Roch Kubatko

It's Arrieta's turn

June 16, 2013, 8:41pm

Orioles

I didn't sense a whole lot of enthusiasm on this blog over manager Buck Showalter's announcement that Jake Arrieta would start tonight's series-opener in Detroit. Arrieta lasted only four starts this season before being optioned for the first time. His last two starts at Triple-A Norfolk were bad. But it makes sense to give him the ball. Jason Hammel isn't ready to pitch tonight after wrestling with a stomach virus the past few days. It weakened him. It made him wonder why his young son...

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Showalter speaks after 6-3 win

June 16, 2013, 1:38pm

Orioles

Miguel Gonzalez picked up his fifth win today for the Orioles, but he's still waiting to hold his first child. "They have a baby as stubborn as Miguel when they told him he couldn't do this," manager Buck Showalter quipped after today's 6-3 win over the Red Sox. Here's a sampling from Showalter's postgame press conference: On significance of taking three of four in this series "It's early. Four-game series are really tough because it's obviously, you consider how good the...

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Arrieta will start Monday's game

June 16, 2013, 1:16pm

Orioles

Orioles manager Buck Showalter named Jake Arrieta as Monday night's starter in Detroit. Jason Hammel is being pushed back at least one day while he recovers from a stomach virus that swept through his family's home. If Hammel is unable to start Tuesday, the Orioles could recall left-hander Zach Britton from Triple-A Norfolk and option Arrieta. Rule 5 pick T.J. McFarland also would be an option if he isn't used in relief during the series opener against the Tigers. Arrieta was optioned to...

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Gonzalez keeps going (O's win 6-3)

June 16, 2013, 10:34am

Orioles

Imagine that you're Miguel Gonzalez. Your wife is due to give birth to your first child in three days. She could go into labor at any minute. Babies don't wear watches. And your home is in California, on the opposite coast. You're still required to throw bullpen sessions, attend meetings, watch video of your upcoming opponents. Today, you're facing the Boston Red Sox, the first-place team in your division. Stay focused. Gonzalez continues to do it, no matter how difficult. He held the...

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Rotation and injury updates

June 16, 2013, 8:11am

Orioles

Orioles manager Buck Showalter is making contingency plans in case Jason Hammel can't start Monday night in Detroit. An announcement is expected following today's game against the Red Sox. Jake Arrieta is a possibility if he isn't used in relief today. Zach Britton, scratched from his start with Triple-A Norfolk, also is an option. T.J. McFarland isn't a consideration after he worked 3 2/3 innings yesterday. Hammel stayed home the past two days with a stomach virus and hasn't regained...

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Hammel's here, but unsure whether he'll start Monday

June 16, 2013, 7:19am

Orioles

Hammel's here, but unsure whether he'll start Monday

Orioles pitcher Jason Hammel returned to Camden Yards this morning after being away the last two days because of a stomach virus. Hammel said he's feeling better, but didn't know whether he'd make Monday night's start in Detroit. He didn't sound encouraged, and the Orioles are making other plans. Left-hander Zach Britton was scratched from today's start with Triple-A Norfolk. Chris Jones is taking Britton's turn in the Tides' rotation. The Orioles may be keeping Britton available to...

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Looking back and ahead

June 15, 2013, 7:18pm

Orioles

Yesterday's game at Camden Yards ended with Alexi Casilla standing on third base with a confused look on his face, first base coach Wayne Kirby holding his arms in the air and Chris Dickerson standing in the on-deck circle. Dickerson was pinch-hitting for catcher Taylor Teagarden, except he never got to home plate. Manager Buck Showalter was willing to give up his designated hitter if the game went into extra innings. Matt Wieters most likely would have moved behind the plate. I doubt that...

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Showalter speaks after 5-4 loss

June 15, 2013, 3:59pm

Orioles

Orioles manager Buck Showalter was going to speak with Alexi Casilla after meeting with reporters following today's 5-4 loss to the Red Sox. Casilla has some explaining to do after going from first to third on Ryan Flaherty's liner to right field and being doubled off to end the game. Showalter relayed the explanation from third base coach Bobby Dickerson. "Bobby, I think, talked to him. Said he thought the ball was a sure double, I believe, but I haven't talked to him yet," Showalter...

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Markakis moves into third place among AL outfielders in All-Star voting

June 15, 2013, 3:40pm

Orioles

Markakis moves into third place among AL outfielders in All-Star voting

If the 84th All-Star Game were played tonight, the Orioles would have four starters in the American League lineup. Nick Markakis has moved into third place among AL outfielders with 1,463,392 votes. Teammate Adam Jones is first with 2,740,505 votes, followed by Mike Trout with 2,710,115. Chris Davis continues to lead all first basemen with 2,999,094 votes - the second-highest total in the league - to extend the margin over Prince Fielder (1,980,129), and J.J. Hardy leads shortstops with...

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Machado continues monster season (O's lose 5-4)

June 15, 2013, 1:19pm

Orioles

Machado continues monster season (O's lose 5-4)

It's been quite a day for Manny Machado, and it's only the fourth inning. Machado is 2-for-2. He doubled in the first inning, giving him 31 this season. He singled in the third, giving him 28 mult-hit games, which also leads the majors. The 97 hits? Yeah, that also leads the majors. Machado has four straight multi-hit games, going 9-for-18 with four doubles. His average is up to .327. Imagine how good he could become once he turns 21 next month? The Red Sox hadn't scored in 18 innings...

