Roch Kubatko

The vicious Valdez takes, Akin's audition and humble Harvey

May 12, 2021, 12:01pm

Orioles

The vicious Valdez takes, Akin's audition and humble Harvey

CÃ©sar Valdez retires the side in order with his bizarro changeup and he's a lovable, unorthodox closer who should get the ball in every save opportunity. An intriguing and embraceable success story. Who cares about his velocity? He blows a save and suddenly he doesn't belong in the role and the Orioles are clowns for refusing to find a better option. Enough of the warm and fuzzies. Can't close with that velocity. It's exhausting and predictable. Valdez is not a prototypical closer and is...

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Harvey's return takes wrong turn in 7-1 loss (updated)

May 12, 2021, 10:50am

Orioles

Harvey's return takes wrong turn in 7-1 loss (updated)

The on-field portion of Matt Harvey's day at Citi Field began with the usual warm-up tosses in the bullpen and the stroll to the dugout, his mind refusing to play tricks and steer him toward the home side. He walked to the mound after the top of the first inning, heard the ovation, noticed Mets fans standing and holding up signs and tipped his cap. The moment could have overwhelmed Harvey, but he retired the side in order on 13 pitches and headed to the bench. The hope, of course, was that...

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Orioles lineup vs. Mets (updated)

May 12, 2021, 6:16am

Orioles

Matt Harvey is back on the Citi Field mound this afternoon as the Orioles try to split their two-game series against the Mets and return home. Harvey hasn't pitched in New York since May 2018. The defense behind him includes Rio Ruiz at second base, Ryan Mountcastle in left field and Austin Hays in right. From 2012-15, Harvey posted a 2.05 ERA in 35 starts at Citi Field and 27 were quality by definition. Shortstop Freddy Galvis is 22-for-60 (.367) in his last 18 games. The Orioles have...

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Means follows no-hitter with six scoreless innings in 3-2 loss

May 11, 2021, 6:26pm

Orioles

Means follows no-hitter with six scoreless innings in 3-2 loss

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde didn't need to state the obvious with left-hander John Means. Didn't need to remind the ace to control his emotions in his first start after tossing a no-hitter in Seattle. The pregame tasks didn't include delivering special messages to Means. There would be some concessions after Means threw a career-high 113 pitches, the implementation of an extra day's rest already done. Hyde would monitor him closely and not push him. "I don't say anything," Hyde insisted...

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More on Matt Harvey's matchup with the Mets

May 11, 2021, 4:02pm

Orioles

More on Matt Harvey's matchup with the Mets

Matt Harvey is pitching in New York today, and if this is news to you, I admire your 20-20 tunnel vision. Harvey hasn't stepped on the Citi Field mound since his relief appearance on May 3, 2018, which led to the Mets' attempts to option him. Which led to Harvey's refusal and the decision to designate him for assignment. Though it's pretty much impossible to do, Harvey has tried to shut out the distractions and reduce the fuss made over his return to Queens. He wanted to wait until after...

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Updating Flaa and Baumann, Orioles and Mets lineups (updated)

May 11, 2021, 11:48am

Orioles

The Orioles have lost reliever Jay Flaa on a waiver claim by the Braves. Flaa, 28, made his major league debut on April 27 and tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings. He walked two Yankees and struck out Aaron Judge. The Orioles optioned him to the alternate training site in Bowie after the game to create a spot for Dean Kremer. The Orioles decided Saturday that Flaa would be designated for assignment as they claimed left-hander Brandon Waddell off waivers from the Twins and assigned him to Triple-A...

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LÃ³pez, Mountcastle, Mancini and 'pen team for 4-1 win (updated)

May 10, 2021, 5:50pm

Orioles

LÃ³pez, Mountcastle, Mancini and 'pen team for 4-1 win (updated)

Jorge LÃ³pez still doesn't have a smudge on his first-inning work this season, stranding a runner tonight and pumping his sinker at 96-98 mph. Opponents have four hits in 25 at-bats. How far would he venture into his latest start? That's always the curiosity with LÃ³pez. Ryan Mountcastle attacked the first pitch thrown to him leading off the second inning and drove it deep into the left field seats. How far it traveled wasn't as important as the way he's climbed back into the cleanup...

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Means and Harvey back in the New York groove

May 10, 2021, 2:10pm

Orioles

Means and Harvey back in the New York groove

One of the stranger portions of the 2021 schedule requires the Orioles to leave Camden Yards, play two games against the Mets at Citi Field and head back to Baltimore. Ten of 12 games on their home turf with a couple off-days before embarking on a three-city road trip that begins in D.C. and extends to Minnesota and Chicago. The hotel stay in New York requires only one night. There are going to be two interesting story angles in the series. John Means pitches tonight for the first time since...

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Hyde on Akin, rotation, Means' example, Stewart and more

May 10, 2021, 1:34pm

Orioles

Hyde on Akin, rotation, Means' example, Stewart and more

Left-hander Keegan Akin joined the Orioles today after throwing 49 pitches for Triple-A Norfolk in Friday night's start in Jacksonville and staying available for long relief duty this week. Akin is working out of the bullpen, with no immediate plans to insert him into the rotation. Left-hander Zac Lowther was optioned to Norfolk this afternoon. The Orioles needed a fresh arm and chose Akin, who didn't break camp with the team after allowing 10 runs and issuing seven walks in nine exhibition...

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Akin recalled, Orioles and Red Sox lineups

May 10, 2021, 12:13pm

Orioles

The Orioles swapped out left-handers this afternoon, recalling Keegan Akin from Triple-A Norfolk and optioning Zac Lowther to the Tides. Akin threw two innings Friday night in his first start with the Tides and he's available in relief tonight. He was on the mound this afternoon for pitchers' fielding practice. Lowther made his first major league start Saturday night against the Red Sox and allowed seven runs in 2 1/3 innings. Trying to avoid a four-game sweep at home, the Orioles are...

