Voting is underway for the 2019 All-Star Game that's slated for July 9 at Progressive Field in Cleveland, and outfielder Trey Mancini appears to be a virtual lock to represent the Orioles, a perception that he tunes out like hostile crowd noise.
There isn't a more obvious choice than Mancini, who impresses with his average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, power and run production. It's hard to pick apart any aspect of his offensive game when lined up against his teammates.
So, it's...
The reception for DJ Stewart tonight in his first at-bat of the season didn't force the young outfielder to choke back tears. Polite applause accompanied him to the plate. Nothing that would cause a player to step out of the box and gather himself.
Stewart was recalled earlier in the day from Triple-A Norfolk, a popular move judging by the reaction on social media, if not in the stands. But the cheering increased in volume as he grounded a single into right field in the second inning and again...
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde intends to give DJ Stewart an extended look after the Orioles called up the outfielder earlier today from Triple-A Norfolk.
Stewart is starting tonight in right field and also will move over to left, "and we'll see how it goes," Hyde said.
"This is a position player who's going to get a lot of everyday at-bats. I think DJ is a part of the future and I think DJ is somebody who's going to swing the bat well. I just don't want to put too much pressure on him....
DJ Stewart is playing right field and batting sixth against Tigers left-hander Matthew Boyd on the day that the Orioles recalled him from Triple-A Norfolk.
Stewart was 16-for-40 (.400) with five doubles, three home runs, 16 RBIs and 13 walks against International League left-handers this season.
Trey Mancini is starting at first base again. Stevie Wilkerson is in left field.
Hanser Alberto continues to lead off for the Orioles. He's 8-for-19 with three doubles, a home run and four RBIs atop...
The Orioles have found a spot for outfielder DJ Stewart, rewarding him for an extended hot stretch at the plate by recalling him today from Triple-A Norfolk.
Stewart, 25, replaces reliever Evan Phillips, who was optioned yesterday following a 5-3 win over the Tigers.
Stewart was batting .316/.425/.586 with 13 doubles, two triples, eight home runs and 35 RBIs in 43 games. He slashed .456/.512/.882 in 19 games this month, with 10 doubles, two triples, five home runs and 27 RBIs.
Today could mark...
With each failed outing by Orioles reliever Mychal Givens, fan reaction tends to be divided in equal parts frustration over a bungled lead and the loss in value of one of the club's largest trade chips.
Is Givens really hurting the front office's ability to negotiate a deal, if that's what it wants to do?
Givens just turned 29 and is under team control until he reaches free agency in 2022. He's averaging 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings, just a hair under his career high of 11.6 in 2016,...
Gabriel Ynoa makes his first start in two years today as the Orioles begin their three-game series against the Tigers at Camden Yards.
This could turn into a bullpen game with Ynoa unlikely to work into the later innings. Dan Straily is available in relief and could back him up now that they've switched roles.
Ynoa has never faced the Tigers or anyone on the current roster.
Trey Mancini starts at first base today. Hanser Alberto is back in the leadoff slot and playing third. Stevie Wilkerson...
DENVER - Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias mentioned last week that Triple-A Norfolk outfielder DJ Stewart was on the club's radar, based on the first-round pick's scorching bat. However, he included the complication of trying to fit Stewart on the roster as a corner outfielder.
The Orioles have a wealth of them.
Putting first baseman Chris Davis on the injured list with left hip inflammation could open the door for Stewart, who's already on the 40-man roster...
DENVER - The situations line up properly. The matchups unfold as Orioles manager Brandon Hyde envisions them. And then chaos ensues and he's left to wonder again about the composition of his pitching staff and praise a team for resiliency that's tested to the limit.
The Orioles came within two outs of a rare series win, but the feel-good comeback was followed again by a violent gut punch. A bases-loaded walk from struggling closer Mychal Givens ties the game in the bottom of the ninth inning...
DENVER - The Orioles are prepared to make a roster move today involving first baseman Chris Davis.
Manager Brandon Hyde said Davis has been bothered by hip soreness. Davis was examined last night and unavailable for a 9-6 win over the Rockies, which included Rio Ruiz playing first base in the ninth inning.
Davis wasn't in the dugout or inside the clubhouse after the game.
Hyde finished his session with the media this morning and headed inside to check on Davis before making a...
DENVER - Keon Broxton moves down to seventh in the order today as the Orioles close out their series against the Rockies and return home.
