Roch Kubatko

Orioles don't let Yankees rain on wild card parade

September 30, 2016, 6:34pm

Orioles

NEW YORK - The Orioles are serious about getting the home wild card game. It's not just about making the playoffs. It's about making the most of the opportunity. The Orioles hit three home runs tonight in the top of the fifth inning, giving them 250 for the season, and they coasted to an 8-1 rain-soaked victory over the Yankees in the Bronx. The win improved the Orioles' record to 88-72. They hadn't scored more than six runs since Sept. 10. The Blue Jays blew a 3-1 lead over the Red Sox in...

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Showalter expresses interest in keeping Bourn (O's lead 8-1)

September 30, 2016, 3:17pm

Orioles

Showalter expresses interest in keeping Bourn (O's lead 8-1)

NEW YORK - Orioles manager Buck Showalter can envision a scenario where outfielder Michael Bourn fits on next season's club no matter how the other personnel moves unfold. Bourn has made a solid impression since the Orioles acquired him from the Diamondbacks on Aug. 31 for minor league pitcher Jason Heinrich. He's 9-for-36 heading into tonight's game against the Yankees, but it includes a double, two home runs and six RBIs. He's also drawn three walks and stolen two bases. Joey Rickard is...

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More on the weather, rotation and lineup

September 30, 2016, 2:14pm

Orioles

More on the weather, rotation and lineup

NEW YORK - The tarp remains on the field as a mist falls at Yankee Stadium. There's a sense of optimism that the game will start on time, but the conditions are sloppy at best. Whether it goes uninterrupted is another story. The Yankees haven't been keeping an open weather dialogue with the Orioles. Asked what he's heard about the forecast, Showalter replied, "Nothing. They haven't said a word to us. I'll stop right there. That's kind of the way it goes." Showalter joked about playing a...

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Trumbo and Britton finalists for awards

September 30, 2016, 1:00pm

Orioles

NEW YORK - Rain continues to fall at Yankee Stadium this afternoon and the tarp is on the field. No batting practice and no idea whether tonight's game starts on time. We're waiting to meet with manager Buck Showalter. So far, there's been no news to report. Just an Orioles lineup that again excludes Pedro Alvarez versus a right-handed starter. Showalter values Michael Bourn's defense in right field, which puts Mark Trumbo in the designated hitter slot. Trumbo and Zach Britton are finalists...

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Orioles lineup vs. Yankees

September 30, 2016, 11:34am

Orioles

NEW YORK - Hyun Soo Kim remains in the starting lineup in left field as the Orioles begin their final series of the regular season at Yankee Stadium. Chris Davis is batting sixth again. Still no Pedro Alvarez in the lineup, with Michael Bourn in right field and Mark Trumbo serving as the designated hitter. Yankees right-hander Michael Pineda hasn't completed six innings in any of his five starts this month, but he's allowed only five earned runs in 23 2/3 innings. He's surrendered only three...

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Must-win series shifts to the Bronx

September 29, 2016, 6:33pm

Orioles

The regular season is down to three games. Three games against the Yankees in the Bronx. Three games in jeopardy because the forecast is calling for rain through the weekend. Anyone interested in a Monday tripleheader? The Orioles are 2-5 at Yankee Stadium this season and a combined 5-12 over the past two seasons. They haven't swept a three-game series in the Bronx since June 1986. There's no real momentum in baseball because it's dictated by the next day's starting pitcher, but few people...

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Jimenez vs. Stroman tonight in Toronto

September 29, 2016, 1:19pm

Orioles

The Orioles close their series against the Blue Jays tonight with a chance to move into a tie for the first wild card. Can Ubaldo Jimenez carry them to it? Jimenez has registered a 2.85 ERA in his last six starts over 41 innings. It's been a remarkable turnaround. But he's posted a 9.42 ERA and 1.953 WHIP in four games (three starts) against the Blue Jays this season, and it's been especially ugly at times. Jimenez retired only one batter in a June 12 start at Rogers Centre, allowing five...

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Orioles lineup vs. Blue Jays

September 29, 2016, 11:34am

Orioles

Hyun Soo Kim is batting second and playing left field tonight as the Orioles attempt to tie the Blue Jays for the first wild card. Chris Davis has moved down to sixth in the order. Michael Bourn is playing right field and Mark Trumbo is the designated hitter, which excludes Pedro Alvarez from the lineup. Kim's two-run homer last night made him 6-for-9 as a pinch-hitter. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, only three other active players began their careers with at least six hits in their...

