This, that and the other

This, that and the other
Has everyone submitted their guesses for the corresponding roster moves today to make room for outfielder Henry Urrutia and catcher Steve Clevenger? Don't assume that Matt Wieters is going on the disabled list with a hamstring injury. Executive vice president Dan Duquette mentioned on Wednesday how the Orioles needed "two healthy catchers," and Clevenger could be the second one while Wieters is given a few more days to heal. Wieters could have caught in an emergency Wednesday afternoon, but...

Orioles preparing to call up Henry Urrutia and Steve Clevenger

Orioles preparing to call up Henry Urrutia and Steve Clevenger
The Orioles are in the process of tweaking their roster before Friday night's series opener against the Athletics. According to sources, catcher Steve Clevenger and outfielder Henry Urrutia are headed to Baltimore. The Orioles wanted to add two position players after being no-hit yesterday by Seattle's Hisashi Iwakuma. The moves won't become official until Friday. And no word on the corresponding moves. Feel free to speculate as the Orioles add two left-handed hitters. Clevenger could be...

Orioles won't face Jesse Chavez in Friday's series opener

Orioles won't face Jesse Chavez in Friday's series opener
The Athletics will send a new starter to the mound for Friday's series opener against the Orioles at Camden Yards. Sonny Gray was scratched from today's start against the Blue Jays due to back spasms, but he could be plugged into the rotation this weekend. In the meantime, Jesse Chavez has been bumped up from Friday to today. Chavez was supposed to oppose Ubaldo Jimenez, but he's needed today at Rogers Centre. Gray could take Chavez's place against the Orioles if his back improves. Another...

Are roster changes coming for the Orioles?

Are roster changes coming for the Orioles?
The Orioles are off today, but they weren't exactly on yesterday while being no-hit by Seattle's Hisashi Iwakuma. We said it wasn't going to get weird. If you're going to end a nine-game West Coast trip with a loss, you may as well make it a no-hitter. And the Orioles didn't come close to threatening Iwakuma, who only needed to get within a few feet of the strike zone to have batters chasing. I saw it coming by the fifth inning. The Orioles weren't making solid contact. No one came close...

Orioles no-hit by Iwakuma

Orioles no-hit by Iwakuma
The Orioles ended their nine-game road trip today by winding up on the wrong end of a historical start. Mariners right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma no-hit the Orioles in a 3-0 victory at Safeco Field. He retired David Lough on a foul pop, Manny Machado on a grounder and Gerardo Parra on a fly ball to left-center field, and was mobbed by teammates. Yes, they were hitless in Seattle. Today marked the seventh no-hitter against the Orioles and the first since Clay Buchholz on Sept. 1, 2007 in...

Tyler Wilson placed on minor league disabled list

Tyler Wilson placed on minor league disabled list
The Orioles placed right-hander Tyler Wilson on Triple-A Norfolk's disabled list with a strained left oblique. The move is retroactive to Monday. Wilson suffered the injury while long-tossing on Sunday before heading to the bullpen to warm up for his start. Wilson was scratched and Dana Eveland took his place. An MRI revealed a "mild strain," according to an Orioles official. Wilson said he's hoping for a speedy recovery and he feels a little better every day. He's 5-5 with a 3.05 ERA in...

Orioles and Mariners lineups

Orioles and Mariners lineups
Shortstop J.J. Hardy, who has committed errors in back-to-back games, is out of today's lineup for the series finale in Seattle. Ryan Flaherty, hitless in his last 30 at-bats, is starting at shortstop. David Lough, with two hits in his last 23 at-bats, is in left field. Jimmy Paredes, with three hits in 27 at-bats this month, is the designated hitter. Caleb Joseph is catching after replacing Matt Wieters last night in the third inning. Wieters has avoided the disabled list thus far and he...

Looking at upcoming pitching matchups vs. Athletics

Looking at upcoming pitching matchups vs. Athletics
The Orioles are attempting to conclude their road trip with a 5-4 record before heading home and enjoying Thursday's off-day. Lineups will be posted shortly. The Orioles are 22-17 in day games and 21-16 in the last game of a series. They're batting .267 on their current trip, and the starters have posted a 4.70 ERA in 46 innings. Home teams won all 15 games yesterday for the first time in major league history. The previous record was 12 games on May 23, 1914. The National League, American...

Wondering about Wieters and whether Orioles can win series

Wondering about Wieters and whether Orioles can win series
Road teams went 0-15 last night for the first time in major league history, the clincher coming when the Orioles lost to the Mariners 6-5 in 10 innings on Austin Jackson's bases-loaded single off left-hander T.J. McFarland. The Orioles remain two games back for the second wild card and 4 1/2 behind the first-place Yankees in the American League East. Another opportunity lost. We'll find out later today whether catcher Matt Wieters is headed to the disabled list or if the Orioles will try to...

Matt Wieters leaves game with hamstring injury

Matt Wieters leaves game with hamstring injury
The Orioles need a do-over in tonight's game in Seattle. Chris Tillman exited after only 2 1/3 innings and catcher Matt Wieters followed him to the dugout with the Orioles behind 5-2. The Orioles announced that Wieters was removed due to a strained right hamstring, which he apparently suffered while fielding Mark Trumbo's roller in front of the mound. Manager Buck Showalter summoned reliever Brian Matusz, noticed that Wieters was grimacing and made another change. Caleb Joseph replaced...

