Orioles return to Toronto on opposite end of standings

Orioles return to Toronto on opposite end of standings
BOSTON - The Orioles are back in Toronto tonight for the first time since their 11-inning loss in the wild card game. They're facing left-hander Francisco Liriano, who earned the win in relief that night. Wonder if anyone will find a good storyline? At least Ubaldo Jiménez can't come out of the bullpen. He started last night in Boston and won't be available after throwing 104 pitches in 4 1/3 innings. Toronto lost again last night and is in last place in the American League East with a...

Orioles offense breaks out in 12-5 win (with quotes)

Orioles offense breaks out in 12-5 win (with quotes)
BOSTON - While so much attention is being paid to the flu and how the Red Sox didn't appreciate the needling from manager Buck Showalter, the Orioles may have found a cure for the common knuckleball. Drop the heavy lumber on it. The Orioles sent 10 batters to the plate in the top of the first inning and scored six runs on six hits. It started with Seth Smith being tapped by the first pitch from Steven Wright and ended with Smith sending left fielder Chris Young to the warning track with a...

Tillman to start Monday night at Double-A Bowie (O's lead 12-5)

Tillman to start Monday night at Double-A Bowie (O's lead 12-5)
BOSTON - Chris Tillman will start Monday night at Double-A Bowie to begin his injury rehab assignment. He's slated to work three innings if his pitch count allows it. The discomfort hasn't returned to Tillman's right shoulder and he feels good after yesterday's two-inning start at extended spring training. "He's ready to go," said manager Buck Showalter. "He's going to take his work day in (Sarasota) and his next outing will be in Bowie. That's good news." The Orioles are expected to...

Gentry back on the bench tonight

Gentry back on the bench tonight
BOSTON - Craig Gentry was spared Red Sox knuckleballer Steven Wright tonight at Fenway Park, but he never really had a chance. Not with a right-hander on the mound. Gentry has been forced to tap the brakes since the Orioles broke camp. He played in a career-high 29 spring training games and received 53 at-bats, crafting a .321/.429/.528 slash line and proving that he could stay healthy. Getting on the field up north isn't as easy. Gentry mostly is working in a platoon role and as a defensive...

Orioles lineup and challenges vs. knuckleballer

Orioles lineup and challenges vs. knuckleballer
BOSTON - A team that's tied for the fewest runs scored in the majors through six games must solve a knuckleball pitcher tonight. Because it isn't supposed to be easy and no one on the other side offers an ounce of sympathy. The Orioles have totaled 21 runs, equaling the Royals' output, and their .215 average ranks 25th. Now comes the complication provided by Steven Wright. Wright is 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA and 1.045 WHIP in four career games (two starts) against the Orioles. The current group is...

Notes on minor league signings, fifth starter and more

Notes on minor league signings, fifth starter and more
BOSTON - In searching for accomplishments from the Orioles last night, consider that Chris Tillman's right shoulder felt good during his two-inning start at extended spring training and Joey Rickard's left middle finger is healing faster than anticipated, and how outfielder Michael Bourn and former outfielder Dariel Álvarez were re-signed to minor league contracts. One loss to the Red Sox, but not a total loss if you go searching for gains. Bourn's right ring finger is healing nicely and...

Orioles get sloppy in 8-1 loss (updated with quotes)

Orioles get sloppy in 8-1 loss (updated with quotes)
BOSTON - The Orioles rely on their defense to bail them out of jams, not to create or exacerbate the situation, which made the seventh inning tonight especially odd and unsettling. Darren O'Day got the ground ball he needed to produce a rally-killing double play and leave the Orioles behind by one run, but normally sure-handed shortstop J.J. Hardy booted it. It came out of his glove and wouldn't stick in his bare hand on multiple attempts. Unfortunately for the Orioles, the miscue wasn't the...

Orioles re-sign Dariel Álvarez (O's down 5-1)

Orioles re-sign Dariel Álvarez (O's down 5-1)
BOSTON - The Orioles have signed Dariel Álvarez, the outfielder-turned-pitcher, to a minor league deal after releasing him on Thursday. The club also announced the minor league deal with outfielder Michael Bourn, as reported earlier today. Bourn passed his physical and will stay in Sarasota at extended spring training. Álvarez was let go to make room for pitcher Andrew Faulkner on the 40-man roster after the Orioles acquired the left-hander from the Rangers for a player to be named later...

Showalter on Tillman, Rickard, Mancini in left and more

Showalter on Tillman, Rickard, Mancini in left and more
BOSTON - Chris Tillman could make his next start on Monday at Double-A Bowie following this morning's positive outing at extended spring training. "Chris went well," said manager Buck Showalter. "Two innings today, 30 pitches. In fact, they had to stretch the first inning. Velocity ticked up a little bit. "He'll take a work day there and then we'll decide where his three-inning stint will be. It could potentially be Monday at Bowie, but we'll see how his work day goes. That was...

Rickard pointing to quick return from finger injury

Rickard pointing to quick return from finger injury
BOSTON - Outfielder Joey Rickard, who injured the middle finger on his left hand while trying to steal a base on Saturday, is optimistic that he'll be ready to come off the 10-day disabled list when eligible on April 19 in Cincinnati. "That's what we're shooting for," he said. "Things as of right now are looking pretty good. I've already noticed a drastic loss of swelling and all that, so, yeah, I'm feeling pretty confident about it. "We've made pretty good progress in a short amount...

