Mark Reynolds is back in the lineup today, and Chris Davis is staying in it.
Steve Tolleson, recalled yesterday from Triple-A Norfolk, is starting at third base.
For the Orioles:
Robert Andino 2B
J.J. Hardy SS
Matt Wieters DH
Adam Jones CF
Mark Reynolds 1B
Chris Davis RF
Steve Pearce LF
Steve Tolleson 3B
Ronny Paulino C
Wei-Yin Chen LHP
For the Angels:
Mike Trout LF
Torii Hunter RF
Albert Pujols DH
Mark Trumbo 1B
Howard Kendrick 2B
Erick Aybar SS
Peter Bourjos CF
Maicer Izturis...
Two days after being called into manager Buck Showalter's office and told that the Orioles were sending him down to Triple-A Norfolk, after having his baseball world shattered again like a fastball through a pane of glass, Brian Matusz headed for the bullpen at Camden Yards and picked up the pieces.
Brady Anderson, the club's special assistant, put on full catching gear - including a left-handed mitt designed by Rawlings - and caught Matusz's side session Tuesday while the Orioles were in...
Rookie left fielder Xavier Avery misplayed Mark Trumbo's single leading off the fourth inning tonight for the Orioles' 75th error this season, tops in the majors.
It came back to bite them.
Trumbo moved to third on Alberto Callaspo's fly ball and scored on Howie Kendrick's single through a drawn-in infield to give the Angels a 1-0 lead against starter Jason Hammel.
The defense wasn't done complicating Hammel's inning.
Erick Aybar, who reached on a force play, went from first to third...
Chris Davis, who missed the last two games with a strained right trapezius muscle, has returned to the Orioles' lineup tonight and will start in right field.
First baseman Joe Mahoney will make his major league debut against Angels right-hander Jered Weaver.
Big challenge for Big Irish in his first big league game.
For the Orioles:
Xavier Avery LF
J.J. Hardy SS
Chris Davis RF
Adam Jones CF
Jim Thome DH
Matt Wieters C
Wilson Betemit 3B
Joe Mahoney 1B
Robert Andino 2B
Jason Hammel...
You can add left-hander Wandy Rodriguez to the list of pitchers who are on the Orioles' radar.
The Orioles have contacted the Astros about Rodriguez, according to an industry source. No word on the level of interest or which players have been discussed, but executive vice president Dan Duquette is considering Rodriguez as a possibility for his ever-changing rotation.
Rodriguez is owed about $5 million for the rest of 2012 and is signed through next season, when he'll make $13 million. The...
Joe Mahoney couldn't crack the Orioles' lineup again last night. On Thursday, he couldn't crack either one of them.
Chris Davis was a late scratch that night with a strained right trapezius muscle, and he remained on the bench for the second game of the Angels series.
The All-Star break is coming at a good time. Only two more games before the Orioles - with the exception of Adam Jones, Jim Johnson and Matt Wieters - get to enjoy a nice four-day vacation.
Look for Steve Tolleson to be...
Before Mark Trumbo stepped to the plate in the fourth inning tonight, Orioles pitcher Miguel Gonzalez had allowed exactly one home run during the 2012 season.
One.
It hadn't occurred in his brief major league career, which consisted of three relief appearances with the Orioles before tonight. It happened once in 44 2/3 innings at Triple-A Norfolk.
Trumbo must not have studied history. He hit No. 21 to break a scoreless tie and give the Angels a 1-0 lead.
It didn't last long. Steve Pearce...
Orioles manager Buck Showalter told reporters in Anaheim tonight that second baseman Brian Roberts has been diagnosed with a right hip labral tear.
Roberts, currently on the disabled list, underwent an MRA yesterday. The procedure is similar to an MRI, except dye is injected into the injured area.
Roberts will seek a second opinion, according to Showalter.
More details are coming on "O's Xtra" on MASN2 HD, beginning at 9:30 p.m.
Also, left-hander Brian Matusz, making his first start...
One of the injured Orioles is in tonight's lineup.
Mark Reynolds, who was hit on the left hand last night, is starting at first base and batting sixth against Angels southpaw C.J. Wilson. However, Chris Davis is on the bench again after being a late scratch last night because of a strained right trapezius muscle.
Only three games remain before the All-Star break, and the Orioles currently have a 24-man roster after optioning pitcher Jake Arrieta following last night's 9-7 loss. No...
Right fielder Nick Markakis isn't in Double-A Bowie's lineup tonight. He's expected to begin his injury-rehab assignment tomorrow at Prince George's County Stadium.
Catcher Taylor Teagarden, who hasn't played for the Orioles this year, is behind the plate and batting third tonight for the Baysox after moving up from the Gulf Coast League.
The Orioles could activate Teagarden from the disabled list after the All-Star break, which would remove backup Ronny Paulino from the 25-man...
The Orioles need to upgrade their pitching. They need to tighten up their defense.
