Steve Melewski

The rebuild begins as the season resumes in Toronto

July 19, 2018, 5:33pm

Orioles

The rebuild begins as the season resumes in Toronto

With one trade down and several more likely coming, the Orioles begin the post-All-Star game portion of their schedule tonight in Toronto. It's the start of a three-game series that leads into a seven-game homestand that starts Monday night. As expected Manny Machado played his last Orioles game on Sunday when the Orioles beat Texas 6-5, their second straight win. As the season resumes tonight the Orioles are looking for three-game win streak. They have won more than two in a row just one time...

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As Machado's time as an Oriole ends, a new phase begins

July 18, 2018, 8:38am

Orioles

As Machado's time as an Oriole ends, a new phase begins

So it appears the day has finally arrived when Manny Machado is no longer an Oriole. It will be a day filled with a lot of emotions for Orioles fans. Some will be angry the team could not keep such a talent, others will be sad to lose him. Some fans may wish him well but at the same time be excited about the young talent the team acquired for Machado. The rebuilding of the Orioles has begun. The Orioles acquired five prospects from the Dodgers for about 10 weeks of Machado, a pending free agent...

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More on Machado trade and talking O's prospects with J.J. Cooper of Baseball America

July 16, 2018, 6:48pm

Orioles

More on Machado trade and talking O's prospects with J.J. Cooper of Baseball America

The Manny Machado trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers brought the Orioles a five-player return headlined by Double-A outfielder Yusniel DÃaz. The rebuilding of the Orioles has begun. Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette made some comments last night that should prove very popular with the Orioles fan base. He laid out the plan that fans have been asking about often. Duquette said more trades are likely and that, "In conjunction with that, we're also going to be making significant...

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Three years later, Branden Kline made it back to Double-A and is trending up again

July 16, 2018, 6:15pm

Orioles

Three years later, Branden Kline made it back to Double-A and is trending up again

Before this season, Orioles right-handed pitching prospect Branden Kline had not pitched in a minor league game since early in the 2015 season. Now, after missing nearly three full years, he is back, pitching well, throwing with top velocity and moving closer to realizing his dream of pitching in the majors. The 26-year-old native of Frederick, Md., and a 2009 graduate of Thomas Johnson High School, Kline had Tommy John surgery in October 2015. He expected to return close to full health for the...

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Nelson Cruz on the 2018 Orioles and more from the All-Star Game

July 16, 2018, 5:57pm

Orioles

WASHINGTON - Former Oriole Nelson Cruz is not getting older, he's getting better. OK, well, he actually is getting older, but at 38 he is an All-Star for the sixth time, and he's having another strong season. He's batting .267/.363/.538 in 81 games for Seattle with 22 homers and 55 RBIs. He hit 40 homers and drove in 108 in his one year as an Oriole, helping the team to 96 wins and an American League East division championship in 2014. That winter the Orioles offered him a three-year deal to...

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At first All-Star Game, Nick Markakis talks about family, O's and Machado

July 16, 2018, 1:43pm

Orioles

At first All-Star Game, Nick Markakis talks about family, O's and Machado

WASHINGTON - When he was an Oriole, Nick Markakis was always very cordial and available to reporters. But he certainly wasn't going to fill up any notebooks with quotes. Amid a horde of reporters today on the eve of his first All-Star Game, he referenced his reputation for being a man of few words. "There is a lot of media time, which I'm really excited about," he said, drawing a lot of laughs. "No, I get it. You guys are here for your job and we're here to take care of that for you...

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Manny Machado's All-Star break numbers are much better in 2018

July 15, 2018, 8:30pm

Orioles

Manny Machado's All-Star break numbers are much better in 2018

While the trade rumors and speculation swirls around him and his days in an Orioles uniform are likely numbered, we should take a second to appreciate how good a first-half shortstop Manny Machado has had. He's among the American League leaders in several categories and his 2018 first-half far surpasses his 2017 first-half which featured struggles and numbers unlike Machado. But he had a big first-half with the bat and that is going to provide the Orioles a chance to get a bigger haul for him...

