Roch Kubatko

Markakis, Jones, Hardy out of Orioles lineup

September 19, 2014, 11:04am

Orioles

Nick Markakis was expected to start tonight in right field, but he remains out of the lineup due to soreness after being hit by a pitch Tuesday night behind his right shoulder. "I'm glad it wasn't my left arm because I wouldn't be able to throw right-handed right now," Markakis said. He hopes to play tomorrow, but will not rush back to the lineup. He is not concerned the soreness will linger. Adam Jones and J.J. Hardy are being rested tonight. Christian Walker gets another start at...

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Gausman on mound for last home series opener before playoffs

September 18, 2014, 5:08pm

Orioles

Gausman on mound for last home series opener before playoffs

The Orioles begin their final home series of the regular season tonight by sending Kevin Gausman to the mound. Will they send Gausman to the bullpen for the Division Series or slot him in the rotation? The only guarantee so far is Chris Tillman pitching Game 1 on Oct. 2 at Camden Yards. Confirmation may come before the Orioles fly to Toronto for the final road series. I'm assuming that Wei-Yin Chen will follow him in Game 2. The Orioles won't go with a five-man rotation in the playoffs,...

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More details on Fan Appreciation Celebration

September 18, 2014, 12:26pm

Orioles

More details on Fan Appreciation Celebration

The Orioles are down to their last three home games of the regular season. Usually, that means lockers are emptied, boxes are loaded and players go their separate ways. Not so fast. The Orioles are hosting Game 1 of the Division Series on Oct. 2. Before that date, the club will hold its annual Fan Appreciation Celebration this weekend while hosting the Red Sox. According to a release sent out today by the Orioles, the three-day event includes "the chance for fans to be selected at random to...

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This, that and the other

September 17, 2014, 7:25pm

Orioles

The Orioles have reached their last scheduled off-day of the regular season, which means there's only a 50-50 chance that one of them gets drilled by a Blue Jays pitcher. What's next includes "Fan Appreciation Weekend," with the announcement of the Most Valuable Oriole, and a road trip to New York and Toronto. Nelson Cruz will be the MVO. I'm not going out on a limb here. The guy's hit 39 home runs and driven in 103. He's also batting a respectable .266. The drama comes with the second-...

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Showalter speaks after 6-1 win

September 17, 2014, 7:10pm

Orioles

The Orioles are 32 games above .500 and they lead the American League East by 14 1/2 games. Who saw it coming in March? Who thought back in December that they might end up 32 games below .500? The Orioles completed their sweep of the Blue Jays tonight with a 6-1 win before 37,537 at Camden Yards. They're now 31-19 in series finales. The Orioles swept the Jays for the first time since taking two games on Aug. 24-25, 2012 in Baltimore, and they completed the first three-game sweep here since...

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More on Walker's major league debut (Pearce homers again, O's win 6-1)

September 17, 2014, 3:54pm

Orioles

More on Walker's major league debut (Pearce homers again, O's win 6-1)

First baseman Christian Walker received a standing ovation in the bottom of the second inning tonight as he walked to the plate for his first major league at-bat. Facing Blue Jays left-hander J.A. Happ with runners on the corners and one out, Walker struck out on five pitches - four fastballs and a curveball. The Orioles decided to select Walker's contract from Triple-A Norfolk today and take a look at him. "Talking to a lot of people during the year, they think he's got a chance to...

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Home field advantage vs. resting the regulars

September 17, 2014, 2:17pm

Orioles

Home field advantage vs. resting the regulars

I've been asked the same question multiple times today in a variety of ways. Are the Orioles more focused on gaining home field advantage throughout the playoffs or resting some of their veterans before the Division Series? Yes. The Orioles trail the Angels by three games for the best record in baseball. They finish up their series against the Blue Jays tonight, play three at home against the Red Sox and hit the road for the final time with four games in the Bronx and three in Toronto. The...

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Notes on Machado, Markakis and the rotation, Stroman on suspension

September 17, 2014, 1:00pm

Orioles

Notes on Machado, Markakis and the rotation, Stroman on suspension

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado was supposed to fly into Baltimore tonight, but he's going to stay in Los Angeles for another week while continuing to rehab his right knee. Machado is expected to join the Orioles on Sept. 29. Machado's knee is fine. No red flags. Apparently, his doctor suggested that he stay in Los Angeles a little longer and stay on his current rehab schedule. Right fielder Nick Markakis told Showalter that his left shoulder is sore after being hit last night by Blue...

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Walker making major league debut

September 17, 2014, 11:40am

Orioles

Christian Walker, whose contract was selected today from Triple-A Norfolk, will bat seventh and play first base tonight in the Orioles' final game against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards. Steve Pearce is in right field and Nick Markakis is on the bench. Jimmy Paredes is leading off for the Orioles. Jonathan Schoop, who broke an 0-for-17 slump with a single last night, is starting at second base. Major League Baseball has suspended Toronto right-hander Marcus Stroman six games and fined an...

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Orioles make roster move official, select Walker's contract

September 17, 2014, 10:40am

Orioles

The Orioles announced this afternoon that they selected the contract of first baseman Christian Walker from Triple-A Norfolk. It's official. Walker will wear No. 18, which still reminds me of first baseman Jeff Conine. Walker, 23, was named the 2014 Brooks Robinson minor league Player of the Year after hitting a combined .288/.357/.489 with 53 extra-base hits, 96 RBIs and 73 runs scored in 139 total games with Double-A Bowie (.301/.367/.516 in 95 games) and Norfolk (.259/.335/.428 in 44...

