Roch Kubatko

Orioles and Indians lineups

June 06, 2015, 9:25am

Orioles

Matt Wieters is serving as the Orioles' designated hitter today after catching last night in his first game since May 10, 2014. Delmon Young is batting second and playing right field. Steve Pearce is in left field. For the Orioles Manny Machado 3B Delmon Young RF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Matt Wieters DH Steve Pearce LF J.J. Hardy SS Ryan Flaherty 2B Caleb Joseph C Ubaldo Jimenez RHP For the Indians Jason Kipnis 2B Carlos Santana 1B Michael Brantley LF Brandon Moss RF Nick Swisher DH Lonnie...

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Notes on Tillman, Jones and Britton, plus Duquette on Cabrera and Cabral

June 05, 2015, 7:21pm

Orioles

Notes on Tillman, Jones and Britton, plus Duquette on Cabrera and Cabral

That's two wins in a row for the Orioles. How long does it need to stretch before it constitutes a streak? Chris Tillman continues to ride the roller coaster. A good outing followed by a poor one followed by a good one. Let's check the earned runs allowed in his starts this season: One, seven, one, seven, two, four, five, one (in three innings), two, five and two. Tillman isn't the model of consistency, but he provides reason to be optimistic. He just needs to cut down on the walks. Tillman...

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orioles adam jones brian matusz cesar cabral chris tillman everth cabrera featured_sidebar matt wieters frontstory_orioles3

Duquette disappointed Matusz's suspension is upheld (Orioles win 5-2)

June 05, 2015, 3:37pm

Orioles

The Orioles remain perplexed and frustrated by the eight-game suspension handed down to reliever Brian Matusz and Major League Baseball's refusal to remove or reduce it. Brewers pitcher Will Smith had his eight-game suspension lowered to six, but Matusz still must serve all eight games beginning tonight in Cleveland. MLB doesn't announce the results of the hearings or offer explanations for reducing or upholding the suspensions. "Obviously, we're disappointed," said executive vice...

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orioles brian matusz dan duquette featured_sidebar matt wieters frontstory_orioles2

Wieters batting fifth tonight

June 05, 2015, 11:39am

Orioles

Matt Wieters is in the Orioles lineup tonight for the first time since May 10, 2014, catching and batting fifth against Indians right-hander Shaun Marcum. Shortstop J.J. Hardy returns to the lineup after missing three straight games in Houston and being inserted yesterday as a defensive replacement in the ninth inning. David Lough is in left field tonight and Travis Snider is in right. Jimmy Paredes is serving as the designated hitter and batting sixth. For the Orioles Manny Machado 3B Travis...

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orioles david lough delmon young j.j. hardy matt wieters travis snider

Orioles make six roster moves, Matusz suspension remains eight games

June 05, 2015, 11:24am

Orioles

The Orioles made six roster moves today, including reinstating catcher Matt Wieters from the 60-day disabled list. They also recalled infielder Rey Navarro from Triple-A Norfolk and selected the contract of left-handed reliever Cesar Cabral. In corresponding moves, the Orioles optioned catcher Steve Clevenger and pitcher Mike Wright to Norfolk, and designated infielder Everth Cabrera for assignment. The Orioles have 10 days to waive or trade Cabrera, who reached five years service time in late...

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featured_sidebar brian matusz cesar cabral everth cabrera matt wieters mike wright rey navarro steve clevenger frontstory_orioles3

Orioles set to add Matt Wieters for Cleveland series

June 04, 2015, 6:29pm

Orioles

The Orioles are prepared to make another roster move today as their road trip leads them into Cleveland for a three-game series. Matt Wieters will be activated from the disabled list and manager Buck Showalter doesn't seem inclined to carry three catchers. Caleb Joseph figures to stay, but we'll see. Steve Clevenger is 5-for-11 with a double since being recalled and his defense has improved. However, life isn't always fair and that certainly applies to baseball. Left-hander Brian Matusz...

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orioles frontfeatured_orioles matt wieters adam jones chris tillman featured_sidebar steve clevenger

Orioles preaching plate patience (Showalter ejected, O's win 3-2)

June 04, 2015, 10:46am

Orioles

Granted, it's only one inning today, but the Orioles appear to be taking a much more patient approach at the plate against Astros left-hander Dallas Keuchel. The Orioles worked Keuchel for 28 pitches while taking a 1-0 lead at Minute Maid Park. I'm pretty sure rookie Lance McCullers finally reached that total last night after the fifth. I'm exaggerating, but not by much. McCuller's pitch count stood at 81 after a five-pitch seventh inning. The Orioles were swinging early, their aggression...