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For Mountcastle and Wells, Futures Game was quite an experience

July 15, 2018, 4:18pm

Orioles

For Mountcastle and Wells, Futures Game was quite an experience

WASHINGTON - The two Orioles players in the All-Star Futures Game didn't have much of an impact on the final score today at Nationals Park. But after the U.S. Team beat the World Team 10-6, both Double-A Bowie third baseman Ryan Mountcastle and Single-A Frederick lefty pitcher Alex Wells were raving about their experience playing on such a big stage. Mountcastle entered the game in the fifth as a pinch-hitter for the designated hitter and went 0-for-2. Wells faced two batters from the U.S....

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Ryan Mountcastle and Alex Wells on today's Futures Game (updated)

July 15, 2018, 10:09am

Orioles

Ryan Mountcastle and Alex Wells on today's Futures Game (updated)

WASHINGTON - Today's SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game is a real showcase for some of the best talent in minor league baseball. From last year's rosters for Team USA and the World team, 23 of those players have already been on a major league roster or disabled list in 2018. The Orioles have one player on each roster today. Neither will start the game, but around midgame we could see both Double-A Bowie third baseman Ryan Mountcastle enter as a reserve for the U.S. and Single-A Frederick lefty...

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O's game blog: O's host Texas in final game before All-Star break

July 15, 2018, 7:23am

Orioles

O's game blog: O's host Texas in final game before All-Star break

The Orioles today play host to the Texas Rangers to wrap up a three-game series and an eight-game homestand. It is the final game before the All-Star break, with the All-Star Game set for Tuesday night in Washington. Texas beat the Orioles 5-4 Friday night, but the Orioles beat the Rangers 1-0 last night. The Orioles (27-69) have played five one-run games on the homestand, winning three and losing two. They are 8-17 in one-run decisions for the season. The Orioles last night improved to 8-51...

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A few notes from the Orioles' second 1-0 win of 2018

July 14, 2018, 7:14pm

Orioles

The Orioles are now 2-24 this year when they score one run or no runs. And yes, it is hard to win doing that. You pretty much have to win 1-0. In fact, you do have to win by that score, and they did last night over Texas. Right-hander Yefry RamÃrez had another strong start going the first five innings, but he didn't get the win. Reliever Brad Brach did. RamÃrez, Brach, Donnie Hart, Mychal Givens and Zach Britton teamed on a four-hitter with 12 strikeouts to give the Orioles their second...

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O's game blog: Yefry RamÃrez faces Texas, makes fourth start

July 14, 2018, 8:45am

Orioles

O's game blog: Yefry RamÃrez faces Texas, makes fourth start

The Orioles have played four one-run games among six on this current homestand, going 2-2. They lost 5-4 Friday night to Texas to start a three-game series that continues tonight at Oriole Park. Friday's loss was the fourth in five games for Baltimore, and the 10th in 12 games. The Orioles are 4-21 in their past 25 home games and are 1-16 this season versus American League West teams. They are 3-10 in July. Right-hander Yefry RamÃrez (0-3, 3.93 ERA) will make his fourth start and fifth...

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Alex Wells on Futures Game honor and his move to Frederick this year

July 13, 2018, 9:35pm

Orioles

Alex Wells on Futures Game honor and his move to Frederick this year

Orioles left-handed pitching prospect Alex Wells of the Single-A Frederick Keys had such elite command and control last year that it was almost a given that he could not duplicate that this season in moving up from the South Atlantic League to the Carolina League. But for the most part, he's handled the move up well, albeit with a couple of recent bumps in the road. But a road that has taken him from Newcastle, South Wales, Australia to the Orioles will take the 21-year-old Wells to the...

