Roch Kubatko

Mansolino on Ruiz: O's "optimistic that this is going to work"

April 06, 2021, 3:57pm

Orioles

Mansolino on Ruiz: O's "optimistic that this is going to work"

Rio Ruiz didn't move over to second base until the Orioles decided to move on from Yolmer SÃ¡nchez. That was the first click of the dial. How Ruiz became the opening day starter at the position, where he returned again last night, began with the Orioles needing someone to replace SÃ¡nchez, who was designated for assignment and released late in camp after signing a minor league deal that would have paid $1 million. They also were searching for ways to have Ruiz and new third baseman Maikel...

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Hyde on youth, home opener details and more

April 06, 2021, 1:29pm

Orioles

Hyde on youth, home opener details and more

The news frenzy yesterday has been followed this afternoon by pregame tranquility, as evidenced by the six minutes that manager Brandon Hyde spent on his media Zoom call. Nothing worth stopping the real and proverbial presses. No roster moves or injury updates. Five Orioles made their major league debuts in 2020. Three earned the honor this season within the first four games - Rule 5 pitchers Mac Sceroler and Tyler Wells and outfielder Ryan McKenna. More pitchers should walk through the door...

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brandon hyde bruce zimmemrmann dean kremer mac sceroler matt harvey orioles ryan mckenna rylan bannon tyler wells yusniel diaz featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Orioles and Yankees lineups

April 06, 2021, 11:31am

Orioles

Both Orioles catchers are in the lineup tonight in the Bronx, with Chance Sisco serving as the designated hitter and batting ninth against Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole. Anthony Santander is in right field after sitting out last night's 7-0 loss. Ryan Mountcastle remains in left field and is hitting cleanup. Rio Ruiz starts at second base for the fourth time in five games. Ryan McKenna is on the bench after making his major league debut last night and going 0-for-2 with a walk. He replaced...

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anthony santander chance sisco dean kremer dj stewart orioles pedro severino rio ruiz ryan mckenna ryan mountcastle frontstory_orioles2

Orioles release alternate training site roster

April 06, 2021, 10:18am

Orioles

The Orioles basically are scattered in three areas this month, with the team in New York for the first road trip of the season, minor league players reporting to the Sarasota complex for the next wave of spring training and a group working out at the alternate camp site in Bowie. Outfielder Heston Kjerstad remains on the outside. The plan calls for him to skip spring training and go directly to Prince George's Stadium, but he hasn't been cleared to participate. Kjerstad was the second overall...

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austin wynns brett cumberland cole sulser heston kjerstad mike elias nick ciuffo orioles ryan ripken shawn armstrong taylor davis featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Leftovers for breakfast

April 05, 2021, 6:55pm

Orioles

The two scoreless innings Sunday afternoon from Orioles reliever Cole Sulser didn't spare him an option yesterday to the alternate training site. It didn't erase the struggles last summer that cost him the closer's job, with the loss of control and skyrocketing walk totals forcing manager Brandon Hyde to scrounge for lower-leverage situations. Those innings, however, were important to a team knowing that it's going to need him in a 162-game season. Knowing that he must be trustworthy no...

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anthony santander austin hays brandon hyde cole sulser mac sceroler orioles paul fry shawn armstrong tyler wells featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

McKenna and Sceroler debut in Orioles' 7-0 loss in Bronx (updated)

April 05, 2021, 5:38pm

Orioles

Ryan McKenna has no idea how long he's going to stay with the Orioles beyond the trip to New York. His taste of the majors could sit on the tip of his tongue as he reports to the alternate training site in Bowie later this week. He could be introduced to fans at Thursday's home opening day. A mere taste turning into a mouthful. An appetizer or a feast. He isn't counting courses. He's just appreciative of the invitation, so unexpected less than a week into the season. Rule 5 pitcher Mac...

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austin hays brandon hyde dj stewart jorge lopez mac sceroler orioles pat valaika paul fry ramon urias ryan mckenna featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Hays goes on IL, McKenna recalled and Armstrong reinstated

April 05, 2021, 1:25pm

Orioles

Hays goes on IL, McKenna recalled and Armstrong reinstated

The Orioles have placed outfielder Austin Hays on the 10-day injured list with a strained right hamstring and recalled Ryan McKenna from the alternate training site. McKenna was on the taxi squad. The latest downturn in Hays' health occurred yesterday at Fenway Park on his double in the third inning. He limped off the field after diving back into the bag and Pat Valaika pinch-ran and played left field. Manager Brandon Hyde didn't notice that Hays was hurt until he saw the outfielder heading...

