring training invite.
Manager Buck Showalter walked out of the...
Chris Davis has been scratched from tonight's lineup due to gastroenteritis, or the stomach flu, and replaced in right field by Steve Pearce.
Davis had played every game since his suspension ended after opening day. He's batting .238/.322/.475 with 15 doubles, 19 home runs and 52 RBIs in 85 games, with 108 strikeouts in 303 at-bats.
Davis is 3-for-6 with a home run against Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann. Pearce is 3-for-7 with a home run.
Here's the new Orioles lineup:
Manny Machado 3B...
Orioles manager Buck Showalter announced his starters for the first four games following the All-Star break.
Ubaldo Jimenez, Chris Tillman and Miguel Gonzalez will start against the Tigers at Comerica Park. The Orioles are off on July 20, and left-hander Wei-Yin Chen will start the following night against the Yankees in The Bronx.
Showalter didn't reveal his starter for July 22, but Kevin Gausman would be working on normal rest if recalled from Triple-A Norfolk. He's expected to face the...
Caleb Joseph is behind the plate tonight for the Orioles as they attempt to string together two consecutive wins and assure themselves of finishing above .500 at the All-Star break.
Manager Buck Showalter said last night that Matt Wieters wouldn't catch on consecutive days until the second half.
Ryan Flaherty is starting at second base after Jonathan Schoop's walk-off home run last night.
Chris Parmelee is playing first base and Travis Snider is in left field.
The Orioles won last night...
With last night's walk-off win, the Orioles can do no worse than .500 entering the All-Star break. Two games above with two more to play.
Miguel Gonzalez is responsible for the only Orioles' win on their last road trip, holding the White Sox to one run over six innings in a 9-1 victory at U.S. Cellular Field. He's 2-2 with a 3.29 ERA in six career interleague starts, but he's never faced the Nationals.
Only two Nationals have faced Gonzalez. Yunel Escobar is 4-for-19 and Jose Lobaton is...
The Orioles are 19-2 when Jonathan Schoop hits a home run in his career. Why not have him do it more often and run away with the division?
It's a simple game. Why make it more complicated?
Schoop belted his first walk-off home run tonight, a solo shot off Tanner Roark with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, to give the Orioles a 3-2 win before 46,289 at Camden Yards, their largest crowd of the season.
The Orioles went 1-5 on the road trip. They lost eight of their last 10 games. They...
Orioles third baseman Manny Machado is batting leadoff tonight in his 64th game this season. It no longer seems unusual.
Machado is hitting .311/.369/.554 with 14 doubles, a triple, 15 home runs, 36 RBIs and 43 runs scored while positioned atop the order. Should manager Buck Showalter consider moving him down while his club struggles to score runs?
"Would you move him?" Showalter asked a reporter. "I'm going to ask you first. Who would lead off if we took him out of there? I actually...
Orioles manager Buck Showalter said his rotation is set through July 29, though it's always subject to change if something unexpected arises. He said there have been a few tweaks regarding the order.
Showalter said no other starters will be optioned during the All-Star break.
Kevin Gausman will make two starts with Triple-A Norfolk before returning to the Orioles, staying on a schedule that puts him on the mound every five days. They considered sending him to Double-A Bowie for one start, but...
Steve Pearce is batting second and playing first base tonight as the Orioles begin their final series before the break.
Matt Wieters is catching and batting cleanup against Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez. Nolan Reimold is in left field and Chris Davis remains in right.
Miguel Gonzalez will start Saturday for the Orioles, followed by Wei-Yin Chen on Sunday. The Nationals haven't announced their other starters, though Max Scherzer is expected to pitch Sunday.
The Orioles no longer lead the...
The Orioles are set to begin their final series before the All-Star break, hosting the Nationals through the weekend. They haven't announced their starters, but Chris Tillman is expected to pitch tonight.
It's his turn and there are no indications that manager Buck Showalter is pushing him back. Let's run with it.
Tillman has won his last four decisions. He didn't get one in his most recent start against the White Sox after allowing two runs and 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings in the Orioles' 3-2...
The Orioles announced today that they released outfielder Delmon Young and reinstated outfielder Nolan Reimold from the paternity list.
Reimold had to be added to the 25-man roster today despite the Orioles being idle. A stint on the paternity list lasts up to three days.
Reimold flew home to Jacksonville on Sunday night for the birth of his daughter, Charlotte Rose. He's batting .244/.340/.463 (10-for-41) with a double, triple, two home runs, five RBIs and seven runs scored in 17 games since...
The rotations for the Orioles-Nationals series that begins Friday night at Camden Yards are mostly a blur. Only one pitcher has come into focus.
The Nationals announced today that left-hander Gio Gonzalez will start the opener. Max Scherzer also figures to pitch against the Orioles before the All-Star break, though the club is keeping the rest of the rotation a secret.
At least the Nats have passed along one name. The Orioles haven't even gone that far.
Chris Tillman, Miguel Gonzalez and...
The Orioles are off today, which opens the door for plenty of quips. Go ahead and get them out of your system.
This seems like a good time to dig through my mailbag and address the questions that have been presented to me on multiple occasions. The questions I've answered on multiple occasions. The questions that won't go away, which is why this sequel exists.
It's a fun exercise. And if it makes you sweat, you need to visit your cardiologist.
Could the Orioles play in Cuba this year?
There...
Orioles third baseman Manny Machado will participate in the Home Run Derby that precedes the 86th All-Star Game in Cincinnati.
Machado, Josh Donaldson, Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols will take their swings for the American League, while Kris Bryant, Todd Frazier, Joc Pederson and Anthony Rizzo represent the National League.
Machado, the fourth seed, faces fifth-seeded Pederson in the opening round under the new format.
Now that Machado has agreed to do it, there's no turning back, back,...
The Orioles optioned Christian Walker to Triple-A Norfolk following today's 5-3 loss to the Twins that completed a three-game sweep.
The Orioles hadn't been swept in a three-game series in Minnesota since 2007. They hadn't been swept in a three-game series this season since April 21-23 in Toronto.
Serving as the designated hitter today, Walker went 1-for-2 with a walk after the Orioles recalled him as the roster replacement for starter Kevin Gausman. They needed another opening for Thursday...
Christian Walker is batting fifth today as the Orioles designated hitter against Twins left-hander Tommy Milone.
Walker was recalled today because of his stats this season against southpaws. He figured to get a start before most likely going back to Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday when Nolan Reimold returns from paternity leave.
Chris Davis is batting second for the first time this season. He's made three career starts in the second slot and seven appearances overall.
Ubaldo Jimenez becomes the...