Not only is two-time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum making only his second career start against the Orioles today to close out the season's first half, he's got to reference back to June 16, 2010 for reminders of their first encounter.
As you can imagine, the roster has undergone a few changes.
Lincecum was pitching for the Giants at AT&T Park. Jeremy Guthrie was starting for the Orioles, who lost 6-3.
Lincecum allowed two runs and eight hits in six innings and Guthrie allowed four...
The Orioles are assured of being in first place in the American League East as teams shut down for the All-Star break. They hold a two-game lead with one more to play. The math doesn't lie.
It also doesn't do much for manager Buck Showalter, who can count how many games are left before the playoffs.
"It doesn't matter at all, right?" Showalter said following a 3-2 win over the Angels before 43,288 at Camden Yards. "Just make our guys and fans be able to look at the paper or the Internet a...
While the Orioles rotation remains a work in progress coming out of the All-Star break, manager Buck Showalter confirmed today that Mike Wright will start Thursday for Triple-A Norfolk and Tyler Wilson will take the mound on Friday.
Showalter said Wilson will be held to three innings, making him a candidate to be recalled and fill out the Orioles rotation.
"It depends how much you let them pitch that day," Showalter said, also referencing Wright, who was optioned last night. "Tyler is going...
Jason Garcia is back in the Orioles clubhouse today - the same bullpen role, uniform No. 61 and big league hair.
Garcia returns after making 15 starts at Double-A Bowie, but the Orioles will use him in relief for however long he's with the club.
"It feels good to be back," Garcia said. "Just here to help the team anyway I can. I'm assuming the bullpen, but I'll just wait."
Garcia was 4-7 with a 4.79 ERA in his 15 starts, but the results were improving before he got the call.
"The last...
Joey Rickard is in right field today and Mark Trumbo is serving as the designated hitter for the Orioles, who will try to even their series against the Angels and at least hold onto their one-game lead over the Blue Jays in the American League East.
Pedro Alvarez is on the bench against Angels right-hander Nick Tropeano.
Rickard joins infielder Ryan Flaherty and reliever Jason Garcia as Orioles Rule 5 picks currently on the 25-man roster. T.J. McFarland is on the disabled list.
Caleb Joseph is...
The Orioles recalled right-hander Jason Garcia from Double-A Bowie today as Mike Wright's replacement in the bullpen and on the 25-man roster.
Wright was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk last night following a 9-5 loss to the Angels at Camden Yards.
Garcia, 23, is 4-7 with a 4.79 ERA in 15 starts with Bowie this season. Last year's Rule 5 pick has rejoined the Orioles for the first time in 2016.
Garcia made his major league debut on April 8, 2015 at Tropicana Field and went 1-0 with a 4.25 ERA in...
Future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols has slowed down considerably, as evidenced by his RBI single last night that cleared Mark Trumbo's head in right field and ricocheted off the fence. He settled for one base despite the distance on his fly ball. Past knee and foot injuries didn't increase his 40 time.
Pujols has been known to reach base with regularity against Orioles right-hander Yovani Gallardo, who starts this afternoon against the Angels at Camden Yards.
Pujols is 15-for-32 lifetime...
The Orioles' lead in the American League East is down to one game following tonight's 9-5 loss to the Angels before 44,317 at Camden Yards.
The Blue Jays have won seven in a row. The Orioles are fighting to stay in front of them while their rotation continues to raise concerns.
Ubaldo Jimenez lasted only 1 1/3 innings and left to a chorus of boos. He was charged with five runs and five hits, walked two, struck out none and threw a wild pitch. Twenty-five of his 45 pitches were strikes.
Angels...
It's difficult to imagine another start for Ubaldo Jimenez following the All-Star break. The greater intrigue surrounds his spot on the 25-man roster.
Jimenez didn't strengthen his case tonight, lasting only 1 1/3 innings, being charged with five runs and walking off the mound to a chorus of boos.
How much is Jimenez struggling? Tonight didn't mark his shortest outing of the season. He retired only one batter on June 12 in Toronto.
Fans grew restless after Jimenez issued a four-pitch walk to...
The Orioles were able to take batting practice today before the grounds crew put the tarp on the field. The Angels were denied.
The rain finally let up and the sky's clearing. The tarp has been removed while a video of the 1966 World Series plays on the big screen.
Mike Wright made it back to the majors today and was placed in the bullpen. He learned of his promotion on Wednesday.
"They said they didn't know if I was going to start today or relieve, so that's where I'm at," Wright said....
