Roch Kubatko

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 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 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 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 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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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 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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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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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...

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This, that and the other

June 01, 2015, 2:50pm

Orioles

The Orioles finally are playing their first game outside the Eastern time zone. It only took 49. Adam Jones' sprained left ankle has healed. Now he needs his bat to heat up. Jones hit .400/.440/.707 with six doubles, one triple, five home runs and 19 RBIs in 20 games in April. He hit .239/.272/.284 with two doubles, one home run and seven RBIs in 27 games in May. Jones is 12-for-34 (.353) with two doubles, two home runs, four RBIs, one walk and 10 strikeouts in nine career games as the...

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Jones serving as DH tonight

June 01, 2015, 1:31pm

Orioles

Adam Jones returns to the Orioles lineup tonight as the designated hitter after a two-game absence. Jones has been sidelined with a sprained left ankle sustained in Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader against the White Sox. He played on Friday and sat out back-to-back losses to the Rays. Jones is looking for his first home run since May 11. He's driven in three runs during that stretch. Everth Cabrera is starting at shortstop, with J.J. Hardy listed among the reserves. Jimmy Paredes, 1-for-20...

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Jones remains fourth among AL outfielders in All-Star balloting

June 01, 2015, 10:53am

Orioles

Jones remains fourth among AL outfielders in All-Star balloting

The Orioles still don't have any players in the top three in voting for the 2015 All-Star Game. Adam Jones remains fourth among American League outfielders with 1,514,836 votes, trailing Kansas City's Alex Gordon, who's third with 1,917,834. Manny Machado is fourth among third basemen with 419,979 votes, putting him far behind leader Mike Moustakas, who's garnered 2,385,024 votes. Caleb Joseph is fifth among catchers with 309,609 votes. Salvador Perez, another member of the defending...

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Updating the bullpen

June 01, 2015, 9:38am

Orioles

Unless there's an unexpected change in plans, the Orioles won't bring up a reliever for tonight's game against the Astros at Minute Maid Park. The situation needed to be monitored after Thursday's doubleheader against the White Sox, when the Orioles used all seven relievers while gaining a split. They weren't out of the woods yesterday, and starter Chris Tillman lasted only 4 2/3 innings. Manager Buck Showalter used three relievers - Chaz Roe, Oliver Drake and Brian Matusz - in a 9-5 loss...

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Looking back and ahead

May 31, 2015, 5:35pm

Orioles

Orioles manager Buck Showalter needed one more day before he could pronounce his bullpen rested and recovered from Thursday's doubleheader. Chris Tillman just needed to give him some length in yesterday's start. Tillman lasted only 4 2/3 innings and Showalter used three relievers in a 9-5 loss to the Rays. He also had Brad Brach warm up without coming into the game. Oliver Drake threw 34 pitches in two innings and he has options left, which always makes him a candidate if the Orioles decide...

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Updating Wieters and wrapping up a 9-5 loss

May 31, 2015, 1:39pm

Orioles

Updating Wieters and wrapping up a 9-5 loss

Matt Wieters could join the Orioles and serve as the designated hitter Thursday in Houston or catch Friday in Cleveland. Manager Buck Showalter mentioned both possibilities following today's 9-5 loss to the Rays before 36,945 at Camden Yards. Wieters will catch Bud Norris Tuesday at Triple-A Norfolk before the Orioles make a decision. "He's eligible the fourth and if everything goes well ..." Showalter said. "There's a lot of reasons, and also it kind of worked out with Bud, too. I think...

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Young hits two home runs, O's lose 9-5

May 31, 2015, 10:14am

Orioles

Delmon Young was due. Young hit his first home run today in the bottom of the first inning to give the Orioles a 1-0 lead. Young crushed it, the ball landing in the Rays bullpen for his first homer of the regular season since Aug. 29 versus the Twins. Young is 3-for-3 with two home runs lifetime against Rays starter Jake Odorizzi, who offered up an 85 mph cutter on the first pitch of the at-bat. Odorizzi had allowed two home runs in 32 2/3 innings before today. Chris Davis followed with a...

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Updating Jones, Gausman, Wieters and more

May 31, 2015, 8:07am

Orioles

Updating Jones, Gausman, Wieters and more

Adam Jones wasn't available to the media again today, but Orioles manager Buck Showalter said the center fielder's left ankle has improved. The MRI yesterday didn't reveal any structural damage in the ankle, basically confirming the mild sprain shown on an X-ray. Showalter won't say whether Jones is available off the bench, not wanting to give the opposition a competitive advantage. That tells me Jones isn't likey to play. Jones could return to the lineup on Monday in Houston. In the...

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Jones remains out of Orioles lineup

May 31, 2015, 6:46am

Orioles

Adam Jones remains out of the Orioles lineup today after an X-ray taken on his left ankle revealed a mild sprain. Jones also was scheduled yesterday to have an MRI on the ankle. David Lough is in center field and Steve Pearce is playing left field. Jimmy Paredes, in a 1-for-16 slump with nine strikeouts, remains the designated hitter. For the Orioles Manny Machado 3B Jimmy Paredes DH Delmon Young RF Chris Davis 1B Steve Pearce LF J.J. Hardy SS David Lough CF Caleb Joseph C Ryan Flaherty...

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Taking a closer look at Tillman and today's game

May 30, 2015, 7:47pm

Orioles

Taking a closer look at Tillman and today's game

By my faulty math, the Orioles are playing their seventh day game in the last eight days, going back to last Sunday's finale against the Marlins in Miami. I raced to the Fort Lauderdale airport after that game, my colleagues telling me that I was cutting it too close. Not only did I arrive in time, I got there early enough to board a 6:30 p.m. flight instead of waiting for the 8:20 p.m. to Baltimore. But I digress ... I was in a rush to leave south Florida - it seems so strange to type those...