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Perusing Orioles position player pitching performances

May 09, 2021, 3:16pm

Orioles

The usage of a position player as a pitcher rarely is celebrated and never done under ideal circumstances. The plan isn't implemented to gain an advantage. Quite the opposite. And it isn't popular with the guy standing on the mound or the batter exposed to the possibility of crippling embarrassment. Ever strike out swinging against a utility infielder? The hitter who grounds weakly to short has bragging rights. There are random players who actually volunteer for the assignment. Who use their...

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Orioles can't hold lead in sixth and lose 4-3 (updated)

May 09, 2021, 12:03pm

Orioles

The bullpen was a bit shaken by having too many relievers stir last night, reaching the point where a utility infielder finally had to pitch. And the Orioles couldn't provide any reinforcements this afternoon, instead subtracting Dillon Tate due to a hamstring injury and expanding their bench. Dean Kremer was coming off his finest start and the Orioles were in dire need of a duplication this afternoon against the Red Sox, leaders in just about every offensive category in the majors, including...

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Tate goes on injured list (and other notes)

May 09, 2021, 8:37am

Orioles

Tate goes on injured list (and other notes)

The Orioles made a roster move impacting their bullpen this morning, but in the opposite direction than expected. Dillon Tate has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain and the Orioles recalled outfielder Ryan McKenna from Triple-A Norfolk. Tate sustained the injury while covering first base in Friday night's game. He did the splits while taking the throw, an impressive move for a pitcher, and it cost him. Xander Bogaerts beat the relay and Tate landed on the IL...

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Orioles and Red Sox lineups

May 09, 2021, 7:41am

Orioles

Shortstop Freddy Galvis did some light running this morning, took early batting practice and stayed in the lineup for today's game against the Red Sox at Camden Yards. Galvis was removed from last night's game to improve his chances of playing today. He's still working through some soreness in his adductor/groin. Last night's game produced Galvis' fourth home run of the season and 99th of his career. He also extended his hitting streak to a season-high nine games and is batting .368...

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This, that and the other

May 08, 2021, 7:13pm

Orioles

Reactions to early-season results need to be corralled in order to prevent a stampede to judgment. Which is why tracking the production of important prospects in the Orioles organization who are debuting at a higher level should be done with caution. OK, now that's out of the way and we can safely check on Triple-A Norfolk outfielder Yusniel Diaz. Diaz, the No. 9 prospect in the system per MLBPipeline.com, was 2-for-15 with three RBIs and four strikeouts before last night. Pretty rough. But he...

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Lowther struggles in first start, Valaika pitches in 11-6 loss

May 08, 2021, 6:30pm

Orioles

Lowther struggles in first start, Valaika pitches in 11-6 loss

The first major league start tonight for left-hander Zac Lowther also came with his first jams, runs scored and mound visits. By the time Lowther notched his second strikeout of the evening, he had thrown 49 pitches and surrendered four runs. The game was headed to the bottom of the second inning. The bullpen stayed quiet, with manager Brandon Hyde giving the rookie room to work and grow. A spot start, if that's what it was, didn't come with a short leash. Hyde had to tighten it in the third....

Orioles and Red Sox lineups (updated)

May 08, 2021, 12:00pm

Orioles

The Orioles recalled Zac Lowther today, taking him from the alternate training site to the taxi squad to the majors for his first major league start and second appearance. Lowther tossed a scoreless ninth inning in his debut on April 25 against the Athletics at Camden Yards. The No. 11 prospect in the system per MLBPipeline.com was optioned and joined the Orioles for their West Coast trip. A start is needed tonight with Bruce Zimmermann optioned, and Lowther gets the assignment, with a spot...

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Orioles claim Waddell off waivers and DFA Flaa

May 08, 2021, 10:32am

Orioles

Less than two weeks after making his major league debut, right-hander Jay Flaa has been designated for assignment and removed from the Orioles' 40-man roster. Space was required this afternoon after the Orioles claimed left-hander Brandon Waddell off waivers from the Twins and assigned him to Triple-A Norfolk. Waddell, 26, was a Pirates fifth-round selection in the 2015 draft out of the University of Virginia. He's made six relief appearances over the past two seasons and allowed six earned...

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Orioles rotation rookies on the rise

May 07, 2021, 8:50pm

Orioles

Left-hander Keegan Akin made his first start last night with Triple-A Norfolk, inserted into a rotation that he tried to leave behind for good last summer. Left-hander Bruce Zimmermann follows Akin tonight as the extended series continues in Jacksonville. Dean Kremer was the last rookie standing with the Orioles, having made it back from his option and preparing for Sunday afternoon's game against the Red Sox. He'll be joined tonight by left-hander Zac Lowther, whose second promotion brings...

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Unearned runs ruin Harvey's night in 6-2 loss (updated)

May 07, 2021, 8:08pm

Orioles

Unearned runs ruin Harvey's night in 6-2 loss (updated)

Matt Harvey struck out J.D. Martinez tonight and extended the Orioles' streak of hitless innings to 10. John Means did the heavy lifting. Harvey was just following a tough act and trying to keep up. The Red Sox elevated Harvey's pitch count early, plated four unearned runs in the fourth inning and kept the Orioles below .500 with a 6-2 win before an announced crowd of 7,724 at damp and cold Camden Yards. Ryan Mountcastle led off the sixth inning with a home run, driving a full-count 99 mph...