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Orioles hoping to repeat recent history against Keuchel

June 04, 2015, 9:05am

Orioles

Astros left-hander Dallas Keuchel, the American League Pitcher of the Month for April and May, has won seven of eight decisions this season and posted a 1.76 ERA in 11 starts. Sounds like a daunting task for the Orioles today, but at least they've beaten him once this season. Caleb Joseph and Steve Pearce hit two-run homers off Keuchel in a 4-3 victory on April 25 at Camden Yards. Keuchel has surrendered only three home runs in 81 2/3 innings. Steve Clevenger caught last night so Joseph could...

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orioles caleb joseph featured_sidebar steve pearce wei-yin chen frontstory_orioles3

Orioles and Astros lineups

June 04, 2015, 8:47am

Orioles

Shortstop J.J. Hardy is out of the Orioles' lineup today for a fourth consecutive game. Hardy has avoided the disabled list and should return to the lineup this weekend in Cleveland. Meanwhile, Everth Cabrera starts at shortstop today. Steve Pearce is playing first base and Chris Davis is serving as the designated hitter. The Orioles will try to end a five-game losing streak, tied for their longest of the season. Since May 25, outfielder Delmon Young has hit safely in seven of his last eight...

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orioles bud norris delmon young frontstory_orioles2

Can offense perk up in time to avoid sweep?

June 03, 2015, 7:01pm

Orioles

Can offense perk up in time to avoid sweep?

If the Orioles are going to avoid being swept in Houston, they must do some damage today against Astros starter Dallas Keuchel, who has been named the American League's Pitcher of the Month for April and May. What could go wrong? The Orioles are six games below .500 for the first time since September 2011. They've lost five in a row to tie their longest streak of the season. They couldn't do much last night with right-hander Lance McCullers, making only his fourth major league start after...

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orioles adam jones delmon young featured_sidebar jimmy paredes jj hardy steve pearce frontstory_orioles2

This, that and the other (updated)

June 03, 2015, 3:09pm

Orioles

In case you didn't notice, Ryan Flaherty has become a triples machine in Houston. Flaherty has tripled in consecutive games for the first time in his career. He's going for three in a row tonight. Before the Astros series, Flaherty had collected a grand total of two triples in 283 major league games. Flaherty is the first Oriole to triple in consecutive games since Felix Pie on Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 2010. Tonight's starter, Miguel Gonzalez, is 3-0 with a 0.92 ERA in six starts when logging eight...

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orioles bud norris featured_sidebar matt wieters miguel gonzalez ryan flaherty frontstory_orioles2

Orioles acquire Joe Gunkel from Red Sox

June 03, 2015, 1:41pm

Orioles

The Orioles announced this afternoon that they traded outfielder Alejandro De Aza and cash to the Red Sox for minor league right-hander Joe Gunkel. Gunkel, 23, is 12-7 with a 3.05 ERA in 54 appearances (20 starts) over three minor league seasons. He's struck out 178 batters over 165 innings. Gunkel was a combined 3-2 with a 2.90 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 40 1/3 innings between Single-A Salem and Double-A Portland. He's a former 18th-round pick in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft out of West...

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orioles featured_sidebar joe gunkel mike wright

Orioles and Astros lineups

June 03, 2015, 1:03pm

Orioles

Shortstop J.J. Hardy is out of the Orioles' lineup for the third consecutive day due to soreness in his left side. Ryan Flaherty remains at shortstop in Hardy's absence. Steve Clevenger is behind the plate, Steve Pearce is starting at second base and Jimmy Paredes has dropped to eighth in the order. For the Orioles Manny Machado 3B David Lough LF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Delmon Young RF Steve Clevenger C Steve Pearce 2B Jimmy Paredes DH Ryan Flaherty SS Miguel Gonzalez RHP For the Astros...

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orioles frontstory_orioles2 jj hardy ryan flaherty

Orioles recall McFarland and option Drake

June 03, 2015, 12:00pm

Orioles

Needing another left-handed reliever in their bullpen, the Orioles have recalled T.J. McFarland from Triple-A Norfolk and optioned Oliver Drake to the Tides. McFarland will join the Orioles tonight in Houston. McFarland, 25, will begin his second stint with the Orioles this season. He went 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA in five appearances, allowing two earned runs (six total) and striking out eight over five innings. In seven starts with Norfolk this season, McFarland went 2-2 with a 3.99 ERA in 29 1/3...

