Orioles lineup vs. Diamondbacks

Orioles lineup vs. Diamondbacks
Hyun Soo Kim's T-shirt will be distributed to all fans attending tonight's game at Camden Yards, and as an added bonus, he's leading off for the second time in his major league career. Kim is batting first in the Orioles' opener of a three-game series against the Diamondbacks, with Adam Jones moving down to second. Chris Davis is batting cleanup, followed by Mark Trumbo. For the Orioles Hyun Soo Kim LF Adam Jones CF Manny Machado 3B Chris Davis 1B Mark Trumbo RF Pedro Alvarez DH Jonathan...

Manny Machado named Most Valuable Oriole

Manny Machado named Most Valuable Oriole
Third baseman Manny Machado, who figures to be in the running for numerous postseason honors, has been chosen as Most Valuable Oriole by members of the local media who cover the team on a regular basis. We won't quibble over "regular basis." At least not this year, since I believe they got it right. Machado enters tonight's game against the Diamondbacks with a 300/.350/.546 slash line, including 39 doubles, one triple, 36 home runs, 93 RBIs and 103 runs scored. He's already set career...

Can Orioles get back on their feet against Diamondbacks?

Can Orioles get back on their feet against Diamondbacks?
In the thick of the division infighting, circling the demolition derby in a Ford Pinto, are the victory-challenged Arizona Diamondbacks. They follow the Red Sox into Camden Yards - someone must have left the gate open - and represent the final home opponent before the Orioles head to Toronto and New York to close the regular season and determine whether they'll play deeper into October. No worries about a letdown from the Orioles. They can't relax against anyone, especially after the Red Sox...

Showalter on a 5-3 loss and a sweep

Showalter on a 5-3 loss and a sweep
The Orioles are seven games out of first place with nine to play. They're in danger of losing hold of the second wild card, with the Tigers moving into a tie earlier today and leading in the nightcap of a doubleheader in Minnesota. The stretch run has thinned out their chances of making the postseason. Chris Tillman retired only five batters in his shortest start of the season and the Red Sox completed their sweep with a 5-3 victory over the Orioles before 26,788 at Camden Yards. The Red Sox...

Tillman records five outs in shortest start of season (O's lose 5-3)

Tillman records five outs in shortest start of season (O's lose 5-3)
The Red Sox worked Chris Tillman tonight for 35 pitches in the first inning. They got him out of the game in the second. Will anything work in the Orioles' favor in this series? For the remaining games on the schedule? Tillman walked David Ortiz with the bases loaded and two outs in the second inning and manager Buck Showalter made the brisk walk to the mound. Vance Worley retired Hanley Ramirez on a popup with the Red Sox leading 3-0. Tillman is charged with three runs and five hits in 1 2/3...

Notes on rotation and the WBC (O's down 2-0)

Notes on rotation and the WBC (O's down 2-0)
With the Tigers winning Game 1 of their doubleheader today in Minnesota, they've moved within a half-game of the Orioles for the second wild card spot. The Orioles will hold a pregame ceremony at 6:50 p.m. for retiring Red Sox slugger David Ortiz. Nothing too elaborate, for fans who find it offensive. I have no idea what they're going to do, but I'll guess that it includes a check to his favorite charity. Manager Buck Showalter confirmed that the Orioles will start Yovani Gallardo, Wade...

Bundy starting Sunday while Gausman deals with sore intercostal

Bundy starting Sunday while Gausman deals with sore intercostal
The cloud of mystery over the Orioles rotation has lifted. Dylan Bundy will start Sunday afternoon against the Diamondbacks in the final home game of the regular season. He told me earlier today that he felt fine, no injury concerns, and was waiting for his start date to become official. Kevin Gausman is being pushed back due to some soreness in his intercostal that cropped up on Tuesday. The Orioles think they caught it in time, but they aren't taking any chances. Bundy would have been pushed...

Orioles lineup vs. Red Sox

Orioles lineup vs. Red Sox
Trey Mancini is getting his second major league start tonight as the designated hitter against Red Sox's left-hander David Price. Chris Davis is batting second for the Orioles. Drew Stubbs is in left field and Caleb Joseph is catching. Manny Machado is 2-for-21 in his last six games. Adam Jones has hit safely in 10 of his last 11 home games since Aug. 23, batting .386/.417/.545 (17-for-44) with a double, two home runs, five RBIs and seven runs scored. Reliever Oliver Drake (Navy) has...

Thoughts on the team and tonight's game

Thoughts on the team and tonight's game
Orioles manager Buck Showalter was cryptic and coy yesterday while discussing his rotation, confirming two starters for the Diamondbacks series and alluding to health issues that needed further investigating. Do we assume that Chris Tillman is making the start tonight? That Dylan Bundy could be pushed back instead of making Sunday's start, since it's listed as TBD? Does it matter if the Orioles can't score runs? There isn't a combination that's working for the Orioles. Showalter went with...

From bad to worse for the Orioles (with quotes)

From bad to worse for the Orioles (with quotes)
The Orioles allowed five runs tonight on only two pitches, which is extremely difficult to do and impossible to top. What else can go wrong? Clay Buchholz was the latest starter to tie them in knots, and they came unraveled in the top of the sixth inning in a 5-1 loss to the Red Sox before 20,865 at Camden Yards. The Orioles can't win or split the four-game series. They need a victory on Thursday to avoid the sweep, and the Red Sox are starting left-hander David Price. The Blue Jays also lost...

