Roch Kubatko

Orioles and Blue Jays lineups

August 06, 2014, 11:50am

Orioles

Chris Davis moves back up to fifth in the Orioles lineup tonight after batting seventh and homering last night. David Lough is starting in left field, with Nelson Cruz serving as the designated hitter. Caleb Joseph has homered in three consecutive games, but he's on the bench. The Blue Jays have former Orioles Nolan Reimold and Danny Valencia in their lineup. Reimold is making his first start against the Orioles after collecting two plate appearances last night off the bench. For the...

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Chen makes first start in Toronto

August 06, 2014, 8:31am

Orioles

Wei-Yin Chen has never pitched in Toronto. Orioles manager Buck Showalter should try to convince him that the club returned to Seattle for a one-game series. Four cities in four days. It could happen. Chen is coming off two outstanding starts against the Mariners, allowing one run over 15 1/3 innings with two walks and 11 strikeouts. Criticized in the past for not getting deep into games, he's worked into the eighth inning in back-to-back outings. Chen's 12 victories this season tie him...

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Dempsey: "It's our window right now and they prove it every night"

August 05, 2014, 8:06pm

Orioles

Dempsey: "It's our window right now and they prove it every night"

The Orioles have won three straight games in three different cities. Happens all the time, I'm sure. Every Orioles starter collected a hit last night in a 9-3 win over the Blue Jays. The bottom three batters in the lineup belted home runs - Chris Davis, Caleb Joseph and Jonathan Schoop. Who's the last rookie before Joseph to homer three straight games in three different cities? Hello, Elias? So many different contributors. So many memories for former catcher and current MASN analyst Rick...

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Joseph and Schoop go back-to-back (O's win 9-3)

August 05, 2014, 4:28pm

Orioles

Joseph and Schoop go back-to-back (O's win 9-3)

Following last night's win in Washington, I approached Orioles catcher Caleb Joseph at his locker and asked about his hot streak. I started to recite his numbers over his past nine games. I had the average memorized. Joseph smiled and said, "Oh no." Worried about a jinx? No reason. Joseph has homered in three straight games, and the Orioles are leading the Blue Jays 4-0 in the fourth inning at Rogers Centre. Joseph is 12-for-32 (.375) in his last 10 games. Jonathan Schoop followed...

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Davis, Young and other notes

August 05, 2014, 2:04pm

Orioles

The Orioles lead the majors with a 3.12 ERA at night, and their 47 wins rank third in the majors and second in the American League behind the Angels' 50. Someone is keeping track. And the Orioles PR department was kind enough to share. The Orioles have a night game against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Roof open or closed, it's still night. The Orioles' 33 road wins lead the league and rank second in the majors behind the Dodgers' 34. In their last eight road games, the Orioles have...

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Cruz stays in Orioles' lineup, Davis lowered to seventh

August 05, 2014, 11:48am

Orioles

Tonight's game at Rogers Centre marks the fourth-latest matchup between the Orioles and Blue Jays with both clubs occupying the top two spots in the American League East, according to STATS. The only later games took place on Sept. 29, 1989, Aug. 16, 1989 and Aug. 10, 1992. The Orioles will attempt to increase their division lead, which stands at four games. Nelson Cruz is mired in a 1-for-32 slump since his home run in the second inning of a July 25 game in Seattle, lowering his average...

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The final (maybe) Jim Johnson update

August 05, 2014, 10:51am

Orioles

Former Orioles closer Jim Johnson has signed a minor league deal with the Tigers, according to an industry source. Johnson threw a bullpen session yesterday in Sarasota, with pitching rehab coordinator Scott McGregor and minor league medical coordinator Dave Walker in attendance. The Orioles maintained interest in signing Johnson to a minor league deal, but they had no room for him on the roster until it expanded in September. Manager Buck Showalter said he made that point clear to Johnson...

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Saunders officially signs, Rapada released

August 05, 2014, 6:56am

Orioles

Saunders officially signs, Rapada released

The Orioles signed left-hander Joe Saunders to a Triple-A contract after he passed his physical. The transaction is official. Clay Rapada was released to make room for Saunders, who agreed to terms over the weekend. Saunders is being transitioned into a relief role to take advantage of his splits. Left-handers have a career .242 career against him. Right-handers are batting .295. The Tides didn't need two lefty specialists, which contributed to Rapada's release. So did his stats. Rapada...

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Will a trip to Toronto cure what's ailing Davis?

August 04, 2014, 7:32pm

Orioles

Will a trip to Toronto cure what's ailing Davis?

By collecting one hit last night, a single into right field in the eighth inning, Orioles first baseman Chris Davis raised his average one point to .195. Davis hasn't been above .200 since July 26. He's 1-for-11 this month after batting .167 in July and .175 in June. The Orioles didn't get into Toronto until early this morning, but Davis should feel invigorated. He's a career .303/.382/.660 hitter in 69 games against the Blue Jays, and .347/.441/.703 in 28 games at Rogers Centre. Davis'...

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Showalter, Joseph, Young, Gausman and Brach after 7-3 win

August 04, 2014, 7:19pm

Orioles

Showalter, Joseph, Young, Gausman and Brach after 7-3 win

WASHINGTON - The Orioles head to Toronto late tonight with a four-game lead over the Blue Jays in the American League East following tonight's 7-3 win over the Nationals. Sleep fast. And be ready to play. Here's a batch of post-game quotes from Nationals Park: Manager Buck Showalter On Kevin Gausman, who picked up the win after allowing three runs in six innings: "It was a challenge for him. To be able to keep your team engaged in it when he's not in command. He had good stuff and...

