Getting key contributions from Paredes, Machado and Snider (O's win 7-3)

Getting key contributions from Paredes, Machado and Snider (O's win 7-3)
Jimmy Paredes singled to right field today in the top of the fourth inning, which draws a different response now that he's cooled off at the plate. This isn't Jimmy being Jimmy. It's Paredes in desperate need of a hit. Paredes was in a 2-for-35 slump dating to May 27, his averaging falling to .296. He was hitting .353 before the bat went cold. Matt Wieters served as the designated hitter yesterday, which forced Paredes to the bench. Wieters is catching today and should be behind the plate...
    

Stats, Wieters, Jones and upcoming starters (Jones homers)

Stats, Wieters, Jones and upcoming starters (Jones homers)
The Orioles are 1-20 when scoring two runs or fewer following yesterday's 2-1 loss to the Indians. The Orioles are 8-8 in one-run games. They're also 0-27 when trailing after seven innings, 0-28 when trailing after eight innings and 3-21 when scoring fewer than four runs. Catcher Matt Wieters is 4-for-7 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored since coming off the disabled list. Center fielder Adam Jones is 8-for-16 in his last four games, with a double, two triples, two home runs and three...
    

Navarro optioned (Orioles and Indians lineups)

Navarro optioned (Orioles and Indians lineups)
The Orioles have optioned infielder Rey Navarro to Triple-A Norfolk to make room for today's starter, Bud Norris, who comes off the disabled list for the series finale against the Indians. Navarro, 25, batted .276/.276/.448 (8-29) with two doubles, a home run, three RBIs and five runs scored in 10 games with the Orioles this season. The Orioles are going with a three-man bench as left-hander Brian Matusz continues to serve his suspension. Matt Wieters is catching and batting cleanup today. For...
    

Norris back on the mound today

Norris back on the mound today
So much for Ubaldo Jimenez averaging 2.5 walks per nine innings. I passed along that stat yesterday, and he responded by issuing six walks in five innings. The most costly free pass came from reliever Brad Brach with two outs in the sixth. Jason Kipnis scored on Carlos Santana's double to break a 1-1 tie. Oh, those two-out walks. The Orioles are 2-4 on their road trip and they're sending Bud Norris to the mound for the first time since May 10. He's coming off the disabled list, which brings...
    

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
The Orioles are trying today to match their longest winning streak of the season at three games. The Orioles are 15-12 at home and 10-17 on the road. They're 13-8 during the day and 12-20 at night. In five games on the current trip, the Orioles are batting .228 and their pitchers have registered a 3.86 ERA. The team has committed only one error. Center fielder Adam Jones has hit a home run in back-to-back games after going 83 at-bats without one. Jones broke a 2-2 tie Thursday with an...
    

Orioles and Indians lineups

Orioles and Indians lineups
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...
    

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

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...
    

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

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

Wieters batting fifth tonight

Wieters batting fifth tonight
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...
    

Orioles make six roster moves, Matusz suspension remains eight games

Orioles make six roster moves, Matusz suspension remains eight games
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...
    

Orioles set to add Matt Wieters for Cleveland series

Orioles set to add Matt Wieters for Cleveland series
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...
    

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

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

Orioles hoping to repeat recent history against Keuchel

Orioles hoping to repeat recent history against Keuchel
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...
    

Orioles and Astros lineups

Orioles and Astros lineups
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...
    

Can offense perk up in time to avoid sweep?

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...
    

This, that and the other (updated)

This, that and the other (updated)
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...
    

Orioles acquire Joe Gunkel from Red Sox

Orioles acquire Joe Gunkel from Red Sox
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...
    

Orioles and Astros lineups

Orioles and Astros lineups
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...
    

Orioles recall McFarland and option Drake

Orioles recall McFarland and option Drake
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...
    

Orioles trade Alejandro De Aza to Red Sox

Orioles trade Alejandro De Aza to Red Sox
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...