Showalter on injury updates and Jiménez in rotation (O's down 10-1)

Showalter on injury updates and Jiménez in rotation (O's down 10-1)
Manny Machado is batting second tonight for the first time this season. Manager Buck Showalter bumped him up from the third spot in the order and lowered Adam Jones. Showalter continues to seek ways to ignite the offense, which has scored three runs or fewer in 32 games. The Orioles are 8-24 in those games. The injury news today was mixed. Mike Wright went on the 10-day disabled list with right shoulder bursitis, but Seth Smith returned to the lineup, and Zach Britton and Darren O'Day are...

Britton: "I'm feeling really good now"

Britton: "I'm feeling really good now"
The Orioles placed Mike Wright on the 10-day disabled list today with right shoulder bursitis. They also announced that they optioned Jimmy Yacabonis to Triple-A Norfolk and recalled Gabriel Ynoa and left-hander Vidal Nuño from the Tides. The latest bullpen makeover will be on display tonight for the series opener against the Cardinals. Wright is expected to receive a cortisone injection in his shoulder. He felt the discomfort while throwing a slider to the White Sox's José Abreu during...

Jiménez returning to rotation (and other notes)

Jiménez returning to rotation (and other notes)
Ubaldo Jiménez has replaced Alec Asher as Sunday's starter against the Cardinals at Camden Yards. The move is being made primarily because the Orioles need Asher in the bullpen. He served in a variety of roles before joining the rotation and the unit needs to be stabilized. Jiménez requires extra time to warm up and requires more rest between outings than Asher. Reliever Jimmy Yacabonis was optioned last night to Triple-A Norfolk and Mike Wright probably is headed to the disabled...

Ynoa and Nuño join Orioles (updated with Orioles lineup)

Ynoa and Nuño join Orioles (updated with Orioles lineup)
The Orioles haven't announced any roster moves, but pitchers Gabriel Ynoa and Vidal Nuño have joined the team. They're sitting at their adjoining lockers at Camden Yards. Mike Wright probably is headed to the disabled list with shoulder soreness. Jimmy Yacabonis doesn't have a locker at Camden Yards and most likely has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. The lineup hasn't been posted, so no updates on Seth Smith's back. According to STATS, the last time that the Orioles had a road trip...

Possible roster moves and Duquette on rotation

Possible roster moves and Duquette on rotation
Every team has its own injury complaints and complications, but the Orioles especially can be excused for cursing their fate. Closer Zach Britton, set-up man Darren O'Day, first baseman Chris Davis and utility player Ryan Flaherty remain on the disabled list. Catcher Welington Castillo returns from the DL and third baseman Manny Machado is able to avoid it, but outfielder Seth Smith and reliever Mike Wright could be headed to it. The Orioles didn't intend to keep taking the new 10-day DL for...

Update on Britton's simulated game

Update on Britton's simulated game
Desperate for any nugget of positive news while their record threatens to again slip below .500, the Orioles came away encouraged today by Zach Britton's simulated game at Single-A Frederick. It may have to carry the afternoon. Britton threw 22 pitches and didn't experience any stiffness or discomfort in his left forearm, keeping him on track to join short-season Single-A Aberdeen for its opener on Monday. The game would mark the official start of his injury rehab assignment "Making good...

Tillman vs. Holmberg in series finale

Tillman vs. Holmberg in series finale
The Orioles will try today to gain a split of their four-game series against the White Sox, go 2-6 on a road trip that began with the makeup in D.C. and head back to Baltimore with the Cardinals coming to town this weekend. The Orioles raised their average on the trip to .245 after last night's 10-6 victory over the White Sox. Their pitching staff has registered a 9.63 ERA, including 13.33 from the rotation. Chris Tillman has his own ERA issues. It jumped from 5.59 to 8.01 after his last...

Orioles and White Sox lineups

Orioles and White Sox lineups
Shortstop J.J. Hardy gets the day off this afternoon as the Orioles attempt to gain a split of their four-game series against the White Sox in Chicago. Rubén Tejada is playing shortstop. Welington Castillo is the designated hitter against left-hander David Holmberg and Trey Mancini is playing first base with Chris Davis on the disabled list. Joey Rickard is leading off. Four of Castillo's five home runs this season have tied the game or given the Orioles a lead, according to ESPN Stats...

Because You Asked - Back In The Habit

Because You Asked - Back In The Habit
The mailbag is filled again with the same handful of questions. No sense wasting precious time answering each one individually, only to field 12 duplicates later in the day. You ask, I answer, you ask again, I answer again. Just don't challenge me on the whole hot dog/sandwich thing. I still can't decide. The meaning of life is much easier. At least it doesn't come in a bun. Anyway, here's the latest sequel: What's wrong with this team? The pitching has been atrocious. It all starts with...

Orioles and White Sox lineups

Orioles and White Sox lineups
David Washington is making his major league debut tonight as the Orioles' designated hitter. He's batting eighth against White Sox right-hander and former Oriole Miguel González. Hyun Soo Kim is leading off for the second time this season and playing left field, and Mark Trumbo is in right field. Seth Smith is on the bench. Trey Mancini is replacing Chris Davis at first base. Davis went on the 10-day disabled list today with a strained right oblique. The Orioles are batting .228 on the...

