ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles catcher Matt Wieters is available off the bench tonight, according to manager Buck Showalter, after having his right elbow examined by Dr. James Andrews in Pensacola, Fla., and grabbing a flight back to Tampa.
Showalter anticipates that Wieters will be in Thursday night's lineup against Rays left-hander David Price. He's expected to serve as the designated hitter.
Showalter said Wieters should be catching again "in the near future."
Wieters underwent an MRI on...
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Caleb Joseph spent part of his afternoon accepting hugs from teammates in the visiting clubhouse at Tropicana Field, warm greetings given to a player making his major league debut at age 27.
Joseph didn't know whether he would start tonight, since he hadn't spoken to manager Buck Showalter and no lineup was posted. Turns out, he's catching and batting ninth against Rays left-hander Cesar Ramos.
It's been an unforgettable 24 hours for Joseph, a late scratch from...
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles have purchased the contract of catcher Caleb Joseph from Triple-A Norfolk and optioned infielder Jemile Weeks.
Joseph, 28, will make his major league debut tonight against the Rays at Tropicana Field. He's starting behind the plate, batting ninth and wearing No. 36.
Joseph, who arrived in Tampa around 1:30 p.m., is batting .261/.284/.402 in 22 games for the Tides. He hit .299/.346/.494 with 22 home runs and 97 RBIs for Double-A Bowie in 2013 and was named...
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles catcher Matt Wieters is likely to stay on the active roster following today's visit with Dr. James Andrews in Pensacola, Fla.
Wieters doesn't have a torn ligament in his right elbow and there's no talk of surgery, according to an industry source. The club may continue using him as the designated hitter, as it did last night, until he's able to catch.
Wieters had an MRI on his elbow Monday and manager Buck Showalter sounded optimistic that the two-time...
ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. - As the Orioles wait to find out whether they may include catcher Matt Wieters in tonight's lineup, they will attempt to continue their recent run of success against the Rays.
The Orioles are 3-0 against Tampa Bay this season and have outscored the Rays 15-4. They've won three in a row for the first time since building a five-game winning streak against Tampa Bay from Aug. 4-Sept. 13, 2012.
The Orioles have won nine of their last 15 road games, averaging 5.4 runs per...
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Now it makes sense.
The decision to outright infielder David Adams and the unexplained opening on the 40-man roster. Hints that more moves could be coming. The extra rest provided for catcher Matt Wieters. The use of Wieters as the designated hitter last night.
He's hurt.
Wieters has a sore right elbow, and the idea that the discomfort first surfaced in his forearm conjures up images of Dylan Bundy, who had the same sensations last spring and underwent Tommy John...
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles catcher Matt Wieters will fly to Pensacola, Fla., Tuesday morning to have his right elbow examined by renowned orthopedist Dr. James Andrews. He's scheduled to come back to the team later in the day, and manager Buck Showalter hopes to have him behind the plate for the second game of the series against the Rays.
Showalter didn't provide much information beyond confirming that Wieters had an MRI on his elbow during yesterday's break in the schedule.
"He's...
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles have grown accustomed to bizarre occurrences at Tropicana Field. Having the lights go out in the middle of a rally didn't faze them.
The Orioles scored twice in the top of the eighth inning to break a 3-3 tie, but only after enduring a 19-minute delay.
As Steve Pearce stood on deck following Steve Clevenger's double, the transformer carrying incoming power lines to the facility was struck by lightning. Players headed to their respective dugouts except for...
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth inning tonight and settled for one run.
They loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth and settled for one run.
A 3-2 lead over the Rays doesn't seem sufficient.
The Orioles could have delivered a knockout punch to Rays starter Chris Archer. Instead, they've taken a slim lead against him and pushed his pitch count to 100 in five innings.
Nelson Cruz and Adam Jones singled to lead off the fourth and Matt...
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Matt Wieters is serving as the designated hitter tonight in the Orioles' series opener against the Rays, and the decision is tied to his right elbow.
I can confirm that Dr. James Andrews will examine Wieters' elbow on Wednesday, as first reported by Yahoo! Sports. There's apparently a growing concern that Wieters tore a ligament.
Caleb Joseph was scratched from Triple-A Norfolk's lineup tonight and is headed to Tampa.
Keep in mind that the Orioles outrighted...
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles got through batting practice without any health issues and announced that reliever Brad Brach has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.
