Last night's gamble and thoughts on Bourn, Kim and more

Last night's gamble and thoughts on Bourn, Kim and more
Orioles manager Buck Showalter wasn't certain last night whether the Orioles would regret leaving their bullpen intact with the Nationals in town. Alec Asher wasn't available after working 3 1/3 innings the previous day and another early exit from Kevin Gausman could bring serious complications. It's not like the Nationals have many soft spots in their lineup. They led the majors in average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, hits, doubles and runs scored and were second in home runs....

Orioles swat Nats in Wieters' return (with quotes)

Orioles swat Nats in Wieters' return (with quotes)
The first standing ovation for Matt Wieters tonight came as the Orioles played a video tribute on their scoreboard set to the theme song of the 1970s sitcom "Welcome Back, Kotter." Wieters was warming up starter Gio Gonzalez before the bottom of the first inning and couldn't acknowledge it. He'd get another chance as he walked to the plate in the top of the third. Fans rose to their feet and Orioles starter Kevin Gausman stepped off the mound to allow Wieters the full treatment. Wieters...

Wondering what Gausman can bring into this start (O's up 6-2)

Wondering what Gausman can bring into this start (O's up 6-2)
There are no splits online to determine how Kevin Gausman has fared after throwing 20 pitches and being ejected for hitting a batter with a curveball. And I searched everywhere for it. Gausman is working on "normal" rest tonight, if that's the appropriate word for it. He hasn't started since Wednesday night in Boston, when a 77 mph bender smacked Xander Bogaerts on the backside and plate umpire Sam Holbrook reacted as through Gausman planted a 98 mph fastball between the numbers and...

Schoop returns to Orioles lineup

Schoop returns to Orioles lineup
Jonathan Schoop passed all the pregame tests on his right hand and he's in tonight's lineup against the Nationals. Joey Rickard is leading off again tonight against Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez, and Mark Trumbo is in right field. Trey Mancini is the designated hitter. Schoop is 1-for-8 with four strikeouts lifetime against Gonzalez. Chris Davis is 2-for-15 and Trumbo is 3-for-16 with eight strikeouts. Manny Machado is 4-for-10. For the Orioles Joey Rickard LF Adam Jones CF Manny Machado...

Notes on Schoop, Tillman, Britton, Peña, Asher and more

Notes on Schoop, Tillman, Britton, Peña, Asher and more
Orioles manager Buck Showalter won't post his lineup today until second baseman Jonathan Schoop takes batting practice. Schoop has missed the last two games with swelling and discomfort in his right hand after being hit by a pitch Friday night against the White Sox. He played catch with Manny Machado this afternoon and will hit and perform infield drills. Showalter said Chris Tillman feels good after working five scoreless innings yesterday in his season debut. Closer Zach Britton's...

Wieters on his return to Camden Yards

Wieters on his return to Camden Yards
Former Orioles catcher Matt Wieters took a seat on the visiting bench this afternoon at Camden Yards, surrounded by television cameras and assorted microphones while wearing his red Nationals jacket and cap. The surroundings were familiar to him, but also strange. He may as well get used to it. That's how it's going to be for Wieters as he returns to the city that embraced him as a first-round pick and four-time All-Star. "It's a different vantage point for sure, but it's a good feeling...

Former teammates looking forward to Wieters' return

Former teammates looking forward to Wieters' return
Just as the Orioles seemed to be regaining a sense of normalcy in their baseball lives, along comes Matt Wieters to create another storyline. And we said it wouldn't get weird again. This distraction will be greeted more warmly than the others that preceded it. Wieters is making his first trip to Camden Yards since signing with the Nationals as a free agent, a moment he surely anticipated after agreeing to terms on a two-year, $21 million contract in February. He's agreed to meet with the...

Tillman wins in season debut as O's shut out White Sox (with quotes)

Tillman wins in season debut as O's shut out White Sox (with quotes)
Chris Tillman's debut with the Orioles today after a prolonged stint on the disabled list included walks to the first two batters he faced and only one strike among his first 10 pitches. Let the guy settle in before judging him. Tillman escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first inning and blanked the White Sox through the fifth, and the Orioles completed their sweep with a 4-0 victory before an announced crowd of 31,806 at Camden Yards. The Orioles (20-10) have their third four-game winning...

Showalter on Tillman, Miley, Trumbo, Davis and Wieters (O's up 4-0)

Showalter on Tillman, Miley, Trumbo, Davis and Wieters (O's up 4-0)
The Orioles are playing their 2,000th game today at Camden Yards, which also marks Chris Tillman's return to a major league mound after starting the season on the disabled list with right shoulder bursitis. Tillman will be evaluated by today's performance, of course, but also how his shoulder responds in the ensuing days. "You know when he's feeling good about himself and his stuff, but there's another part of that after today," said manager Buck Showalter. "It's a long season for...

Crichton optioned to Norfolk, updating Schoop's hand

Crichton optioned to Norfolk, updating Schoop's hand
The Orioles optioned Stefan Crichton to Triple-A Norfolk this morning to make room for Chris Tillman on the 25-man roster. Tillman came off the disabled list to make today's start against the White Sox. Second baseman Jonathan Schoop remains out of the lineup with some swelling his right hand. "A little better," said manager Buck Showalter. "We have to do some things with the lineup so we're covered in case there's a problem. I'm sure you all thought about last night if Schoop couldn't...

