Roch Kubatko

Means makes short return start in 6-5 Orioles loss (updated)

August 16, 2020, 12:44pm

Orioles

John Means threw his last warm-up pitch this afternoon, waited for the ball to return to him and fired a 94 mph heater that missed his target. Baseball was back in his life. The question was how long he'd stay in his first game since leaving the bereavement and injured lists. On the mound for the first time in 12 days, Means issued an 11-pitch leadoff walk to Trea Turner and was victimized by three soft singles before retiring a batter. The first out came on his 29th pitch, a line drive to...

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Hyde on Means, Tate, Eshelman and contending

August 16, 2020, 8:44am

Orioles

Hyde on Means, Tate, Eshelman and contending

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde usually knows what to expect from starter John Means. There's a certain comfort in the reliability, the innings that are consumed and the chance given to produce a win. Today is different. Means hasn't pitched since Aug. 4. He rejoined the team yesterday after his father, Alan, passed away following a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer. "He's been going through a rough time and his in between starts routine obviously has been interrupted. We just don't...

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Orioles lineup vs. Nationals

August 16, 2020, 7:01am

Orioles

Chris Davis remains on the bench today for the series finale against the Nationals. The presence of a right-handed starter didn't influence Orioles manager Brandon Hyde. Renato NÃºÃ±ez is playing first base instead of Davis, who's 10-for-32 (.313) with a double, a home run and 10 strikeouts against Max Scherzer. Pedro Severino is the designated hitter and Chance Sisco is behind the plate. Cedric Mullins is in center field with Austin Hays on the injured list. Pat Valaika is the shortstop...

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Wondering how Means responds to today's start (updated)

August 15, 2020, 7:23pm

Orioles

Wondering how Means responds to today's start (updated)

No one should attempt to get inside John Means' head and his heart. Certainly not today. Means is back with the Orioles and starting this afternoon against the Nationals to close out the series. He's been transferred from the bereavement list to the injured list to the 28-man roster. To an area that pulls him away from his privacy and from a family that's been huddled together for the last week. Propping up each other. Baseball has been known to provide a distraction, even if it lasts only...

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Orioles use unconventional lineup to beat Nats (updated)

August 15, 2020, 6:45pm

Orioles

The Orioles broke out their Sunday lineup a little early. Or maybe it was too late. They should have tried it last night. An injury to his starting center fielder and an opposing left-handed starter had manager Brandon Hyde digging into his bench and providing opportunities that eluded a few players. Chris Davis and Dwight Smith Jr. sat against Nationals southpaw Patrick Corbin. Bryan Holaday served as the designated hitter for the first time in his career. Pat Valaika made his third start in...

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Hyde hoping Hays can return in 10 days (plus other notes)

August 15, 2020, 1:08pm

Orioles

Hyde hoping Hays can return in 10 days (plus other notes)

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde struck an optimistic tone this afternoon while explaining Austin Hays' injury and timetable for his return. Whether he hit the right note won't be known for 10 days. Hays was placed on the injured list with a non-displaced rib fracture, but the club believes he can return to the active roster when eligible based on information provided by the medical staff. "Hopefully, Haysy won't be very long, but we put him on the IL for a little bit," Hyde said during his...

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Orioles place Hays on IL and activate LÃ³pez (plus lineup)

August 15, 2020, 11:18am

Orioles

The Orioles have placed outfielder Austin Hays on the 10-day injured list with a non-displaced rib fracture and recalled Cedric Mullins from the alternate camp site at Bowie. Hays had four plate appearances and played center field in last night's 15-3 loss to the Nationals. He's batting .203/.273/.246 with an inside-the-park home run in 19 games. Injuries have slowed Hays' progression through the organization. He made the opening day roster this summer and has struggled at the plate, moving...

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Santander proves to be right Rule 5 choice

August 14, 2020, 8:49pm

Orioles

Santander proves to be right Rule 5 choice

The rumors began a few months prior to the 2016 Rule 5 draft. The Orioles had interest in a young outfielder in the Indians' farm system who put up gaudy statistics over the summer. In high Class A ball. With a shoulder that could require surgery. And with concerns that he may be reduced to a designated hitter role after regaining his health. The enthusiasm for him wasn't unanimous. Former executive Dan Duquette stuck to his reports, tuned out the critics and made certain that the Orioles...

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Akin makes major league debut in 15-3 loss (updated)

August 14, 2020, 8:06pm

Orioles

Akin makes major league debut in 15-3 loss (updated)

Tommy Milone had a week to think about it. How he could at least come close to duplicating his last start against the exact same opponent. Whether he could keep pounding the strike zone and inducing weak contact. Shut out the Nationals for six innings? Let's give it another shot. By the top of the fifth inning, the attention fell squarely upon pitching prospect Keegan Akin and his major league debut. Repeating the magic of last Friday wasn't going to happen. Anthony Santander extended his RBI...

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O's win suspended game and run streak to six in a row (updated)

August 14, 2020, 2:14pm

Orioles

O's win suspended game and run streak to six in a row (updated)

Paul Fry was the first Orioles reliever to make the long walk from the dugout to the bullpen this afternoon, a strong hint that he'd pitch the bottom of the sixth inning in the suspended game at Camden Yards. He warmed up as the "visiting" Orioles batted in the top half and padded their three-run lead on Bryan Holaday's two-out infield hit that scored Dwight Smith Jr., who drew a walk on Sunday. Of course, it makes sense in 2020. Kyle Finnegan let an inherited runner score, Fry and three...