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austin hays brandon hyde cole sulser dj stewart orioles pat valaika ryan mckenna shawn armstrong featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Hays' status remains uncertain due to sore hamstring

April 05, 2021, 12:49pm

Orioles

Hays' status remains uncertain due to sore hamstring

The Orioles will make a decision later this afternoon about the status of outfielder Austin Hays, whose sore right hamstring could force the club into placing him on the 10-day injured list. Hays is having the leg examined again today. "He's still sore," manager Brandon Hyde said in his Zoom call. "We're getting him checked out and we're going to have a decision on him here very shortly. Probably the next 30 minutes or so." Hays injured the hamstring yesterday in Boston on his double in...

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austin hays cedric mullins orioles pat valaika ryan mckenna shawn armstrong featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Teams scouting Santander while his swing brings stellar stats

April 04, 2021, 3:35pm

Orioles

Teams scouting Santander while his swing brings stellar stats

Orioles outfielder Anthony Santander avoided a serious oblique injury late in camp, a twinge handled properly with a little rest and plenty of controlled at-bats on the back fields. Nothing that would tempt him into the kind of aggressive swings that led to his placement on the injured list last September. He's started in right field in the first three games, collecting three more hits yesterday in an 11-3 win at Fenway Park. He's the first Orioles player with an RBI in three straight games...

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anthony santander austin wynns chris davis dj stewart isaac mattson orioles richie martin ryan mckenna ryan mountcastle travis lakins sr. yusniel diaz mike elias featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Orioles lose Hays and win again in Boston (updated)

April 04, 2021, 12:38pm

Orioles

Adam Plutko was kidding. He didn't bite when challenged to place a guarantee on it. He did, however, ramp up the humor yesterday by saying the Orioles "obviously" would go 162-0 this season. The newest Orioles pitcher also offered to hand over his salary if they ran the table. It's much too soon to hit the ATM, but the Orioles cashed in on an opportunity to sweep the Red Sox. They haven't hit a home run in three games, but they keep manufacturing runs and wins. They jumped Garrett Richards...

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adam plutko anthony santander austin hays bruce zimmermann cedric mullins cole sulser freddy galvis maikel franco orioles pat valaika rio ruiz ryan mckenna shawn armstrong trey mancini tyler wells featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Armstrong transferred from paternity list to injured list (plus notes)

April 04, 2021, 7:50am

Orioles

Armstrong transferred from paternity list to injured list (plus notes)

Reliever Shawn Armstrong has been reinstated from the paternity list today. However, he can't rejoin the team until going through the intake process, which has placed him on the injured list. This is a procedural move, which happened a few times last summer. Another similarity between 2020 and 2021. The bullpen remains intact while he's on the IL. A corresponding roster move will be made after he's activated. Manager Brandon Hyde said he was hopeful that Armstrong would be available Monday...

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brandon hyde bruce zimmermann john means matt harvey orioles pat valaika ramon urias rio ruiz shawn armstrong trey mancini alex cora featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Orioles and Red Sox lineups

April 04, 2021, 6:34am

Orioles

The Orioles go for the sweep this afternoon in Boston with left-hander Bruce Zimmermann making his second career start and Chance Sisco setting the target for him. Sisco replaces Pedro Severino, who's 4-for-8 with two runs scored while batting ninth. Austin Hays stays in left field but moves down to eighth. Maikel Franco is batting sixth, followed by Freddy Galvis. The rest of the lineup remains intact. Cedric Mullins is leading off and Ryan Mountcastle is the designated hitter. Rio Ruiz gets...

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austin hays bruce zimmermann cedric mullins chance sisco freddy galvis maikel franco orioles pedro severino rio ruiz ryan mountcastle frontstory_orioles2

Leftovers for Sunday breakfast

April 03, 2021, 3:57pm

Orioles

A couple of strategies have worked for the Orioles in the season's first two games. Get a deep start from ace John Means, hand the ball to a setup man and the closer of the day, and head back to the team hotel. Call upon a bulk reliever working behind a starter who gets into the fourth or fifth inning, hand the ball to a setup man and the closer of the day, and head back to the team hotel. That's how the Orioles have gone 2-0 and can try to complete the sweep later today at Fenway Park....

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adam plutko brandon hyde cesar valdez john means matt harvey orioles pat valaika paul fry pedro severino ramon urias rio ruiz shawn armstrong tanner scott yermin mercedes yolmer sanchez featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

Harvey and Plutko debut for Orioles in 4-2 win

April 03, 2021, 12:02pm

Orioles

The Dark Knight caught his last glimpse of sunlight on the mound this afternoon after failing to grab a ball hit back to him that produced a run and a visit from his manager. Matt Harvey's first game with the Orioles, his first experience at Fenway Park, lasted 4 2/3 innings and was neither a rousing success nor a dud. A middle-of-the-order result from the No. 2 starter. A couple of clutch hits and lockdown relief assured the Orioles of a series win after they defeated the Red Sox...