Schoop remains out of Orioles lineup

Schoop remains out of Orioles lineup
Jonathan Schoop is out of the Orioles lineup today for the second straight game after being hit on the right hand Friday night. Ryan Flaherty gets another start at second base. Joey Rickard is leading off and playing left field and Mark Trumbo is in right. Francisco Peña is behind the plate. Manny Machado has tied his career high with five home runs in a span of nine games. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Dylan Bundy joined Jimmy Key and Josh Towers as the only Orioles pitchers to win...

Tillman taking the mound for first time in 2017

Tillman taking the mound for first time in 2017
The Orioles lost two pitchers to the disabled list yesterday, but they get back their ace this afternoon. Perhaps there will come a day when everyone is together on the roster. Dare to dream. Chris Tillman is making his first start since Sept. 28, 2016 in Toronto. The right shoulder bursitis that forced him onto the disabled list on March 30 has cleared and he's finally ready to debut after five rehab starts in the minors. Tillman went 0-3 with a 7.16 ERA in 16 1/3 innings with three...

Showalter speaks after 6-5 win

Showalter speaks after 6-5 win
The Orioles got back to their series-winning ways this weekend after a loss and split in their two previous tries. Manny Machado and Trey Mancini hit home runs, and Dylan Bundy ran his streak of quality starts to seven in a 6-5 victory over the White Sox before an announced crowd of 28,718 at Camden Yards. Machado delivered a solo shot in the second inning off White Sox rookie Dylan Covey and Mancini launched a two-run shot in the fifth. Covey left the game with the Orioles ahead...

Castillo's shoulder, Britton's MRI and more notes (O's win 6-5)

Castillo's shoulder, Britton's MRI and more notes (O's win 6-5)
Catcher Welington Castillo remains confident that he can come off the disabled list when eligible on Thursday. Castillo took batting practice today and will play catch on Sunday. He's no longer experiencing the same discomfort in his right shoulder that surfaced in spring training. "I feel better every day," he said. "I feel way, way better. I think that's going to be the last test, when I start throwing, because that's when it's really bothered me. Now I feel way better, and that's a...

Orioles acquire Kipper from Angels, Ynoa may go on DL

Orioles acquire Kipper from Angels, Ynoa may go on DL
The Orioles acquired right-hander Jordan Kipper from the Angels this afternoon for pitcher Damien Magnifico, who was designated for assignment last week to make room for catcher Francisco Peña on the 40-man roster. Kipper, 24, will be assigned to Triple-A Norfolk. He was 2-1 with 1.74 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 18 strikeouts in 31 innings at Double-A Mobile. Kipper is 23-22 with a 4.02 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in 70 minor league games, including 56 starts, and 338 1/3 innings. The Angels chose him in the...

Britton headed to DL, Asher recalled (plus O's lineup)

Britton headed to DL, Asher recalled (plus O's lineup)
The Orioles are returning closer Zach Britton to the disabled list today with a strained left forearm, the same ailment that removed him from the bullpen last month. Alec Asher has been recalled from Triple-A Norfolk. He's allowed to return before the mandatory 10 days because he's replacing an injured player. Britton left the ballpark yesterday before the first pitch and underwent an MRI that didn't show any damage to his elbow. He has inflammation in the forearm. Britton has allowed one...

The oddity of Miley's start, the concern over Britton's arm

The oddity of Miley's start, the concern over Britton's arm
Wade Miley needs to get the line drive magnet out of his pocket, especially because it doesn't direct the baseball to just one spot. Miley exited last night's game with two outs in the first inning after being hit twice within three pitches. Just in case you were running short on lunacy. The Yankees put a reliever on first base and then back on the mound. The Orioles turned a triple play in Boston after misplaying a fly ball in shallow left field. Three nights at Fenway Park were defined by...

Orioles recall Crichton and option Wilson

Orioles recall Crichton and option Wilson
The Orioles made their roster move this afternoon, recalling reliever Stefan Crichton from Triple-A Norfolk and optioning Tyler Wilson to the Tides. The shuttle will need to be gassed up. Wilson held the Red Sox to three runs over six innings last night in an 8-3 win. He threw 84 pitches and wouldn't be available until Tuesday. Chris Tillman is joining the rotation on Sunday and Ubaldo Jiménez appears to have kept his spot after giving the Orioles three scoreless relief innings Wednesday...

Orioles contemplating another roster move

Orioles contemplating another roster move
The Orioles may be on the verge of another roster move before tonight's series opener against the White Sox at Camden Yards. Manager Buck Showalter said there was a "better than 50 percent chance" that the Orioles add another pitcher to their roster. They apparently have someone in place if they decide to again freshen up the bullpen. "But don't hold me to it," Showalter said, adding that he alerted White Sox manager Rick Renteria. "I think we'll probably add a pitcher tonight. I've...

Orioles and White Sox lineups

Orioles and White Sox lineups
After reaching base five times in last night's game, Seth Smith remains atop the Orioles lineup for tonight's opener of a weekend series against the White Sox. Hyun Soo Kim is starting in left field. Former Orioles pitcher Miguel González pitches for the White Sox, opposing left-hander Wade Miley. In case you're counting, there are three Garcías in the starting lineup for the White Sox. Avasaíl García is serving as the designated hitter, Willy García is playing left field and...