After the Machado trade, the new players are settling in at Bowie

After the Machado trade, the new players are settling in at Bowie
BOWIE, Md. - Getting traded can be difficult for any baseball player. And for the four newest members of the Double-A Bowie Baysox, it has been. But since the Manny Machado trade that took them from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Orioles and from the west coast to the east, they are finally starting to settle in with their new organization. When Machado became a Dodger, four of the five players the Orioles acquired joined the Baysox, led by 21-year-old outfielder Yusniel Díaz from Havana,...

More rebuilding talk and some rotation stats and notes

More rebuilding talk and some rotation stats and notes
When a major league team goes through rebuilding there is some pain to hopefully get to some gain. The Orioles have the first part down. They fell 45 games under .500 last night with a loss to Boston at Camden Yards. They are 28-73 and now 42 ½ games out of first place. They are 19 games out of fourth place. In a race that seems to have captivated some fans, they are three games ahead of Kansas City for baseball's worst record and the prize that goes with that - the top draft pick in...

Kevin Gausman knocked out in fifth as Boston wins (clubhouse quotes)

Kevin Gausman knocked out in fifth as Boston wins (clubhouse quotes)
For the Orioles, the search for the quality start continues. Right-hander Andrew Cashner came one out short Sunday and right-hander Kevin Gausman appeared on his way to one tonight. But a four-run fifth inning intervened. Gausman allowed five runs over 4 2/3 innings as Boston beat the Orioles 5-3 in the start of a seven-game homestand at Oriole Park. In two starts wrapped around the All-Star break, Gausman has allowed 10 runs over 9 2/3 innings. The Orioles played Game No. 101 tonight and they...

O's game blog: The homestand begins against Boston

O's game blog: The homestand begins against Boston
After three losses in Toronto, the Orioles begin a seven-game homestand tonight. It begins with a three-game series against American League East-leading Boston. Then the Orioles will host Tampa Bay for four games. The Orioles lost by scores of 8-7, 4-1 and 5-4 in Toronto to hit the 100-game mark with a record of 28-72. They were 48-52 at this point in 2017. The Orioles have lost six of eight, 13 of 17 and 31 of their last 40. They are 16-33 at home. Second baseman Jonathan Schoop is hitting...

Renato Núñez on his chance to play third base every day for the Orioles

Renato Núñez on his chance to play third base every day for the Orioles
When Manny Machado was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday, that opened a spot on the Orioles' 25-man roster. It went to 24-year-old right-handed hitting Renato Núnez, who tonight will start his fourth game at third base since joining the Orioles on Friday in Toronto. The Orioles claimed Núnez off waivers May 13 from Texas after he had been designated for assignment by the Rangers two days earlier. He had gone 6-for-36 (.167) with Texas. The Orioles sent the Valencia,...

Is trade speculation finally wearing on the clubhouse?

Is trade speculation finally wearing on the clubhouse?
On Friday night, the Orioles trailed by five runs in the eighth. They rallied to tie the game and force a tenth inning at Toronto, only to see their defense come up short as they lost via a walk-off. Saturday a walk after the count reached 0-2 followed by an error opened the door for the Blue Jays' winning rally. Sunday the Orioles bullpen gave up a pair of two-run homers in the eighth to blow a three-run lead. Swept away again in Toronto, which yet again this year, is a house of horrors for...

Cashner on getting pulled, Brach on his struggles after loss

Cashner on getting pulled, Brach on his struggles after loss
TORONTO - The Orioles' nightmarish 2018 season continued today - on a day where it looked like they might be headed for a win. The Orioles were 23-4 this year when leading after seven innings. But a three-run advantage in the eighth inning got away, as relievers Brad Brach and Tanner Scott gave up two-run homers in the inning. Toronto stormed back to beat the Orioles 5-4 and sweep this three-game series. They lost twice in the series by one run and have gone 0-7 this season at Rogers Centre....

Blown lead: Homers in eighth rally Blue Jays to 5-4 win, sweep

Blown lead: Homers in eighth rally Blue Jays to 5-4 win, sweep
TORONTO - Seemingly headed to a win to avoid being swept in three straight by Toronto, the Orioles bullpen allowed a pair of two-run homers in the eighth today and a potential win turned into yet another loss. A 4-1 lead was lost and so was another game. Center fielder Randal Grichuk hit a two-run homer off Brad Brach in the eighth. That pulled Toronto within 4-3. Later in the inning Yangervis Solarte blasted a 97 mph Tanner Scott fastball out to left. He hit a 3-1 pitch for his own two-run...

Showalter on the lineup, bullpen and more (game update)

Showalter on the lineup, bullpen and more (game update)
TORONTO - Orioles center fielder Adam Jones is not starting today. But it has nothing to do with either an injury or a trade. When the Orioles played at Rogers Centre in June, Jones started all four games on the turf playing surface. But manager Buck Showalter didn't want him starting all three games in this series. "Just turf," he said. "He took a ball off his foot (on Friday). I figured he'd be as sore if not (more) sore today. We were contemplating (a day off) yesterday. Same with Chris...

O's game blog: Orioles need a win to avoid a sweep

O's game blog: Orioles need a win to avoid a sweep
TORONTO - The post-All-Star break portion of the Orioles schedule has not started well. With back-to-back losses in Toronto, they'll need a win today to avoid being swept in three straight. The Orioles lost four straight at Rogers Centre last month by a combined 27-11 score, although two of those losses were by a run in 10 innings. Then they lost 8-7 in 10 innings here Friday and 4-1 yesterday when they were held to five hits and didn't score after the first inning. Toronto (45-52) won...

