SARASOTA, Fla. - Christian Walker is serving as the designated hitter tonight when the Orioles travel to Tampa for a 6:35 p.m. game against the Yankees.
Mark Trumbo is starting at first base. Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard is atop the order and playing center field.
Jonathan Schoop is batting second and Manny Machado is third.
Miguel Gonzalez needs a strong outing tonight. He's allowed 14 runs and 18 hits in 5 2/3 innings over three starts, with four walks and three strikeouts.
The Yankees are his...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles haven't posted their lineup for tonight's trip to Tampa. However, packed bags in front of lockers provide clues.
Manny Machado, Mark Trumbo, Jonathan Schoop and Dylan Bundy are hitting the road. Hyun Soo Kim and Pedro Alvarez are staying back at the complex for an early workout.
Kim is 6-for-37 this spring, but he's collected six hits in his last 14 at-bats.
"I think that I'm having better at-bats," Kim said through interpreter Danny Lee. "I've freed my mind...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Mark Trumbo started in right field again last night and handled both fly balls hit in his direction in a 4-1 victory over the Twins. The early camp misplays haven't been repeated.
Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette, appearing last night on the "Hot Stove Show" on 105.7 The Fan, said he's been "encouraged" by what he's seen from Trumbo in right.
"He's worked hard on his first step, which is something that was a priority for our instructors when we came in...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will make at least two cuts on Friday as they continue to whittle down their spring roster.
Dale Thayer struck out the side in the ninth inning tonight to seal the Orioles' 4-1 victory over the Twins.
The Orioles are 4-12-3 heading into Friday night's game in Tampa.
Mike Wright tossed five scoreless innings, the first Orioles starter to get past the fourth.
"He was good, huh?" said manager Buck Showalter. "Pitching in a normal condition game and attacking the...
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP
Score: Orioles 4, Twins 1
Recap: Adam Jones broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth inning with his third home run, a no-doubter to left field on an 0-2 pitch. Jones had an RBI double in the sixth, and Mark Trumbo delivered an RBI single. Mike Wright became the first Orioles starter to work into the fifth. He tossed five scoreless innings, allowing four hits and striking out two. Brad Brach pitched out of a jam in the sixth by getting a strikeout and double play....
SARASOTA, Fla. - Mike Wright allowed two one-out singles in the top of the first inning tonight, got a double play grounder and settled into a nice groove.
Wright retired nine Twins in a row before back-to-back singles put him in a jam in the fourth. Byung Ho Park fouled out to first baseman Chris Davis, who made a nice catch near the stands.
Kevin Gausman was the only Orioles starter to work four innings. Wright completed five tonight, allowing four hits and walking none. He struck out...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles lost their afternoon split-squad game to the Red Sox, 9-5 in Fort Myers. They're 3-12-3 heading into tonight's game against the Twins at Ed Smith Stadium.
It's more important that Christian Walker hit a three-run homer and Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard singled, doubled, walked and stole a base.
The roster could hold both players on opening day. Rickard has to remain with the Orioles all season or be placed on waivers and, if unclaimed, offered back to the Rays. Walker...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Jimmy Paredes said his left wrist feels much better, the plastic brace no longer worn, and he hopes to swing a bat within a week.
Paredes would be taking dry swings instead of facing live pitching, but it's a start.
Up to this point, he's only been cleared to swing with his right hand since an MRI didn't reveal any broken bones in the wrist, which he injured while diving for a ball on March 3 in Port Charlotte.
"It's doing pretty well," he said. "Every day it's getting...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are sending out their regulars for tonight's split-squad game against the Twins at Ed Smith Stadium.
Adam Jones is batting second. Mark Trumbo is in right field and Pedro Alvarez is the designated hitter.
Caleb Joseph is catching while Matt Wieters continues his recovery from right elbow soreness.
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 Hyun Soo Kim LF Caleb Joseph C
Mike Wright...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard is leading off again today for the Orioles in their split-squad game against the Red Sox in Fort Myers.
Rickard is in center field, with Nolan Reimold in left and Dariel Alvarez in right.
Christian Walker is playing first base.
For the Orioles Joey Rickard CF Nolan Reimold LF Christian Walker 1B Alfredo Marte DH Dariel Alvarez RF Francisco Pena C Paul Janish SS Steve Tolleson 3B Ryan Flaherty 2B
Vance Worley RHP
For the Red Sox Brock Holt 2B Rusney...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have split-squad games today against two familiar spring opponents, playing the Red Sox at 1:05 p.m. in Fort Myers and the Twins at 7:05 p.m. in Sarasota.
