Orioles and Blue Jays lineups

Orioles and Blue Jays lineups
Hyun Soo Kim is out of the Orioles lineup tonight for their series opener against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Michael Bourn will play left field, with manager Buck Showalter apparently putting more emphasis on defense. Chris Davis is batting second again. Pedro Alvarez is the designated hitter. For the Orioles Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Manny Machado 3B Mark Trumbo RF Pedro Alvarez DH Jonathan Schoop 2B Matt Wieters C Michael Bourn LF J.J. Hardy SS Kevin Gausman RHP For the Blue Jays...

Orioles can tie for top wild card tonight

Orioles can tie for top wild card tonight
Now it's really on. The Yankees beat the Blue Jays last night despite their best efforts to blow a ninth-inning lead, and the Orioles are one game away from the top wild card. They're two ahead of the Tigers and Mariners for the second wild card. They got a lot done despite not playing last night. The Jays are listing Aaron Sanchez, Francisco Liriano and Marcus Stroman as their starters for the three-game series in Toronto. The Orioles are starting Kevin Gausman, Chris Tillman and Ubaldo...

Notes on game time, playoff tickets and Britton

Notes on game time, playoff tickets and Britton
The Saturday afternoon game between the Orioles and Yankees in the Bronx will start at 4:05 p.m. and air on MASN. The time was TBD while FOX decided whether to carry it at 1:05 p.m. This is the penultimate game of the regular season. * While the Orioles continue their pursuit of a playoff berth, the team announced two options for fans to purchase American League wild card and Division Series tickets that are available exclusively online. American League Championship Series and World Series...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
The Orioles have completed the home portion of their 2016 regular season. They hope you enjoyed it as much as they enjoyed bringing it to you. They're off today before opening a three-game series at Rogers Centre, where they've gone 2-5 this season. It doesn't seem so long ago that the Orioles were performing morning drills at the Ed Smith Stadium complex, with pitchers throwing to the plate with strings running across it. That Yovani Gallardo's contract was restructured after his physical...

Wrapping up a 2-1 win and series sweep

Wrapping up a 2-1 win and series sweep
Going 5-6 on a crucial homestand feels much better than it appears on paper. The Orioles swept the Diamondbacks in a late-September interleague series, winning today 2-1 in their final regular season game at Camden Yards. They're 1 1/2 games behind the Blue Jays for the top wild card and 1 1/2 ahead of the Tigers for the second. The 50 home wins tie the 2014 team for the most at Camden Yards. The record in Baltimore is 60 set in 1969 at Memorial Stadium. Being swept by the Red Sox in a...

Orioles complete sweep of Diamondbacks with 2-1 win

Orioles complete sweep of Diamondbacks with 2-1 win
An interleague series in late September wasn't so bad for the Orioles. In fact, it may have healing powers. The Orioles completed their three-game sweep of the Diamondbacks today with a 2-1 victory before 31,229 at Camden Yards, with Dylan Bundy winning his 10th game and Hyun Soo Kim delivering a decisive home run. The Tigers are losing at home to the Royals and could drop 1 1/2 games behind the Orioles for the second wild card in the American League. The Blue Jays rallied to beat the Yankees...

Showalter on keeping Schoop in the lineup (O's lead 2-1)

Showalter on keeping Schoop in the lineup (O's lead 2-1)
Orioles manager Buck Showalter mentioned today that he'd like to give a couple of players the day off under different circumstances. If his club wasn't in a pennant race in the final week of September, a half-game lead for the second wild card capable of disappearing in the blink of an eye. Showalter insists that he's not tracking the standings and peeking at the scoreboard, but he knows second baseman Jonathan Schoop is in a prolonged slump. Schoop batted .304/.338/.509 in the first half,...

Buck Showalter on Jose Fernandez's death and a "reality check"

Buck Showalter on Jose Fernandez's death and a "reality check"
The Orioles clubhouse was silent this morning except for a television report providing more details on the tragic death of Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez. Players stared at the screen, numbed by the news of the early-morning boating accident. A baseball fraternity mourned. Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he woke up to the news, which led to the cancellation of the Marlins-Braves game in Miami. "A reality check, huh?" he said. "I was talking to Jonathan Schoop this morning," Showalter...

Orioles lineup vs. Diamondbacks

Orioles lineup vs. Diamondbacks
Hyun Soo Kim is batting seventh today and Chris Davis remains in the second slot as the Orioles go for the sweep of the Diamondbacks in their final regular season home game. Caleb Joseph is behind the plate. For the Orioles Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Manny Machado 3B Mark Trumbo RF Pedro Alvarez DH J.J. Hardy SS Hyun Soo Kim LF Jonathan Schoop 2B Caleb Joseph C Dylan Bundy RHP

Orioles closing home portion of schedule with Bundy on mound

Orioles closing home portion of schedule with Bundy on mound
It's an unfortunate but understandable part of Dylan Bundy's pitching life that he's obliged to prove that he has more in the tank. The rookie has to prove that he isn't running on empty. The most effective method, of course, is to pitch into the late innings this afternoon against the Diamondbacks and push the Orioles toward a sweep in their final regular season game at Camden Yards. Show of hands if you predicted in March that Bundy would close out the home portion of the schedule. Don't...

