Roch Kubatko

Orioles' offense on Cruz control (O's lose 5-2)

May 04, 2014, 12:14pm

Orioles

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...

Tags:

More on Markakis (Gonzalez only goes 4 2/3)

May 04, 2014, 10:56am

Orioles

More on Markakis (Gonzalez only goes 4 2/3)

Nick Markakis led off today's game for the Orioles by grounding a ball into center field for a single. And so it continues. Markakis extended his hitting streak to 12 games. He's hit safely in 15 of his last 16. Markakis leads the Orioles with 37 hits, six more than runner-up Nelson Cruz. Before today, he ranked second with a .310 average and 15 runs, fourth with a .367 on-base percentage and third with a .790 OPS. Markakis has collected only two home runs, in both ends of Thursday's...

Tags:

orioles miguel gonzalez nick markakis

Orioles lineup vs. Twins

May 04, 2014, 8:06am

Orioles

Steve Pearce remains at first base today for the Orioles while Chris Davis works out at Target Field. Davis also will accompany the team to St. Petersburg, Fla., for the series against the Rays that begins Tuesday night. He's eligible to come off the disabled list on May 11. Delmon Young is the designated hitter today. He's 7-for-21 with a home run lifetime against Twins starter Phil Hughes. Matt Wieters is back in the lineup. He's batting .391/.437/.594 against right-handers this...

Tags:

orioles chris davis frontfeatured_orioles matt wieters steve pearce

While waiting for the Orioles lineup ...

May 04, 2014, 7:48am

Orioles

The Orioles will attempt today to win back-to-back road series for the first time this season. They're 4-0 on the road in series finales and 6-3 overall. Miguel Gonzalez is working on six days rest today, which isn't a bad thing. He owns a career ERA of 3.16 in 13 starts with six days or more of rest, compared to 4.30 in 23 starts with four days. The Orioles lead the majors with a .291 average on the road and are second in runs per game on the road (5.6) behind the Athletics (5.9). Gold...

Tags:

orioles buck britton featured_sidebar jj hardy kevin gausman manny machado miguel gonzalez

Orioles clear spot on 40-man roster

May 04, 2014, 6:30am

Orioles

The Orioles announced this morning that they outrighted infielder David Adams to Double-A Bowie. Adams, 26, cleared waivers after batting .214/.295/.371 (15-for-70) with two home runs and eight RBIs in 21 games for Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles claimed Adams off waivers from the Indians on March 22 and optioned him to Norfolk the following day. The Orioles now have 39 players on their 40-man roster.

Tags:

orioles david adams

Orioles and Twins in series finale

May 03, 2014, 9:59pm

Orioles

The Orioles wrap up their three-game series with the Twins today at Target Field before reaching another open date on their schedule. They're 6-3 this year in the final game of a series. The Orioles are 10-8 against the American League East, but only 3-5 versus the Central. Miguel Gonzalez is making his sixth start of the season and fourth away from Camden Yards. In his first three road starts, he's gone 0-1 with a 7.20 ERA in 15 innings. Gonzalez has never faced the Twins. Ubaldo Jimenez...

Tags:

orioles frontfeatured_orioles jonathan schoop miguel gonzalez nick markakis

Chen left with more challenges against left-handed hitters (O's lose 6-1)

May 03, 2014, 11:54am

Orioles

Chen left with more challenges against left-handed hitters (O's lose 6-1)

Orioles starter Wei-Yin Chen has allowed three runs in five innings this afternoon at Target Field. He just surrendered an RBI single to Twins first baseman Joe Mauer in the fifth and sits at 101 pitches as the game moves into the sixth. Why is Mauer's hit noteworthy? Because left-handers began the day batting .457 against Chen, compared to .271 by right-handers. It's not supposed to work that way. Trevor Plouffe gave the Twins a 1-0 lead in the first inning with a run-scoring double to...