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adam plutko austin hays brandon hyde cedric mullins cesar valdez dillon tate freddy galvis maikel franco matt harvey orioles pedro severino rio ruiz trey mancini featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

Hyde on catchers, Ruiz, Rule 5 pitchers, Harvey and more

April 03, 2021, 8:19am

Orioles

Hyde on catchers, Ruiz, Rule 5 pitchers, Harvey and more

Pedro Severino is behind the plate again today for the Orioles after catching yesterday's combined two-hit shutout at Fenway Park and collecting two hits. The Red Sox are starting three right-handers in the series, which could get Chance Sisco in the lineup. Or he'll wait until the Orioles resume their road trip in the Bronx. The life of a backup. "I was really impressed with Sevie," manager Brandon Hyde said today in his Zoom call. "I thought we didn't talk enough about what Sevie did...

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brandon hyde cesar valdez chance sisco chris holt dean kremer dj stewart john means jorge lopez mac sceroler matt harvey orioles pedro severino rio ruiz tanner scott tyler wells featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Orioles and Red Sox lineups

April 03, 2021, 6:30am

Orioles

Rio Ruiz is starting again today at second base, as the Orioles try to clinch the season's opening series with a victory against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. The lineup may look familiar. Austin Hays in left field, Ryan Mountcastle as the designated hitter, Trey Mancini at first base, Pedro Severino batting ninth. Ruiz made three outstanding plays yesterday in his first start at second base and only this third appearance. He began working out at the position late in camp after a meeting with...

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austin hays cedric mullins matt harvey orioles pedro severino rio ruiz ryan mountcastle trey mancini lineups frontstory_orioles2

Reflecting on yesterday's opening day win in Boston

April 02, 2021, 5:11pm

Orioles

Reflecting on yesterday's opening day win in Boston

Too soon to trend after one game? Manager Brandon Hyde's faith in Rio Ruiz as a second baseman was rewarded yesterday when the infielder ran down two shallow fly balls with over-the-shoulder catches in right and center, then made a diving stop and throw to rob Alex Verdugo in the seventh inning. Two innings at the position before yesterday. More to come as long as it's unsettled and the other options are utility players Pat Valaika and RamÃ³n UrÃas. "Rio played outstanding at second...

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brandon hyde cesar valdez john means opening day orioles pat valaika ramon urias rio ruiz ryan mountcastle tanner scott tony mansolino featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Means, Mountcastle and Mancini make opening day memories

April 02, 2021, 1:23pm

Orioles

Means, Mountcastle and Mancini make opening day memories

The first Orioles game of the 2021 season put John Means back on the mound and Trey Mancini in a lineup. Rio Ruiz at a new position and Major League Baseball closer to its old, familiar self. Take it. All of it. Whatever the final score. Means retired the last 18 batters he faced to complete seven scoreless innings. Mancini grounded into double plays in his first two at-bats and still was the most important player in the game with his inspiring comeback from Stage 3 colon cancer. Ruiz made a...

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anthony santander cedric mullins cesar valdez john means maikel franco orioles pedro severino rio ruiz ryan mountcastle tanner scott trey mancini featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Hyde on second base, Santander, opening day and more

April 02, 2021, 8:38am

Orioles

Hyde on second base, Santander, opening day and more

How the Orioles handle second base in the early portion of the season is a fluid situation that begins this afternoon with Rio Ruiz making his first career start at the position in the regular season. A two-game audition late in camp has led to more opportunities. The length to be determined. Ruiz is the Orioles' third different opening day starter in a row at second base after Jonathan Schoop's run of five consecutive assignments. Jonathan Villar started in 2019 and Hanser Alberto last...

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austin wynns brandon hyde isaac mattson maikel franco opening day orioles richie martin rio ruiz ryan mckenna ryan mountcastle shawn armstrong tony mansolino travis lakins sr. trey mancini yolmer sanchez featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Orioles and Red Sox opening day lineups and notes

April 02, 2021, 6:52am

Orioles

The Orioles' first lineup of 2021 today includes Rio Ruiz making his first career major league start at second base and Austin Hays playing left field. Ruiz started at second base in back-to-back exhibition games to close out the Grapefruit League schedule. Cedric Mullins is leading off and playing center field. Trey Mancini is batting second and playing first base and Anthony Santander is slotted behind him in right field. Left-hander John Means is making his first opening day start. His...