Miley magnificent in 6-1 win (with Showalter quotes)

Miley magnificent in 6-1 win (with Showalter quotes)
The Orioles dispensed with the late-inning drama tonight. No comebacks, no walk-offs, just an early lead that steadily grew. Sort of like the legend of Trey Mancini. And Wade Miley's approval rating. Mancini homered for the third time in three major league starts, Miley came within an out of his second complete-game shutout of the season and the Orioles defeated the Diamondbacks 6-1 before 40,610 at Camden Yards to move back into the second wild card spot. The Orioles (84-71) will go for the...

Showalter on Trumbo: "He's got an interesting future" (O's up 6-0)

Showalter on Trumbo: "He's got an interesting future" (O's up 6-0)
The Orioles are tied with the Tigers for the second wild card and can reclaim sole possession with a win tonight. Mark Trumbo has hit the game-winning home run in three of the Orioles' last four victories, including last night's walk-off in the 12th inning. The surge began with his shot off Rick Porcello in a 1-0 win on Sept. 14 at Fenway Park. Trumbo continues to lead the majors with 44 home runs, a tremendous return for backup catcher Steve Clevenger in the Dec. 2 trade with the...

Gausman getting Tuesday night start in Toronto

Gausman getting Tuesday night start in Toronto
Kevin Gausman felt good after throwing a bullpen session this afternoon and is expected to start for the Orioles Tuesday night in Toronto. Gausman will open the three-game series as long as there's no discomfort in his oblique. "I think it was more of a cramp maybe," Gausman said. "Just a little bit of a tweak. But feel fine a couple days later, so ..." Gausman received treatment after the soreness surfaced following his last start. "After a couple days treatment, it feels ready to go, so...

Orioles and Diamondbacks lineups

Orioles and Diamondbacks lineups
Trey Mancini is making his third major league start tonight, again serving as the designated hitter as the Orioles attempt to clinch a series win against the Diamondbacks at Camden Yards. Chris Davis is batting second. Drew Stubbs is in left field and batting ninth. For the Orioles Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Manny Machado 3B Mark Trumbo RF Trey Mancini DH Jonathan Schoop 2B Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Drew Stubbs LF Wade Miley LHP For the Diamondbacks Jean Segura 2B Chris Owings SS Paul...

Miley vs. Ray tonight at Camden Yards

Miley vs. Ray tonight at Camden Yards
Can Trey Mancini hit a home run in his first three major league games? Will his mother hug the entire lower bowl? We'll find out tonight because Mancini figures to be in the lineup against Diamondbacks left-hander Robbie Ray. Mancini's father wasn't able to attend the games earlier this week, but he arrived in town and will have a good seat for it. Mark Trumbo is 2-for-3 with a double against Ray and Drew Stubbs is 0-for-2. That's it for Orioles who have faced him. Ray is 8-13 with a 4.66...

About last night ...

About last night ...
If the Orioles make it into the playoffs, and they still have a steep hill to climb, they can point to last night's 12-inning win as the launching point. They looked like a team headed to its fifth straight loss. I was tracking the Tigers game on my laptop and knew they were about to move 1 1/2 games ahead of the Orioles for the second wild card. That was before Pedro Alvarez woke up the offense with a solo home run in the eighth inning. I adjusted the final score in my story. And before Matt...

Wrapping up a 3-2 12-inning win

Wrapping up a 3-2 12-inning win
The Orioles haven't quit, despite the string of accusations coming from social media. They haven't rolled over, they aren't preoccupied with travel plans after their Oct. 2 game in New York. They aren't conceding a thing. Mark Trumbo led off the bottom of the 12th inning tonight with a home run to left field off Diamondbacks reliever Matt Koch, and the Orioles rallied for a 3-2 win before 37,815 at Camden Yards. The fans came for the fireworks and stayed ... for the fireworks. Pedro Alvarez...

Orioles win in 12 innings on Trumbo's walk-off home run

Orioles win in 12 innings on Trumbo's walk-off home run
Mark Trumbo wasn't letting tonight's game go past the 12th inning. Enough already. Trumbo led off the inning with his 44th home run, a shot to left field off the Diamondbacks' Matt Koch, and the Orioles gained a much-needed 3-2 win before 37,815 at Camden Yards. They stranded 14 runners, but didn't let the entire night go to waste. The Orioles have their sixth walk-off win of the season. It's the fifth walk-off home run of Trumbo's career. Oliver Drake retired the side in order in the top...

Meetings and Machado (free baseball)

Meetings and Machado (free baseball)
As the Orioles try to get back into the second wild card spot, if not higher, they're making adjustments to their lineup and meeting behind closed doors. Manager Buck Showalter likes to maintain the club's privacy when it comes to the latter. "If so, it hasn't worked too well," he said. "These guys, I know they've had some get-togethers themselves and we've had some as a team. We do a lot of those things. Usually out of sight because I don't want them to be asked about it and talk...

Early notes from Camden Yards

Early notes from Camden Yards
Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Kevin Gausman feels good today and remains on schedule to start Tuesday or Wednesday in Toronto. Gausman is being held back due to soreness in his oblique. The Orioles believe they caught it in time. "Gaus feels good. So far so good with that," Showalter said. Showalter plans on using Gausman and Chris Tillman in the first two games of the Blue Jays series, the order of their starts pending. This is tentative. "Depending on a lot of factors that we'll...