Orioles lineup vs. Mariners (updated with Seattle lineup)

Orioles lineup vs. Mariners (updated with Seattle lineup)
Nolan Reimold is in left field tonight for the Orioles as their series continues in Seattle. Chris Davis is playing first base and Gerardo Parra is in right field. For the Orioles Manny Machado 3B Gerardo Parra RF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Matt Wieters C Jonathan Schoop 2B Jimmy Paredes DH J.J. Hardy SS Nolan Reimold LF Chris Tillman RHP For the MarinersAustin Jackson CFKyle Seager 3BNelson Cruz RFRobinson Canó 2BSeth Smith LFMark Trumbo DHLogan Morrison 1BBrad Miller SSMike Zunino...

A few notes before tonight's game

A few notes before tonight's game
Chris Davis has collected 11 home runs and 29 RBIs in his last 19 games dating back to July 22. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the only Orioles with as many home runs and RBIs in 20 games or fewer are Jim Gentile in 1961, Albert Belle in 2000 and Davis in 2013. I wrote this morning that Chris Tillman, making his first start tonight since July 29, is 6-0 with a 2.09 ERA in seven career outings against the Mariners. I'll add that he's held Seattle to a .172 average. Tillman is 14-3 with...

Orioles acquire Jason Stoffel from Astros (Tyler Wilson update)

Orioles acquire Jason Stoffel from Astros (Tyler Wilson update)
The Orioles announced two minor league trades this afternoon aimed at improving their pitching depth. The Orioles acquired right-hander Jason Stoffel from the Astros in exchange for cash considerations. He's been assigned to Double-A Bowie. They also confirmed the acquisition of right-hander Matt Buschmann from the Reds in exchange for cash considerations. He's been assigned to Triple-A Norfolk. Stoffel, 26, was 4-2 with a 4.91 ERA in 35 appearances at Triple-A Fresno. He walked 18 and struck...

Leftovers from last night

Leftovers from last night
The Orioles are 18-8 against the Mariners since 2012, including a 10-4 record at Safeco Field. With last night's win, the Orioles also improved to 15-18 in one-run games and 51-0 when leading after the eighth inning. They're 45-21 when scoring first and 49-29 when homering. Chris Davis is sporting more than a new mustache. He also owns an eight-game hitting streak that includes 10 hits in 28 at-bats for a .357 average. Davis has two doubles, five home runs, 11 RBIs, five walks and nine runs...

Tonight's game and Duquette on possible in-house reinforcements

Tonight's game and Duquette on possible in-house reinforcements
The Orioles moved to within two games of the second wild card last night and 4 1/2 games of the first-place Yankees in the American League East. Zach Britton didn't stay in the bullpen last night. He worked the final 1 2/3 innings after Wei-Yin Chen's superb start and recorded his 28th save in 29 opportunities. He also threw a season-high 36 pitches while allowing an unearned run in the ninth with a two-out strikeout-passed ball. Britton's fastball topped out at 99 mph during Kyle Seager's...

Chaz Roe headed to disabled list (now it's official)

Chaz Roe headed to disabled list (now it's official)
The Orioles will place reliever Chaz Roe on the 15-day disabled list before tonight's game in Seattle and recall Mychal Givens from Double-A Bowie. Givens already has joined the team in Seattle, as I wrote in my last blog entry. He was optioned on Thursday to make room for Rule 5 pick Jason Garcia, but he's allowed to return before the minimum 10 days because he's replacing an injured player. Roe is 2-2 with a 3.12 ERA in 28 appearances this season. He was tagged with the loss yesterday in...

Orioles and Mariners lineups

Orioles and Mariners lineups
Matt Wieters is serving as the designated hitter and Junior Lake is starting in left field tonight, as the Orioles begin a three-game series in Seattle. Wieters is 4-for-28 as the designated hitter this season. In 26 career starts against the American League West, left-hander Wei-Yin Chen is 14-5 with a 2.81 ERA and 17 quality starts over 166 1/3 innings. The Orioles are 20-6 in those games. Former Oriole Nelson Cruz has recorded an extra-base hit in nine straight games for the Mariners and is...

Orioles preparing to recall Mychal Givens

Orioles preparing to recall Mychal Givens
Right-hander Mychal Givens has joined the Orioles in Seattle today for the start of a three-game series and will be added to the bullpen. The Orioles officially will recall Givens later today from Double-A Bowie and make a corresponding 25-man roster move. Givens was optioned four days ago and can't return unless he's replacing an injured player. Someone is headed to the disabled list. If you're worried about closer Zach Britton because he didn't pitch yesterday, it's not him. He's...

Can the Orioles cool down Cruz?

Can the Orioles cool down Cruz?
A rotation that is seriously lacking in consistency must deal with Nelson Cruz for the next three games. Life isn't always fair. The former Oriole is riding a 19-game hitting streak with the Mariners. He's homered in seven of his last nine games and is tied with Mike Trout for the major league lead with 33. His .998 OPS ranks fourth and his .325 average ranks seventh. Cruz is batting .314/.396/.483 with eight doubles, nine home runs and 28 RBIs in 56 games at Safeco Field. He returned to...

Playing the numbers game after yesterday's loss

Playing the numbers game after yesterday's loss
With yesterday's 5-4, 11-inning loss to the Angels, the Orioles fell three games back for the second wild card spot and failed to gain ground on the Yankees, who remain five games ahead of them in the division. An opportunity also was lost, and the second-guessing carried through the night. Manager Buck Showalter took a huge risk by ordering intentional walks to Mike Trout and Albert Pujols to load the bases with two outs. Brian Matusz fell behind in the count and eventually ran it full before...