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Joseph hits another home run (O's win 7-3)

August 04, 2014, 4:00pm

Orioles

Joseph hits another home run (O's win 7-3)

WASHINGTON - Orioles catcher Caleb Joseph has homered in back-to-back starts. In a related story, Joseph is the team's hottest hitter. Joseph jumped on a 91 mph fastball from Nationals starter Tanner Roark leading off the top of the third inning to tie the score 1-1. Joseph went 2-for-3 with a double and home run Saturday night against the Mariners at Camden Yards. Jayson Werth's sacrifice fly gave Washington a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third. Denard Span led off with a double and...

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Showalter on Jimenez, Johnson and more (updated)

August 04, 2014, 2:54pm

Orioles

Showalter on Jimenez, Johnson and more (updated)

WASHINGTON - Orioles manager Buck Showalter didn't offer a date today for Ubaldo Jimenez to come off the disabled list and make a start. Showalter said it's possible "anytime after Thursday," which makes sense, considering that Jimenez worked six innings last night at Triple-A Norfolk. "We're going day to day," Showalter said before tonight's game against the Nationals in D.C. Showalter spoke with Tides manager Ron Johnson to get a report on Jimenez, who allowed one run in six...

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Jimenez: "Hopefully, I'll pitch in five or six days"

August 04, 2014, 12:39pm

Orioles

Jimenez: "Hopefully, I'll pitch in five or six days"

WASHINGTON - Pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez completed his brief injury rehab assignment last night and is in the visiting clubhouse today at Nationals Park. Jimenez will board the charter for Toronto following tonight's game and wait for his next start with the Orioles. Jimenez, who's 3-8 with a 4.52 ERA in 18 starts for the Orioles, has been on the disabled list with an ankle injury. He allowed one run in six innings last night at Triple-A Norfolk. "I threw six innings and everything felt...

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Orioles and Nationals lineups

August 04, 2014, 11:27am

Orioles

WASHINGTON - Back at Nationals Park for the makeup of a July 8 rainout, the Orioles will be without a designated hitter again as they take on the National League East frontrunners. Nelson Cruz is in left field and batting cleanup, Chris Davis is at first and Ryan Flaherty is at second against the Nationals. The Orioles will pit right-hander Kevin Gausman against Nats righty Tanner Roark. Gausman has allowed four runs in 13 2/3 innings for a 2.63 ERA over his last two starts. Roark is 4-0...

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A few pregame notes from D.C.

August 04, 2014, 10:57am

Orioles

WASHINGTON - Nothing much to report on Jim Johnson's bullpen session today in Sarasota. He completed it and the Orioles are still interested in signing him to a minor league deal. Scott McGregor watched Johnson's workout today at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. The Orioles remain the favorites to sign Johnson to a minor league deal. The only way he probably goes elsewhere is if a team steps up with a major league offer. Johnson would be an option as a September call-up when rosters expand...

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Updating Orioles' interest in Jim Johnson

August 03, 2014, 2:43pm

Orioles

Orioles pitching rehab coordinator Scott McGregor left Baltimore today and is headed to Sarasota, Fla., to watch reliever Jim Johnson throw a bullpen session Monday at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. Johnson, who lives in Sarasota, is free to sign with any team after the Athletics released him over the weekend. Manager Buck Showalter spoke of the Orioles' interest in Johnson and the former closer's solid relationship with McGregor, who spent the past two days filling in as pitching coach...

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Makeup game and Matusz

August 03, 2014, 1:35pm

Orioles

The Orioles were supposed to be off today. So why am I driving to D.C. again and parking in a sketchy lot? Blame it on the rain. The Orioles and Nationals are playing a makeup game caused by a July 8 postponement. It's not a fair trade-off, since everyone drove to D.C. that night and waited out a delay that lasted approximately 72 hours. Felt like work. Anyway, Kevin Gausman is 1-1 with a 2.86 ERA in four road starts this season. His only career start against the Nationals ended poorly....

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Showalter on leadoff home runs, Tillman, Markakis and more (updated)

August 03, 2014, 1:08pm

Orioles

Showalter on leadoff home runs, Tillman, Markakis and more (updated)

With the Blue Jays losing today in Houston, the Orioles now lead the American League East by 3 1/2 games. The Orioles improved to 43-10 when they score first, their .811 winning percentage leading the majors. Today marked the first time in club history that the Orioles won 1-0 on a leadoff home run. Nick Markakis reached the flag court in right field on the sixth pitch from Mariners starter Hisashi Iwakuma. Manager Buck Showalter can't recall winning a game after his first batter...

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Tillman tosses seven scoreless innings (O's win 1-0)

August 03, 2014, 11:47am

Orioles

Tillman tosses seven scoreless innings (O's win 1-0)

Had Chris Tillman been removed from today's game in the middle of an inning, he would have received a standing ovation on his walk to the dugout. Instead, Tillman will have to settle for the high praise coming from his manager and teammates following the game. Tillman shut out the Mariners on four hits over seven innings, with no walks and six strikeouts. He was removed after 101 pitches, 65 for strikes. Tillman retired 14 in a row before Kendrys Morales led off the seventh with a single....

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Webb officially optioned, Markakis hits first leadoff home run (Tillman update)

August 03, 2014, 10:20am

Orioles

Webb officially optioned, Markakis hits first leadoff home run (Tillman update)

The Orioles have officially optioned reliever Ryan Webb to Triple-A Norfolk. Webb was designated off the 25-man roster on Friday to make room for left-hander Andrew Miller. Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis needs one more hit to reach 1,500 for his career. His latest should have counted as two. Markakis almost deposited a Hisashi Iwakuma pitch onto Eutaw Street today, the ball landing on the back of the flag court in right field to give the Orioles a quick 1-0 lead over the...