Roch Kubatko

Today's game and pending Paredes decision

May 14, 2016, 8:29pm

Orioles

Today's game and pending Paredes decision

Kevin Gausman still doesn't have a win this year despite posting three consecutive quality starts. Today's opposing pitcher, Tigers rookie Michael Fulmer, is 2-1 despite a 6.00 ERA and 2.000 WHIP in 15 innings. He hasn't made it past the fifth in any of his three starts. Further proof that a pitcher's won-loss record is largely meaningless. Coming up next: Do Germans really love David Hasselhoff? Gausman has allowed five earned runs and 12 hits, with three walks and 16 strikeouts, over 20...

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Wrapping up a 9-3 win

May 14, 2016, 7:05pm

Orioles

Orioles manager Buck Showalter has made references in the past to second baseman Jonathan Schoop "graduating," a term used to describe his maturation as a player and a person. Did Schoop get his master's tonight? What school analogy fits when a guy homers twice, including a grand slam, and drives in a career-high five runs? Schoop led another power frenzy, again coming as the game approached the later innings, that keyed a 9-3 victory over the Tigers before 32,174 at Camden Yards. "I feel...

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Orioles power past the Tigers 9-3

May 14, 2016, 5:51pm

Orioles

Not only did Matt Wieters catch in back-to-back games with tonight's assignment, he also guided Mike Wright through the rotation's latest quality start and gave the Orioles a lead they never surrendered. He also opened the flood gates. Jonathan Schoop homered twice, including his second career grand slam, and Adam Jones homered for the fourth time in five games, as the Orioles again got aggressive late and defeated the Tigers 9-3 before 32,174 at Camden Yards. Wieters hit his second home run...

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Britton poised to pass Julio on saves list (O's lead 9-3)

May 14, 2016, 3:00pm

Orioles

Britton poised to pass Julio on saves list (O's lead 9-3)

If the Orioles are faced with another save situation tonight, left-hander Zach Britton probably will sit this one out. He's earned a breather after closing out back-to-back games. Britton's next save will be his 84th, moving him past Jorge Julio and into sole possession of fifth place on the club's all-time list. Forgive Britton if he's a little foggy with his Julio history. The right-hander's career in Baltimore spanned five seasons, the last in 2005. The Orioles drafted Britton the...

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Showalter on Gallardo and Alvarez

May 14, 2016, 1:32pm

Orioles

Orioles reliever Brad Brach played catch in the outfield this afternoon and had a light bullpen session, throwing eight to 10 pitches before heading back inside. Brach hasn't appeared in a game since Tuesday night in Minnesota and manager Buck Showalter wants to use him tonight if the circumstances allow it. Showalter would like to lay off a couple of relievers. Closer Zach Britton and set-up man Darren O'Day have pitched the last two nights and in the last three games. Showalter said bullpen...

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Gallardo on his first day playing catch

May 14, 2016, 12:44pm

Orioles

Yovani Gallardo didn't let the weather stop him today from picking up a ball for the first time since going on the disabled list. Gallardo made his scheduled 25 throws from 60 feet on flat ground. He's slated to expand the distance to 90 feet on Monday and to 120 feet most likely on Wednesday. Manager Buck Showalter has the rehab assignment dates charted, but he won't share them publicly until Gallardo starts throwing off a mound. Showalter said Gallardo's schedule is "similar" to the one...

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Orioles lineup includes Alvarez at third base

May 14, 2016, 11:08am

Orioles

The Orioles will attempt to win their seventh consecutive game tonight and match their longest streak of the season, and they'll do so with adjustments made to their lineup. Hyun Soo Kim is making his seventh start tonight. He's in left field, with Joey Rickard moving to right and Mark Trumbo serving as the designated hitter. Also, Pedro Alvarez is making his first start at third base since August 2014 with the Pirates, who moved him across the diamond last season. Ryan Flaherty is on the...

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The pitching matchups for tonight's game

May 14, 2016, 5:43am

Orioles

The pitching matchups for tonight's game

Orioles right-hander Mike Wright is working on six days' rest again tonight, which must feel normal given his inconsistent routine. Wright also had six days between his first two starts of the season. Starts between April 29 and May 7 were interrupted by one inning in relief on May 4. The weather is the main culprit. And Wright isn't complaining. It beats pitching every five days in the minors. Wright has faced the Tigers once in his career, working a scoreless inning on July 31, 2015. Rajai...

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Where will the Orioles find their next arm?

May 13, 2016, 9:10pm

Orioles

The Orioles are in dual mode when it comes to their pitching needs. They remain in the market for another arm, but they're also trying to ready their own minor leaguers for possible duty later in the summer. They had a minor league offer on the table for veteran Kyle Lohse before he signed yesterday with the Rangers, a deal that reportedly included a June 1 opt-out. They recently had special assignment scout Ron Schueler, who's based in Arizona, watch Tim Lincecum's showcase. The Orioles are...

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Showalter on Tillman, Jones and a 1-0 win

May 13, 2016, 6:31pm

Orioles

Showalter on Tillman, Jones and a 1-0 win

The Chris Tillman bounceback season continues to gain momentum and hang time. Tillman turned in his fifth consecutive quality start tonight, shutting out the Tigers on five hits over seven innings in a 1-0 victory before an announced crowd of 30,488 at Camden Yards. Tillman walked two and struck out seven, including two in his final inning after Nick Castellanos' leadoff double. He threw 107 pitches, 70 for strikes. In those five quality starts, Tillman has surrendered only six runs in 33...