Orioles lineup vs. Red Sox

Orioles lineup vs. Red Sox
BOSTON - Trey Mancini's outfield experiment has pitted him against the Green Monster at Fenway Park. Mancini is playing left field for the first time tonight and batting seventh. Craig Gentry is leading off and playing right field. Mark Trumbo is the designated hitter, with Chris Davis at first base. Chris Tillman threw 25 pitches today in his extended spring training start and there were no issues with his shoulder. The Orioles will decide whether to assign him to Double-A Bowie to begin his...

Bourn returning to Orioles

Bourn returning to Orioles
Though it took a little longer than expected, the Orioles re-signed outfielder Michael Bourn to a restructured minor league deal. Bourn requested and was granted his release on March 27, the date of his opt-out clause. The move came less than a week after he broke the ring finger on his right hand while trying to catch a football toward the end of a workout in Sarasota. Initial projections had Bourn unable to play before the middle of April. The Orioles will send Bourn to extended spring...

Bundy on the mound for first road game

Bundy on the mound for first road game
Orioles manager Buck Showalter will place his full attention on tonight's game against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, but he's going to be plugged into Chris Tillman's extended spring training start earlier in the day in Sarasota. Tillman is slated to work two innings and throw around 30 pitches. A discomfort-free shoulder should allow him to get out of Florida and report to Double-A Bowie to begin his injury rehab assignment. The Orioles' pitching staff posted a 3.64 ERA during the five-game...

Orioles trade Gunkel to Dodgers

Orioles trade Gunkel to Dodgers
Three days after the Orioles designated pitcher Joe Gunkel for assignment, they found a trade partner in the National League West. The Orioles have dealt Gunkel to the Los Angeles Dodgers for a player to be named later or cash. Gunkel came off the 40-man roster on Friday to make room for pitcher Miguel Castro, acquired from the Rockies for a PTBNL or cash. It's become the most popular return in any deal. Gunkel, 28, was placed on the 40-man roster to protect him in the Rule 5 draft, but he was...

Leftovers on rotation, bullpen, Mancini, Flaherty and more

Leftovers on rotation, bullpen, Mancini, Flaherty and more
The Orioles bullpen finally took a beating yesterday in the series finale against the Yankees, and as is usually the case, a finger must be pointed at a rotation that's failing to work deep into games and ... wait for it ... relieve the pressure. Dylan Bundy is the exception, covering seven innings Wednesday night against the Blue Jays. Kevin Gausman has worked 5 1/3 and 4 2/3 innings in his two starts. Ubaldo Jiménez lasted 4 1/3 and Wade Miley made it through the fifth yesterday despite...

Showalter speaks after 7-3 loss

Showalter speaks after 7-3 loss
Orioles manager Buck Showalter didn't want to use three of his relievers today and needed starter Wade Miley, fresh off the disabled list, to pitch into the later innings. He didn't need a combined 11 walks from his staff or a four-run ninth inning by the Yankees that handed the Orioles their first loss, 7-3, before an announced crowd of 42,487 at Camden Yards. The Orioles still won the series and are 4-1 heading into their latest off-day. But they ended their first homestand on a...

Wade Miley's wild ride (O's lose 7-3)

Wade Miley's wild ride (O's lose 7-3)
Wade Miley produced one of the strangest final lines in recent memory. Don't try it at home. Miley shut out the Yankees on one hit over five innings, but he tied his career high with seven walks. He also struck out five batters and departed with his pitch count at 100 - 56 for strikes. The left-hander also walked seven on April 27, 2013 for the Diamondbacks and on July 2, 2015 for the Red Sox. The plate kept moving and the Yankees kept wasting opportunities to score. They wouldn't break...

Miley's first start and more on Rickard injury (O's lead 3-0)

Miley's first start and more on Rickard injury (O's lead 3-0)
Orioles left-hander Wade Miley demonstrated today that his pickoff move is still on point. He's just got to work on regaining his control. Miley caught Matt Holliday leaning toward second - and many feet off the bag - to end the first inning after a two-out walk. Miley retired Brett Gardner on a fly ball and struck out Aaron Hicks. Miley threw 13 pitches in his first inning of the 2017 season and 28 more in the second while walking Chris Carter, Aaron Judge and Austin Romine to load the bases....

Joseph on today's start and working with Miley

Joseph on today's start and working with Miley
Caleb Joseph's fresh start begins today. Joseph is behind the plate as the Orioles attempt to complete a three-game sweep of the Yankees. He's making his 2017 debut along with left-hander Wade Miley, who came off the disabled list. "I'm excited," he said. "I'm excited to catch Wade. (Welington) Castillo and the boys set a pretty high bar, huh? Yeah, it's exciting. You work for something in spring and you get to play in spring and then you come here and wait your chance and you get your...

Joey Rickard headed to disabled list with finger injury

Joey Rickard headed to disabled list with finger injury
An injury has created a roster spot today for Orioles left-hander Wade Miley. Outfielder Joey Rickard will be placed on the 10-day disabled list with a sprained left middle finger, an injury that occurred yesterday in the bottom of the seventh inning. Rickard was attempting to steal second base after pinch-running for Hyun Soo Kim. He initially was ruled safe, but umpires overturned the call after the Yankees challenged it. Rickard stayed in the game as Kim's replacement in left field. Manager...