Roch Kubatko

Orioles trade Brian Matusz to Braves

May 23, 2016, 4:43pm

Orioles

The Orioles have traded left-hander Brian Matusz, their first-round selection in the 2008 draft, to the Braves for right-hander Brandon Barker and left-hander Trevor Belicek. Atlanta also will receive a Competitive Balance Round B pick (76th overall) in the upcoming draft. The Braves reportedly will designate Matusz for assignment, essentially making the deal in order to acquire the draft pick and take on the rest of his salary for 2016. Matusz was being paid $3.9 million in the final year of...

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Tillman vs. Fister tonight in Houston

May 23, 2016, 3:15pm

Orioles

Two quality start streaks are on the line tonight in Houston. Chris Tillman and Astros right-hander Doug Fister each have posted six consecutive quality starts, though the numbers don't exactly match up. That would be quite a coincidence. Tillman is 6-1 with a 2.60 ERA in nine starts this season. He's allowed eight runs in his last 39 1/3 innings during his streak. Fister is 4-3 with a 4.22 ERA in eight starts this season and he's allowed 14 runs in 38 1/3 innings during his streak. Maybe we...

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Orioles sign Brian Duensing to minor league deal

May 23, 2016, 1:19pm

Orioles

The Orioles have signed left-hander Brian Duensing to a minor league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Norfolk. Executive vice president Dan Duquette confirmed the deal. Duensing exercised the opt-out clause in his contract with the Royals last week and they subsequently released him. They signed him as a free agent in February, released him in March and re-signed him four days later. It just wasn't meant to be. Duensing, 33, was 1-0 with a 3.10 ERA and two saves in 12 relief appearances...

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Pat Connaughton reports to extended spring training

May 23, 2016, 6:31am

Orioles

Pat Connaughton reports to extended spring training

While the Orioles wait for Pat Connaughton to decide on a sport to play, they're getting another chance to watch him throw this week at extended spring training. Connaughton, 23, has reported to the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota. I've heard that he's on the field this morning. This may be temporary. Connaughton is expected to redirect his focus to basketball in the NBA's summer league. However, he'll be in baseball mode for however long he's there. The Orioles selected Connaughton...

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Orioles remain committed to Jimenez

May 22, 2016, 6:02pm

Orioles

The question regarding Ubaldo Jimenez hasn't changed. Neither has the answer, much to the chagrin of fans who want him removed from the rotation, the roster or the planet. Jimenez has pitched poorly in his last three starts and four of his last five. He's also out of minor league options and owed the remainder of $13 million this season and $13.5 million in 2017. I can't stress enough those last points. The Orioles won't designate him for assignment. They don't seem inclined to move him to...

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Orioles and Angels lineups

May 22, 2016, 9:37am

Orioles

The Orioles go for the sweep today in Anaheim with Nolan Reimold in left field, Joey Rickard in right field and Mark Trumbo as the designated hitter. Even with right-hander Jered Weaver pitching for the Angels, Pedro Alvarez is taking a seat on the bench. Ubaldo Jimenez is pitching for the Orioles, with Caleb Joseph behind the plate. With Joseph as his batterymate, Jimenez has a 3.32 ERA in 39 games. For the OriolesJoey Rickard RFManny Machado SSAdam Jones CFChris Davis 1BMark Trumbo DHNolan...

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Orioles need 2015 version of Jimenez vs. Angels

May 22, 2016, 6:32am

Orioles

The Orioles will go for the sweep today in Anaheim while also hoping for the better version of Ubaldo Jimenez. In his last two starts, Jimenez has allowed 11 runs (10 earned) and 14 hits in 9 1/3 innings. He's also walked eight batters and is averaging 4.8 per nine innings. Left-handers are batting .345 against Jimenez this season. Right-handers are hitting .268. Jimenez is 1-5 with a 4.28 ERA in six career starts against the Angels. He's 1-2 with a 5.68 ERA in three starts in Anaheim. In...

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Bundy's got game beyond baseball

May 21, 2016, 6:48pm

Orioles

While the Orioles were in Minnesota earlier this month, players killed time in the visiting clubhouse at Target Field by playing chess. Sharpen the mind before the batting eye. Manager Buck Showalter challenged reporters in his office to name the best of the bunch, or at least someone who could give the king a run for his money. Dylan Bundy's name wasn't brought up. To be honest, he wasn't a consideration. He just didn't seem to fit the profile. Big mistake. The guy's apparently got...

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Orioles and Angels lineups

May 21, 2016, 2:53pm

Orioles

Ryan Flaherty is at third base for the Orioles tonight in their game in Anaheim. Pedro Alvarez is the designated hitter and Mark Trumbo is in right field. Matt Wieters is behind the plate again tonight. For the Orioles Joey Rickard LF Manny Machado SS Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Mark Trumbo RF Matt Wieters C Pedro Alvarez DH Jonathan Schoop 2B Ryan Flaherty 3B Kevin Gausman RHP For the Angels Yunel Escobar 3B Kole Calhoun RF Mike Trout CF Albert Pujols DH C.J. Cron 1B Johnny Giavotella 2B...

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Gausman vs. Shoemaker tonight in Anaheim

May 21, 2016, 9:19am

Orioles

Gausman vs. Shoemaker tonight in Anaheim

The Orioles hit four more home runs last night in Anaheim, with Joey Rickard and Manny Machado going deep to start the game. The club leads the majors with 61, one more than the Rays. Machado, Mark Trumbo and Chris Davis are the first trio in Orioles history to have at least 10 home runs and 25 RBIs in the first 40 games of a season. Kevin Gausman turned in three consecutive quality starts until his last outing, when he allowed four runs and 10 hits in five innings against the Tigers. Gausman...