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More on Manny Machado (O's lead 2-0)

June 15, 2013, 10:51am

Orioles

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado has 30 doubles in 68 games. According to Elias, the earliest any other major leaguer under 21 reached 30 doubles since 1900 was 81 games by Hall of Famer Ted Williams in 1939. According to STATS, Machado's 30 doubles in 68 games are the most by any player under age 22 since 1920, topping Williams' 25 in 1939 and Joe DiMaggio's 24 in 1936. Machado is on pace for 71 doubles. The major league record in a season is 67 by Earl Webb for Boston in 1931. The...

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Roberts approaching date for rehab assignment

June 15, 2013, 9:44am

Orioles

Roberts approaching date for rehab assignment

Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts continues to take outdoor batting practice and will accompany the team to Detroit following Sunday's game. He may also go to Toronto and could begin his injury-rehab assignment when the Orioles begin a seven-game homestand on June 24. Roberts hasn't played since the third game of the season. Wei-Yin Chen threw off a regular mound today in Sarasota. He could pitch in a simulated game down there before coming to Baltimore. Orioles manager Buck Showalter...

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Orioles and Red Sox lineups

June 15, 2013, 8:16am

Orioles

Matt Wieters is serving as the Orioles' designated hitter today and Taylor Teagarden is behind the plate. Ryan Flaherty remains at second base against Red Sox right-hander John Lackey. Nothing else to see here. For the Orioles Nate McLouth LF Manny Machado 3B Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Matt Wieters DH J.J. Hardy SS Ryan Flaherty 2B Taylor Teagarden C Freddy Garcia RHP For the Red Sox Jacoby Ellsbury CF Shane Victorino RF Dustin Pedroia 2B David Ortiz DH Mike Carp...

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The bullpen, McFarland's first win and team chemistry

June 14, 2013, 11:00pm

Orioles

The bullpen, McFarland's first win and team chemistry

I find it absolutely shocking that the Orioles are 10 games above .500. Judging by some of the comments here after Wednesday's loss, I thought the season was over and a managerial change was on the horizon. The bullpen has been instrumental in these last two victories, both of them against the first-place team in the American League East. A bullpen that Buck Showalter refused to completely torch on Wednesday in order to avoid using Pedro Strop, who had struck out two in a scoreless inning in...

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Showalter speaks after 2-0 win

June 14, 2013, 6:33pm

Orioles

The Orioles' bullpen was stellar again tonight in a 2-0 win over the Red Sox, turning in three scoreless and hitless innings behind starter Chris Tillman. The only baserunner coming on a hit batter by closer Jim Johnson. "Chris allowed that to happen," said manager Buck Showalter. "It's not very often he has four or five walks. He made a lot of good pitches. He was frustrated. We were trying to get the seventh out of him, but didn't get off to a good start. Bullpen pitched well again...

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Tillman doesn't trip during walk on wild side (O's win 2-0)

June 14, 2013, 5:16pm

Orioles

Tillman doesn't trip during walk on wild side (O's win 2-0)

Chris Tillman walked a batter in the first inning. He walked one leading off the second. He walked one in the third. He walked one leading off the fourth. The Red Sox couldn't feast on a recipe for disaster. Tillman made it through the sixth without allowing a run, gave up a leadoff double to Jose Iglesias in the seventh and was done. Darren O'Day replaced him and stranded Iglesias at second base. Tillman allowed three hits in six innings, walked four and struck out three. He threw 106...

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Wada and game updates (Wada move official, O's lead 2-0)

June 14, 2013, 3:35pm

Orioles

Wada and game updates (Wada move official, O's lead 2-0)

Japanese left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada has agreed to accept being optioned to Triple-A Norfolk once his injury rehab assignment concludes this weekend. The final details are being ironed out. Wada has to give his consent, according to a clause in the two-year, $8.15 million contract that he signed on Dec. 14, 2011. Wada has made six starts with Norfolk, going 1-4 with an 8.14 ERA in 24 1/3 innings. The Tides are playing a doubleheader tonight, with Josh Stinson starting Game 1 and Jair Jurrens...

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Notes and updates before tonight's game

June 14, 2013, 1:14pm

Orioles

Pitcher Jake Arrieta hadn't arrived at Camden Yards when reporters met with manager Buck Showalter shortly after 4 p.m., but he's on the field now for batting practice and will be available in the bullpen. "It's his day to pitch," Showalter said. "We needed some length out there and Jake fit for us. We'll see what the next couple days bring. Freddy (Garcia) would also be available to us in the 'pen tonight. He was available last night, too, in his words." Arrieta is "an option" to...

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Orioles and Red Sox lineups

June 14, 2013, 11:15am

Orioles

Chris Tillman takes the mound tonight for the Orioles, who will attempt to beat the Red Sox in the regulation nine innings. Something different to break the monotony. Tillman is 1-1 with a 2.97 ERA in six career starts against the Red Sox. In seven home starts this year, he's 1-2 with a 5.31 ERA over 39 innings, with four quality starts. For the Orioles Nate McLouth LF Manny Machado 3B Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Chris Dickerson DH Ryan Flaherty...

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Arrieta joining Orioles' bullpen

June 14, 2013, 7:20am

Orioles

The Orioles will recall Jake Arrieta from Triple-A Norfolk this afternoon to serve as an extra bullpen arm for tonight's game against the Boston Red Sox at Camden Yards. An announcement will come later today. Arrieta will take Kevin Gausman's spot on the 25-man roster. Gausman was optioned after last night's 13-inning game, which included six relievers being used behind him. Arrieta hasn't pitched since Sunday, so he'd be working on normal rest if needed tonight. He's 3-3 with a 5.50...