It's not the same set of issues I remember them having when I was a kid.
They can still hit the longball, which Earl Weaver would appreciate. Their 105 home runs rank third in the majors behind the Yankees (126) and Blue Jays (122). They clubbed three last night in the first four innings against the Angels, who were begging to be beaten.
A 7-3 lead disappeared before the Orioles stepped to the plate again...
Remember when the Orioles' rotation on opening day included Tommy Hunter, Brian Matusz and Jake Arrieta?
Not anymore.
Arrieta became the latest starter to be optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles made the announcement following last night's game in Anaheim - which became this morning's game as it played out.
I checked Twitter and my e-mails for the final time about five minutes before they sent out the press release. Around here, it's never safe to close your eyes. You might miss...
Jake Arrieta got plenty of run support tonight.
Manager Buck Showalter didn't think it was going to be enough.
Showalter yanked Arrieta with two outs in the fourth inning, a runner on base and the Orioles leading, 7-5. Luis Ayala gave up an RBI single to Torii Hunter to complete Arrieta's line, and he surrendered two runs of his own, as the Angels took an 8-7 lead.
Arrieta has gone 3 2/3 innings in his last two starts and allowed a combined 11 runs and 13 hits. And he almost sent his...
We have a lineup change for the Orioles.
Chris Davis has been scratched and Ryan Flaherty is starting in right field. Matt Wieters moves up to third.
Reporters in Anaheim were told Davis has a right trapezius strain.
For the Orioles:
Xavier Avery LF
J.J. Hardy SS
Matt Wieters C
Adam Jones CF
Jim Thome DH
Wilson Betemit 3B
Mark Reynolds 1B
Ryan Flaherty RF
Robert Andino 2B
Jake Arrieta RHP
Manager Buck Showalter told reporters that Miguel Gonzalez will start tomorrow night. Left-hander...
The Orioles recalled first baseman Joe Mahoney today, but he's not in the lineup. His major league debut will have to wait.
Mark Reynolds is playing first base and batting eighth. Jim Thome continues to serve as the designated hitter.
For the Orioles:
Xavier Avery LF
J.J. Hardy SS
Chris Davis RF
Adam Jones CF
Jim Thome DH
Matt Wieters C
Wilson Betemit 3B
Mark Reynolds 1B
Robert Andino 2B
Jake Arrieta RHP
For the Angels:
Mike Trout CF
Torii Hunter RF
Albert Pujols 1B
Kendrys Morales...
Major League Baseball has announced that Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish and Cardinals infielder David Freese are the Final Vote winners for the 2012 All-Star Game on July 10 in Kansas City.
Orioles pitcher Jason Hammel was a finalist, but he couldn't overtake Darvish and White Sox's pitcher Jake Peavy. Royals closer Jonathan Broxton and Angels reliever Ernesto Frieri also were finalists.
Hammel is 8-4 with a 3.43 ERA in 16 starts, with 97 strikeouts in 99 2/3 innings. The right-hander has lost...
Left-hander Zach Phillips has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk, creating another roster move for the Orioles' top affiliate.
The Orioles designated Phillips for assignment on June 30 to make room for Jim Thome on the 40-man roster.
In his only appearance for the Orioles this year, Phillips allowed two earned runs and three hits and walked two batters in two-thirds on an inning. The Orioles had recalled him on May 8 while optioning pitcher Jason Berken.
Phillips is...
You've heard of good roster moves.
OK, I won't go there again.
The Orioles had a decision to make yesterday after optioning pitcher Chris Tillman to Double-A Bowie: Bring up a position player or a reliever.
The choices weren't exactly plentiful, if you take another look at the 40-man roster.
Pitchers:
Jake Arrieta
Luis Ayala
Jason Berken
Zach Britton
Dylan Bundy
Wei-Yin Chen
Oliver Drake
Dana Eveland
Miguel Gonzalez
Kevin Gregg
Jason Hammel
Tommy Hunter
Jim Johnson...
The Orioles will return to a four-man bench before the All-Star break by recalling first baseman Joe Mahoney from Triple-A Norfolk.
Mahoney, 25, will take the roster spot vacated by pitcher Chris Tillman, who was optioned to Double-A Bowie following yesterday's 4-2 victory over the Mariners. Mahoney will meet the Orioles in Anaheim.
Mahoney is batting .256 with 14 doubles, five home runs and 38 RBIs in 85 games with the Tides. He's hitting .306 in his last 10 games.
Jamie Hoffman pinch-hit...
The Orioles optioned pitcher Chris Tillman to Double-A Bowie following today's 4-2 victory over the Mariners at Safeco Field.
Tillman allowed two unearned runs in a career-high 8 1/3 innings in his return to the majors.
The Orioles don't want Tillman being idle through the All-Star break. He'll start Monday night for Bowie and rejoin the club next weekend after his mandatory 10 days have expired.
It's technically a demotion, since he's going back down to the minors, but it's only...