Roch Kubatko

Notes on Wieters, Despaigne and more

August 20, 2016, 1:36pm

Orioles

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he expects catcher Matt Wieters to remain on paternity leave at least through Sunday's game at Camden Yards. Wieters and wife Maria are at the hospital and doctors induced labor this morning. Wieters can stay away from the team for a maximum of three days. Showalter said reports on Odrisamer Despaigne, recalled today from Triple-A Norfolk, show that the right-hander is "throwing the ball well." Despaigne is the long reliever tonight if starter Chris...

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Orioles roster moves and lineup

August 20, 2016, 11:25am

Orioles

The Orioles have placed catcher Matt Wieters on paternity leave and recalled pitcher Odrisamer Despaigne and catcher Francisco Pena from Triple-A Norfolk. Wieters is joining his wife for the birth of their second son. He can be away from the team for a maximum of three days. Despaigne, 29, registered a 3.48 ERA in 15 starts with Norfolk this season and allowed one earned run in his last two starts over nine innings. He's 0-2 with a 4.81 ERA in 15 relief appearances with the Orioles, who...

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Orioles turning to Tillman tonight

August 19, 2016, 7:36pm

Orioles

The Orioles are making one roster move for sure today, with a bullpen spot open after they optioned Tyler Wilson late last night. They're also waiting for catcher Matt Wieters to go on paternity leave, figuring it could happen anytime starting this afternoon. Pedro Alvarez's shot to right field last night assured the Orioles of hitting five or more home runs in a game for the seventh time this season, tops in the majors. But they also needed to stop the other team from joining the party. If...

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Wilson optioned to Norfolk

August 19, 2016, 7:13pm

Orioles

The Orioles optioned right-hander Tyler Wilson to Triple-A Norfolk following tonight's 15-8 loss to the Astros at Camden Yards. They need a long reliever after using three tonight, including Wilson, who was charged with four runs and five hits in two innings. He also let an inherited runner score and surrendered two home runs. Wilson's ERA has risen to 5.38 in 20 games (13 starts) spanning 90 1/3 innings. Repeating what I posted earlier, Wilson retired all 12 Rockies he faced on July 26, but...

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Orioles' early power display wasted in 15-8 loss (with quotes)

August 19, 2016, 6:09pm

Orioles

Wade Miley's reputation for working fast unfortunately expanded tonight to include being done after only 44 pitches. The Orioles became the first team to hit four home runs before making an out, according the STATS. Their first inning was epic. The collapse that ensued wasn't far off. Miley allowed five runs in the second as the Astros also batted around and manager Buck Showalter removed him after 1 2/3 innings with his team behind 6-5. The Orioles lost 15-8 before 34,422 at Camden Yards,...

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Tonight's game holds special meaning to Davis (O's down 14-8)

August 19, 2016, 3:03pm

Orioles

Tonight's game holds special meaning to Davis (O's down 14-8)

Chris Davis isn't the type to request items from his playing career that can be kept as souvenirs and keepsakes. His sentimental side has its limits. But tonight is special. Tonight is Davis' 1,000th career game in the majors, a milestone achieved after years of trying to prove that he was more than a 4A player. More than a guy who could destroy baseballs in the high minors, but never stick at the highest level. Davis asked manager Buck Showalter for the lineup card to tonight's game against...

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Showalter on Rickard, O'Day and Hardy

August 19, 2016, 1:53pm

Orioles

Outfielder Joey Rickard is back in Sarasota after having his right thumb examined Monday in Baltimore. Back to the Ed Smith Stadium complex, the splint worn for another two-to-three weeks. Back to reminding manager Buck Showalter how much his absence is felt on the team. "I'm really hoping the two-to-three weeks is two weeks and hoping that he gets moving," Showalter said. "We miss him. We've been without him for quite a while. He brought a lot of things to us that we've been trying to...

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Darren O'Day on his injury and missing the competition

August 19, 2016, 1:16pm

Orioles

Darren O'Day on his injury and missing the competition

Orioles reliever Darren O'Day woke up this morning with his right shoulder feeling much better, the improvement significant enough to provide encouragement following updates that noted only how he was "inching along." However, O'Day still hasn't been cleared to throw and can't provide any timetables. He's quite literally in day-to-day mode. He's also mad at himself for trying to pitch through the pain. The Orioles placed O'Day on the disabled list retroactive to Aug. 12 with a strained...

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Orioles lineup vs. Astros

August 19, 2016, 10:51am

Orioles

The Orioles are trotting out a familiar lineup tonight for their second game against the Astros. No reason to change it after last night's offensive explosion. Hyun Soo Kim is in left field again and batting second. Chris Davis, with three home runs in the last two nights, is playing first base and batting cleanup. Mark Trumbo is in right field at batting fifth. Matt Wieters is behind the plate. J.J. Hardy is celebrating his 34th birthday today. Last night, he became only the second Oriole to...

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orioles chris davis hyun soo kim jj hardy mark trumbo matt wieters frontstory_orioles2

Miley: "Just got to manage innings better"

August 18, 2016, 7:54pm

Orioles

Miley: "Just got to manage innings better"

Wade Miley never said that he wanted to come into Baltimore like a wrecking ball. That was me just hoping that I could make another Miley Cyrus reference, as if increasing my total also would somehow bump up my salary. (For the record, I didn't want to come into Baltimore like a wrecking ball. More like a rolling stone, based entirely on my name.) Miley has made three starts since the Orioles acquired him from the Mariners for minor league left-hander Ariel Miranda, whose departure robbed me...