Chris Davis goes on disabled list

Chris Davis goes on disabled list
The Orioles made the anticipated roster move this afternoon, with first baseman Chris Davis going on the 10-day disabled list with a strained right oblique. First baseman/outfielder David Washington had his contract selected from Triple-A Norfolk as the corresponding move. The other move today involves Rule 5 outfielder Anthony Santander, who was transferred to the 60-day disabled list. The 40-man roster remains at 39. Davis sustained the injury Monday night after lining to right field in the...

Bundy the rotation's exception

Bundy the rotation's exception
The official Twitter record was set yesterday for "can he pitch?" responses. About position players drafted by the Orioles and first baseman David Washington joining the club in Chicago. About anyone and anything that, in reality, doesn't have a pitching background, including infielders, outfielders and garden tools. I'm not counting "can he pitch tomorrow?" in relation to actual pitchers who were drafted by the Orioles in the first 10 rounds. It's no secret that the Orioles rotation is...

Washington joining Orioles, Jackson update, lineup (updated)

Washington joining Orioles, Jackson update, lineup (updated)
Trey Mancini is playing first base tonight and Chris Davis seems to be headed for the disabled list after suffering a strained right oblique last night in Chicago. Davis underwent an MRI this morning. David Washington was scratched from Triple-A Norfolk's lineup and is joining the Orioles, as first reported by The Virginian-Pilot. Washington can play first base and serve as a left-handed designated hitter, and he also has experience in the outfield. Washington has never played in the majors....

Machado and Castillo third in All-Star voting

Machado and Castillo third in All-Star voting
The Orioles don't have a player higher than third place in voting for next month's All-Star Game in Miami. The latest round revealed that catcher Welington Castillo slipped from second to third place in the American League. Third baseman Manny Machado remains third and outfielder Adam Jones is 13th. Machado was in first place two weeks ago. The voting period ends June 29 at 11:59 p.m. The game will be played on July 11. Castillo has received 774,614 votes to trail the Royals' Salvador Perez...

Blowouts building against .500 Orioles

Blowouts building against .500 Orioles
It's not just the losses, it's the string of blowouts that raise the level of concern to dizzying heights. The Orioles lost their makeup game to the Nationals 6-1 before heading to New York, where they were outscored 38-8. The last-place White Sox led 10-2 in the seventh last night and beat the Orioles 10-7 in Chicago, putting them at .500 for the first time since the end of the 2015 season. They're on the verge of being the last-place Orioles, their hold on fourth down to a half-game after...

Orioles recall Miguel Castro

Orioles recall Miguel Castro
The Orioles made another roster move today while continuing their search for fresh arms and perhaps some continuity in their bullpen. Miguel Castro has been recalled from Double-A Bowie to replace Logan Verrett, who was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk one day after the Orioles brought him back to the majors. The shuttle never sleeps. Castro, 22, is 2-0 with a 5.59 ERA in five appearances with Bowie. He's allowed 12 earned runs (13 total) and 20 hits in 19 1/3 innings. The Orioles have been...

Orioles and White Sox lineups

Orioles and White Sox lineups
Manny Machado has returned to the Orioles lineup tonight in Chicago after missing the previous four games with a strained left wrist and sore hand. Machado is positioned in his usual third spot in the order. Trey Mancini remains in left field, batting seventh behind second baseman Jonathan Schoop. For the Orioles Seth Smith RF Adam Jones CF Manny Machado 3B Mark Trumbo DH Chris Davis 1B Jonathan Schoop 2B Trey Mancini LF Welington Castillo C J.J. Hardy SS Wade Miley LHP For the White Sox Tim...

Tonight's draft and game

Tonight's draft and game
NEW YORK - Maybe the start of the First-Year Player Draft tonight will serve as a nice distraction. Jiggling keys hasn't worked. The Orioles hold the 21st, 60th and 74th picks, which will be announced tonight. I won't pretend to know everyone who's on their board, but they'll load up on pitching again this week. College arms continue to bring the most appeal because they're closer to being major league ready. And the Orioles can't wait around if they're not going to spend on...

Jones: "Just keep your heads up, keep grinding"

Jones: "Just keep your heads up, keep grinding"
NEW YORK - The solution to what's ailing the Orioles is right in Adam Jones' wheelhouse. He preaches the need to keep grinding, and now more than ever with his club tumbling into fourth place and only one game above .500. "Just keep your heads up, keep grinding," Jones said following a 14-3 loss to the Yankees that completed a sweep. "Obviously, the scoreboard doesn't look pretty, standing out there ain't pretty, it ain't fun, but we all believe in each other. I know the three days up...

Orioles forcibly swept out of the Bronx

Orioles forcibly swept out of the Bronx
NEW YORK - The first inning fiasco happened again today to the Orioles. Blink an eye and five runs were on the board. Wind was lost in the sails. What about another game? The Orioles tried to claw back against the Yankees bullpen, which sprang into action in the third inning after Chad Green's early departure. Manager Joe Girardi was letting them pass the baton. The Orioles were hoping and praying that someone would drop it before they dropped 6 1/2 games out of first place in their...