McFarland also an injury concern today in 8-7 loss

McFarland also an injury concern today in 8-7 loss
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Reliever T.J. McFarland exited today's game with tenderness in his left elbow, manager Buck Showalter revealed after the Orioles' 8-7 loss to the Red Sox at JetBlue Park. McFarland came out a few pitches earlier than planned after allowing two runs and five hits in 1 1/3 innings. He also walked two batters. "Mac had a little tender elbow there at the end," Showalter said. "I took him out a little early of his pitch count. We've got to check into that and see what's...

Ozzie Martinez leaves game with injury

Ozzie Martinez leaves game with injury
FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Orioles are losing again today and another player came off the field with an injury. Double-A shortstop Ozzie Martinez collided with second baseman Garabez Rosa while trying to field a bouncer from the Red Sox's Travis Shaw in the bottom of the sixth inning. Martinez ranged beyond the bag and appeared to get hit in the head by Rosa's elbow. Martinez stayed face-down in the dirt as athletic trainer Patrick Wesley rushed onto the field. Rosa stood nearby. Martinez...

Mike Wright talks about his second exhibition start (O's lose 8-7)

Mike Wright talks about his second exhibition start (O's lose 8-7)
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Red Sox 8, Orioles 7 Recap: Mike Wright allowed two runs and four hits in two innings. Christian Walker had a two-run double in the first off Clay Buchholz and L.J. Hoes followed with an RBI single. Reimold walked with the bases loaded in the second after Jorge Marban replaced Buchholz. Oliver Drake pitched a scoreless third, but T.J. McFarland gave up two runs and five hits in 1 1/3 innings. Chaz Roe allowed two runs in the sixth that broke a 4-4 tie, and shortstop...

Game update and notes on Tillman, Wilson, Beliveau, Paredes and Rickard

Game update and notes on Tillman, Wilson, Beliveau, Paredes and Rickard
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Christian Walker delivered a two-out, two-run double today in the top of the first inning and L.J. Hoes followed with an RBI single. The Orioles are jumping on Clay Buchholz early, tagging him with three unearned runs. Ryan Flaherty walked with one out, Nolan Reimold reached on an error and they executed a double steal. Hyun Soo Kim struck out on a pitch in the dirt, making him 0-for-14 with two strikeouts, but Walker and Hoes delivered in the clutch. Walker is 4-for-10 with...

A few pitching notes before today's game

A few pitching notes before today's game
FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Orioles are taking batting practice back in Sarasota this morning after playing a night game. The bus is far behind the beat writers who drove to JetBlue Park. Mike Wright is starting today, and other pitchers on the trip include Dylan Bundy, Brad Brach, T.J. McFarland, Chaz Roe, Oliver Drake, Chris Jones, Andy Oliver, Joe Gunkel and David Hess. Reserves include infielders Trey Mancini, Ozzie Martinez, Adrian Marin, Garabez Rosa and Drew Dosch, outfielders Dariel Alvarez,...

Orioles and Red Sox lineups

Orioles and Red Sox lineups
SARASOTA, Fla. - Hyun Soo Kim makes another start in left field today, searching for his first hit as the Orioles play the Red Sox in Fort Myers. Kim is 0-for-13 in Grapefruit League games. Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard is starting in center field. Nolan Reimold, in his first road game, will serve as the designated hitter. For the Orioles Joey Rickard CF Ryan Flaherty 2B Nolan Reimold DH Hyun Soo Kim LF Christian Walker 1B L.J. Hoes RF Francisco Pena C Paul Janish SS Steve Tolleson 3B Mike Wright...

Andrew Triggs waiting for his next chance to impress

Andrew Triggs waiting for his next chance to impress
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles hit the road again today, returning to Fort Myers to face the Red Sox, before playing back-to-back home games. They can't seem to get enough of I-75. Mike Wright will make his second spring start after holding the Braves to one hit over two scoreless innings in Lake Buena Vista. Andrew Triggs will return to the mound in a few days, confident that he'll produce better results after Friday's rough outing in Dunedin. The Blue Jays hit three home runs in the fourth...

Wrapping up a 10-6 loss

Wrapping up a 10-6 loss
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles were outscored 23-8 today while losing both split-squad games to the Twins in Fort Myers and the Rays at Ed Smith Stadium. Now comes the glass that's half full. "The guys that look like they've got a chance to be on our club are pitching well. That's good to see," said manager Buck Showalter. "Zach (Britton) threw the ball well again. What did he give up, five or six groundballs? Darren (O'Day) made his first appearances. (Pedro) Beato's thrown the ball...

Game update and comments from Kevin Gausman (O's lose 10-6)

Game update and comments from Kevin Gausman (O's lose 10-6)
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Rays 10, Orioles 6 Recap: Kevin Gausman allowed one hit and struck out three batters in two scoreless innings. He threw 20 of 31 pitches for strikes. Todd Redmond was charged with four runs and Jon Keller with three. Zach Britton, pitching the seventh, allowed one run and three hits. Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard had two doubles, an RBI and an outfield assist. Manny Machado reached on an error and had an RBI single. Need to know: Gausman's fastball topped out at 96 mph,...

Notes on Nolan Reimold and Parker Bridwell before tonight's game

Notes on Nolan Reimold and Parker Bridwell before tonight's game
SARASOTA, Fla. - Nolan Reimold sat at his locker this afternoon, a cup of coffee in his hand and a few members of the Orioles beat crew gauging his excitement over starting in right field for the split-squad game against the Rays. It barely registered. The low-key personality didn't change, even with his first spring appearance in the outfield. Manager Buck Showalter has chosen to bring Reimold along slowly, using him as the designated hitter Wednesday in Sarasota, when he singled, walked and...