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Orioles risk spoiling Gausman in 13-5 win (with quotes)

August 18, 2016, 5:48pm

Orioles

Kevin Gausman received 12 runs tonight. Hyun Soo Kim hit a triple. The game was delayed while unicorns unrolled the tarp in anticipation of rain. Only two of these statements are true. Take your time. (It should have been obvious that head groundskeeper Nicole McFadyen never would allow unicorns on her field and certainly not with the radar showing clear skies.) Mark Trumbo hit a three-run homer off Astros rookie Joe Musgrove in the first inning, J.J. Hardy homered twice, Manny Machado and...

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Can last night's home run get Davis on a roll? (O's lead 12-5)

August 18, 2016, 2:54pm

Orioles

Can last night's home run get Davis on a roll? (O's lead 12-5)

No matter how many at-bats have ended with Chris Davis walking back to the dugout or making a sharp turn toward it, he's always believed that he's one at-bat away from going on one of his familiar tears. Davis is batting .163/.305/.265 since the All-Star break, with 43 strikeouts in 98 at-bats, but his third home run landed on Eutaw Street in last night's 8-1, six-inning loss to the Red Sox. One at-bat away? "I think that way about all our guys," said manager Buck Showalter, who returned...

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Early notes from Camden Yards

August 18, 2016, 12:59pm

Orioles

The Red Sox lost to the Tigers today 4-3 at Comerica Park, opening the door for the Orioles to get back into a second-place tie with a win tonight. Chris Tillman's flat ground session went well and manager Buck Showalter is more confident that the right-hander will start Saturday night against the Astros. Tillman had his scheduled start last night pushed back due to some discomfort in his right shoulder. Dylan Bundy made the start last night and he's fine today after rolling his right ankle...

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Orioles lineup vs. Astros

August 18, 2016, 11:05am

Orioles

Chris Davis is back at first base and Mark Trumbo returns to right field tonight for the Orioles' series opener against the Astros at Camden Yards. Pedro Alvarez gets his first start since Thursday in Oakland. Chris Tillman is playing catch in the outfield to test his right shoulder. He's gradually increasing the distance and appears to be fine. Kevin Gausman's 3.52 run support average is the fourth-lowest among qualifying American League starters. He's received one run or fewer in nine of...

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orioles chris davis chris tillman kevin gausman mark trumbo pedro alvarez frontstory_orioles2

The striking resemblance to tonight's opponent

August 17, 2016, 8:05pm

Orioles

The striking resemblance to tonight's opponent

Who's going to be the first member of the media today to "remind" manager Buck Showalter of the painful sweep in Houston? More to the point, who's going to bring up the worst aspect of it besides the losses? "Hey, remember that time your hitters set the major league record for most strikeouts in a three-game series?" There's probably a smoother way to ease into it. The Orioles lost 3-2 in 13 innings, 4-3 and 4-2 from May 24-26, headed to Cleveland to play the first-place Indians and won...

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Showalter speaks after rain-shortened 8-1 loss

August 17, 2016, 7:12pm

Orioles

Showalter speaks after rain-shortened 8-1 loss

The Orioles gave up eight runs in six innings tonight, lightning and persistent rain forced a 1 hour, 17 minute delay, and the night ended without resumption and with a new team occupying third place in the American League East. Dylan Bundy allowed five runs and nine hits, career highs as a starter, and was done after 4 1/3 innings in an 8-1, six-inning loss to the Red Sox before 26,160 at Camden Yards. Mookie Betts didn't hit a home run, but he singled twice and walked. The power was supplied...

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Kim getting a rare start against a lefty (O's lose 8-1 in six innings)

August 17, 2016, 3:10pm

Orioles

Kim getting a rare start against a lefty (O's lose 8-1 in six innings)

A day can't pass for the Orioles without a flurry of injury updates. Outfielder Joey Rickard must keep his right thumb in a split for another two to three weeks, but manager Buck Showalter doesn't want it viewed as a setback. "Everything as it's supposed to be," he said. "Put the splint back on. We're hoping at the end of that period he can start baseball activities. We were fortunate (the ligament) wasn't detached and didn't require surgery, but it is a significant injury that's...

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Tillman: Shoulder has "definitely been getting better every day"

August 17, 2016, 1:22pm

Orioles

Tillman: Shoulder has "definitely been getting better every day"

While Dylan Bundy prepared to make tonight's start against the Red Sox, Chris Tillman stood at his locker and provided an update on his right shoulder. The club's stopper did his best to slow the avalanche of concern and speculation over the decision to push him back to Saturday night against the Astros, the Orioles taking the predicable cautious approach after he informed them of lingering discomfort in the shoulder. "It's better," Tillman said. "It's definitely been getting better...

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Notes on Rickard, Tillman, McFarland and more

August 17, 2016, 12:54pm

Orioles

Notes on Rickard, Tillman, McFarland and more

The Blue Jays won today in New York, leaving the Orioles and Red Sox 1 1/2 games out of first place in the American League East. Outfielder Joey Rickard will have his right thumb in a splint for another two to three weeks following today's appointment with a hand specialist. The Orioles were hoping that Rickard would be available by Sept. 1, but that date no longer is attainable. However, they still anticipate that he will play next month. Manager Buck Showalter used one of his favorite...

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Orioles and Red Sox lineups

August 17, 2016, 11:16am

Orioles

Hyun Soo Kim is starting in left field tonight and batting ninth against Red Sox left-hander David Price. Kim is 0-for-14 versus left-handers this season. However, as I wrote this morning, Nolan Reimold is 4-for-33 (.121) with a home run and 13 strikeouts against Price. Chris Davis stays in right field, with Steve Pearce at first base and Mark Trumbo serving as the designated hitter. Dylan Bundy ranks sixth among American League rookie pitchers with 68 strikeouts. For the Orioles Adam Jones CF...