ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter had another early wake-up call this morning to catch his flight from Dallas to Tampa following the birth of his first grandchild.
Daughter Allie had a boy, Winston, who weighed 9 pounds, 1 ounce.
"I had to fight emotions a lot," Showalter said. "I remember holding my daughter like that. I was afraid I was going to drop it."
Showalter wasn't going to drop his guard in front of the media. He wasn't going to get emotional as he sat in the...
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Closer Zach Britton will pitch Saturday in a relief role at Single-A Delmarva instead of working the first inning. The Orioles want him to get into the proper mindset.
Manager Buck Showalter indicated that Britton could pitch Monday at Double-A Bowie and make back-to-back appearances later in the week. Britton would complete his injury rehab assignment at Triple-A Norfolk.
Infielder Ryan Flaherty has a locker in the visiting clubhouse at Tropicana Field. He came over from...
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Reliever Darren O'Day is back in the Orioles bullpen tonight, the location in foul ground at Tropicana Field robbing him of the opportunity to catch a few more home run balls.
O'Day hasn't pitched for the Orioles since June 6 before going on the disabled list with soreness in his right shoulder. He greeted his return to the active roster with the usual humor, so dry that it should come with a drop of vermouth and an olive.
"I'm excited," he said, his voice offering...
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Reliever Darren O'Day was activated from the disabled list today to fill the vacancy created after the Orioles optioned Gabriel Ynoa late last night.
O'Day was on the DL with a right shoulder strain, his last appearance coming June 6 against the Pirates. He's 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in 24 games over 23 1/3 innings.
Adam Jones returns to the Orioles lineup after being rested last night.
The Orioles have allowed five runs or more in 19 consecutive games, one shy of the major...
If the Orioles are looking to get healthy, and not only from an injury standpoint, taking their act on the road would seem to be counterproductive. Sort of like trying to line the batter's box under water.
Wins at any locale haven't been plentiful, but the Orioles are 11-23 away from Camden Yards. They're starting a three-game series tonight at Tropicana Field, with manager Buck Showalter returning to them, and they'll fly to Toronto for three more after Monday's off-day.
Heading into last...
Orioles left-hander Richard Bleier wiped out an inherited runner tonight in the top of the sixth inning by coaxing a double play grounder from Indians catcher Yan Gomes. It wasn't just about keeping the deficit at two runs. It was the latest attempt to end an embarrassing streak.
Bleier got two quick strikes on Erik González, threw a cutter and watched the ball disappear over the fence in left-center field.
History still can be made. A pitching staff still can fail to locate in any count...
Orioles bench coach John Russell has substituted in the past for manager Buck Showalter. He isn't wandering into new territory.
His greatest challenge tonight?
"Make sure Buck has some pitching for tomorrow," he said.
"I think that's the big thing. Make sure Roger (McDowell) and I try to run the bullpen to where we feel like we've got a good opportunity for the next few days, because one game can affect a team for the next four or five games. We've had a little bit of struggles and our...
Orioles manager Buck Showalter and wife Angela are the proud grandparents of a 9-pound, 1-ounce boy. Daughter Allie is doing fine.
Showalter flew into Dallas early this morning.
Bench coach John Russell, who's serving as interim manager tonight, exchanged text messages with Showalter. Included was a photo of Angela holding the baby and Showalter sitting next to them.
"Pretty happy grandfather," Russell said.
"He's doing fine. I don't know if he quite made it for the actual birth, but I...
Adam Jones is missing from the Orioles lineup tonight, with Craig Gentry starting in center field and batting ninth. Gentry is starting for the first time since May 12 in Kansas City.
Jonathan Schoop moves up to third in the order.
Welington Castillo is behind the plate after sitting out last night's game with a sore right shoulder.
Trey Mancini is batting .357 (25-for-70) this month. He's batting .330 (36-for-109) against right-handers this season.
Mancini is batting .340 (34-for-100) in 28...
While the Orioles continue to evaluate shortstop Rubén Tejada, they're also learning more about Trey Mancini as a first baseman.
They already know how easily he adapts to the outfield.
Mancini is getting regular starts at his natural position while Chris Davis is on the disabled list with a strained oblique. He corralled a ground ball last night from Carlos Santana near the line and flipped to Kevin Gausman to end the fourth inning and strand two runners in a scoreless game.
A dropped pop...