Brian Matusz on lower-back injury (updated)

Brian Matusz on lower-back injury (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - If the doctors are correct in their estimations, Orioles reliever Brian Matusz should be able to resume full activities within one to two weeks following an MRI on his lower back. Matusz has been diagnosed with a strained serratus muscle, an area located on the lower right side of his back. Full activity is defined as "being able to get back on the mound and pitch," Matusz said today. "Obviously, we're going to be cautions, and obviously the goal is to be ready for the...

Orioles and Rays lineups for tonight's split-squad game in Sarasota (updated)

Orioles and Rays lineups for tonight's split-squad game in Sarasota (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Nolan Reimold makes his outfield debut tonight in a split-squad game against the Rays at Ed Smith Stadium. Reimold is starting in right field and Mark Trumbo is serving as the designated hitter. Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard is playing left field while Hyun Soo Kim starts against the Twins in Fort Myers. Kevin Gausman is on the mound for the Orioles, who also are listing pitchers Zach Britton, Darren O'Day, Mychal Givens, Todd Redmond, Dale Thayer, Jon Keller and Rich...

Orioles and Twins lineups

Orioles and Twins lineups
SARASOTA, Fla. - Hyun Soo Kim is on the road again today, starting in left field in a split-squad game against the Twins in Fort Myers. Byung Ho Park, also from South Korea, is serving as the Twins designated hitter this afternoon. They haven't faced each other since the KBO playoffs in October. Kim is hitless in nine at-bats this spring. He's starting for the fourth time in five games. The Orioles lineup also includes catcher Caleb Joseph and first baseman Christian Walker. Dariel Alvarez is...

Despaigne gets second chance to make an impression

Despaigne gets second chance to make an impression
SARASOTA, Fla. - There's no doubt that Ubaldo Jimenez would like a do-over after his first exhibition start on Wednesday, but what about Odrisamer Despaigne? Almost forgotten is how Despaigne followed Jimenez to the mound and allowed three inherited runners to score and two of his own in a 11-4 loss to the Braves at Ed Smith Stadium. Despaigne was charged with two runs and three hits, with three walks, in 1 2/3 innings. No one is overreacting to a single spring training appearance, and that...

Wrapping up a 4-3 loss (updated)

Wrapping up a 4-3 loss (updated)
DUNEDIN, Fla. - My rental SUV got a flat tire in Clearwater, causing me to arrive here less than an hour before first pitch, I'm headed to the airport to exchange vehicles and express my disappointment with the agency. Before I pack up, I'll pass along some comments from manager Buck Showalter following the Orioles' 4-3 loss to the Blue Jays, which lowered their exhibition record to 0-3-1. The outcome became official after Steve Tolleson struck out on three pitches from Chad Jenkins to...

Game update and Vance Worley on today's outing (Orioles lose 4-3)

Game update and Vance Worley on today's outing (Orioles lose 4-3)
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Blue Jays 4, Orioles 3 Recap: Mark Trumbo singled and homered in his first two at-bats as the designated hitter. Vance Worley tossed two scoreless innings, with one walk and one strikeout. Andrew Triggs allowed four runs in 1 2/3 innings, including solo homers by Russell Martin, Justin Smoak and Dalton Pompey in the fourth. Oliver Drake retired all three batters he faced and Chris Jones struck out two in 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Christian Walker had a triple, walk and...

Injury, pitching and game updates

Injury, pitching and game updates
DUNEDIN, Fla. - An MRI on Jimmy Paredes' left wrist this morning revealed a bone bruise. He'll continue to wear a plastic cast for an undetermined length of time. Manager Buck Showalter said it will "be a while" before Paredes is cleared to play. "He's real sore," Showalter said. Asked whether Paredes is done for the spring, Showalter replied, "I wouldn't say that yet." Showalter said Brian Matusz has been diagnosed with a strained serratus muscle on the lower right side of his back....

Jimmy Paredes on his wrist injury (plus Blue Jays lineup)

Jimmy Paredes on his wrist injury (plus Blue Jays lineup)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Jimmy Paredes tried to force a smile this morning while talking to reporters at his locker, but the disappointment over his latest injury kept pushing to the surface. Paredes began last season on the disabled list with a strained lower back, and now he's wearing a plastic cast on his left hand today after spraining his wrist. An X-ray taken last night confirmed the injury. "That's what they said, but I don't know how long it will take for me to be ready," Paredes said....

Paredes update and today's lineup

Paredes update and today's lineup
SARASOTA, Fla. - The X-ray on Jimmy Paredes' left wrist last night confirmed that he suffered a sprain after attempting a diving catch in the second inning in Port Charlotte. Paredes is wearing a plastic cast on his hand and said he's unsure how long he'll be sidelined. Jonathan Schoop is starting at second base for the Orioles in today's game against the Blue Jays in Dunedin. Mark Trumbo is the designated hitter. For the Orioles Joey Rickard CF Jonathan Schoop 2B Mark Trumbo DH Christian...

A few thoughts on Jimmy Paredes and Brian Matusz

A few thoughts on Jimmy Paredes and Brian Matusz
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will send another batch of reserves and minor leaguers on the road today with their 1:05 p.m. game against the Blue Jays in Dunedin. Only the short straws board the bus. Hyun Soo Kim will stay back for the first time, challenging manager Buck Showalter to come up with enough "starters" to satisfy the league office. Meanwhile, is it really the league office's business how a manager prepares his club for the regular season and chooses to evaluate the talent on his...