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Bundy still a consideration for rotation (O's win 1-0)

May 13, 2016, 1:52pm

Orioles

Bundy still a consideration for rotation (O's win 1-0)

Orioles right-hander Dylan Bundy continues to present himself as an option in the rotation next season, according to manager Buck Showalter. Bundy could receive a start in the second half this year, but Showalter said it probably would come with a three-inning cutoff. The primary interest is building up his innings this summer to make him a legitimate candidate in 2017. "I'd like to in a perfect world," Showalter said. "I know where I want to get him to with his innings. I was talking to...

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J.J. Hardy says left foot pain-free as he readies for Sarasota

May 13, 2016, 12:57pm

Orioles

J.J. Hardy says left foot pain-free as he readies for Sarasota

Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy said his left foot feels the same as it did the day after he sustained a hairline fracture. In other words, no pain is viewed as a significant gain. Hardy continues to wear a boot on the foot, though he removed it at his locker this afternoon while changing clothes. He still hasn't applied any pressure and continues to walk with crutches. Hardy said he may be allowed to ditch the crutches early next week. The current plan calls for Hardy to fly to Sarasota and stay...

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Orioles lineup vs. Tigers

May 13, 2016, 10:53am

Orioles

The Orioles didn't make many changes to their lineup for tonight's game against the Tigers. Matt Wieters is behind the plate instead of Caleb Joseph. Wieters also will catch on Saturday. Joey Rickard, Adam Jones and Mark Trumbo comprise the outfield again and Pedro Alvarez is the designated hitter. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, last night marked the first Orioles victory after trailing by at least five runs in the sixth inning or later since May 10, 2013. Mike Pelfrey also started...

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Tillman's keeping the ball in the park

May 12, 2016, 8:32pm

Orioles

While doing a little research leading up to tonight's Orioles-Tigers game, I took special interest in two statistics that shall be highlighted here. Chris Tillman has surrendered only one home run this season. Justin Verlander has never lost at Camden Yards. Rays third baseman Evan Longoria homered off Tillman in the first inning of an April 8 game at Camden Yards, which continued his pattern of dominance. He's hit seven off Tillman in 54 career at-bats. No one else has taken Tillman deep...

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Showalter speaks after 7-5 win

May 12, 2016, 7:15pm

Orioles

So much for hitting back-to-back home runs and outmuscling the opposition. The Orioles took a shorter route to victory tonight, collecting 10 singles among their 12 hits and rallying past the Tigers 7-5 at Camden Yards. They were down 5-0 heading to the bottom of the sixth, where they scored twice to set up the decisive seventh. Nine batters, five singles, a triple and five runs. The Tigers' bullpen imploded again. The Orioles hit 12 home runs in their last three games, but they used a...

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Jimenez lacking in quality tonight (O's win 7-5)

May 12, 2016, 5:22pm

Orioles

Jimenez lacking in quality tonight (O's win 7-5)

Ubaldo Jimenez returned to the mound tonight in the top of the sixth inning with a chance at a quality start. It speaks more to the definition of the term than Jimenez's performance. Fourteen of 28 Tigers reached base against him. He didn't record an out in the sixth and two more runs scored after he departed on RBI singles by Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez off reliever Vance Worley. The rotation had posted 11 quality starts in the last 14 games, but Jimenez wasn't up to the task and the...

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Jimenez looking for third win, Joseph first RBI (O's down 3-0)

May 12, 2016, 3:00pm

Orioles

Jimenez looking for third win, Joseph first RBI (O's down 3-0)

Ubaldo Jimenez and Caleb Joseph aren't joined at the hip. Just the lineup card. Jimenez is making his seventh start tonight and Joseph remains a constant behind the plate. They haven't been separated this season, and while there may be other factors at work, it's worth noting that Jimenez has a 3.23 ERA in 38 career games with Joseph and a 7.02 ERA in 14 games with Matt Wieters. Jimenez has a 4.85 ERA in nine games with Nick Hundley and a 10.00 ERA in two games with Steve Clevenger. Read as...

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Early notes on Wieters, Hardy, Harvey and more

May 12, 2016, 1:15pm

Orioles

Early notes on Wieters, Hardy, Harvey and more

Caleb Joseph is behind the plate again tonight for Ubaldo Jimenez's start, which attracts attention only because Matt Wieters is out of the lineup in back-to-back games. Wieters' elbow is fine. Joseph has caught all six of Jimenez's starts this season and the streak stays alive tonight. Meanwhile, Wieters will catch the next two nights and benefit from rest on Sunday with Joseph making the start and Monday when the Orioles are off. Shortstop J.J. Hardy, on the disabled list retroactive to...

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Orioles lineup vs. Tigers

May 12, 2016, 10:56am

Orioles

Pedro Alvarez is back in the Orioles' lineup tonight as the designated hitter to start a four-game series against the Tigers at Camden Yards. Mark Trumbo is in right field and Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard continues to play left field. Caleb Joseph starts at catcher. Matt Wieters is out of the lineup for the second straight game. Adam Jones and Chris Davis each went 4-for-5 with a home run yesterday, marking the first time that the Orioles had two players with at least four hits and a home run in...

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Orioles bring home run roll back to Baltimore

May 11, 2016, 5:22pm

Orioles

MINNEAPOLIS - The constant rain and cold conditions have driven me away from baseball-reference.com and other baseball-related sites and directly into the arms of weather.com. But I swear, it meant nothing to me. The latest forecast for Baltimore tonight doesn't seem too ominous, but Friday and Saturday again could pose problems for a team that's running out of off days and dry clothes. At least the offense isn't performing as if it's swinging a wet newspaper. "It's always tough to hit,"...