Roch Kubatko

Orioles and Blue Jays lineups

August 19, 2020, 7:08am

Orioles

Chance Sisco remains in the leadoff spot today for the Orioles, and he's also behind the plate. Sisco is the first Orioles catcher to bat first since Floyd Rayford on June 26, 1985. Curt Blefary is the only other Orioles catcher to do it back in April 1968. Sisco walked and homered last night as the designated hitter. Hanser Alberto moves down to fifth in the order. Chris Davis is in the lineup today, as the Orioles try to avoid the sweep. Pat Valaika is the shortstop and Cedric Mullins is in...

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Could Sisco get more chances to bat leadoff?

August 18, 2020, 8:06pm

Orioles

Could Sisco get more chances to bat leadoff?

Chance Sisco led off for the Orioles last night, but as the designated hitter. Not the starting catcher, where he'd normally be assigned. We won't let it ruin our fun. Who was the last Orioles catcher to bat first? Floyd Rayford on June 26, 1985. Rayford, mainly a third baseman, was behind the plate for Scott McGregor's start in New York. He went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in a 4-3 loss. Rickey Henderson swiped second and third base. Henderson was so eager to run, which is like saying water...

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Santander's two homers still leave Orioles short in 8-7 loss (updated)

August 18, 2020, 7:34pm

Orioles

The pose has become familiar. He just needs paparazzi to capture the moment. Anthony Santander unloads on another ball and admires its flight, tosses his bat and beings a slow trot to first base. He'll glance at the dugout and gesture to teammates. A pointed finger, a few words. A celebration after crossing home plate with fists and elbows sometimes touching only air. The hard contact's already been made. Santander extended his hitting streak to a career-high 13 games tonight with a two-run...

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Hyde on Alberto, Iglesias, UrÃas, Davis and Harvey

August 18, 2020, 1:30pm

Orioles

Hyde on Alberto, Iglesias, UrÃas, Davis and Harvey

Catcher Chance Sisco has hit in every spot in the order except first during his major league career. There's a first time for everything. Sisco is leading off tonight as the Orioles continue their series against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards. Manager Brandon Hyde needed a replacement for Hanser Alberto, who's healthy but getting a breather. Sisco has a .474 on-base percentage and the team doesn't carry a prototypical leadoff hitter on the active roster. Makes sense to try it. Cedric Mullins...

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Orioles place Iglesias on injured list (plus Orioles lineup)

August 18, 2020, 11:51am

Orioles

The Orioles have placed shortstop JosÃ© Iglesias on the 10-day injured list today and recalled infielder RamÃ³n UrÃas from the alternate camp site in Bowie. Iglesias is dealing with a left quadriceps strain and has been limited to sporadic appearances in the lineup and in the field due to his injury. Manager Brandon Hyde suggested yesterday that the IL had become a consideration, though the Orioles hate to lose a bat that's been extremely productive. They're left with no choice. Signed...

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Orioles traveling tough division road, Davis sits again

August 17, 2020, 6:59pm

Orioles

The dog days of August can clamp down on a team under normal circumstances or in a season that's been shortened and manipulated and undergone changes on the fly. The Orioles began a stretch last night of 14 straight games against division opponents. They knew it was coming. The restrictions on travel set them up for it. They won two of three games in Boston to start the season, lost twice to the Yankees and swept the Rays. Now they get the Blue Jays for three, followed by four against the Red...

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Infield hits and one big swing doom Cobb in 7-2 loss (updated)

August 17, 2020, 6:21pm

Orioles

Infield hits and one big swing doom Cobb in 7-2 loss (updated)

The Orioles can no longer hide, even on the nights they'd like to do it. They've been ignored by the national media over the past few years because rebuilds don't have much curb appeal, but recognition is increasing beyond the local coverage. They've become the talk of Twitter, MLB Network and other outlets. This is the good kind of attention. No accusations of "tanking" or being "historically bad." But none of it really matters to them. They've done a pretty good job of tuning out the...

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Iglesias becoming a consideration for injured list

August 17, 2020, 1:14pm

Orioles

Iglesias becoming a consideration for injured list

The inability to keep shortstop JosÃ© Iglesias in the lineup due to a sore left quadriceps muscle has the Orioles at least pondering the benefits of a stint on the 10-day injured list. Iglesias is on the bench again tonight and has been the designated hitter on three occasions to lessen the strain on his leg. He's appeared in 16 games, making 10 starts at shortstop, and slashed .400/.414/.564 with nine doubles and 10 RBIs. "That's a possibility," manager Brandon Hyde said during today's...

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Orioles lineup vs. Blue Jays

August 17, 2020, 11:57am

Orioles

Chris Davis stays on the bench tonight while the Orioles open a three-game series at home against the Blue Jays. Davis pinch-hit in the ninth inning yesterday and struck out with the count full. He's 6-for-45 (.133) with a .388 OPS, three doubles, an RBI, three walks and 13 strikeouts. His last home run was hit Sept. 23 in Toronto, where the Blue Jays are prohibited from playing this summer. They've relocated to Buffalo. Davis' last start came in Friday's 15-3 loss to the Nationals. He has...

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Orioles add Tate to active roster

August 17, 2020, 8:10am

Orioles

The Orioles have made another bullpen move heading into tonight's series opener against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards. Dillon Tate has been reinstated from the 10-day injured list. In a corresponding move, the Orioles optioned reliever Evan Phillips to the alternate camp site in Bowie. Manager Brandon Hyde told the media yesterday in his Zoom conference call that Tate was facing hitters and nearing a return. "Couple days ago, threw an inning-plus down there," Hyde said, "so he's getting...

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Orioles praising 'pen while also searching for more substantial starts

August 16, 2020, 3:38pm

Orioles

The glass is half full or half empty. The viewpoint is up for debate. An Orioles bullpen providing outstanding coverage in games and a rotation unable to work beyond the middle innings. One is lauded, the other lectured. Relievers tossed four scoreless innings Saturday night against the Nationals to seal a 7-3 win, after Asher Wojciechowski threw one pitch in the sixth and watched the ball sail over the left field fence. Jorge LÃ³pez made his Orioles debut yesterday and walked off the mound...

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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...