Kevin Gausman was striking out batters and putting up zeros tonight, the fog lifting from him on a night that another game was delayed at the start by rain. The only storm clouds that returned were the kind that come with scattered runs.
The tarp was rolled. Gausman was rolling. And then the Indians got to him in the fifth.
Gausman struck out the first batter and allowed four straight hits, including Roberto Pérez's RBI double to break a scoreless tie and Francisco Lindor's two-run homer...
Dark clouds rolled into Camden Yards, the tarp is on the field and the start of tonight's game will be delayed. The grounds crew got the infield ready before covering it.
This will be the 10th delay endured by the Orioles this season, including a postponement in D.C. Eight of them have occurred at Camden Yards.
Chris Tillman is listed as Sunday's starter against the Rays at Tropicana Field, just as manager Buck Showalter stated following last night's game. Tillman remains in the rotation...
Tonight's game hasn't started and the Orioles already feel better about the back end of their bullpen.
Closer Zach Britton's left arm responded well to last night's 12-pitch inning at short-season Single-A Aberdeen. He's scheduled to pitch Thursday and Saturday at Single-A Delmarva and likely will report to Double-A Bowie.
Darren O'Day threw a simulated game before batting practice today without any discomfort in his right shoulder. If he's fine on Thursday, the Orioles will activate him...
Paul Janish is starting at shortstop tonight and Caleb Joseph is behind the plate as the Orioles continue their series against the Indians at Camden Yards.
Hyun Soo Kim continues to start in left field.
Manny Machado is 7-for-18 (.389) with two doubles, three home runs, eight RBIs and five runs scored in five games since moving up to second in the order.
The Orioles have allowed five runs or more in 17 consecutive games to tie the American League record held by the 1901 Philadelphia Athletics,...
The Orioles' decision yesterday to transfer Zach Britton to the 60-day disabled list caused a bit of a stir among fans who assumed that the closer's return had been pushed back.
Not true.
Britton is eligible to come off the disabled list on July 4. He's always been a candidate for the 60-day. Manager Buck Showalter already dismissed July 1 as a possible return date.
The Orioles could have Britton back in their bullpen as soon as he's eligible, depending on whether he needs to remain on his...
The Orioles are barreling toward a record that could cause their season to spiral out of control unless they can put their own spin on it.
The pitching staff has allowed five or more runs in 17 consecutive games, three short of the major league mark set by the 1924 Phillies. And there hasn't been much drama attached as their starters keep hitting the magic number.
The only solution for the Orioles might be to keep trying to outslug the opposition. Get more than they give up.
It's a rough way...
In case anyone missed the update earlier today, the Orioles selected outfielder Craig Gentry's contract from Triple-A Norfolk and optioned first baseman/outfielder David Washington to the Tides.
Closer Zach Britton was transferred to the 60-day disabled list to open a spot for Gentry on the 40-man roster. Britton can come back July 4, so the move doesn't impact his schedule. Otherwise, the Orioles would have taken a different route.
The Orioles optioned left-hander Vidal Nuño earlier in...
The Orioles could make a second roster move later today. The wheels are in motion.
They already announced that left-hander Donnie Hart was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk and southpaw Vidal Nuño was optioned to the Tides. They also are trying to get another player here before tonight's game against the Indians. Otherwise, the move would be completed on Wednesday.
It's believed that they have summoned outfielder Craig Gentry, which could put David Washington's roster spot in jeopardy....
Left-hander Donnie Hart is in the Orioles clubhouse today and lefty Vidal Nuño was called into manager Buck Showalter's office. A roster move is coming.
Nuño has allowed home runs in all three appearances since the Orioles recalled him on Friday. He could be optioned or placed on the disabled list.
Update: Nuño said he's been optioned. He's been battling a sore oblique, but an MRI on him came back clean. He said he's also been bothered by hip and knee problems this season.
Rubén...
The Orioles are headed in the wrong direction in All-Star Game voting.
Manny Machado has dropped from third to fourth place among American League third baseman, Welington Castillo has fallen from third to fourth among catchers and Adam Jones is 14th among outfielders. He was 13th last week.
The voting period ends June 29 at 11:59 p.m. The game will be played on July 11.
The Blue Jays' Josh Donaldson passed Machado for third place and the Yankees' Gary Sánchez passed Castillo.
First basemen...