NEW YORK - Who's ready for opener day? The Orioles are breaking out a bullpen game, as it used to be called, in the first week of the season. Three days into it. Nate Karns makes sense as a former starter who didn't exceed two innings in his spring training appearances and is handled with care after missing the 2018 season with an elbow injury. Stretch him out and he could be slotted into a more traditional role, but in the meantime, let him cover the early portion and be the first to touch...

The Orioles were among the Grapefruit League team leaders in runs, hits and stolen bases. And that doesn't mean much now, obviously, in terms of what might happen in the American League. The Orioles were held to two runs and eight hits on opening day in Thursday's 7-2 loss to the Yankees. It snapped an eight-game opening day win streak and left the Orioles with an all-time record of 43-23 in openers. The Orioles faced this quartet of pitchers in Game 1: Masahiro Tanaka, Adam Ottavino, Zack...

Even with Bryce Harper coming off the books, the Nationals entered the season with one of Major League Baseball's largest payrolls and the sport's highest-paid player for 2019. The Nationals' opening day payroll of $185 million ranks fifth in the majors, behind the Red Sox, Cubs, Yankees and Dodgers, according to the Associated Press' annual calculations. The payroll total is up slightly from last year's $180 million figure, which ranked fourth in the league at that time. Max Scherzer,...

Here are the Orioles' break-camp rosters for their four full-season minor league affiliates, plus their extended spring training team and rehabbing players. The minor league seasons begin next Thursday April 4. These are not final rosters and all teams must get down to 25 players for opening day. The final rosters will be announced possibly as late as next Thursday, hours before the opening games. Triple-A Norfolk opens at Gwinnett to start a seven-game road trip. Double-A Bowie also starts...

NEW YORK - The Orioles are conducting more minor league business on their off-day, remaining active in trying to increase the level of talent in the system. The club has announced the signing of outfielder Mason Williams to a minor league deal and the acquisition of infielder Yeltsin Gudino from the Blue Jays in exchange for cash considerations. Williams is assigned to Triple-A Norfolk and Gudino to Single-A Frederick. Gudino turned 22 in January. The native of Venezuela signed with the Blue...

The Orioles unveiled more of their plans to honor Hall of Famer Frank Robinson, the celebration of his life moving from Sarasota to Camden Yards. The club is dedicating a night to Robinson on April 6 prior to its game against the Yankees, with the ceremony beginning at 6:15 p.m. The program, entitled "A Celebration of Frank," will include a video tribute and collection of notable speakers with confirmations from fellow Hall of Famers Brooks Robinson and Jim Palmer and Orioles Hall of Famer...

In memory of Orioles Legend and National Baseball Hall of Famer Frank Robinson, the Orioles will host a celebration of life at Oriole Park at Camden Yards beginning at 6:15 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 6, prior to the 7:05 p.m. game against the New York Yankees. The program, "A Celebration of Frank," will include a video tribute and a collection of notable guest speakers to honor the memory of one of the greatest players in Orioles history. Guest speakers are subject to change but are scheduled...

The nature of the baseball schedule, especially in northern cities that require a day off following the season opener to account for weather postponements, lends itself to gross overanalyzing of Game 1 of 162. No other game all season, aside from perhaps postseason contests, gets dissected like this. But with nothing else to write or talk about for 48 hours until they take the field again, we really have no choice but to make a big deal out of every little thing that happens on opening day. So...

NEW YORK - The last visit for Richard Bleier at Yankee Stadium came on July 31 after his follow-up exam in the city. He provided a post-surgery update to the media and watched more teammates get traded at the non-waiver deadline, saying his goodbyes to pitcher Kevin Gausman and second baseman Jonathan Schoop. No one knew whether Bleier would be back for opening day. Bleier had no idea. He could only follow the steps in his rehab and hope that the work and patience would get him on the 25-man...

For the first time since the 2010 season, the Orioles lost on opening day. In their first opening day game in the Bronx since 1962, the New York Yankees scored three runs in the first inning and beat the Orioles 7-2. That snapped Baltimore's eight-game win streak in openers. A few impressions from Game 1 of 162. The defense was solid: This will need to stay this way with a lineup that appears will struggle to score runs. Run prevention will be big and the O's can't give away as many outs as...