Tags:

orioles wie-yin chen frontstory_orioles2

Clevenger keeps climbing the lineup

May 03, 2014, 9:56am

Orioles

The Orioles' lineup for today's game in Minnesota includes catcher Steve Clevenger hitting in the fifth slot against Twins right-hander Kevin Correia. His name jumps out at me each time I see it listed so high. I'm just glad it's not in a dark alley. That's not to say Clevenger is unworthy and should be lowered. It's just odd for me to find an Orioles backup catcher in the middle of the lineup. In case you haven't noticed, they've employed a lot of catch-and-throw guys over the years....

Tags:

orioles steve clevenger frontstory_orioles3

A few pregame notes

May 03, 2014, 7:55am

Orioles

The Orioles are 11-5 at Target Field since it opened in 2010. They will try to improve that record to 12-5 this afternoon in the second game of their three-game series against the Twins. I checked on Johan Santana's start in an extended spring training game this morning and found out it didn't happen. Apparently, it rains in Sarasota, too. Santana will pitch Monday, and you know manager Buck Showalter and pitching coach Dave Wallace will drive over there from St. Petersburg. Ubaldo Jimenez's...

Tags:

orioles adam jones johan santana matt wieters nelson cruz nick markakis tommy hunter ubaldo jimenez frontstory_orioles2

Orioles and Twins lineups

May 03, 2014, 7:42am

Orioles

The Orioles are sending left-hander Wei-Yin Chen to the mound today in Minnesota as they attempt to move a season-high four games above .500. Chen ranks second in the American League in run support average at 8.69 runs. C.J. Wilson is first at 9.53. The Orioles have scored just 40 runs (2.1 per game) in the 19 games when Chen has been charged with the loss in his major league career, and have scored 117 runs (5.3 per game) in the 22 games when he's won. Steve Clevenger gets the start behind...

Tags:

orioles steve clevenger wei-yin chen frontstory_orioles2

A few random thoughts

May 02, 2014, 9:49pm

Orioles

The Orioles are in first place in the American League East. No Manny Machado until two days ago. No Chris Davis right now because he's on the disabled list. No J.J. Hardy for eight games. No wins for Ubaldo Jimenez in April. No sign of relievers Josh Stinson and Evan Meek, who have been optioned. Check the standings. Three games above .500 and looking down at everyone else. Go figure. I didn't overreact to Jimenez's struggles last month and I'm not going to overreact to his 7 1/3 scoreless...

Tags:

orioles dan duquette kevin gausman frontstory_orioles3

Wieters, Cruz continue to rake as Orioles take 3-0 lead (O's win 3-0)

May 02, 2014, 5:37pm

Orioles

Orioles catcher Matt Wieters is on a serious roll. Wieters has now registered six multi-hit games in the last seven, going 13-for-30 with three doubles, two homers and eight RBIs in that stretch. His run-scoring double in the fourth inning tonight, a shot off the fence in center field, scored Nelson Cruz for a 1-0 lead over the Twins at Target Field. Cruz led off with a double, but Twins left fielder Jason Kubel played the ball like a live grenade. You may remember that the Orioles had...

Tags:

orioles manny machado matt wieters nelson cruz ubaldo jimenez frontstory_orioles1

Gausman diagnosed with pneumonia, not intercostal strain

May 02, 2014, 2:58pm

Orioles

Gausman diagnosed with pneumonia, not intercostal strain

Kevin Gausman just confirmed that his MRI today revealed he has pneumonia, not an intercostal strain. Gausman, the Orioles' second-ranked prospect by Baseball America, was placed on the minor league disabled list earlier today because of the illness. Coughing certainly caused him to feel pain in that area, also leading him to have trouble breathing overnight Wednesday. Gausman said he was sick about 2 1/2 weeks ago and recently felt better, but then the cough returned. The 23-year-old spoke...

Tags:

kevin gausman orioles orioles farm report frontstory_orioles2

Orioles-Twins lineups and notes (Gausman on DL)

May 02, 2014, 12:51pm

Orioles

The Orioles have gone 14-6 against the Twins dating back to April 19, 2011 and are 10-5 at Target Field since it opened in 2010. Will they continue to trend upward? Will Ubaldo Jimenez win his first game with the Orioles? Stay tuned. Manny Machado is starting at third base and batting second again tonight. Steve Pearce gets another start at first base. The Orioles confirmed that they recalled reliever Brad Brach from Triple-A Norfolk. He's wearing No. 35. For the Orioles Nick Markakis...