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Savoring a win while still wondering about the offense

September 28, 2016, 7:20pm

Orioles

Savoring a win while still wondering about the offense

Hyun Soo Kim's pinch-hit home run last night gave the Orioles a 3-2 win and momentarily made us forget about the offensive woes. The amnesia was temporary. Is there anything that can be done about the bats? How about an exorcism, or at least something involving a live chicken? All virgins are off limits. This is a lineup issue, no matter the names or the order that they appear. The hitters are in a collective slump and it's been going on for much of the second half. Too many strikeouts, which...

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The beauty of Kim

September 28, 2016, 6:28pm

Orioles

Hyun Soo Kim is 6-for-9 as a pinch-hitter this season and fans still want him in the lineup. Makes no sense. But seriously ... Kim may have saved the Orioles' season tonight when he came off the bench in the ninth inning and hit a two-run homer off Blue Jays closer Roberto Osuna to give them a 3-2 win at Rogers Centre. Shortstop J.J. Hardy was called out on strikes to lead off the inning, but slumping second baseman Jonathan Schoop poked a single into right field. Schoop had two hits tonight...

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Orioles and Blue Jays lineups

September 28, 2016, 11:43am

Orioles

Trey Mancini is back in the lineup tonight with a left-hander opposing the Orioles. Mancini is batting fifth as the designated hitter against the Blue Jays' Francisco Liriano. Nolan Reimold is in left field and Mark Trumbo is playing right. Chris Davis continues to bat second. The Orioles trail the Blue Jays in the all-time series 278-320. They're 159-143 at home and 119-177 in Toronto, the latter stat being the greater concern at the moment. The Orioles are 2-6 at Rogers Centre this season...

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Tillman vs. Liriano tonight in Toronto

September 28, 2016, 7:52am

Orioles

As Evan Roberts of WFAN pointed out this morning, we could have a five-way tie for the second wild card if the Yankees finish 5-0, the Orioles 1-4, the Tigers 2-3, the Mariners 3-2 and the Astros 3-1. Please don't let this happen. I can't book that many hotels. I cancelled my Boston reservation for the wild card game, confident that the Red Sox are winning the division. Their magic number remains at one. Manager Buck Showalter dislikes the phrase "must-win," but tonight's game seems to...

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Notes on Davis, OBP, Bourn, Wieters and Britton

September 27, 2016, 5:37pm

Orioles

Notes on Davis, OBP, Bourn, Wieters and Britton

Not only did the Orioles drop two games behind the Blue Jays last night for the first wild card, their lead over the Tigers for the second spot was reduced to one. Chris Davis was ejected last night by plate umpire Will Little for arguing a called third strike in the top of the seventh inning. Davis kept his cool all season despite having plenty of reasons to vent, but Little actually made the right call last night. Davis didn't go ballistic, but he must have said the magic word(s). Manager...

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Checking how the Orioles bullpen stacks up against Jays

September 27, 2016, 1:31pm

Orioles

With the Orioles and Blue Jays set to begin a crucial three-game series at Rogers Centre, how much will the bullpens factor into the outcomes and better shape the wild card picture? Orioles relievers rank second in the American League and fourth in the majors with a 3.42 ERA. The Jays rank 21st with a 4.09 ERA. The Orioles batted .215 and averaged 3.1 runs on their 11-game homestand, finishing 5-6, but the bullpen posted a 0.82 ERA by allowing four earned runs in 44 innings. The rotation posted...

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Orioles and Blue Jays lineups

September 27, 2016, 11:47am

Orioles

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...

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Orioles can tie for top wild card tonight

September 26, 2016, 7:11pm

Orioles

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...

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Notes on game time, playoff tickets and Britton

September 26, 2016, 1:04pm

Orioles

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...

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This, that and the other

September 25, 2016, 7:21pm

Orioles

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...

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Wrapping up a 2-1 win and series sweep

September 25, 2016, 1:36pm

Orioles

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...

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Orioles complete sweep of Diamondbacks with 2-1 win

September 25, 2016, 12:24pm

Orioles

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...