Roch Kubatko

Orioles acquire pitcher Jayson Aquino

April 07, 2016, 7:59am

Orioles

The Orioles made a minor league trade this morning, acquiring left-hander Jayson Aquino from the Cardinals in exchange for cash considerations. Aquino has been optioned to Double-A Bowie. Aquino, 23, pitched in three organizations last summer - none of them being the Cardinals. Aquino went 5-11 with a 3.28 ERA in a career-high 24 starts between Single-A Lynchburg (Indians), Dunedin (Blue Jays) and Bradenton (Pirates). His ERA ranked 16th among high-level Single-A pitchers, and his 137 1/3...

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Tyler Wilson in prime real estate in Orioles clubhouse

April 06, 2016, 7:31pm

Orioles

The left side of the Orioles clubhouse belongs to the pitchers, the row broken up into two sections to allow access to the shower area. There's light spillage to other areas, with Ubaldo Jimenez on the opposite side and Vance Worley against the back wall, but the left dominates. To find rookie Tyler Wilson, you must go all the way to the end of the row before reaching the cafeteria. He's tucked in a corner beside Chris Tillman, a spot he wouldn't dare surrender. "Tilly's awesome," said...

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Wrapping up a 4-2 win

April 06, 2016, 7:21pm

Orioles

The Orioles have won their first two games in 2016. They just have 160 to go for that elusive undefeated season. Then come the playoffs, of course. Zach Britton recorded his 74th career save to tie Eddie Watt for seventh on the Orioles' all-time list. He ranks third among left-handers behind Tippy Martinez (105) and Randy Myers (76). Manager Buck Showalter said he's unaware of any injury to center fielder Adam Jones, who's looked uncomfortable after a couple of swings in the first two games,...

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Chris Davis hits Orioles' first home run (O's lead 4-2, Gallardo done)

April 06, 2016, 4:20pm

Orioles

The Orioles' first home run of the 2016 season came off the bat of first baseman Chris Davis. In a lineup full of candidates, Davis seemed like the safe bet. Davis' shot to straightaway center field broke a 1-1 tie in the third inning after the Twins knotted the score in the top half on Byron Buxton's leadoff double, a sacrifice bunt and Joe Mauer's sacrifice fly to medium center. Twins starter Kyle Gibson threw Davis a curveball, changeup, two-seam fastball and slider. May as well dig deep...

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Showalter on Trumbo, Kim and the new slide rules

April 06, 2016, 1:58pm

Orioles

Showalter on Trumbo, Kim and the new slide rules

Jimmy Paredes hit off a tee today as part of his progression after being restricted to taking dry swings. Paredes is on the disabled list with a bone bruise in his left wrist. Mark Trumbo will try to build on his four-hit day while returning to the cleanup spot. He sprayed the ball to all fields again on Monday. "He's shown that ability," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "He's not going to sit there and ... I know how we pitched him and I know how they're going to try to pitch him. He...

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Quick hits from the clubhouse

April 06, 2016, 12:50pm

Orioles

It didn't take long for the Orioles to make the first adjustment to their rotation. Chris Tillman will start Friday night against the Rays on three days' rest after working only two innings on opening day. Mike Wright will be pushed back to Saturday night. The Rays are starting Chris Archer, Drew Smyly and Jake Odorizzi. Manager Buck Showalter is withholding the identity of his No. 5 starter until making sure the weather doesn't impact any games this week. Brian Matusz will pitch one inning...

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Orioles lineup vs. Twins

April 06, 2016, 11:08am

Orioles

Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard is batting ninth again for tonight's game against the Twins at Camden Yards. Manny Machado continues to lead off for the Orioles and Adam Jones is batting second. Mark Trumbo is batting cleanup after collecting four hits from that spot on opening day. Orioles starter Yovani Gallardo is 6-3 with a 2.52 ERA and 10 quality starts in 16 career outings against the American League Central. He was 3-0 with a 1.03 ERA in six starts last season. Machado is the active major...

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Pitching in on tonight's game

April 05, 2016, 4:38pm

Orioles

The Orioles' eight-man bullpen should be in good shape tonight with the off-day and only Tyler Wilson working more than 1 1/3 innings on opening day. Wilson threw 38 pitches in three scoreless innings. Vance Worley and T.J. McFarland are available as long men if starter Yovani Gallardo makes an early exit against the Twins. With the Orioles needing a fifth starter on Sunday, manager Buck Showalter's selection won't be available in relief after tonight. Mychal Givens was awarded a hold on...

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Gausman progresses to simulated game, assignment at Bowie

April 05, 2016, 10:02am

Orioles

Gausman progresses to simulated game, assignment at Bowie

Kevin Gausman will pitch a two-inning simulated game Wednesday in Sarasota as he nears a return from the disabled list and his rightful place in the rotation. Gausman received a cortisone injection in his right shoulder on March 20 and has been engaged in a throwing program, expanding the distance on his throws on flat ground. He received good results from a bullpen session on Sunday and will progress to a sim game Wednesday before leaving Florida and making a start Saturday night at Double-A...

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Leftovers for breakfast

April 04, 2016, 8:14pm

Orioles

With the NCAA men's basketball tournament ending last night in such dramatic fashion, did Orioles catcher Matt Wieters experience his own one shining moment? Wieters had the walk-off single with two outs in the ninth inning in a 3-2 win over the Twins at Camden Yards. His moment came after four failed at-bats that included two strikeouts and five runners left on base. Mark Trumbo singled with two outs in the first inning and Wieters struck out. He singled with one out in the fifth and Wieters...

