Orioles reassign Aquino (O's win 7-4, Castro quotes)

Orioles reassign Aquino (O's win 7-4, Castro quotes)
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have reassigned left-hander Jayson Aquino to minor league camp before today's game against the Yankees at Ed Smith Stadium. The camp roster is down to 44 players, including 21 pitchers. Closer Zach Britton is on the list, but he's also on the 60-day disabled list. Aquino made three appearances this spring and allowed three runs (two earned) and five hits in five innings, with two walks and seven strikeouts. The Orioles tabbed him as the starter on Saturday after...

Showalter on Davis as DL candidate: "We're not there yet"

Showalter on Davis as DL candidate: "We're not there yet"
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles haven't reached the point where the disabled list becomes a consideration for first baseman Chris Davis, but manager Buck Showalter didn't dismiss the possibility. Davis continues to make gradual progress after receiving a cortisone injection Saturday to alleviate the inflammation in his right elbow. "We're not there yet," Showalter said when asked about the DL. "I still have confidence that we can get this behind us and get enough at-bats to be ready. We're...

Orioles lineup vs. Yankees

Orioles lineup vs. Yankees
SARASOTA, Fla. - Mark Trumbo returns to the Orioles lineup today as promised now that he's recovered from a sore right quadriceps muscle. And Trey Mancini is batting first in a 1:05 p.m. home game against the Yankees on MASN. Anthony Santander gets another look in left field. The bullpen behind starter Miguel Castro includes Rule 5 pick Nestor Cortes Jr., Darren O'Day and Joely Rodriguez. For the Orioles Trey Mancini 1B Jonathan Schoop 2B Manny Machado SS Adam Jones CF Colby Rasmus RF Mark...

Bits on Brach, Britton and the bullpen

Bits on Brach, Britton and the bullpen
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter will meet with his relievers shortly and map out what constitutes roles for them. He's big on just making sure guys are ready when the phone rings, but he also wants them to know what he's planning while closer Zach Britton is on the 60-day disabled list. Showalter said Brad Brach is a "potential closer," but only because he hasn't made his intentions public. I wouldn't read too much into it. "I don't think anybody has made that...

Wrapping up a 7-5 win

Wrapping up a 7-5 win
FORT MYERS, Fla. - James Teague notched his fifth save today, earning his role as Grapefruit League ninth-inning specialist, and the Orioles defeated the Twins 7-5. Teague, a 37th-round pick in 2016 out of the University of Arkansas, hasn't allowed a run in 5 1/3 innings. He gave up a one-out double today and struck out the next batter on a 96 mph fastball. Chris Tillman's first Grapefruit League start produced six walks in two-plus innings and he was charged with four runs - three scoring...

Tillman walks six of 14 batters in debut (O's win 7-5)

Tillman walks six of 14 batters in debut (O's win 7-5)
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Jorge Polanco had just let go of his bat after drawing the Twins' latest walk, this one with the bases loaded, and Orioles manager Buck Showalter was out of the dugout and signaling to his bullpen. Chris Tillman's first Grapefruit League start after a couple of simulated games ended with no outs in the third inning and the bases still full. Tillman never could find the plate with any consistency and was done following his sixth walk among 14 batters faced. Left-hander...

Davis could play this weekend (and other notes)

Davis could play this weekend (and other notes)
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Orioles first baseman Chris Davis expects to be in the lineup this weekend as he recovers from tightness in his right elbow/forearm. The cortisone injection is bringing the desired result. Davis took top-hand swings yesterday and two-handed swings today without any discomfort. He hasn't been in the lineup since leading off in a March 2 game against the Pirates. Mark Trumbo remains scheduled to serve as designated hitter on Wednesday against the Yankees in Sarasota. He...

Orioles lineup vs. Twins

Orioles lineup vs. Twins
SARASOTA, Fla. - Tim Beckham, Trey Mancini and Manny Machado are wearing the gray pants today as the Orioles travel to Fort Myers to play the Twins. Beckham is leading off. Austin Hays is back in the outfield, starting in right field. Danny Valencia is starting at first base. Relievers listed behind Chris Tillman, making his first Grapefruit League start, include Donnie Hart, Josh Edgin, Jimmy Yacabonis, José Mesa Jr., Branden Kline and James Teague. The reserves include Alex Presley, Chance...

Hart on his quest to make the club, O's negotiations with Lynn

Hart on his quest to make the club, O's negotiations with Lynn
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles' spring training strikeout leader heading into yesterday's game was left-hander Donnie Hart, a reliever with five innings under his belt. He was scored upon in just his first outing. Surface stuff that presents an argument for his inclusion in the opening day bullpen. However, Hart still can be optioned to the minors and the Orioles continue to sort through their choices for left-handed relief beyond Richard Bleier. Rule 5 Nestor Cortes Jr. could be a bullpen...

Wrapping up an 8-5 win

Wrapping up an 8-5 win
BRADENTON, Fla. - The spring stats meant nothing to manager Buck Showalter. The runs and hits allowed by Dylan Bundy didn't reflect his readiness to break camp. Improvement today? For Showalter, Bundy has always been on his game. The numbers just didn't support it. Bundy today became the first Orioles starter to go five innings this spring. He allowed one run and seven hits, walked none and struck out five. He was done after 84 pitches. Bundy had surrendered 10 runs and 11 hits over 4 1/3...