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Another rally falls short as Texas takes opener 5-4 (with quotes)

July 13, 2018, 6:19pm

Orioles

Another rally falls short as Texas takes opener 5-4 (with quotes)

During a season in which young O's lefty reliever Tanner Scott has mixed in some dominant appearances with some clunkers, the latter showed up tonight. Texas got to him for four runs in the seventh to post a 5-4 win in the series opener at Oriole Park. The Orioles (26-69) have lost four of five, 10 of 12 and 17 of their last 20 games. They are 4-21 in their last 25 home games and 14-33 for the season in Baltimore. Texas had lost five of six entering this series and was 2-9 this month before...

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O's game blog: Alex Cobb pitches Texas series opener

July 13, 2018, 2:48pm

Orioles

O's game blog: Alex Cobb pitches Texas series opener

The Orioles (26-68) host the Texas Rangers (40-54) tonight to start a three-game series that will wrap up an eight-game homestand. The Orioles are 2-3 on the homestand after splitting four games with the Yankees and losing last night to the Phillies. Texas just got swept three straight at Boston and is 2-4 on a 10-game, 11-day trip that started with a four-game split in Detroit. Texas has lost five of six and is 2-9 in July, the second-lowest winning percentage in the American League for the...

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Mancini's homer could jump-start his offense and Bowie's big comeback

July 12, 2018, 8:47pm

Orioles

Mancini's homer could jump-start his offense and Bowie's big comeback

Maybe in a previous time or on a previous day, the comeback would have been completed. But not by the 2018 Orioles, who just suffered another frustrating loss last night, 5-4 to Philadelphia. The Orioles won a pair of one-run games versus the Yankees, but lost by one Thursday night. Down 5-0, they cut that to 5-4 when Trey Mancini hit a two-run homer and Jace Peterson followed with a solo shot in the seventh. The table was set to pull out a late win. But it didn't happen as the Orioles fell to...

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Late rally falls short in one-run loss to Phils (with postgame quotes)

July 12, 2018, 5:13pm

Orioles

Late rally falls short in one-run loss to Phils (with postgame quotes)

There were some bloops that fell in and some plays not made on defense. But there was also some damage done by the opponent's No. 9 hitter. It was that kind of game for Orioles right-hander Kevin Gausman. He allowed a career-high 12 hits tonight as Philadelphia beat the Orioles 5-4 at Camden Yards. With the Orioles down 5-1 in the seventh, the O's offense showed some life when Trey Mancini hit a two-run homer to right-center off starter Nick Pivetta. Jace Peterson followed with a homer to...

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O's game blog: Orioles face the Phils in rainout makeup game

July 12, 2018, 2:01pm

Orioles

In the makeup of a rainout from May 15, the Orioles (26-67) host the Philadelphia Phillies (51-40) for one night only. The teams have played three times this year with the Phillies winning all three by scores of 4-1 in Baltimore and 3-2 and 4-1 earlier this month at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies have won eight of their last 11, which includes those two wins over the Orioles. Over a longer stretch, they are 19-10 since June 10. Their .655 winning percentage in that span ranks second in the...

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Trey Mancini spurns a reset as he tries to get his bat going

July 12, 2018, 12:18pm

Orioles

Trey Mancini spurns a reset as he tries to get his bat going

Given the chance for a reset - a few days out of the starting lineup - like we've seen Orioles manager Buck Showalter use recently with Chris Davis and Jonathan Schoop, Trey Mancini said he would rather not do that. With his average down to .220 and in a slump that has seen him go 1-for-21 over the last nine games, Mancini is back in the lineup tonight, batting eighth at first base against Philadelphia. Mancini didn't start two of the last three games. But that is enough, he said. In 88...

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O's rotation has gone seven games without a quality start

July 11, 2018, 9:35pm

Orioles

O's rotation has gone seven games without a quality start

The Orioles lost to the Yankees last night and got their latest subpar start - this one from right-hander Dylan Bundy, the seventh consecutive game in which the O's have not had a quality start. The rotation ERA is 7.99 in that stretch. Before these seven games, the O's rotation had recorded nine quality starts in 14 games and looked like it had turned a corner. But Bundy has allowed 11 runs in 7 1/3 innings in two starts since coming off the disabled list. This stretch also includes Andrew...