Roch Kubatko

Matusz ready to pitch

April 13, 2014, 8:19am

Orioles

Left-hander Brian Matusz will have more of a presence in the Orioles' bullpen today than just his No. 17 taped to the bench. Matusz has returned to the club after missing the last two games with an illness. He threw in the outfield before batting practice and worked up a good sweat. "I feel good," he said."I went out and played catch with Zach (Britton) and felt like the ball was coming out good. My energy is coming back. I'm going to go out there and prepare and be ready to...

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Orioles and Blue Jays lineups

April 13, 2014, 6:45am

Orioles

Steve Pearce will make his first start today, serving as the Orioles' designated hitter for their 1:35 p.m. game against the Blue Jays at Camden Yard. Delmon Young is in left field. J.J. Hardy makes his second consecutive start at shortstop after missing six of seven games due to spasms and tightness in his lower back. Also, hitting coach Jim Presley has returned to the team. He missed the last two games with an illness. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Delmon Young LF Adam Jones CF Chris...

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Pearce could play today

April 12, 2014, 7:51pm

Orioles

Eight of the Orioles' 11 games this season have been decided by two runs or fewer. Too early to detect a trend? Reliever Darren O'Day has 13 straight scoreless appearances dating to last season. Right fielder Nick Markakis has a seven-game hitting streak. He's 10-for-30 with a double, triple, three RBIs and three runs scored during that stretch. Orioles manager Buck Showalter wants to give Steve Pearce a start, and today's game presents an opportunity with the Blue Jays sending left-hander...

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Showalter speaks after 2-1, 12-inning win

April 12, 2014, 7:31pm

Orioles

Showalter speaks after 2-1, 12-inning win

Orioles manager Buck Showalter confirmed tonight that he put Jonathan Schoop back in the lineup to prevent the rookie from dwelling on last night's two-error game. He planned on sitting Schoop until the defensive miscues. Schoop rewarded Showalter with an RBI double in the seventh inning that broke a scoreless tie, and a couple of nice plays at third base. "Tough night last night. In his mind, not in ours," Showalter said following a 2-1, 12-inning win over the Blue Jays before an...

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Schoop rewards Showalter (O's win 2-1 in 12 innings)

April 12, 2014, 5:29pm

Orioles

Schoop rewards Showalter (O's win 2-1 in 12 innings)

Shortstop J.J. Hardy's return to the Orioles lineup tonight left manager Buck Showalter with a decision regarding his starter at third base. Does he keep Jonathan Schoop on the hot corner or move over Ryan Flaherty from short? Schoop hadn't faced Blue Jays starter Drew Hutchison. Flaherty was 0-for-1 with an RBI. Not much data to consider. Showalter chose Schoop - we'll find out why later tonight - and the rookie responded with a two-out RBI double off reliever Neil Wagner in the bottom...

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Scoreless through the third (updated)

April 12, 2014, 4:03pm

Orioles

Orioles starter Bud Norris cleared the third-inning hurdle tonight at Camden Yards. In his initial outing of 2014, Norris cruised through the first two innings in Detroit on 25 pitches, but the Tigers scored three runs in the third. Norris lasted only five innings and exited with his pitch count at 103. He allowed five runs and nine hits in a 7-6 loss. Norris blanked the Blue Jays over the first two innings tonight, but a walk and single put runners on the corners with one out in the...

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Machado cleared to run sprints

April 12, 2014, 12:59pm

Orioles

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado got six at-bats today against left-hander Johan Santana in a simulated game at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. Machado was scheduled for two at-bats, but received an additional four. "I think that two was a minimum," said manager Buck Showalter. Machado has been cleared to run full-speed on Monday, one of the final hurdles before getting into extended spring training games and going on an injury rehab assignment. "They said they think he snuck a couple...

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Hardy and Lough return to lineup (plus Jays lineup, health updates)

April 12, 2014, 10:57am

Orioles

Hardy and Lough return to lineup (plus Jays lineup, health updates)

Shortstop J.J. Hardy and left fielder David Lough have returned to the Orioles lineup for tonight's game against the Blue Jays. Hardy had been absent for six of the last seven games due to spasms and tightness in his lower back. Lough was tested for a concussion Wednesday due to dizziness and eye floaters, the same symptoms that caused the Orioles to shut him down in spring training. Lough was out of the lineup on Tuesday, served as a ninth-inning defensive replacement on Wednesday and sat out...

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Quick Matusz update

April 12, 2014, 8:42am

Orioles

Orioles reliever Brian Matusz was released from a local hospital late last night, but his status remains uncertain for tonight's game against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards. Matusz never made it to the ballpark yesterday due to flu-like symptoms that have swept through the clubhouse. Hitting coach Jim Presley also missed the game, though he reported Camden Yards earlier in the day. Without Matusz in the bullpen, left-hander Zach Britton was called upon last night to face Adam Lind with two outs...

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Hardy, notes, the bullpen and other random facts

April 11, 2014, 9:51pm

Orioles

Hardy, notes, the bullpen and other random facts

I'm not going to predict whether shortstop J.J. Hardy returns to the Orioles lineup tonight. We keep hearing that he's expected to play, and then he winds up on the bench. But I like his chances in the second game of the series against the Blue Jays. Maybe I am predicting. Hardy was supposed to work out Thursday and start last night. Instead, he underwent an MRI and had a cortisone injection, and he didn't play. That's why I'm hesitant to make any declarations. I may be scarred for...

