Hays goes on IL, McKenna recalled and Armstrong reinstated

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...

Hays' status remains uncertain due to sore hamstring

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...

Teams scouting Santander while his swing brings stellar stats

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...

Orioles lose Hays and win again in Boston (updated)

Orioles lose Hays and win again in Boston (updated)
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...

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

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...

Orioles and Red Sox lineups

Orioles and Red Sox lineups
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...

Leftovers for Sunday breakfast

Leftovers for Sunday breakfast
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....

Harvey and Plutko debut for Orioles in 4-2 win

Harvey and Plutko debut for Orioles in 4-2 win
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...

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

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...

Orioles and Red Sox lineups

Orioles and Red Sox lineups
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...

Reflecting on yesterday's opening day win in Boston

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 Ramón Urías. "Rio played outstanding at second...

Means, Mountcastle and Mancini make opening day memories

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...

Hyde on second base, Santander, opening day and more

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...

Orioles and Red Sox opening day lineups and notes

Orioles and Red Sox opening day lineups and notes
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...

Lineup changes, switches in designated hitters and more

Lineup changes, switches in designated hitters and more
No matter how the opening day lineup is stacked today, and it should duplicate the one wasted yesterday by the postponement, the Orioles are going to make at least five changes from the 2020 version. They shouldn't need to wait another day unless the Red Sox determine that the sun is too bright. José Iglesias won't be batting third and playing shortstop. Renato Núñez won't be batting fourth and serving as designated hitter. Chris Davis won't be playing first base and batting fifth....

Orioles set 26-man roster

Orioles set 26-man roster
The Orioles won't play today in Boston, but they're able to set their opening day roster by the noon deadline. There are no surprises beyond the early rainout. Outfielder DJ Stewart is on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring. Reliever Shawn Armstrong is on the paternity list, keeping him away from the team for a maximum of three days. Reliever Travis Lakins Sr. is optioned to Triple-A Norfolk, but manager Brandon Hyde indicated yesterday that the assignment could be...

Orioles-Red Sox game postponed due to rain

Orioles-Red Sox game postponed due to rain
The Orioles aren't opening their season later this afternoon. Today's game against the Red Sox at Fenway Park has been postponed due to a forecast that calls for periods of rain throughout the afternoon. (The weather app on my phone only shows clouds in Boston after 10 a.m., but it isn't official.) The game has been rescheduled for Friday at 2:10 p.m. "The decision to postpone our first game of the season was not made lightly," Red Sox President and CEO Sam Kennedy said in a statement....

Injuries weren't biggest hurdle cleared by Orioles in spring training

Injuries weren't biggest hurdle cleared by Orioles in spring training
The Orioles couldn't dodge injuries in spring camp. How many teams make it through six weeks without a tweak, twinge or other trauma? Chris Davis with his back. DJ Stewart with his hamstring. Félix Hernández with his elbow. Rio Ruiz with his illness. Hunter Harvey, Anthony Santander and Alexander Wells with their obliques. Davis and Harvey are on the 60-day injured list, the latter a bigger loss, of course, because he was supposed to be a high-leverage reliever and possible closer. And...

Lakins excluded from Orioles' opening day roster (updated)

Lakins excluded from Orioles' opening day roster (updated)
The Orioles will reveal their 2021 opening day roster Thursday morning, but the final strokes are applied now to provide a full picture. There's just one more to go. Third baseman Maikel Franco and outfielder Anthony Santander will be on the roster and avoid a trip to the alternate camp site. Santander won't have any restrictions after missing the last six exhibition games with oblique soreness. Relievers Dillon Tate and Cole Sulser also are traveling to Boston after today's workout, but...

Taking a closer look at final roster decisions and camp standouts

Taking a closer look at final roster decisions and camp standouts
Now, it's back to work for the Orioles. A league-mandated off-day is followed this morning by a workout at Sarasota and flight to Boston for Thursday's opener at Fenway Park. Some pitchers will throw. Some hitters will hit. Anthony Santander apparently won't have to convince the Orioles that his oblique is fine and his status on the active roster is unaffected. He's taken more swings this week, getting dozens of at-bats, and is definitely on the opening day roster. Could an outsider crash...