O's outfielder Adam Jones is struggling at bat, and the worry for fans - and for team officials as well - is that this could be more than just a slump.
It hasn't been only a series, road trip or month where Jones has been not great at bat, but all season, and his struggles date back well into last year.
This time in 2009, Jones was looking great at the plate, just like the All-Star he would soon be.
But the story has been different since the first of June last season, after Jones' torrid...
With the Orioles still unsure about the status of the Winter Meetings in early December, including the Rule 5 draft that closes out the annual event, they occupied the final spot in their 40-man roster today by claiming left-hander Cionel Pérez off waivers from the Reds.
Pérez was a highly touted pitcher out of Cuba who signed with the Astros as an international free agent on Dec. 9, 2016. Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias served as Houston's scouting...
BOSTON - Adam Jones is the designated hitter for Game 2 of today's doubleheader, and Chris Davis stays on the bench against left-hander Chris Sale.
Steve Wilkerson stays at second base and Jonathan Villar stays at shortstop. John Andreoli will patrol right field.
Jimmy Yacabonis is starting for the Orioles.
For the Orioles Cedric Mullins CF Jonathan Villar SS Trey Mancini 1B Adam Jones DH Renato Núñez 3B Joey Rickard LF John Andreoli RF Steve Wilkerson 2B Caleb Joseph C
Jimmy Yacabonis...
Adam Jones remains in center field for Game 2 of today's doubleheader against the Yankees. It's pretty much the same lineup except Craig Tatum is catching and other players have moved up a spot.
For the Orioles:
J.J. Hardy SS
Nick Markakis RF
Adam Jones CF
Vladimir Guerrero DH
Mark Reynolds 1B
Ryan Adams 2B
Nolan Reimold LF
Robert Andino 3B
Craig Tatum C
Brian Matusz LHP
NEW YORK - Dwight Smith Jr. is the Orioles' designated hitter for the nightcap of today's doubleheader, with Joey Rickard moving from center field to left and Trey Mancini staying in right.
Stevie Wilkerson is in center field.
Jonathan Villar is the shortstop and Hanser Alberto is playing second base.
Chris Davis is the cleanup hitter after batting seventh in the opening game.
For the Orioles Jonathan Villar SS Dwight Smith Jr. DH Trey Mancini RF Chris Davis 1B Stevie Wilkerson CF Rio Ruiz 3B...
He is the lefty reliever with the power arm, but inconsistent control and command. We've seen him look like the best reliever in the league and also one that had no idea where the ball is going.
But while he put together some really strong numbers during the shortened 2020 season, southpaw Tanner Scott struggled late in the 2021 season. There may have been an easy explanation for that, but until we see more of him in 2022, we just don't know for sure.
In 2020 - and, yes, it was over just 20...
The swings that show how Orioles outfielder Austin Hays is making a successful recovery from core surgery also can be done with a hammer.
Hays apologized yesterday for being late for a phone interview because he was busy working on the construction of a batting cage at his home in Orange City, Fla., which sits in the middle between Orlando and Daytona Beach.
"I have a warehouse at my house that I bought last offseason," Hays said, "and we put a net up in here and I got the turf put in two...
Questions about Cedric Mullins' 2021 season usually begin with, "Did you ever imagine that ..."
That he'd become the first player in Orioles history with 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in the same season.
That he'd make the All-Star team and start.
That he'd be a unanimous winner of the Most Valuable Oriole award.
Mark me down for no, no and no, and I say this in the comfort that I'm not alone.
Finishing in the top 10 in Most Valuable Player voting in the American League is another...
The Orioles end the 2021 season today in Toronto with the opportunity to play spoilers, keeping the Blue Jays out of the playoffs with a victory.
It's that simple.
Rookie Bruce Zimmermann is making his 13th major league start and 14th appearance, and his second since coming off the 60-day injured list. He held the Red Sox to one run and two hits over four innings on Tuesday.
Zimmermann has never faced the Blue Jays.
The Baltimore native hasn't allowed a hit in 36 consecutive two-strike...
Reliever Isaac Mattson has been recalled from Triple-A Norfolk and heads to the Orioles bullpen as they begin their final series of the year tonight in Toronto.
Mattson, acquired from the Angels in the Dylan Bundy trade, has made three appearances with the Orioles and allowed three runs and three hits in three innings, with four walks and three strikeouts.
Left-hander Alexander Wells, who held the Red Sox to one run in six innings last night, was optioned to Norfolk. He wasn't going to pitch...
The Orioles' final home game of the 2021 season will begin with rookie Alexander Wells making his 11th major league appearance and eighth start.