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Flaherty catching up on another position

May 20, 2016, 7:50pm

Orioles

Flaherty catching up on another position

If you are a keen observer between innings of games at Camden Yards, your focus shifting from the hot dog race or Smile Cam, you may have noticed utility infielder Ryan Flaherty squatting behind home plate to warm up the pitcher. That's supposed to be a catcher's task, with the backup handling it if the starter makes the last out and is putting on his gear. Flaherty has been spotted multiple times and he's taking it seriously while also having fun. Before batting practice on Wednesday,...

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Orioles lineup vs. Angels

May 20, 2016, 2:34pm

Orioles

The Orioles will begin their three-game series in Anaheim tonight with Paul Janish at third base and Nolan Reimold in left field.Joey Rickard is in right and Mark Trumbo is the designated hitter against Angels lefty Hector Santiago. For the OriolesJoey Rickard RFManny Machado SSAdam Jones CFChris Davis 1BMark Trumbo DHMatt Wieters CJonathan Schoop 2BNolan Reimold LFPaul Janish 3BMike Wright RHP

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Urrutia reports to Baysox

May 20, 2016, 12:05pm

Orioles

Outfielder Henry Urrutia has joined Double-A Bowie and officially been added to the roster. He's batting third tonight and playing right field. The Baysox are in Harrisburg for a three-games series. The Orioles promoted outfielder Mike Yastrzemski to Triple-A Norfolk on Monday and assigned Urrutia to Bowie, a move that disappointed him and raised questions whether he'd report. He had until today to do so and arrived in Harrisburg earlier this afternoon. Urrutia was batting .245/.347/.304 with...

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Wright vs. Santiago tonight in Anaheim

May 20, 2016, 7:53am

Orioles

Mike Wright made his major league debut against the Angels on May 17 in Baltimore and tossed 7 1/3 scoreless innings, holding them to four hits in a 3-0 victory. He became the first pitcher in Orioles history with a scoreless outing in his debut that included no walks. Wright's first major league strikeout came against someone named Mike Trout. I hear he's pretty good. It's just a smidgen over one year later and Wright is preparing for his second career start against the Angels, the venue...

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Joseph waiting on first RBI

May 19, 2016, 5:39pm

Orioles

Orioles catcher Caleb Joseph lined a double into the left field corner in the eighth inning of a May 11 game in Minnesota, rather mundane on the surface except that Nolan Reimold was motoring around the bases. Joseph didn't have an RBI on the season. Reimold was in full stride as he reached third base and took a wide turn - then slammed on the brakes and went back to the bag. Oh, so close. It was likely the right decision. Reimold probably would have been out at the plate and third base coach...

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Showalter, Wilson, Bundy and Trumbo after 7-2 loss

May 19, 2016, 12:52pm

Orioles

Showalter, Wilson, Bundy and Trumbo after 7-2 loss

The Orioles hadn't lost a series at home until this week, a streak that figured to end at some point over the course of the season. They never led today in a 7-2 loss to the Mariners that will make their flight to Anaheim a little more taxing. Tyler Wilson lacked the usual command and allowed five runs over six innings - the big blow a three-run homer by Adam Lind in the sixth. The wind may have assisted on that one, but it counted just the same. Wilson had retired 10 of 11 before the game got...

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Wilson loses momentum and Orioles lose game

May 19, 2016, 11:39am

Orioles

Sift through the praise heaped upon Orioles pitcher Tyler Wilson and you'll find numerous mentions of his ability to step back after hitting a rough patch, gather himself and mow down hitters. Manager Buck Showalter has highlighted the trait many times since Wilson's arrival, and it happened for a while this afternoon. Just not long enough to prevent a 7-2 loss to the Mariners before 35,012 at Camden Yards that closed the homestand. Leonys Martin hit a two-run homer off Dylan Bundy with two...

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Flaherty in right field, Wilson in early trouble (O's down 5-2)

May 19, 2016, 8:54am

Orioles

Flaherty in right field, Wilson in early trouble (O's down 5-2)

The outfield isn't a new position for Ryan Flaherty, a man of many gloves. It's just not the normal territory that he roams. Manager Buck Showalter's lineup today had Flaherty in right field against a Mariners team that includes seven left-handed hitters and a switch-hitter. Flaherty made five starts in right field last season and has 14 starts among his 23 career appearances in the majors. It's all part of the utility gig. "Ryan's a good outfielder," Showalter said. "I think you look...

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Injury updates on Hardy and Gallardo

May 19, 2016, 8:06am

Orioles

The latest X-rays taken yesterday on the left foot of Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy showed the level of healing that the club hoped for since putting him on the disabled list. "Looks good," said manager Buck Showalter, who conferred with head athletic trainer Richie Bancells. "Richie was saying if you didn't really know exactly what you were looking for and knew the exact spot, you wouldn't see anything. He said it's almost healed. So we're hoping when we get back off this trip, he'll be...

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Orioles and Mariners lineups

May 19, 2016, 7:23am

Orioles

Ryan Flaherty is starting in right field today and Pedro Alvarez remains at third base for the series finale against the Mariners. Jonathan Schoop is batting sixth. Caleb Joseph is behind the plate. The Mariners are seeking their first series win in Baltimore since August 2013. Former Oriole Steve Clevenger is catching today for Seattle. For the Orioles Joey Rickard LF Manny Machado SS Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Mark Trumbo DH Jonathan Schoop 2B Pedro Alvarez 3B Caleb Joseph C Ryan Flaherty...