Roch Kubatko

Pearce keeps producing

May 29, 2014, 9:16am

Orioles

HOUSTON - While Orioles manager Buck Showalter writes out tonight's lineup for the series opener against the Astros, he must consider whether to insert Steve Pearce as the designated hitter or use Nelson Cruz in that role and play David Lough in left field. As I wrote this morning, right-handers are batting .201 against Houston starter Brad Peacock in his major league career, compared to a .270 average for left-handers. However, Pearce is 17-for-50 against right-handers this season, posting a...

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Orioles back to American League rules

May 28, 2014, 6:37pm

Orioles

Breaking news for the Orioles: They get to use a designated hitter tonight. It's not as exciting as trading prospects for a hot pitcher, but there you go. Honestly, does anyone get a thrill from watching American League pitchers attempt to lay down a bunt? If so, you also must get a rush from staring at a dripping faucet. Nelson Cruz could serve as the DH tonight if David Lough gets the start in left field against Astros right-hander Brad Peacock, who's 1-4 with a 5.20 ERA this...

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Updating tonight's game, Santana and Bundy (O's lose 8-3)

May 28, 2014, 4:49pm

Orioles

Updating tonight's game, Santana and Bundy (O's lose 8-3)

Not only does Nelson Cruz continue to hit home runs, he has developed a fondness for driving the ball to right-center field. That was the landing spot again tonight in the top of the second inning at Miller Park, as his 18th home run tied the game 1-1. Brewers starter Yovani Gallardo threw two 91 mph fastballs to Cruz, the second one traveling much farther than he wanted. Cruz leads the majors in home runs and ranks second in RBIs with 47, two behind the Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton. Cruz...

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Orioles lineup versus Brewers (updated)

May 28, 2014, 12:57pm

Orioles

Orioles manager Buck Showalter is sticking with the same lineup tonight, which includes Nick Hundley behind the plate and Jonathan Schoop at second base. Nothing to see here except familiarity. Pitchers Bud Norris and Yovani Gallardo were used as pinch-hitters last night at Miller Park. Gallardo delivered a walk-off double in the 10th inning off Orioles left-hander T.J. McFarland. Tonight, they oppose each other on the mound. According to Elias, Tom Browning and John Smoltz were the last...

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Meek outrighted to Norfolk, Brewers lineup

May 28, 2014, 12:37pm

Orioles

Meek outrighted to Norfolk, Brewers lineup

The Orioles have been busy with minor matters today. Shortly after trading catcher Johnny Monell to the Dodgers for cash considerations, the Orioles announced that reliever Evan Meek has been outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk. Meek cleared waivers after going 1-0 with a 5.59 ERA in eight games and 9 2/3 innings with the Tides. Meek didn't allow a run in his first eight appearances with the Orioles, but was optioned on May 1 after permitting nine runs and 10 hits in 2 2/3 innings over four...

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Orioles trade Monell to Dodgers

May 28, 2014, 11:31am

Orioles

One day after optioning catcher Steve Clevenger to Triple-A Norfolk, the Orioles have traded Tides catcher Johnny Monell to the Dodgers for cash considerations. Monell, 28, was batting .209/.280/.286 with four doubles, one home run and seven RBIs in 30 games at Norfolk. He will report to the Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate in Albuquerque. The Orioles purchased Monell's contract from the Giants on Nov. 30. He lost the backup competition to Clevenger, who was optioned yesterday after first...

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Peguero update and a few afternoon notes

May 28, 2014, 10:10am

Orioles

Peguero update and a few afternoon notes

Outfielder Francisco Peguero will fly to Baltimore Thursday and undergo an examination on both hamstrings. Peguero's 20-day injury rehab assignment ends on Thursday. He's on the major league disabled list with right wrist tendinitis. Peguero's hamstring injuries enable the Orioles to keep him on the DL. Otherwise, they would have been required to activate him and find a spot on the 25-man roster or expose him to waivers and attempt to outright him to Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles signed...

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Talking about Guilmet, Matusz and a few others

May 27, 2014, 8:55pm

Orioles

Talking about Guilmet, Matusz and a few others

Outfielder Nelson Cruz wasn't with the Orioles when they reported to spring training. Reliever Preston Guilmet wasn't in the organization on opening day. Catcher Nick Hundley wasn't an Oriole until Saturday. Cruz leads the majors in home runs and ranks second in RBIs, and he seems a shoo-in to play in the All-Star Game. Guilmet hasn't allowed a run or hit in six innings. Hundley is pretty much the starter now with Matt Wieters on the disabled list and Steve Clevenger optioned to Triple-A...

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Cruz adds to major league home run lead (O's lose 7-6 in 10 innings)

May 27, 2014, 5:41pm

Orioles

Cruz adds to major league home run lead (O's lose 7-6 in 10 innings)

Brewers starter Matt Garza was working on a one-hit shutout tonight as he returned to the mound for the top of the fifth inning at Miller Park. One pitch to Nelson Cruz and Garza had to redirect his goals. Cruz pounced on a 92 mph fastball from Garza leading off the inning and drove it over the fence in right-center field to reduce Milwaukee's lead to 5-1. Cruz leads the majors with 17 home runs. His 46 RBIs rank second to Miami's Giancarlo Stanton, who has 49. As I wrote earlier today, Cruz...

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First inning trips up Chen (O's down 5-0)

May 27, 2014, 4:30pm

Orioles

First inning trips up Chen (O's down 5-0)

Orioles left-hander Wei-Yin Chen allowed two runs in the first inning in nine starts before tonight. Chen surrendered three in the opening frame tonight, all of them coming on one swing from Brewers center fielder Carlos Gomez. Gomez took a curveball out of the strike zone and launched another curveball over the left field fence with two runners aboard to give Milwaukee a quick 3-0 lead. Left-handers are batting .383 against Chen this season, but the Brewers lineup is stacked with right-handed...

