Roch Kubatko

Showalter names his starter for Friday and updates Gonzalez

August 18, 2014, 3:04pm

Orioles

Showalter names his starter for Friday and updates Gonzalez

CHICAGO - Part of the Orioles rotation has started to take shape for the weekend series against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Manager Buck Showalter said Kevin Gausman will start Friday's opener, keeping the right-hander on normal rest. The next two spots haven't been announced. Showalter won't reveal his plans for Ubaldo Jimenez, who allowed six runs over 4 1/3 innings Saturday night in Cleveland. "We're not there yet," Showalter said, adding that Jimenez will hear it from him...

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Orioles and White Sox lineups

August 18, 2014, 12:26pm

Orioles

CHICAGO - Chris Davis is starting at third base and batting seventh for the second straight game as the Orioles open a three-game series at the White Sox. Davis went 2-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI yesterday, so the Orioles decided not to mess with a good thing. Steve Pearce is at first, Nelson Cruz is in left and Delmon Young is serving as the designated hitter. Jonathan Schoop is starting at second for the eighth straight game. He has three homers and five RBIs in his last five...

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Orioles hoping rest of trip is breeze in Windy City

August 17, 2014, 1:14pm

Orioles

The Orioles are preparing to spend a week in Chicago, with Thursday's off-day separating series against the White Sox and Cubs. My Southwest flight this morning must be packed because I'm in the B group and I used early bird check-in. The struggle is real. The Orioles lost two of three at U.S. Cellular Field last season. They haven't swept the White Sox in a three-game series in Chicago since 1989. Why not? The White Sox haven't swept the Orioles in a three-game series in Chicago since...

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It's official: Steve Pearce is heating up (Schoop homers, O's win 4-1)

August 17, 2014, 11:35am

Orioles

It's official: Steve Pearce is heating up (Schoop homers, O's win 4-1)

Steve Pearce started today at first base despite dragging a 5-for-44 slump into the game. Manager Buck Showalter wanted to get Pearce more at-bats, especially with Chris Davis mired in a lengthy slump. He also knew that right-handers were hitting .317 against Indians starter Danny Salazar. And with the Orioles struggling to score runs and their offense stuck in neutral, it was worth a shot. Former Oriole Chris Dickerson robbed Pearce of an extra-base hit last night. Pearce lined to center...

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Early Gausman update and more notes (O's lead 2-1)

August 17, 2014, 9:33am

Orioles

Early Gausman update and more notes (O's lead 2-1)

Ubaldo Jimenez walked two batters in the first inning last night and fell behind 3-0 on Carlos Santana's long home run to center field. Kevin Gausman walked two Indians in the first inning today and escaped the jam, getting a popup and ground ball with two runners in scoring position. Bad things usually happen when you walk batters. Steve Pearce lined to center field in the first inning, leaving him in a 5-for-45 slump, but he's hit the ball hard in his last two at-bats. Maybe that's a...

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Notes on Orioles' offense, Markakis, Cruz and Pearce

August 17, 2014, 7:40am

Orioles

The Orioles are 8-11 on Sundays this season, but 5-4 on the road. So, I'm saying there's a chance. The Orioles are 23-17 in series finales this year, including 13-7 on the road. They're 10-4 in their last 14 series finales and have won four of the last five. The Orioles have been held to one run in the last two games, their lowest output in a two-game span since also totaling one run June 7-8, 2013 against the Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla. Boog Powell is celebrating his 73rd birthday...

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Corrected Orioles lineup

August 17, 2014, 7:01am

Orioles

Ignore the earlier Orioles lineup from baseballpress.com that I passed along this morning. It was a duplicate of last night's batting order. The Orioles posted today's lineup and it's quite different. Steve Pearce is batting second and playing first base. Chris Davis is batting seventh and starting at third base. Delmon Young is in left field and Nick Hundley is behind the plate. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Steve Pearce 1B Adam Jones CF Nelson Cruz DH Delmon Young LF J.J. Hardy...

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Orioles and Indians lineups

August 17, 2014, 6:20am

Orioles

The Orioles need a win today to avoid being swept in a three-game series in Cleveland for the first time since April 15-17, 2011. The Orioles are 7-1 after being shut out this season, their only loss coming on May 18 in Kansas City. David Lough is batting second again today. Chris Davis is fifth. Caleb Joseph is catching a day game following a night game, with manager Buck Showalter continuing to pair him with Kevin Gausman. The Indians recalled Danny Salazar from Triple-A Columbus to make...

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Wondering about the rotation and looking at today's series finale

August 16, 2014, 4:54pm

Orioles

Wondering about the rotation and looking at today's series finale

What happens next with the Orioles rotation? It's one of the more fascinating story lines as the Orioles approach their 122nd game today while closing out the series in Cleveland. The Orioles haven't listed a starter for Wednesday night in Chicago. Manager Buck Showalter suggested during the last homestand that Miguel Gonzalez could start Tuesday, but that assignment goes to Chris Tillman. Gonzalez could take the mound Wednesday at U.S. Cellular Field. If he goes to the bullpen, how in...

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Jimenez can't take the fifth (O's lose 6-0)

August 16, 2014, 4:44pm

Orioles

Jimenez can't take the fifth (O's lose 6-0)

The Orioles haven't lost back-to-back games since June 28-29 against the Rays, a streak that's in serious jeopardy tonight. Ubaldo Jimenez, in his second start since coming off the disabled list, lasted only 4 1/3 innings tonight and departed with the Indians leading 6-0. Jimenez had retired 11 of 12 batters until former Oriole Chris Dickerson doubled to left-center field leading off the bottom of the fifth. He advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Jose Ramirez's...