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Matusz hospitalized with illness

April 11, 2014, 6:06pm

Orioles

Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz is in a local hospital tonight due to an illness that kept him away from Camden Yards. Matusz apparently has come down with a virus that's working its way through the clubhouse. Hitting coach Jim Presley left the ballpark this afternoon with the same symptoms, leaving his responsibilities to coach Einar Diaz. Manager Buck Showalter isn't certain whether Matusz will be available to pitch Saturday night. "We've got this bug going around. It's taken about two...

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Tillman dealing like an ace (O's lose 2-0)

April 11, 2014, 4:58pm

Orioles

Tillman dealing like an ace (O's lose 2-0)

Orioles starter Chris Tillman has retired 11 Blue Jays in a row tonight since third baseman Jonathan Schoop committed his second throwing error in the top of the fourth inning. Tillman got a called third strike on Colby Rasmus to end the seventh with the Orioles still trailing 2-0. Tillman has allowed two unearned runs and two hits, walked one and struck out five. He's thrown 92 pitches, 54 for strikes. Dealing. No one is warming in the Orioles bullpen. I saw one guy stand up and stretch...

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Davis coming close to first home run

April 11, 2014, 3:57pm

Orioles

Chris Davis hasn't hit a home run this season, but he's got the right opponent to break the streak. Davis has belted 16 homers against the Blue Jays since the start of the 2012 season, and Adam Jones has 14. No other major league player has collected as many as 10 against Toronto during that span. Davis and Jones each have hit at least seven homers against the Jays over the past two seasons. According to the Society for American Baseball Research, they're the second pair of teammates in...

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More notes and quotes before tonight's game

April 11, 2014, 1:34pm

Orioles

More notes and quotes before tonight's game

The Orioles are 3-0 this season when the opposing starter works seven or more innings. Those starters? Jon Lester, Justin Verlander and Masahiro Tanaka. The Orioles batted .354 in the three games at Yankee Stadium to raise their team average from .229 to 274. They were 12-for-32 (.375) with runners in scoring position to raise their average from .231 to 296. Matt Wieters has hit safely in his first eight games, the third straight year that an Oriole has hit in eight or more games to open a...

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Showalter on Hardy, Machado and more

April 11, 2014, 12:43pm

Orioles

Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy underwent an MRI on his lower back and also received a cortisone injection during yesterday's off-day. The MRI turned out "pretty good," according to manager Buck Showalter, who added that Hardy is available tonight and should be able to start on Saturday. Outfielder David Lough also is available tonight, according to Showalter. Lough underwent concussion tests Wednesday in Baltimore before racing back to New York and playing left field in the ninth...

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Hardy remains out of Orioles lineup (update)

April 11, 2014, 11:07am

Orioles

J.J. Hardy is out of the Orioles lineup again tonight, marking the sixth time in seven games that has been the case. Ryan Flaherty is starting again at shortstop. Hardy was supposed to work out yesterday to test his lower back and remained hopeful that he would start tonight. Update: Hardy fielded ground balls today and will take batting practice later. He expects to be in the lineup Saturday. Hardy was told to rest Thursday, which is why he didn't work out, but he says his back is feeling...

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About tonight ...

April 10, 2014, 8:56pm

Orioles

The Orioles return home tonight after a 3-3 road trip through Detroit and New York. They may have shortstop J.J. Hardy in the lineup, depending on whether his back responded favorably to yesterday's workout. David Lough could return to left field against Blue Jays right-hander Dustin McGowan. But does manager Buck Showalter sit Delmon Young, who went 6-for-11 with a double, home run and three RBIs in the last two games at Yankee Stadium? Young isn't just raking against lefties. The Orioles...

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More from the notebook (updated)

April 10, 2014, 8:49am

Orioles

NEW YORK - I found a few more items from my notebook that I wanted to pass along today in lieu of posting a lineup or pregame notes and quotes. There's no game. I spent about an hour at the warehouse this morning after picking up my car at the BWI Rail Station around 10 a.m., and the only activity at Camden Yards involved the grounds crew working on the bullpen mounds. Ubaldo Jimenez will start Sunday's series finale against the Blue Jays, giving him an extra day's rest. Chris Tillman starts...

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Cleaning out my notebook

April 09, 2014, 8:39pm

Orioles

NEW YORK - Early this morning, the Orioles announced that Chris Tillman, Bud Norris and Ubaldo Jimenez would start the three games against the Blue Jays this weekend at Camden Yards. Tillman was pushed ahead of Norris. The Orioles are off today. No games. Reduced odds that a player will be hurt. Celebrate good times. J.J. Hardy will work out today at Camden Yards to test his lower back. David Lough will rest up after passing his concussion test yesterday in Baltimore. Jemile Weeks will wonder...

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Lough updates his health, Hunter talks about save and more

April 09, 2014, 7:28pm

Orioles

Lough updates his health, Hunter talks about save and more

NEW YORK - Orioles right-hander Bud Norris wasn't used in relief tonight, so he's slated to start one of the games against the Blue Jays this weekend at Camden Yards. Chris Tillman and Ubaldo Jimenez also will pitch. Manager Buck Showalter must decide on the order. David Lough entered tonight's game in the ninth inning as a defensive replacement after undergoing concussion tests earlier today in Baltimore. "I was having the same symptoms I was having in spring training - lightheadedness,...