Tags:

orioles adam jones matt wieters tommy hunter ubaldo jimenez kevin gausman

Gausman: "I was freaking out because I thought that I was having a heart attack"

May 02, 2014, 10:31am

Orioles

Gausman: "I was freaking out because I thought that I was having a heart attack"

If pitcher Kevin Gausman wants to curse the timing of what may be an intercostal muscle injury, he could vent in a couple of directions. The Orioles would have recalled a healthy Gausman for tonight's series opener in Minnesota. And after being on a strict pitch count for his first five starts with Triple-A Norfolk, he was cleared to throw up to 90 for the Tides tonight until being scratched and replaced by knuckleballer Eddie Gamboa. "So ... of course," Gausman said today in a phone...

Tags:

orioles featured_sidebar kevin gausman frontstory_orioles2

More on Gausman

May 02, 2014, 8:39am

Orioles

The Orioles are trying to get their top pitching prospects on the same healthy road back to the majors. Dylan Bundy continues to progress from last summer's ligament-reconstructive surgery on his right elbow and should be pitching in extended spring training games by the middle of the month. He's heading in one direction. Kevin Gausman just took a U-turn. Gausman will go on the seven-day minor league disabled list with an oblique injury. He's already been scratched from tonight's start...

Tags:

orioles frontfeatured_orioles kevin gausman

Brach meeting Orioles in Minnesota

May 02, 2014, 6:36am

Orioles

While the Orioles decide whether to place pitcher Kevin Gausman on the minor league disabled list with an intercostal strain, they decided early this morning to recall reliever Brad Brach from Triple-A Norfolk. Brach replaces Evan Meek, who was optioned following the Orioles' 6-5, 10-inning victory over the Pirates in Game 2 of a doubleheader at Camden Yards. The doubleheader sweep taxed the bullpen, with Ryan Webb, Darren O'Day, Brian Matusz and Tommy Hunter pitching in both ends. Brach,...

Tags:

orioles brad brach frontstory_orioles2

More banter about the bullpen and tonight's game

May 01, 2014, 11:06pm

Orioles

More banter about the bullpen and tonight's game

The Orioles will open a three-game series tonight in Minnesota, where they only have to worry about frostbite and a smoldering bullpen. They didn't have enough pitching to make it to Target Field without another roster move. Not a chance. And Evan Meek was the most vulnerable reliever, which is why he's headed to Triple-A Norfolk. Early this morning, I tossed out some possible names to join the Orioles - Preston Guilmet, Suk-min Yoon and Tim Berry. Kevin Gausman was the obvious choice until...

Tags:

orioles featured_sidebar suk-min yoon tim berry ubaldo jimenez frontstory_orioles2

Gausman injury prevents a call-up (Meek optioned)

May 01, 2014, 9:41pm

Orioles

Gausman injury prevents a call-up (Meek optioned)

The Orioles are expected to bring up a reliever for the trip to Minnesota after tonight's doubleheader sweep. The bullpen needs a fresh arm. It won't belong to Kevin Gausman. Gausman was scheduled to start tonight for Triple-A Norfolk - yes, we're past midnight - but an X-ray today revealed a strained intercostal muscle that could force him on the minor league disabled list. Gausman, who's 0-1 with a 2.53 ERA in five starts, would have been the likely choice without the injury. Manager...

Tags:

orioles buck showalter chris tillman evan meek featured_sidebar kevin gausman manny machado frontstory_orioles2

Markakis muscles up (walk-off home run for Wieters)

May 01, 2014, 7:51pm

Orioles

Markakis muscles up (walk-off home run for Wieters)

No need to wonder when Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis is going to hit his first home run. Or his second. Today's doubleheader took care of both questions. Markakis has homered in both ends, his solo shot tying Game 2, 5-5, in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Pirates took a 5-4 lead in the top half on Starling Marte's RBI single off Ryan Webb, who replaced left-hander Troy Patton. But the Orioles have tied the game for the second time tonight. Jane, how do you stop this crazy...