Brach's removal creates a spot for T.J. McFarland, recalled from Norfolk, and gives the Orioles four left-handers in their bullpen.
Brach made two appearances with the Orioles and posted a 16.20 ERA in 1 2/3 innings. He served up a three-run homer to Minnesota's Joe Mauer on Saturday in his debut with the club.
Brach,...
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles will recall left-hander T.J. McFarland after batting practice today because they need length in their bullpen, a true long man who can consume innings if a starter makes an early exit.
Manager Buck Showalter indicated that the Orioles could go with a 13-man pitching staff down the road. However, they seem prepared to send out another reliever today to make room for McFarland.
"I think there may be some corresponding things as we go forward in the next day...
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Left-hander T.J. McFarland sat at his locker this afternoon at Tropicana Field, chatting with teammates Zach Britton and Brad Brach while waiting to find out whether the Orioles were placing him on the 25-man roster.
The Orioles are expected to officially recall McFarland, but it may not happen until the conclusion of batting practice. Manager Buck Showalter wants to make sure that everyone is healthy.
Stay tuned.
The Orioles could have four left-handers in their...
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Left-hander T.J. McFarland is in the Orioles clubhouse at Tropicana Field. No roster move has been announced, but no relievers are listed on the lineup card, so it looks like one will be removed to make space.
Matt Wieters is at designated hitter and Steve Clevenger is behind the plate for tonight's series opener at Tropicana Field with Chris Tillman on the mound against Chris Archer.
Also, Chris Davis is in St. Petersburg, and played catch and simulated fielding...
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - A group of Orioles are taking early batting practice under the lights at Tropicana Field, including Jonathan Schoop, J.J. Hardy, Manny Machado, David Lough, Ryan Flaherty, Steve Pearce, Steve Clevenger and Jemile Weeks.
Other players are hitting inside the cage in the tunnel that leads to the dugout.
The sun is shining and it's hot outside, but they're preparing for indoor baseball.
Schoop has three hits in his last 22 at-bats, and four in his last 26. Hardy hasn't...
Does anyone sleep well the night before an early-morning flight? Show of hands.
The Orioles begin a three-game series tonight against the Rays at Tropicana Field, and they're prepared to make another roster move.
As I wrote yesterday, left-hander T.J. McFarland was scratched from his scheduled start with Triple-A Norfolk and likely will be recalled to aid a bullpen that's in danger of burning out from excessive use. He'd be the only true long man of the bunch.
The rotation has produced only...
The Orioles could be poised to make another roster move.
Left-hander T.J. McFarland has been scratched from tonight's scheduled start for Triple-A Norfolk. He was supposed to take the mound in Louisville, but may be headed to St. Petersburg, Fla., where the Orioles begin a three-game series Tuesday night at Tropicana Field.
Nick Additon is taking McFarland's turn tonight.
The Orioles optioned McFarland to Norfolk on April 25 to create room for infielder Jemile Weeks. He must stay down for...
Left-hander Johan Santana threw two innings in an extended spring training start this afternoon, allowing one hit and striking out four.
The best news to come out of the 28-pitch outing in Sarasota was that Santana hit 87-89 mph with his fastball, which is better than the 84-87 mph he was clocked at in the simulated game that preceded today's effort.
Orioles manager Buck Showalter and pitching coach Dave Wallace drove from St. Petersburg, Fla., on the club's off-day to watch Santana's...
Hey, look, the Orioles are off again today.
Open dates and heavy rains have punched a lot of holes in the schedule, but it comes with a heavy price. If the union allowed it, Major League Baseball probably would force the Orioles to play all 31 days in August.
I'll join the team Tuesday in St. Petersburg, Fla. Have to get my Tropicana Field fix.
I make fun of the place, but most media types love the working environment. Good press box, climate controlled, convenient parking, easy access to the...
Too bad that Major League Baseball doesn't award an extra run based on the distance of a home run.
Nelson Cruz could have overcome a three-run deficit today despite only one runner being on base.
Cruz put another ball into the third deck, his two-run shot off Phil Hughes reducing Minnesota's lead to 3-2 in the sixth inning. He took a 92 mph four-seam fastball out of the strike zone and launched an 88 mph cutter.
Cruz's ninth homer traveled an estimated 416 feet. According to the MASN2 HD...