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Hearing from Showalter after a 3-2 walk-off win

April 04, 2016, 6:04pm

Orioles

Hearing from Showalter after a 3-2 walk-off win

The Orioles didn't want any part of free baseball today after two weather-related delays totaling 2 hours, 51 minutes. Matt Wieters delivered his eighth career walk-off hit with a two-out single in the ninth inning that scored Chris Davis and gave the Orioles a 3-2 opening day win over the Twins before 45,785 at Camden Yards. The Orioles snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Twins, the last win coming on Aug. 31, 2014 in Baltimore. They've now recorded five walk-off wins on opening day,...

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orioles spring training buck showalter chris davis chris tillman featured_sidebar joey rickard mark trumbo matt wieters opening day tyler wilson frontstory_orioles3

It's Tyler Wilson's turn on opening day (O's win 3-2)

April 04, 2016, 3:03pm

Orioles

It's Tyler Wilson's turn on opening day (O's win 3-2)

Two years ago, Tyler Wilson started against the Orioles in an exhibition game at Triple-A Norfolk. Now he's replacing their starter on opening day. No task is too daunting for Wilson, who broke camp with the Orioles for the first time. He's confident but not obnoxiously cocky. He's got swagger, but nothing that's going to offend teammates. He's easily one of the most likeable guys in the clubhouse, and he's got intangibles that keep drawing the Orioles to him. Wilson can get into trouble...

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Rickard gets first major league hit before latest delay (Wilson in relief)

April 04, 2016, 1:28pm

Orioles

Rickard gets first major league hit before latest delay (Wilson in relief)

The tarp is back on the field at Camden Yards, with time called at 5:19 p.m. We're experiencing our second delay, this one caused by actual rain. Meanwhile, the legend of Joey Rickard continues. Only the state has changed. Rickard was a spring training sensation, batting .397 to lead American League hitters in the Grapefruit League. Needing to do something special today for an encore, he stepped to the plate with two outs in the second inning and lined a single into center field. First major...

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It's opening delay at Camden Yards (game starts after 1:41 delay)

April 04, 2016, 11:21am

Orioles

It's opening delay at Camden Yards (game starts after 1:41 delay)

The opening day ceremonies are over and the tarp is on the field. Welcome to our first rain delay of the 2016 season, though we're still waiting for the first drop to fall. First pitch is on hold due to the "threat of inclement weather." No word on how long it's going to last. Just get comfortable. The starting pitchers, Chris Tillman and Ervin Santana, didn't warm up during the introductions - our first hint that we weren't starting on time. Former Orioles catcher Rick Dempsey...

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Joey Rickard, Mark Trumbo and more from Buck Showalter

April 04, 2016, 9:41am

Orioles

Joey Rickard, Mark Trumbo and more from Buck Showalter

Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard walked into the clubhouse this morning having no idea whether he'd be in the opening day lineup and where he'd bat if manager Buck Showalter included him. It wasn't until later that he found out he would start in left field at bat ninth against the Twins. The realization is slowly sinking in for Rickard that he's made the club, that he's in the majors and starting on opening day. That his professional life has undergone a significant change. "It's hard to get...

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Pregame notes and Showalter quotes before the opener

April 04, 2016, 8:29am

Orioles

Pregame notes and Showalter quotes before the opener

Left-hander Brian Matusz is scheduled to pitch at Double-A Bowie on Thursday and the Orioles want to activate him three days later. Kevin Gausman will throw a 35-pitch bullpen session on Tuesday. He will make starts covering three and five innings before coming off the disabled list. Gausman remains targeted to start on April 19. Infielder Jimmy Paredes is taking dry swings with a fungo bat. That's as far as he's progressed from his left wrist injury. Manager Buck Showalter said he considered...

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Orioles lineup vs. Twins

April 04, 2016, 6:54am

Orioles

Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard is in left field for the Orioles in their opener against the Twins today, but third baseman Manny Machado will hit leadoff. As he did for much of spring training, center fielder Adam Jones is batting second, followed by first baseman Chris Davis, right fielder Mark Trumbo and catcher Matt Wieters. Designated hitter Pedro Alvarez is hitting sixth. Chris Tillman is making his third consecutive opening day start. For the OriolesManny Machado 3BAdam Jones CFChris Davis...

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Opening days past and present

April 03, 2016, 6:09pm

Orioles

We've reached another opening day, my 20th on the Orioles beat. There's rain in the forecast, but I've covered openers in the snow. Rain isn't going to faze me. In 2003, the Indians' Ellis Burks hit a fly ball to right field in the third inning that Jay Gibbons lost in the flakes. Second baseman Jerry Hairston sprinted after the ball, knowing that Gibbons couldn't find it. First base umpire Chuck Meriweather ran up the line and ducked, unsure whether it was going to bounce off his...

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Worley and Reimold go from bubble to opening day roster

April 03, 2016, 1:32pm

Orioles

Worley and Reimold go from bubble to opening day roster

Vance Worley didn't know he made the club until noticing today that his jerseys and pants were hanging in his locker at Camden Yards. Nolan Reimold wasn't aware that he was part of the Orioles' 25-man roster until realizing that no one told him otherwise as morning turned to afternoon. The bubble guys didn't burst. Worley started Friday night's exhibition game in Philadelphia and had no idea whether the ensuing trip to Baltimore signified that he was staying for opening day. "Just trying...

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Duquette and Showalter talk about Kim, the roster and more

April 03, 2016, 12:43pm

Orioles

Duquette and Showalter talk about Kim, the roster and more

The Orioles are continuing their workout today at chilly Camden Yards, many players wearing wool caps and hooded sweatshirts. Hyun Soo Kim is on the field with his teammates after the club failed to convince him to extend his spring training in the minors. "Kim's been on the roster and we asked him to take some more time to get the at-bats that we felt he needed to show the form that he had shown in international competition," said executive vice president Dan Duquette. "It was his option....