The improvements in the Orioles rotation during the last road trip and John Means' ability to gut out five innings last night after a laborious first could open some doors for manager Brandon Hyde. Maybe shuffle the hand that he's been dealt. Hyde finds it much easier to rest certain relievers with fewer innings to cover. A burden finally is lifted from the bullpen, for however long it lasts. Game management is simplified. Hyde will take it. There's also the possibility that the club finally...

Left-hander John Means had another productive start for the Orioles tonight. However, it was not a long one, thanks to two lengthy plate appearances in the first inning. But Means did allow just one run over five innings tonight to get the win as the Orioles beat Toronto 4-2 to open a three-game series. While the Blue Jays (23-43) lost for the fifth game in a row and the 15th time in their last 18, the Orioles improved to 21-45. They moved to within two games of fourth-place Toronto improving...

Extending the Orioles' streak of quality starts to six tonight became a tall order for left-hander John Means after a 33-pitch top of the first inning. Making it through the fifth was now an issue. Means managed to complete five innings while continuing to impress in his rookie campaign and the Orioles claimed their fourth series opener in the last five opportunities with a 4-2 victory over the Blue Jays before an announced crowd of 12,524 at Camden Yards. The bullpen held the Jays to one run...

CHICAGO - Davey Martinez was admittedly concerned about Matt Adams' strained left oblique after Monday night's game. "Whenever it's an oblique, that's going to be days missed," the manager said following his team's otherwise uplifting 12-1 thumping of the White Sox. But today brought encouraging news about the slugger, enough to keep him from going on the injured list for now. "Actually, he's a lot better than we anticipated," Martinez said this afternoon. "He woke up today and he's...

Coming off a 2-4 road trip to Texas and Houston, the Orioles begin a six-game homestand tonight. They host Toronto to start a three-game series, with Boston following the Blue Jays to Oriole Park starting Friday. The Orioles (20-45) begin this series three games behind the Blue Jays (23-42) for fourth-place in the American League East. The Orioles continue to look for their first series win since April 22-24 against the Chicago White Sox. They have gone 0-12-1 in the past 13 series. Toronto was...

Orioles pitcher Alex Cobb will undergo surgery on his right hip later this week in Nashville that's going to close out his 2019 season after only three starts. Executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias provided a rare update on Cobb this afternoon in the home dugout during batting practice. Cobb has been attempting to rehab his lower back and hip in Sarasota. The decision was made for Cobb to visit orthopedic surgeon Dr. J.W. Thomas Byrd in Nashville. The surgery is intended to...

The Orioles today announced the signings of 20 of their 41 draft picks and also signed one undrafted free agent. The highest selection signed was fourth-round pick, shortstop Joey Ortiz out of New Mexico State. The slot amount for that pick, No. 108 overall, is $538,200. A junior, Ortiz is one of five finalists for the Brooks Wallace Award, which goes to the nation's top shortstop. He was also named the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year after batting .422/.474/.697 with 25...

CHICAGO - Matt Adams has been a big part of the Nationals resurgent lineup, which has scored an MLB-high 6.44 runs per game since May 24, so his potential loss from an oblique strain wouldn't be ideal. That said, with Howie Kendrick and Brian Dozier both red-hot at the moment, there's room for both to start on the right side of the infield most days. And Ryan Zimmerman appears to be inching closer to a return himself. So the Nats might not suffer too much if Adams ends up on the injured list...

Chris Davis returns to the Orioles lineup tonight after sitting out the last two games in Houston. He's batting eighth again. The Blue Jays are starting right-handers in all three games of the series, so Davis could stay in the lineup. Richie Martin and Keon Broxton are on the bench. Jonathan Villar is playing shortstop with Hanser Alberto at second base and Stevie Wilkerson is in center field. Anthony Santander is playing left field and batting second. Catcher Chance Sisco is in the cleanup...

CHICAGO - Anthony Rendon has an awful lot of ground to make up if he's going to even have a chance of being elected the National League's starting third baseman for the All-Star Game. Despite leading all NL third basemen in several statistical categories, Rendon currently ranks fifth at his position in the first round of balloting released today by Major League Baseball. That's the highest rank for any Nationals player so far. Brian Dozier is ninth among second basemen, with Trea Turner 10th...