Roch Kubatko

Davis out of Orioles lineup

June 08, 2016, 11:13am

Orioles

Chris Davis isn't in the Orioles lineup for tonight's series finale against the Royals. Davis, who's played in every game, dived into the pile during last night's brawl. We'll check whether he sustained an injury. Manny Machado, facing a suspension after charging the mound, remains at shortstop. Mark Trumbo is playing first base. Trumbo is the third Orioles player in the last four years to become the first in the majors to hit 20 home runs, joining Davis in 2013 and Nelson Cruz in 2014....

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Tonight's game and pitching matchups in Toronto

June 08, 2016, 7:50am

Orioles

Tonight's game and pitching matchups in Toronto

The Orioles will attempt tonight to stay focused on playing baseball and perhaps completing their first three-game sweep of the Royals in five years. They'll also enjoy having Manny Machado in their lineup for as long as the commissioner's office allows. Chris Tillman hasn't lost since April 14, but he's followed seven consecutive quality starts with two that fell short. He's allowed nine runs and 12 hits over 11 2/3 innings, with five walks and eight strikeouts. Most curious, he's...

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About last night ...

June 07, 2016, 9:04pm

Orioles

Manny Machado could have dropped his bat in the second inning last night, run out his fly ball to left field and veered toward the dugout without saying a word to Royals starter Yordano Ventura. Ventura could have stopped throwing at Machado in the second inning and resisted the urge to bury a 99 mph fastball in his back in the fifth. There's always blame on both sides under these circumstances. It doesn't rank with Babe Ruth calling his shot, but I predicted in the press box that Machado...

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Showalter: "I didn't have much doubt with how they'd respond"

June 07, 2016, 7:03pm

Orioles

Showalter: "I didn't have much doubt with how they'd respond"

Orioles manager Buck Showalter pulled aside Manny Machado in the dugout tonight before his shortstop batted in the bottom of the fifth inning. He issued a warning long before the umpires got around to it. Showalter anticipated that Royals starter Yordano Ventura would throw at Machado after getting too close in the second inning. Words were exchanged between Machado and Ventura after a fly ball to left that the wind knocked down. It wouldn't be the last knockdown of the evening. Showalter's...

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Machado charges mound as Orioles and Royals brawl (O's win 9-1)

June 07, 2016, 5:00pm

Orioles

Orioles shortstop Manny Machado charged the mound tonight after being drilled in the back by a 99 mph fastball from Royals starter Yordano Ventura in the bottom of the fifth inning. This wasn't a typical baseball scrum. Machado appeared to land a punch to the side of Ventura's face as both dugouts and bullpens emptied. Both players were ejected after being pulled apart. Everyone should have seen it coming. Machado took exception to an inside pitch from Ventura in his second at-bat in the...

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Brach could come right back tonight in any role (O's lead 5-1)

June 07, 2016, 3:06pm

Orioles

Brach could come right back tonight in any role (O's lead 5-1)

Orioles reliever Brad Brach entered games in five different innings within his first five appearances of the 2016 season, a nod to his versatility and importance to a bullpen ranked among the best in baseball. Brach worked the seventh on opening day, followed by the sixth, ninth, fifth and eighth. He was called upon for the ninth and 10th innings during a May 24 game in Houston. It's anyone's guess where he might pitch tonight if manager Buck Showalter needs him. He's available again after...

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Notes on Wright, Gallardo, Pena, Rodriguez and more

June 07, 2016, 1:36pm

Orioles

Notes on Wright, Gallardo, Pena, Rodriguez and more

Barring a late change in plans, the Orioles intend to start right-hander Mike Wright in Saturday afternoon's game against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Wright allowed an unearned run over seven innings last night in a 4-1 win over the Royals. "It's like I said last night with Michael, I'm going to be real surprised if he doesn't pitch well tonight, but it's the following outing," said manager Buck Showalter. "It's the following outings that matter. It's the next outing for...

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Orioles lineup vs. Royals

June 07, 2016, 11:24am

Orioles

Hyun Soo Kim is back in the Orioles lineup tonight, playing left field and batting second. Mark Trumbo is in right field and Pedro Alvarez is the designated hitter. Francisco Pena is behind the plate again to catch Ubaldo Jimenez. Closer Zach Britton has converted his first 18 save opportunities, tying him with Chris Ray (2006) for the longest streak to open a season in club history. Britton is nine saves shy of becoming the fifth pitcher in Orioles history to record 100 career saves, joining...

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Machado continues to lead AL third basemen in All-Star voting

June 07, 2016, 10:45am

Orioles

Machado continues to lead AL third basemen in All-Star voting

Manny Machado continues to lead American League third basemen in All-Star Game voting, but Mark Trumbo has slipped to fourth among the outfielders. Catcher Matt Wieters moved up to second in the voting. Machado has received 898,715 votes to lead Kansas City's Mike Moustakas (725,721), who's on the disabled list and out for the season. Toronto's Josh Donaldson is third with 588,957. Trumbo has received 816,276 votes to put him behind Anaheim's Mike Trout (1,344,578), Kansas City's Lorenzo...

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Jimenez vs. Ventura tonight at Camden Yards (updated)

June 07, 2016, 8:50am

Orioles

Jimenez vs. Ventura tonight at Camden Yards (updated)

Mike Wright made the absolute most of his do-over last night. Ubaldo Jimenez could use a case of mulligans as he takes the mound again for tonight's game against the Royals. Jimenez is 2-6 with a 6.59 ERA and 1.849 WHIP in 11 starts over 57 1/3 innings. He's allowed 74 hits, walked 32 and struck out 48. Over his last five starts, Jimenez has surrendered 28 runs (24 earned) and 33 hits with 16 walks in 21 2/3 innings. To say he's due is being polite. Left-handers are hitting .330 against...

