Orioles lineup vs. Twins

Orioles lineup vs. Twins
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...

Pitching in on tonight's game

Pitching in on tonight's game
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...

Gausman progresses to simulated game, assignment at Bowie

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...

Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
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...

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

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,...

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

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...

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

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...

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

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...

Joey Rickard, Mark Trumbo and more from Buck Showalter

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...

Pregame notes and Showalter quotes before the opener

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...

Orioles lineup vs. Twins

Orioles lineup vs. Twins
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...

Opening days past and present

Opening days past and present
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...

Worley and Reimold go from bubble to opening day roster

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...

Duquette and Showalter talk about Kim, the roster and more

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....

Quick hits before today's workout

Quick hits before today's workout
Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette said he expects the 25-man roster to go unchanged on opening day. Last year, the Orioles designated reliever Ryan Webb for assignment and purchased catcher Ryan Lavarnway's contract after setting the roster the previous day. Duquette said the club looked at 10 or 12 available players this spring before setting its roster. Manager Buck Showalter said Xavier Avery will play center field at Triple-A Norfolk and Julio Borbon will play center field at...

Orioles set 25-man roster (updated)

Orioles set 25-man roster (updated)
The Orioles have set their 25-man roster for opening day, and it includes outfielders Hyun Soo Kim and Nolan Reimold. Xavier Avery has been reassigned to minor league camp and will report to Triple-A Norfolk. Kim wouldn't give his consent to a minor league assignment and the Orioles wouldn't cut him and eat $7 million. The bullpen currently holds eight pitchers, including Tyler Wilson and Vance Worley. Manager Buck Showalter will announce a fifth starter for the April 10 game against the...

Spring training stars, the roster and the menu

Spring training stars, the roster and the menu
The games that don't count have ended. The Orioles are working out today at Camden Yards and opening the 2016 season on Monday afternoon against the Twins. With so much angst over the Hyun Soo Kim situation and the rotation, let's pause to reflect on pitcher Dylan Bundy and shortstop J.J. Hardy getting through camp healthy and productive. Those are important achievements. We haven't been given a firm innings limit for Bundy out of the bullpen. Manager Buck Showalter indicated that Bundy...

More thoughts on the roster

More thoughts on the roster
Hunter Harvey has been playing catch at the Orioles' minor league complex while recovering from a mild groin strain. He's feeling much better and it shouldn't be too long before he's back on the mound. Harvey was forced out of Tuesday's start at Twin Lakes Park in the third inning. He hasn't pitched since 2014 due to a strained right flexor mass. And that's how I start off your morning with good news. The Orioles' camp roster is down to 29 players and we know that pitchers Kevin Gausman...

Orioles whittle down spring training roster to 29 players

Orioles whittle down spring training roster to 29 players
The Orioles made eight cuts tonight that put their opening day roster into sharper focus, unless they make any other changes before Sunday's deadline. It's still possible. The Orioles reassigned pitchers Todd Redmond and Pedro Beato, infielders Paul Janish and Steve Tolleson, and outfielder L.J. Hoes to minor league camp. They also optioned catcher Francisco Pena and confirmed that pitchers Chaz Roe and Zach Phillips cleared waivers and were outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk. With these moves,...

Orioles lineup vs. Phillies

Orioles lineup vs. Phillies
Hyun Soo Kim isn't in the Orioles lineup for tonight's exhibition finale against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard is playing left field and batting ninth. Manny Machado is leading off. Adam Jones continues to bat second. Mark Trumbo is batting cleanup and shortstop J.J. Hardy moves up to sixth. For the Orioles Manny Machado 3B Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Mark Trumbo RF Pedro Alvarez DH J.J. Hardy SS Jonathan Schoop 2B Caleb Joseph C Joey Rickard LF Vance Worley...