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Clevenger optioned to Norfolk

May 27, 2014, 2:06pm

Orioles

The Orioles reinstated first baseman Chris Davis from the paternity list and optioned a catcher to make room for him. That part was expected. Surprisingly, the Orioles are sending Steve Clevenger to Triple-A Norfolk. Caleb Joseph figured to be the most vulnerable because he bats right-handed, as does newly acquired Nick Hundley, and Clevenger began the season as Matt Wieters' backup. Clevenger, 28, has batted .243/.300/.378 with eight doubles, a triple and eight RBIs in 24 games with the...

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Davis back in Orioles lineup

May 27, 2014, 12:26pm

Orioles

Chris Davis has returned to the Orioles tonight after spending two days on paternity leave, and he's starting at first base and batting fourth against the Brewers at Miller Park. Nick Hundley gets his second start behind the plate since joining the Orioles. Jonathan Schoop remains at second base. Nick Markakis remains atop the order despite being 4-for-34 against Brewers starter Matt Garza. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Manny Machado 3B Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Nelson Cruz LF J.J....

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Updating Johan Santana's start at extended spring training

May 27, 2014, 9:49am

Orioles

Updating Johan Santana's start at extended spring training

Johan Santana made what's expected to be his final start today at extended spring training, throwing 76 pitches in 4 1/3 innings. The Orioles wanted to stretch out Santana to 75 pitches or five innings. The left-hander allowed two runs and six hits, walked none and struck out eight. His fastball was clocked at 86-88 mph, his changeup at 72-78 mph and his slider at 77-81 mph. The Orioles want Santana to keep about a 10 mph difference between his fastball and changeup. Santana has an opt-out...

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Wieters leads AL catchers in All-Star voting

May 27, 2014, 9:38am

Orioles

Wieters leads AL catchers in All-Star voting

The first round of All-Star voting has been released by Major League Baseball, and Matt Wieters leads all American League catchers despite being on the disabled list. Wieters has garnered 540,258 votes as he vies for his third career Midsummer Classic selection (2011-12) and first career starting assignment. Wieters, who's batting .308 with five home runs and 18 RBI, would join Terry Kennedy (1987) as the only catchers in team history to earn a fan-elected start. New York's Brian McCann, a...

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Orioles using familiar formula

May 26, 2014, 6:00pm

Orioles

The comparisons between the 2012 and 2014 Orioles are becoming more difficult to ignore. I'm not predicting playoffs - the rotation remains a concern following Chris Tillman's latest struggle yesterday in Milwaukee, and catcher Matt Wieters may need surgery on his right elbow - but the Orioles are winning the close games and in extra innings. The bullpen, despite its revolving door, ranks among the American League leaders in ERA at 3.47 in 163 2/3 innings. Any of this sound familiar? The...

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Orioles tie game in ninth inning (O's win 7-6 in 10 innings)

May 26, 2014, 1:23pm

Orioles

Former Orioles reliever Francisco Rodriguez was 17-for-18 in save opportunities for the Brewers as he entered today's game at Miller Park in the top of the ninth inning. One out away from going 18-for-19, Rodriguez gave up a solo home run to Jonathan Schoop, a pinch-hit single to Delmon Young and a game-tying double to Nick Markakis. Baseball is a funny game. Schoop hadn't homered since May 7. Now, he's registered the first multi-homer game of his career with this shot. A real funny...

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Tough times for Tillman through the fourth (Schoop homers)

May 26, 2014, 11:48am

Orioles

Tough times for Tillman through the fourth (Schoop homers)

Chris Tillman won't follow up Miguel Gonzalez's quality start yesterday with one of his own in Milwaukee. Tillman has made it through four innings, three more than his previous outing in Pittsburgh, but he's thrown 79 pitches and the Orioles trail 4-3. The Brewers scored twice in the fourth on Jean Segura's two-run double after Tillman issued back-to-back walks to Khris Davis and Lyle Overbay, raising his total to four. Three of the four batters he's walked have come around to...

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Which Orioles are streaking? (O's lead 3-1)

May 26, 2014, 9:42am

Orioles

Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy is back in Milwaukee, where he spent the first five seasons of his major league career before being traded to the Twins on Nov. 6, 2009 for Carlos Gomez. He was an All-Star in 2007. Hardy batted .262 with 75 home runs and 265 RBI in 571 games for the Brewers. Hardy is currently on a season-high seven-game hitting streak, batting .464 (13-for-28) with two doubles, four RBIs and three runs scored. He has multi-hit games in five of the seven. After batting .241...

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Hundley making Orioles debut

May 26, 2014, 7:41am

Orioles

Nick Hundley is behind the plate today for the Orioles, who begin a three-game series in Milwaukee. Manny Machado remains in the lineup at third base. Steve Pearce is playing first base while Chris Davis remains on paternity leave, and Jonathan Schoop gets another start at second base. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Manny Machado 3B Adam Jones CF Nelson Cruz LF Steve Pearce 1B J.J. Hardy SS Nick Hundley C Jonathan Schoop 2B Chris Tillman RHP

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While waiting for the Orioles lineup ...

May 26, 2014, 7:09am

Orioles

Catcher Nick Hundley most likely will make his Orioles debut today in the opener of a three-game series against the Brewers at Miller Park. Hundley is 3-for-7 with two home runs and five RBIs lifetime against Brewers starter Kyle Lohse. Makes sense, right? Chris Tillman will attempt to rebound from his last start, when he failed to record an out in the second inning in Pittsburgh. He's never faced the Brewers. Lyle Overbay is 7-for-17 with three home runs against Tillman. For the...