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Notes on Jimenez, Joseph and Britton (Jimenez gives up three in first)

August 16, 2014, 2:07pm

Orioles

Notes on Jimenez, Joseph and Britton (Jimenez gives up three in first)

Ubaldo Jimenez makes his return tonight to Progressive Field, where he went 16-17 with a 4.00 ERA and 26 quality starts while pitching for the Indians. In his last 11 starts in Cleveland since June 1, 2013, Jimenez went 5-2 with a 1.66 ERA and nine quality starts over 70 1/3 innings. The Indians won nine of the 11 games. Not sure whether that will earn him a video tribute. The Orioles scored nine runs in Jimenez's last start on Aug. 9 against the Cardinals, the most they've tallied in...

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Lough batting second for Orioles

August 16, 2014, 11:41am

Orioles

Orioles manager Buck Showalter has placed David Lough in the second slot in the lineup for tonight's game against the Indians at Progressive Field. Lough is making his fourth start this season as the No. 2 hitter. Chris Davis, who went 0-for-5 with four strikeouts last night, was lowered from second to fifth. The Orioles need to win the next two games to extend their series win streak to nine, tying the club record. They also won nine straight from July 31 to Aug. 27, 1968 and Sept. 18,...

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orioles

About last night and tonight ...

August 15, 2014, 8:26pm

Orioles

I'm going to start this blog entry by saying that Orioles manager Buck Showalter is aware of left-hander Brian Matusz's splits. I feel the need to point this out to anyone questioning why Showalter allowed Matusz to face Mike Aviles last night. It's the bottom of the 11th. Showalter would rather not play match-ups and risk running out of relievers. And while right-handers were batting .306 against Matusz this season, he wasn't charged with a run in July while holding opponents to a .133...

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Orioles vs. AL Central, and other notes (O's lose 2-1 in 11th)

August 15, 2014, 1:10pm

Orioles

Despite being 19 games above .500, the Orioles are only 9-14 (.391) against the American League Central this season. In their other 96 games, they've gone 60-36 (.625) and are playing at a 101-win full-season pace. The Orioles have won eight consecutive series openers dating back to July 21 in Anaheim. They're 25-15 in series openers this season, going 13-7 at home and 12-8 on the road. The Orioles trail the Indians in the all-time series 394-430, going 213-204 in Baltimore and 181-226 in...

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Hardy returns to lineup

August 15, 2014, 11:44am

Orioles

J.J. Hardy, who hasn't played since being scratched from Sunday's lineup with a sprained left thumb, is batting sixth tonight as the Orioles shortstop for the series opener in Cleveland. Ryan Flaherty is starting at third base. Chris Davis continues to bat second. The Orioles are a season-high 19 games above .500, their highest margin since ending the 2012 season with a 93-69 record. The Orioles lead the American League East by 7 1/2 games, their largest margin since Sept. 13,...

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Bundy: "If I'm done for the year, I'm happy"

August 15, 2014, 9:08am

Orioles

Bundy: "If I'm done for the year, I'm happy"

Dylan Bundy, placed on Single-A Frederick's disabled list yesterday with a strained right latissimus dorsi, said his injury occurred Sunday as he ran in the outfield following a routine throwing session. Bundy underwent an MRI yesterday in Baltimore that revealed the strain, which may end his minor league season. "It's definitely a weird injury," Bundy said today during a phone interview. "I had just thrown some long toss and my flat ground and was going to do some condition drills. I...

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A few thoughts on Bundy and tonight's game

August 14, 2014, 7:13pm

Orioles

A few thoughts on Bundy and tonight's game

Did everyone enjoy the off day? Major League Baseball has a new commissioner. Dylan Bundy has a new lat injury. That pretty much covers the news. Rob Manfred - the commissioner, not the technical name for Bundy's injury - shouldn't be confused with WBAL Radio's Fred Manfra. Two different guys. As for Bundy, his season at Single-A Frederick was winding down and I doubt that the Orioles were going to recall him next month, so being shut down isn't a crushing blow. His right elbow is sound....

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Quick note and a question

August 14, 2014, 12:18pm

Orioles

Left-hander Joe Saunders tossed two scoreless innings today for Triple-A Norfolk, walking one Buffalo batter and striking out one. The Saunders relief experiment seems to be working so far. He's permitted one earned run over 5 1/3 innings since the Orioles signed him to a minor league contract. It hasn't been a totally clean experiment, with Saunders allowing five hits and walking two, but the Orioles understand that it's a transition for him. Saunders has never pitched in relief during...

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Orioles remain resilient

August 13, 2014, 8:41pm

Orioles

The Orioles received good news on third baseman Manny Machado, who's been diagnosed with a sprained ligament in his right knee with no structural damage, but they continue to check the market for available infielders. Moving beyond the non-waiver trade deadline hasn't made a difference. A player can be traded if he passes through waivers and many deals are consummated before September. The Orioles nearly had a deal done with the Indians for Asdrubal Cabrera, but he went to the Nationals just...

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Showalter on Jones and a 5-3 win

August 13, 2014, 6:49pm

Orioles

Adam Jones reached first base, raised his fist in the air and bounced around the bases, skipping sideways across the plate and slapping a layer of skin off the hands of his teammates as he approached the dugout. He shouted toward the field while tugging at his batting gloves. The needle on his emotion meter was bouncing in the red. I don't recall seeing Jones quite so fired up, though manager Buck Showalter said it's happened in the past. Jones' three-run homer broke a 2-2 tie in the...