Notes on rebuilding, a pitcher making an impression and Cashner's return

Notes on rebuilding, a pitcher making an impression and Cashner's return
TORONTO - As the Orioles look to add younger players this year and the rebuilding process really kicks in, the club may have to do even more teaching at the major league level. Young players need to keep learning and developing, even as they play and sometimes take some lumps in the major leagues. "That is one thing that has really changed in the game over the years," manager Buck Showalter said before Saturday's game. "You have do a lot more of that at the major league level because guys...

The O's talk about the inning that led to their latest loss

The O's talk about the inning that led to their latest loss
TORONTO - It was another game where the offense produced little, the defense came up short at times and the starting pitcher did just enough to lose. The Orioles and their fans have seen this more than a few times. The Orioles are 0-6 at Rogers Centre and 28-71 for the season after today's 4-1 loss to Toronto. Three unearned runs in the Blue Jays fourth were big on a day the Orioles had just five hits, went 1-for-4 with runners in scoring position and didn't score after the first inning. The...

The Orioles lose to Toronto and are 0-6 at Rogers Centre

The Orioles lose to Toronto and are 0-6 at Rogers Centre
TORONTO - For the 2018 Orioles, many of their losses have included moments where they contributed mightily to the defeat and it happened again today at Rogers Centre. Toronto scored three runs in the last of the fourth and beat the Orioles 4-1 this afternoon in front of 35,912 to take the first two games of this series. The Orioles (28-71) are 1-8 against Toronto for the season and 0-6 at Rogers Centre. After the Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the first on Adam Jones' single, the Blue Jays moved...

Showalter with more on last night's 10th inning (game update)

Showalter with more on last night's 10th inning (game update)
TORONTO - There was further discussion today with manager Buck Showalter during his pregame update today on the 10th inning here last night. With two outs and none on, shortstop Tim Beckham made an errant off-balance throw for what looked like a critical error that was actually scored an infield single. Then with two outs and two on, another grounder to the left side kicked off the glove of third baseman Renato Núñez and went under Beckham's glove as the winning run scored. It was a...

O's game blog: Right-hander Alex Cobb faces Toronto

O's game blog: Right-hander Alex Cobb faces Toronto
TORONTO - The Orioles are 1-7 against the Toronto Blue Jays this season and 0-5 at Rogers Centre. The Blue Jays have won three of those five games in walk-off fashion by one run in the tenth inning. That includes Friday's 8-7 win over the Orioles. The Orioles (28-70) are 4-7 in extra-innings games, 11-26 in games against the AL East and 12-37 on the road. While they did score seven runs last night, they went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position. Over the past 15 games, the Orioles are...

O's begin life without Manny with a tough loss at Rogers Centre

O's begin life without Manny with a tough loss at Rogers Centre
TORONTO - The so-called second half of the season - the post All-Star part - began for the Orioles in similar fashion to much of their first half. They suffered a brutal loss, one where the winning hit kicked off or under the gloves of both left-side infielders. Tim Beckham was at short and Renato Núñez at third. They couldn't make the play and Toronto produced an 8-7, 10-inning win. The Orioles are 0-5 this season at Rogers Centre and three of those losses were walk-off losses in the...

O's rally late, but fall in 10 innings at Toronto (postgame quotes)

O's rally late, but fall in 10 innings at Toronto (postgame quotes)
TORONTO - On a night where Dylan Bundy struggled, the Orioles offense finally didn't. But it still did not lead to a win. After the Orioles scored five late runs to tie this game, Toronto won 8-7 via a walk-off single in the last of the 10th. Facing lefty Paul Fry, who got the last out of the ninth and with two outs and no one on, Russell Martin got an infield hit when shortstop Tim Beckham could not make an accurate off-balance throw on a grounder on the left side. A walk followed and then...

Britton on trade talks, Machado reaction and more (updated)

Britton on trade talks, Machado reaction and more (updated)
TORONTO - Manny Machado has been traded and Orioles closer Zach Britton could be next, with multiple teams seeking relief help at a time when Britton is gaining velocity and has put together seven straight scoreless appearances. I asked Britton if he or his agent have been seeking information from the club on the state of trade talks. "Scott Boras kind of lets them do their thing," said Britton. "If there is anything important, they normally reach out. But we've had enough conversations...

Jonathan Schoop on his emotional goodbye with Manny Machado

Jonathan Schoop on his emotional goodbye with Manny Machado
TORONTO - Well we had to know that Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop would experience some big emotions since Manny Machado was traded to the Dodgers. They came up through the farm together and played so many games as Orioles together. They are the best of friends. Schoop said today he was on a brief vacation at a lake property and could not get a cell signal. But eventually he got a call and it was from Machado. After he was told of the deal, Schoop drove three hours to Machado's house...

O's game blog: The season resumes in Toronto

O's game blog: The season resumes in Toronto
TORONTO - The Orioles resume their season tonight with the start of a three-game series at Rogers Centre. The Orioles (28-69) won their final two games before the All-Star break, but are still 41 games under .500 and 39 1/2 games out of first place in the American League East. They have just one winning streak of more than two games this season and that was when they won four in a row from May 9-12. But after winning those last two games over Texas, the Orioles are 4-4 their last eight games....