J.J. Hardy: "There could be worse spots to be in" (O's down 5-1)

J.J. Hardy: "There could be worse spots to be in" (O's down 5-1)
For anyone asking about the mood or the vibe inside the Orioles clubhouse this afternoon, it falls somewhere below panic. Far, far below. The Orioles understand the significance of this series and the impact of losing the first two games. They've tumbled into third place, five games behind the Red Sox, and barely hold onto the second wild card. They don't need Captain Obvious pointing out how they're moving in the wrong direction. "You don't want to say 'desperation,' " said shortstop...

Showalter confirms only two starters for Diamondbacks series

Showalter confirms only two starters for Diamondbacks series
Orioles manager Buck Showalter revealed his first two starters for the Diamondbacks series this weekend at Camden Yards. He also planted a little intrigue. Showalter said Yovani Gallardo will start Friday night and Wade Miley will take the ball Saturday night. The Sunday starter is TBD. The Diamondbacks are starting Shelby Miller, left-hander Robbie Ray and Braden Shipley. Miley exited Sunday's start after four scoreless innings due to cramping in his upper back that a physician described as a...

Orioles lineup vs. Red Sox

Orioles lineup vs. Red Sox
Pedro Alvarez is back in the Orioles lineup tonight as they attempt to score more than two runs for the first time in five games. Hyun Soo Kim is in left field and batting second. Chris Davis drops from second to cleanup, followed by Mark Trumbo. Matt Wieters is behind the plate. No Trey Mancini, whose second at-bat last night produced his first major league hit and home run. For the Orioles Adam Jones CF Hyun Soo Kim LF Manny Machado 3B Chris Davis 1B Mark Trumbo RF Pedro Alvarez DH Jonathan...

Jimenez, Buchholz, Hart and a decision that backfired

Jimenez, Buchholz, Hart and a decision that backfired
Ubaldo Jimenez and Clay Buchholz should join the same support group. Or start their own. Two failed starters banished to the bullpen, practically forgotten, targeted by fans, only to be thrust back into the rotation out of need. Now the unlikeliest of contributors down the stretch. It sounds crazy to consider how Jimenez has been one of the most valuable Orioles for about four weeks. I'm not saying the team is getting its money's worth, but he's going to deserve a lot of credit if it makes...

Orioles lose game and more ground (with quotes)

Orioles lose game and more ground (with quotes)
On a night that they lost another game and more ground in the American League East, the Orioles were left to grasp at the sentimental. Trey Mancini's first major league hit also was his first home run, truly the one highlight for the Orioles in a 5-2 loss to the Red Sox before 20,387 at Camden Yards. The rest was too disturbing. Kevin Gausman allowed two home runs, including David Ortiz's three-run shot in the seventh inning. He departed shortly after the ball landed, Ortiz admiring his work...

Showalter going for different look with lineup (O's down 5-2)

Showalter going for different look with lineup (O's down 5-2)
The Orioles are breaking out another new lineup tonight with a couple of factors in play. They want to give Trey Mancini his first major league start and are pairing him with Red Sox left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez. "Run Trey out there and see what he's got," said manager Buck Showalter. "Don't want him to get too far away from at-bats. Anxious to see him get in the flow a little bit." Mancini had pretty even splits this season at Triple-A Norfolk. He batted .283/.359/.442 in 113 at-bats...

A few early notes from Camden Yards

A few early notes from Camden Yards
Orioles manager Buck Showalter hasn't set his rotation for the Diamondbacks series that begins Friday night at Camden Yards and concludes the last homestand of the 2016 season. Showalter and pitching coach Dave Wallace are gathering more information before getting "closure." Wade Miley will leave the team after Sunday's game and go on paternity leave. Showalter doesn't know whether the left-hander will pitch this weekend. Miley is supposed to throw again today. He told me this afternoon...

Orioles and Red Sox lineups

Orioles and Red Sox lineups
Trey Mancini will make his major league debut tonight for the Orioles, batting seventh as the designated hitter against Red Sox left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez. Chris Davis is batting second for the seventh time in his career. Kevin Gausman is riding a career-high five-game winning streak since August 18, in which he's gone 5-0 with a 1.59 ERA and five quality starts in six outings. Gausman hasn't allowed a run in his last three starts over 21 innings versus American League East opponents. On...

Orioles turn to Gausman tonight

Orioles turn to Gausman tonight
A shift in baseball's pitching climate no longer has Orioles fans wondering whether Kevin Gausman is envious of Dylan Bundy's emergence in the rotation. I read the tweets and blog comments. It was a topic. Gausman was inconsistent and Bundy was the feel-good story of 2016 with his change in roles in mid-July and his three-start stretch the following month when he permitted three runs in 18 2/3 innings. Bundy's accomplishments shouldn't be ignored. The kid has thrown 104 2/3 innings after...

Porcello goes distance to beat O's in series opener (with quotes)

Porcello goes distance to beat O's in series opener (with quotes)
Has Dylan Bundy hit a wall, or was he just getting hit hard tonight? Bundy threw a career-high 99 pitches in five innings and left with the Red Sox leading 5-1. He surrendered six hits, including two-run homers to Mookie Betts in the third and David Ortiz in the fifth. Manager Buck Showalter had left-hander Brian Duensing warming in the fifth and brought him in to start the sixth. There would be no comeback against Cy Young candidate Rick Porcello, leaving the Orioles four games behind Boston...