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Showalter speaks after 4-1 win

June 06, 2016, 6:46pm

Orioles

Mike Wright was given a reprieve tonight. He responded by giving the Orioles one of the best starts of his brief major league career. The Royals managed only an unearned run off Wright over seven innings, and the Orioles hit three home runs in a 4-1 victory before 14,878 at Camden Yards. The Orioles' rotation has registered back-to-back quality starts, raising the total to seven in the last 21 games. Brad Brach struck out the side in the eighth to lower his ERA to 0.88 with 34 strikeouts in 30...

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Sinking a fastball and raising spirits all part of Britton's day

June 06, 2016, 4:31pm

Orioles

Sinking a fastball and raising spirits all part of Britton's day

Zach Britton did his usual work on the mound Sunday afternoon, preserving a lead in the ninth inning and recording his 17th save in as many opportunities. A couple of ground balls and a predictable result from the All-Star closer. He woke up early the next morning, another game on the horizon, and offered a hand in the fight against a much tougher opponent. The competitive side bends toward the compassionate. Britton and his wife Courtney are continuing their partnership with The Johns Hopkins...

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Orioles hoping to re-Wright rotation script (O's win 4-1)

June 06, 2016, 2:58pm

Orioles

Expected to join Triple-A Norfolk's rotation and make tonight's start, right-hander Mike Wright instead remains with the Orioles and is taking his normal turn against the Royals. Baseball is both funny and unpredictable. Wright was optioned and recalled last week before the water in the clubhouse shower had time to get warm. He replaced injured reliever Darren O'Day on the roster and outlasted the other starting candidates for tonight's game. "As opposed to who?" Showalter asked, a...

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Updates on Hardy, Joseph and Gallardo (plus KC lineup)

June 06, 2016, 1:17pm

Orioles

Updates on Hardy, Joseph and Gallardo (plus KC lineup)

Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy fielded 25 ground balls hit directly at him this morning in Sarasota to further test his fractured left foot. Hardy has been throwing, taking dry swings and hitting off a tee. He's making progress that continues to encourage the Orioles. "He's out there moving around a little bit. That's good to see," said manager Buck Showalter. Hardy will come back to Baltimore "as soon as he gets into full baseball activities," Showalter said. "As soon as he gets where...

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Orioles lineup vs. Royals

June 06, 2016, 11:41am

Orioles

Nolan Reimold is in left field and Joey Rickard is in right for tonight's series opener against the Royals at Camden Yards. Paul Janish is starting at third base against Royals left-hander Danny Duffy. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Matt Wieters' .344 (11-for-32) batting average in plate appearances that began with an 0-2 count is the third-highest in the majors (minimum 20 at-bats) behind Aledmys Diaz (.353) and Angel Pagan (.346). Orioles manager Buck Showalter is tied with Davey...

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Notes on Hyun Soo Kim and tonight's game

June 05, 2016, 7:25pm

Orioles

Notes on Hyun Soo Kim and tonight's game

The Orioles are facing another left-hander tonight, Kansas City's Danny Duffy, which could keep Hyun Soo Kim on the bench for another game. It's the only way to remove a .377 hitter from the lineup. A hitter with a .449 on-base percentage. A scout from outside the organization said he has to tear up his old scouting report on Kim from spring training and change the grade assigned to the former Korean Baseball Organization star. The scout noted improvements in Kim's body language, approach at...

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Showalter after win: "They won't dwell on it long"

June 05, 2016, 3:29pm

Orioles

Showalter after win: "They won't dwell on it long"

Orioles manager Buck Showalter confirmed that Mike Wright will start Monday night against the Royals at Camden Yards. Showalter used T.J. McFarland out of the bullpen today, and the left-hander earned the win in a 3-1 victory over the Yankees before 28,807 at Camden Yards. Matt Wieters sat through the first seven innings today. He sat through a 1 hour, 37 minute rain delay. Sent to the plate in the eighth as a pinch-hitter for Ryan Flaherty, he fell behind 0-2 on two Aroldis Chapman 99 mph...

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Mike Wright appears set to make Monday start (O's win 3-1)

June 05, 2016, 12:16pm

Orioles

Mike Wright appears set to make Monday start (O's win 3-1)

The Orioles apparently have decided to start Mike Wright in Monday night's series opener against the Royals at Camden Yards. Remember when they optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk? Seems like only yesterday. Actually, it was Thursday afternoon, when they selected left-hander Brian Duensing's contract from Norfolk. The Orioles recalled Wright while placing reliever Darren O'Day on the disabled list with a hamstring injury. He never left Baltimore. Left-hander T.J. McFarland was the other...

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Caleb Joseph: "I'm feeling really good" (updated)

June 05, 2016, 9:57am

Orioles

Caleb Joseph: "I'm feeling really good" (updated)

Teammates walked up to Orioles catcher Caleb Joseph this morning, grabbed his hand, leaned in and offered what best can be described as a gentle hug. No contact below the belt. Joseph smiled and exchanged quips. He's heard them all and it's his turn to deliver a few at his own expense. Joseph sustained a testicular injury Monday night after being struck by a foul tip. He underwent a surgical procedure at the University of Maryland Medical Center that left in him extreme discomfort until about...

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Notes on Hardy, Joseph, the rotation and Lee

June 05, 2016, 8:26am

Orioles

Notes on Hardy, Joseph, the rotation and Lee

Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy played catch from 90 feet yesterday as he continues his recovery from a fractured left foot. The throwing required Hardy to apply pressure to the foot. "That was good to see, that he was out on the field and throwing," said manager Buck Showalter. "Carry a little pressure on the foot to do that. That was good to see." Caleb Joseph received gentle hugs from teammates at his locker this morning, his first appearance at Camden Yards since suffering a testicular...