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Orioles adding Walker to expanded roster

September 17, 2014, 7:26am

Orioles

With the division title in hand and an opportunity to rest key players heading into the postseason, the Orioles will select the contract of first baseman Christian Walker from Triple-A Norfolk and add him to their expanded roster. Walker should be at Camden Yards before tonight's game. It's a relatively short flight from Sarasota, where he's been part of the taxi squad at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. Manager Buck Showalter told reporters last night that the club likely would add another...

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Orioles remember Monica Barlow on the day they clinch

September 16, 2014, 8:56pm

Orioles

There will be another game tonight at Camden Yards, another lineup to post and more matchups to dissect. The regular season hasn't ended. It just felt that way last night. Bud Norris opposes J.A. Happ, and this game also counts in the standings. The Orioles are vying for home-field advantage. There's still a carrot dangling in front of them before they sink their teeth into the American League Division Series on Oct. 2. Manager Buck Showalter may rest some of his regulars, especially with...

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Duquette: "We're going to party like it's 1969"

September 16, 2014, 8:08pm

Orioles

Duquette: "We're going to party like it's 1969"

The party started in the outfield at Camden Yards, spilled onto the infield, moved to the clubhouse and returned to the field. Players sprayed champagne and beer. Adam Jones pied pretty much everyone in sight and finally got a taste of his own confection. It was pure bedlam, as you'd expect after the Orioles won their division for the first time since 1997 and clinched with a win at home for the first time in 45 years. "We're going to party like it's 1969," said executive vice...

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Hearing from Showalter after division-clinching win

September 16, 2014, 7:40pm

Orioles

Hearing from Showalter after division-clinching win

I've got plenty of quotes to pass along from my champagne-soaked recorder. Here's a sampling from manager Buck Showalter, who truly loved every minute of the time he spent on the field - exchanging hugs with players, coaches and family members, and waving to fans as they kept chanting his name. "You get older, you want to get a good angle and a good seat and see good people get a return for what they put into it and what they're trying to achieve," Showalter said. "And this is a huge...

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Jimenez in line for the win (O's win 8-2, clinch AL East)

September 16, 2014, 4:56pm

Orioles

Jimenez in line for the win (O's win 8-2, clinch AL East)

If you told Orioles manager Buck Showalter before tonight's game that he'd get five innings of two-run ball out of starter Ubaldo Jimenez, he probably would have signed up for it in blood, to borrow one of his favorite expressions. Jimenez threw 30 pitches in the first inning and 30 more in the second. He faced 12 batters in two innings and issued four walks, but the Blue Jays scored only the two runs off him. Jimenez, making his first start since Aug. 16, retired the last 10 batters that...

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More notes and quotes as Orioles try to clinch division (O's lead 4-2)

September 16, 2014, 2:46pm

Orioles

The 2014 Orioles are the 20th team in club history to win at least 90 games. A win tonight gives the Orioles their ninth American League East title. They've clinched at home only twice, in 1979 and 1969. They clinched in Washington in 1970, New York in 1971, Milwaukee in 1973, Detroit in 1974 and Milwaukee again in 1983 and 1997. The Orioles have clinched four of their 11 playoff series wins in Baltimore - the 1997 Division Series, 1970 Championship Series, 1970 World Series and 1966 World...

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Pregame on clubhouse mood, Jimenez, Steve Johnson and more

September 16, 2014, 1:11pm

Orioles

Pregame on clubhouse mood, Jimenez, Steve Johnson and more

On the surface, the players inside the home clubhouse at Camden Yards this afternoon are going about their business in the usual manner. It's just another day, right? "That may be the way it looks to you," said Orioles manager Buck Showalter, "but that ain't right." OK, maybe they just mask their excitement better than most. "Let's face it, the locker room for quite a long period is an interview room, and I understand it," Showalter said. "That's why the sport is so popular. Thank...

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Orioles lineup vs. Blue Jays

September 16, 2014, 10:58am

Orioles

The Orioles will try to shave off the final game of their magic number tonight and celebrate their first division title since 1997 - and the first clinched at home with a win in 45 years. Ubaldo Jimenez is making his first start since Aug. 16. He's 2-3 with a 4.89 ERA in seven career starts against the Blue Jays. Toronto right-hander Drew Hutchison is 3-0 with a 1.16 ERA in six career starts against the Orioles. Nelson Cruz is 2-for-15 with five strikeouts against him. Adam Jones is...

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More details on how Davis helped accident victims

September 16, 2014, 6:23am

Orioles

More details on how Davis helped accident victims

I'm sitting here wondering how many waterproof garments I can stuff into my laptop bag before heading to Camden Yards this afternoon. I may scotchgard my entire body. I'm too big to be laminated. I already checked. I'm also contemplating what's worse: Rookie Marcus Stroman's fastball behind Caleb Joseph's head last night or the Blue Jays trying to defend it. I'll go with the fastball. Postgame comments can't kill a man. I exchanged emails earlier today with Mike Soukup, who met...

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Steve Johnson to undergo surgery to remove lesion behind shoulder

September 15, 2014, 7:32pm

Orioles

Steve Johnson to undergo surgery to remove lesion behind shoulder

As the Orioles gradually expanded their September roster and assigned pitchers and position players to their taxi squad in Sarasota, right-hander Steve Johnson was one of the more prominent names missing from either list. He wasn't coming to Camden Yards and he wasn't working out at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. Johnson, 27, was bothered this summer by tendinitis in his shoulder that forced him onto the disabled list and limited him to 13 appearances at Triple-A Norfolk. His innings and...