Austin Wynns is catching. Renato Núñez remains at first base with Chris Davis on the bench.
David Hess comes into Coors Field today leading the majors in home runs allowed with 17. Daniel Murphy and Mark Reynolds are 0-for-2 against them. They're the only Colorado batters to face him.
The Orioles matched last year's season high with 17 hits last...
DENVER - The Orioles have brought reliever Evan Phillips to Coors Field this morning, setting up a bullpen move that manager Brandon Hyde hinted at yesterday.
The club stuck with its current group in last night's 9-6 win over the Rockies, but Hyde said earlier that a change could come in the next day or two.
Hyde used only two relievers last night, covering the last four innings with Miguel Castro and Josh Lucas. Lucas tossed three scoreless innings for his first major league save.
Phillips...
DENVER - The excessive bullpen usage by the Orioles in two months can be blamed on starters who don't get through the middle innings. On relievers who run up pitch counts and need to be bailed out. On game situations that prompt manager Brandon Hyde to pick up the phone.
Hyde has indicated that he's going to be more inclined to lay off certain guys and not allow the score to dictate his moves. It's a long season. He's slipping into more of a protective mode, though he's always preached the...
DENVER - As the Orioles made the final out tonight in the top of the first inning and players jogged onto the field, the eight relievers vacated the dugout and began the long walk to the bullpen in center field. Outfielder Keon Broxton fist-bumped each one, a friendly gesture rather than the taking of relief inventory.
A casual observer could be forgiven for thinking that players are checking on who's available to pitch. Who's running on fumes. Who could use an Uber.
Pity the rookie toting...
DENVER - Gabriel Ynoa is getting another opportunity to start for the Orioles.
Manager Brandon Hyde has chosen Ynoa to pitch Monday afternoon against the Tigers at Camden Yards, the spot that opened with Dan Straily's move to the bullpen.
Ynoa hasn't started in the majors since Sept. 27, 2017 in Pittsburgh. He missed the 2018 season due to shin and shoulder injuries and has made nine relief appearances this year.
Hyde isn't going with the hot hand. He just needs someone who's stretched out...
DENVER - While disappointed that he didn't produce as a starter, Orioles right-hander Dan Straily understands and approves of his move to the bullpen. However long it lasts.
Manager Brandon Hyde announced yesterday that Straily would pitch in a relief, his availability beginning tonight, rather than make Monday afternoon's start against the Tigers at Camden Yards.
Straily has posted a 9.09 ERA and 1.990 WHIP in nine games (eight starts) over 34 2/3 innings. He surrendered four home runs in...
DENVER - Renato Núñez is carrying a hot bat into the cleanup spot for tonight's game against the Rockies at Coors Field.
Núñez has homered in three consecutive games and four of the last five. He's collected six hits in 15 at-bats since May 19 and he's starting at first base tonight.
Keon Broxton stays in center field after homering last night on the first pitch thrown to him and later reaching on an infield hit.
Hanser Alberto is leading off. Stevie Wilkerson is in left field...
DENVER - Chris Davis' name was missing from the Orioles lineup in last night's series opener against the Rockies and his removal versus a right-handed starter, in this case Jeff Hoffman, serves as a sharp indicator that another reset is underway.
Davis also expects to sit tonight with the Rockies sending left-hander Kyle Freeland to the mound. But he won't be idle, his work continuing with hitting coach Don Long as they try to find a solution.
Manager Brandon Hyde put Trey Mancini at first...
DENVER - Keon Broxton just wants to have fun. And if a man can't enjoy a 474-foot home run on the first pitch thrown to him on his new team, well, there's something truly wrong in the baseball world.
Broxton was all smiles as he crossed home plate tonight and turned toward the Orioles dugout, knowing the enthusiastic reception that waited for him. Rio Ruiz got to him first behind home plate, scoring after drawing a leadoff walk and giving Broxton an affectionate slap on the helmet.
The high...
DENVER - The Orioles are moving Dan Straily to the bullpen.
Straily would have started Monday afternoon against the Tigers at Camden Yards, but the spot is listed as TBD. Manager Brandon Hyde said the replacement will be announced prior to Saturday's game.
This is the latest reset employed by the Orioles, who are hoping that Straily can work out his issues away from the rotation and narrow his focus and workload.
Straily needs to thin out an ERA that's grown to 9.09 and a 1.990 WHIP built...