Reliever Darren O'Day threw in the outfield today as he continues his recovery from a strained right hamstring.
O'Day is expected to head down to Sarasota during the All-Star break and meet the Orioles in Tampa. They're going to work out at Tropicana Field on Thursday.
Dr. James Andrews will offer a second opinion Monday on reliever T.J. McFarland's left knee. McFarland has been in Sarasota.
"I think that was expected," said manager Buck Showalter. "Almost all guys get a second...
Mike Wright has been recalled from Triple-A Norfolk today and Pedro Alvarez is serving as the designated hitter after coming off the bereavement list, as the Orioles open a three-game series against the Angels at Camden Yards.
Hyun Soo Kim is in left field again and batting second. J.J. Hardy is starting at shortstop after sitting out Wednesday's 14-inning game in Los Angeles.
For the Orioles Adam Jones CF Hyun Soo Kim LF Manny Machado 3B Chris Davis 1B Mark Trumbo RF Matt Wieters C Jonathan...
Mike Wright arrived at Camden Yards this afternoon and officially will be recalled from Triple-A Norfolk for tonight's game against the Angels - unless he's here to visit the Inner Harbor.
The Orioles still need to announce the corresponding roster move after optioning left-hander Jayson Aquino to Double-A Bowie. They confirmed yesterday that Pedro Alvarez came off the bereavement list to take the spot vacated by Dariel Alvarez, who was optioned to Norfolk.
Ubaldo Jimenez is starting tonight...
The Orioles will announce their remaining roster move today, with right-hander Mike Wright reporting from Triple-A Norfolk. That is, unless there's something else in the works that we're not anticipating. It's been known to happen.
The 25-man roster will be back to capacity.
We still need to find out whether Wright is starting or going to the bullpen. The Orioles have wanted him to get the ball every five days and seemed committed to keeping him in Norfolk's rotation. His arrival at Camden...
Mark Trumbo is doing more than participating in Monday night's Home Run Derby at Petco Park in San Diego. He's also the No. 1 seed.
Makes sense for the major league leader to rise above the rest of the field.
Trumbo will go head-to-head against the Dodgers' Corey Seager, the eighth seed who's hit 17 home runs. The winner will compete against the Mariners' Robinson Cano (20) or the Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton (19).
On the other side of the bracket, third-seed Adam Duvall (22) of the Reds...
Mike Wright is still listed as Triple-A Norfolk's starter tonight against Syracuse, but he'll be scratched from the assignment while remaining an option for the Orioles on Friday.
Executive vice president Dan Duquette confirmed earlier today that Norfolk would send a different pitcher to the mound at Harbor Park.
The Orioles need to recall a pitcher to replace left-hander Jayson Aquino, who was optioned to Double-A Bowie following last night's 6-4, 14-inning win over the Dodgers in Los...
The Orioles made two more roster moves following tonight's 6-4, 14-inning win over the Dodgers.
Outfielder Dariel Alvarez has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk and left-hander Jayson Aquino has been optioned to Double-A Bowie, leaving the 25-man roster two players short going into Thursday's off day.
Alvarez's departure was anticipated because Pedro Alvarez will come off the bereavement list on Friday, when the Orioles open a three-game series against the Angels at Camden Yards that closes...
The Orioles are off today but my sarcasm switch never flips.
Open dates on a baseball schedule inevitably lead beat writers to open up their mailbags and answer fan questions. Mine also includes unicorns, dodo birds, the tooth fairy and a bloodied Kevin Costner.
You know how this works. You ask, I answer, someone else asks and I answer again. And again. It's our repetitive little dance and it doesn't require music or comfortable shoes.
Also, no chaperones.
Enjoy the latest sequel while...
The Hyun Soo Kim drama in spring training and the booing at Camden Yards on opening day seem almost comical as he works through his first major league season.
Kim wouldn't accept a demotion to Triple-A Norfolk, his contract stipulating that he must give approval. Fans considered him selfish after he looked so overmatched at the plate and in the field. The Orioles were considered a team forced to play with a 24-man roster.
Look how far we've come - the player, the crowds, the media.
Kim has...
The Orioles have confirmed only two-thirds of their rotation for the Angels series at Camden Yards that closes out the first half of the season.
They still aren't listing a starter for Friday night's opener. Yovani Gallardo will pitch Saturday and Chris Tillman will pitch Sunday on normal rest.
Ubaldo Jimenez started on Sunday, and would be working on regular rest if given the ball Friday night. Dylan Bundy is also a possibility, though he hasn't gone more than three innings out of the...