Notes on Trumbo, Rule 5s, Mountcastle and more (O's win 8-5)

Notes on Trumbo, Rule 5s, Mountcastle and more (O's win 8-5)
BRADENTON, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter confirmed today that Mark Trumbo will return to the lineup Wednesday as the designated hitter against the Yankees at Ed Smith Stadium. Trumbo has been out since Tuesday with a sore right quadriceps muscle. Showalter indicated that final decisions on Rule 5 pitchers Nestor Cortes Jr., Pedro Araujo and José Mesa Jr. could be withheld until the end of camp. Araujo might have moved to the head of the pack, though Showalter isn't tipping his...

Orioles remove Mountcastle, Stewart, Asher from camp roster

Orioles remove Mountcastle, Stewart, Asher from camp roster
BRADENTON, Fla. - The Orioles made three more cuts this morning to get their roster down to 45, optioning pitcher Alec Asher to Triple-A Norfolk and reassigning infielder Ryan Mountcastle and outfielder DJ Stewart to minor league camp. Mountcastle, 21, will continue to play third base, though he's also been taking fly balls on the back fields. His bat delivered two tape-measure home runs, including a three-run shot yesterday to right-center field against the Red Sox in Fort Myers. He was...

Orioles lineup vs. Pirates

Orioles lineup vs. Pirates
BRADENTON, Fla. - Austin Hays is leading off today and serving as the designated hitter and Colby Rasmus is batting second and playing center field for the Orioles' 1:05 p.m. game against the Pirates. Pedro Álvarez is playing first base against his former team. Mike Wright Jr. will follow starter Dylan Bundy today. Brad Brach also is scheduled to pitch and the Orioles brought Luis Gonzalez and Branden Kline. The bench includes Chance Sisco, DJ Stewart, Mike Yastrzemski, Cedric Mullins,...

Trumbo ready to get back into lineup

Trumbo ready to get back into lineup
SARASOTA, Fla. - Mark Trumbo's right quadriceps muscle has healed and he's going to be in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Yankees in Sarasota. "I feel back to normal," he said. Trumbo said he won't be restricted to serving as designated hitter if the club wants him in the outfield or first base. "They did a real nice job getting the swelling out of there and I feel ready," he said. Trumbo, who's 3-for-20, hasn't played since Tuesday against the Twins in Fort Myers, but he...

Who's batting leadoff for Orioles?

Who's batting leadoff for Orioles?
SARASOTA, Fla. - Tim Beckham led off for the Orioles last night in their split-squad game against the Phillies and nothing can be read into it. Manager Buck Showalter hasn't decided on a leadoff hitter. He doesn't know whether it will be a regular or if he'll need two depending on the platoon. Maybe he'll really buy into the theory that a team's best hitters should be stacked at the top. Practice what others preach. Colby Rasmus has hit first against right-handers. Chris Davis' last...

Wrapping up a 4-0 split-squad win

Wrapping up a 4-0 split-squad win
SARASOTA, Fla. - Andrew Cashner gave the Orioles four scoreless innings tonight and also gave manager Buck Showalter further confirmation that the club handled the right-hander properly after he signed late. The two simulated games on Field 4 were a nice platform for tonight's debut, with Cashner allowing only a bunt single by the Phillies' Pedro Florimón in the Orioles' 4-0 split-squad victory at Ed Smith Stadium. "The schedule he's been on with his sim games, he was good," Showalter...

Cashner tosses four scoreless innings in debut (O's win 4-0)

Cashner tosses four scoreless innings in debut (O's win 4-0)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Andrew Cashner became the first Orioles starter this spring to go more than three innings, and he did it in his first appearance on a stadium mound. Making his debut against the Phillies at Ed Smith Stadium, Cashner tossed four shutout innings and allowed only one hit, with three walks and two strikeouts. The hit came on a bunt by former Orioles farmhand Pedro Florimón. Cashner threw 60 pitches, 36 for strikes. Kevin Gausman, Mike Wright Jr., Nestor Cortes Jr., Miguel Castro...

Chris Davis provides latest update on elbow

Chris Davis provides latest update on elbow
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles first baseman Chris Davis must be shut down for 72 hours after receiving a cortisone injection yesterday in his right elbow to reduce the inflammation and hasten his recovery and eventual return to the lineup. However, he reported this afternoon that his condition is improving and expressed a desire to start playing again. The cautious approach will remain in order before Davis can get back into it. "Basically, it was kind of a plateau in the rehab," he said,...

Orioles lineup vs. Phillies

Orioles lineup vs. Phillies
SARASOTA, Fla. - Austin Hays is the designated hitter and Trey Mancini is batting second and playing first base for the Orioles' split-squad game against the Phillies at Ed Smith Stadium. Tim Beckham is leading off. Anthony Santander is in left field. For the Orioles Tim Beckham 3B Trey Mancini 1B Manny Machado SS Adam Jones CF Jonathan Schoop 2B Craig Gentry RF Anthony Santander LF Austin Hays DH Caleb Joseph C Andrew Cashner RHP Rule 5 pick Pedro Araujo, Mychal Givens and Darren O'Day are...

Orioles and Red Sox lineups for split-squad game

Orioles and Red Sox lineups for split-squad game
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are playing split-squad games against the Red Sox this afternoon in Fort Myers and the Phillies tonight in Sarasota, and the pitching creates interest in both halves. Hunter Harvey makes his third start today after allowing two runs over four innings against the Rays and Twins. Andrew Cashner has graduated from simulated games and makes his first appearance tonight in the Grapefruit League since signing his two-year deal with the Orioles. Colby Rasmus, Danny...