Wells has a 7.61 ERA and 1.745 WHIP in 36 2/3 innings. He's averaging 12.3 hits, 3.4 walks, 5.9 strikeouts and 2.2 home runs per nine innings.
Wells has completed five innings in his last two starts, allowing eight runs and 11 hits. He faced the Red Sox on Sept. 19 and surrendered five runs and six hits, with J.D. Martinez hitting a solo...
Ryan McKenna stays in left field tonight as the Orioles continue their series with the Red Sox in the penultimate home game of 2021.
Austin Hays is in right. Trey Mancini is the designated hitter.
Pat Valaika is playing second base and Richie Martin is the shortstop.
Catcher Pedro Severino has a seven-game hitting streak, one short of his career high in 2018. He's batting .385 (10-for-26) during the streak, with one double, one home run, five RBIs, three walks and two runs scored.
Rookie...
The Orioles get a four-game break from contending opponents, facing the Rangers tonight with rookie Zac Lowther on the mound and a designated hitter back in their lineup.
Trey Mancini is the cleanup hitter and DH. Anthony Santander remains out of the lineup with a sore left hamstring.
Santander ran sprints earlier today and hit in the cage.
Austin Hays is in left field and Ryan McKenna is in right. Jahmai Jones is the second baseman.
Austin Wynns is catching.
Lowther is making his ninth...
BOWIE - It is not a must-win like their game Sunday, when the season would have been over with a loss, but it's a pretty vital game for the Bowie Baysox tonight.
They host Akron in Game 2 of the Double-A Northeast Championship Series. After losing here 5-1 last night, they would be in an 0-2 series hole with a loss tonight, and heading to Akron for the rest of the series. Game 3 is set for Friday night at 6:05 p.m.
The Baysox, who tied with Akron for the most runs scored in the league in the...
The Orioles lineup for tonight's series opener in Philadelphia excludes Cedric Mullins, Trey Mancini and Ramón UrÃas.
Mancini had his first multi-RBI game yesterday since July 11 against the White Sox, but he's dealing with a sore oblique. UrÃas has been in and out of the lineup with to a sore right leg.
National League rules prevent Mancini from serving as the designated hitter.
Austin Hays, with seven RBIs in his last five games and 18 in his last 15, is leading off and playing...
The Orioles found a fresh arm for their bullpen this morning, selecting the contract of reliever Eric Hanhold from Triple-A Norfolk.
Hanhold replaces Manny Barreda, who was optioned after Game 2 of last night's stunning 11-2 loss. Barreda served up Teoscar Hernández's 445-foot, three-run homer in the Jays' 11-run seventh inning.
Matt Harvey was transferred to the 60-day injured list with right knee inflammation to make room for Hanhold on the 40-man roster. Harvey's season is...
Jorge Mateo and Ramón UrÃas are out of the lineup tonight due to their physical issues, which puts Richie Martin back in the Orioles lineup for the series opener against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards.
Martin is playing shortstop in his first game since the Orioles recalled him.
UrÃas continues to receive treatment on his right upper leg and Mateo is enduring some unspecified discomfort. Manager Brandon Hyde saw Mateo struggle to get out of the box last night and wondered if the...
Trey Mancini returns to the Orioles lineup tonight for the first time since Sunday, batting cleanup and serving as the designated hitter.
Austin Hays and Ramón UrÃas are on the bench.
DJ Stewart is in left field and batting fifth. The double play combination remains Jorge Mateo at shortstop and Jahmai Jones at second base.
Ryan Mountcastle's 26 home runs are the third-most by an Orioles rookie in a single season, trailing Cal Ripken Jr. (28 in 1982) and Eddie Murray (27 in 1977).
Hays...
Trey Mancini (oblique) and Ramón UrÃas (leg) remain out of the Orioles lineup for tonight's game against the Royals at Camden Yards.
Ryan McKenna is in center field and Cedric Mullins is the designated hitter.
Pedro Severino is batting cleanup.
Austin Hays will try to extend his hitting streak to 15 games. He's 19-for-51 (.373) with 12 RBIs, eight extra-base hits and 10 runs scored during the streak.
Mullins has homered in three consecutive games to run his team-leading total to 27....
With a six-game American League East road trip in the rear-view mirror, the Orioles begin an 11-game homestand against Kansas City this afternoon. It's the opener of a four-game series that will be followed by four games at Oriole Park versus the Blue Jays and three against the Yankees.
The Orioles beat New York 4-3 and 8-7 the last two days after losing in 11 innings on Friday. They have played four straight one-run games, going 2-2, and are 10-19 for the season in one-run games.
Left-hander...