Vance Worley and Mike Wright are starting for the Orioles. Worley is out of minor league options and especially needs results each time he toes the rubber.
Worley tossed two scoreless innings on March 4 against the Blue Jays and March 13 against the Twins. He allowed three runs and five hits in two innings against...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard hit his first spring home run this afternoon to cap the scoring in the Orioles' 9-3 win over the Pirates.
The kid also played a smooth center field after replacing Adam Jones. He really does look like a keeper.
Hyun Soo Kim collected two hits and is now 5-for-34 this spring, with one walk and two hit by pitches. He has five hits in his last 10 at-bats and he's reached base in eight of his last 16 plate appearances.
"I talked to him a little yesterday...
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP
Score: Orioles 9, Pirates 3
Recap: Jonathan Schoop hit a game-tying three-run homer in the fifth and J.J. Hardy stroked a go-ahead RBI double in the sixth. Christian Walker hit his team-leading third home run, also giving him a team-high 11 RBIs. Kevin Gausman tossed three scoreless innings before Andrew McCutchen hit a two-run homer in the fourth and Cole Figueroa lifted a sacrifice fly. Gausman allowed three runs and four hits, walked one and struck out three. Dylan Bundy...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles didn't allow any runs in the first inning today for only the fifth time in 17 spring games.
Kevin Gausman surrendered a two-out single to Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen, but he retired Starling Marte on a line drive to third baseman Manny Machado. He threw 12 pitches, seven for strikes.
Gregory Polanco worked Gausman for 10 pitches leading off the second before flying out. Gausman's fastball hit 95 mph on the stadium gun for the first time this...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Renowned orthopedist Dr. James Andrews examined Matt Wieters' MRI and concurred with team physicians who said there were no signs of structural damage.
More good news for the Orioles, who held obvious concerns about Wieters after he exited Saturday's game with right wrist soreness.
Left-hander Brian Matusz could get into a game this weekend after being sidelined with a strained muscle in his lower back. He hasn't pitched since making his only appearance on March 2.
Manager...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Left-hander T.J. McFarland is listed among the Orioles' available relievers today. McFarland hasn't pitched since leaving a March 6 game against the Red Sox with elbow discomfort. X-rays came back negative.
Other relievers behind starter Kevin Gausman are Dylan Bundy, Pedro Beato and Oliver Drake.
Pirates pitchers today include Arquimedes Caminero, Montana DuRapau, Dovydas Neverauskas and ... Josh Smith.
One of these things is not like the other.
The Pirates also are bringing...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Pedro Alvarez has moved up to second in the order today as the Orioles face his former team, the Pirates, at 1:05 p.m. at Ed Smith Stadium.
This is the fourth straight game for Alvarez, who's serving as the designated hitter.
Hyun Soo Kim is in left field and Mark Trumbo is in right.
Caleb Joseph is catching today. Matt Wieters said his elbow continues to feel better each day, though he's not throwing or swinging a bat in order to speed up his recovery.
Wieters is performing...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The assumptions that the Orioles' five starters are set beyond determining the order have been shattered after yesterday's game against the Blue Jays in Dunedin.
Manager Buck Showalter delivered the quote heard 'round the rotation when he told the media, "There's some competition here that people haven't grasped."
We get it now.
Orioles starters have allowed first inning runs in 12 of 16 games. Miguel Gonzalez has a minor league option and two poor outings in three...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Left-hander Brian Matusz indicated that his back responded favorably after yesterday's bullpen session, his first since being shut down with a strained muscle in his lower back.
"It was good," he said. "I threw about 25 pitches and felt good."
Matusz has worked only one inning this spring, on March 2 against the Braves. He's been eager to resume throwing, but also understanding that he couldn't rush it and risk a setback.
The next step is for Matusz to follow up with...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles catcher Matt Wieters said he "couldn't be more excited" about the results of yesterday's MRI on his right elbow.
The MRI didn't show any structural damage to the elbow, which became sore after he made a throw to second base in the first inning of Saturday's game against the Twins in Sarasota.
"MRI results look great," Wieters said this morning after summoning reporters to his locker with a playful, exaggerated wave of his arm. "Now it's a matter of just...