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O's formulating pitching plans for resumed game (updated)

August 14, 2020, 10:52am

Orioles

O's formulating pitching plans for resumed game (updated)

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde hasn't decided which pitcher is going to work the bottom of the sixth inning today in the resumed game against the Nationals at Camden Yards. Hyde will figure it out after checking on some pitchers who are taking the field for early throwing. "We're going to make a decision following that and see how everybody feels," Hyde said during his Zoom conference call. "We've used quite a few bullpen arms here the last few days, so we're going to reconvene after the...

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Orioles eyeing playoffs without losing sight of plan

August 13, 2020, 6:05pm

Orioles

There may not be a truer indicator of the bizarre nature of the 2020 baseball season than talk of the Orioles being buyers at the Aug. 31 trade deadline. A rebuilding club getting aggressive in search of that final piece of the playoff puzzle? A rebuilding club dangling prospects for rentals? The year isn't that weird. The Orioles would be thrilled to make the playoffs, though also knowing it's a longer road to reach the World Series and the odds are going to be stacked against it. But they...

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Orioles complete sweep with 11-4 win over Phillies (updated)

August 13, 2020, 5:14pm

Orioles

The doubters keep fueling the Orioles. Haters gonna motivate. Manager Brandon Hyde enjoys how his players carry chips on their shoulders, how they take pleasure in knocking down their critics. But he isn't obsessing over playoff positioning after 17 games, including this afternoon's 11-4 rain-delayed win over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. J.T. Realmuto hit a two-run homer off Thomas Eshelman in the fourth inning, but the Orioles responded with four runs in the fifth against Jake...

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Ruiz on his defense and hair, Hyde on Davis and Akin

August 13, 2020, 10:29am

Orioles

Ruiz on his defense and hair, Hyde on Davis and Akin

Rio Ruiz hit his fourth home run of the season last night, tying him with Anthony Santander for second-most on the team. Ruiz leads the Orioles in average exit velocity at 90.3 mph, according to Statcast data. But is he most proud of his work at the plate or third base? Where is he making the greatest contribution? "That's a tough one," he said. Of course it is. Ruiz had a sore shoulder that removed him from the lineup and exposed the Orioles at the position. His range, hands and consistency...

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Orioles lineup vs. Phillies

August 13, 2020, 8:39am

Orioles

The Orioles already won their fourth series of the season. Today's goal is to complete the sweep in Philadelphia before returning home. Their last series sweep of the Phillies came on June 15-16, 2015 when they took two games at Camden Yards. The last three-game sweep occurred on June 19-21, 2009 at Citizens Bank Park. JosÃ© Iglesias is the designated hitter today with Renato NÃºÃ±ez at first base and Chris Davis on the bench. Pat Valaika is the shortstop with Iglesias hampered by a sore...

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Scott left with high-leverage situations

August 12, 2020, 5:57pm

Orioles

Scott left with high-leverage situations

Tanner Scott must wonder sometimes whether he's going to be the last lefty standing. Scott had Zack Britton as a mentor in the Orioles bullpen. Then he relied on Richard Bleier. Leaders of the relief unit who are now gone in separate trades. Britton went to the Yankees at the 2018 deadline and later re-signed as a free agent. Bleier was sent to the depleted Marlins two weeks ago for a player to be named later. An expanded pitching staff this summer now holds Scott and Paul Fry as the only...

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Updating Means, Akin, Iglesias, attempted steal of home

August 12, 2020, 1:41pm

Orioles

Updating Means, Akin, Iglesias, attempted steal of home

Orioles pitchers John Means and Jorge LÃ³pez are going through the intake process and remain on the injured list rather than joining the active roster. "Hoping soon," manager Brandon Hyde said during today's Zoom conference call, "but I don't have a for-sure date yet because we have to wait for results and other things." Hyde dismissed the possibility of Means pitching in Friday's suspended game against the Nationals at Camden Yards. The game will resume in the top of the sixth inning...

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Orioles lineup vs. Phillies

August 12, 2020, 11:09am

Orioles

JosÃ© Iglesias has returned to the Orioles' lineup tonight in Philadelphia as they try to extend their winning streak to four games. And perhaps do it in regulation and without any rain-related madness. Chris Davis stays in the eighth spot and Chance Sisco is catching and batting ninth. Hanser Alberto and Anthony Santander remain one-two in the order. Wade LeBlanc is trying to rebound from Thursday night's start against the Marlins, when he surrendered six runs and seven hits in 3 1/3...

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More on rotation, UrÃas, Iglesias, winning and chemistry

August 11, 2020, 8:05pm

Orioles

More on rotation, UrÃas, Iglesias, winning and chemistry

The roster manipulation by the Orioles yesterday was minimal. One player on the taxi squad for the trip to Philadelphia. Nothing else to report. Left-hander John Means joined right-hander Jorge LÃ³pez on the injury list in a pair of procedural moves. They can be placed on the active roster after undergoing COVID-19 intake testing and the team has the results. Keegan Akin remained in the bullpen last night, still unsure how long he's going to stay in the majors. He gives the Orioles an extra...

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Cobb looking like chip and O's win in bizarre fashion (updated)

August 11, 2020, 7:07pm

Orioles

Cobb looking like chip and O's win in bizarre fashion (updated)

The new baseball trade deadline is creeping up on teams. None are certain how the market is going to evolve in a truncated season. But pitching always is in demand and an expansion of the playoff field could lure more executives into discussions. Alex Cobb was supposed to be a topic of conversation last summer, except he was injured in spring training, made only three starts and underwent hip and knee surgeries. Not much demand for an injured pitcher in the second year of a four-year, $57...