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orioles featured_sidebar frontfeatured_orioles brian matusz oliver drake tj mcfarland

Orioles trade Alejandro De Aza to Red Sox

June 03, 2015, 6:00am

Orioles

The Orioles have traded outfielder Alejandro De Aza to the Red Sox for cash considerations, according to an industry source. De Aza was designated for assignment on May 27 to make room for infielder Ryan Flaherty on the 25-man roster. De Aza, 31, batted .214/.277/.359 (22-for-103) with three home runs and seven RBIs in 30 games with the Orioles this season. He served as their leadoff hitter on opening day. De Aza was the only Oriole among 11 arbitration-eligible players this spring to go to a...

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Thoughts on Matusz, M. Wright, fundamental breakdowns and more

June 02, 2015, 8:33pm

Orioles

Thoughts on Matusz, M. Wright, fundamental breakdowns and more

Brian Matusz's suspension appeal hearing will take place later today in Houston. The Orioles reliever is seeking a reduction of the eight games handed down by Major League Baseball. I doubt that the entire suspension will melt away, but perhaps he can whittle it. The club will have to decide whether to go with a six-man bullpen or three-man bench in Matusz's absence. It could do both, of course, on a game-by-game basis. They're likely to start with a short bench. * Bud Norris could return to...

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orioles brian matusz buck showalter bud norris chaz roe featured_sidebar j.j. hardy mike wright oliver drake tommy hunter travis snider frontstory_orioles2

Norris' start at Norfolk pushed back to Wednesday

June 02, 2015, 2:32pm

Orioles

Norris' start at Norfolk pushed back to Wednesday

Tonight's game between Triple-A Norfolk and Gwinnett at Harbor Park was postponed due to wet field conditions. The Tides will play a doubleheader on Wednesday. Bud Norris will start Game 1, with Matt Wieters behind the plate. They're expected to rejoin the Orioles on Thursday. Norris has allowed 13 runs and 18 hits in 7 2/3 innings in two rehab starts, with no walks and eight strikeouts. He tossed three scoreless innings at Double-A Bowie before surrendering four runs over the final two...

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orioles bud norris featured_sidebar jonathan schoop kevin gausman matt wieters mike wright frontstory_orioles2

Orioles and Astros lineups (Hardy having "oblique issue")

June 02, 2015, 1:01pm

Orioles

J.J. Hardy is out of the Orioles' lineup for the second consecutive game due to soreness in his left side. Ryan Flaherty is starting at shortstop. Manager Buck Showalter, calling into MLB Network, said Hardy is having "an oblique issue" and will undergo an MRI. Hardy missed 25 games in 2011 with a strained oblique. Flaherty is playing shortstop instead of Everth Cabrera, who's batting .202/.238/.223 in 102 plate appearances and is 2-for-26 with eight strikeouts in his last 10 games. Steve...

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orioles everth cabrera featured_sidebar jimmy paredes jj hardy frontstory_orioles3

This, that and the other

June 02, 2015, 11:27am

Orioles

Catcher Matt Wieters is leading off tonight for Triple-A Norfolk in the final game of his injury rehabilitation assignment. I'm fairly certain that the Orioles will bat him lower in the order, whether he's the designated hitter Thursday in Houston or catching Friday in Cleveland. Bud Norris will make his final start in the minors before rejoining the Orioles. That's the current plan. Former Oriole Ryan Lavarnway is catching tonight for Gwinnett. Speaking of leadoff hitters who don't fit the...

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orioles bud norris cesar cabral featured_sidebar henry urrutia matt wieters paul janish frontstory_orioles2

Random thoughts

June 01, 2015, 8:01pm

Orioles

Let's start with J.J. Hardy. The Orioles shortstop is day-to-day with soreness on his left side. That's dangerously close to an oblique injury, which Hardy experienced in April 2011. He missed a month. He's having flashbacks. Center fielder Adam Jones returned last night from a sprained ankle, and Hardy unexpectedly left the lineup. This team simply can't get healthy. Whatever lineup you envisioned over the winter hasn't appeared this season. Not for one game. Is Jonathan Schoop anywhere...