BOSTON - The Red Sox put a catcher at second base today. Their starting pitcher worked an inning in relief two days ago. Their Gold Glove center fielder has the flu. Their left fielder fouled a ball off his foot yesterday and couldn't play. If the Orioles had a game screaming for them to win, this was it. They still had to go out and earn it. And without their manager for the last four innings. Dan Straily allowed only one run over five innings, Dwight Smith Jr. had a two-run homer and two-run...

BOSTON - Alex Cobb is scheduled to throw live batting practice Tuesday afternoon at Tropicana Field and could come off the injured list to make Friday night's start against the Twins at Camden Yards. Cobb played catch over the weekend without any issues related to his lumbar strain. He's eligible to return from the IL on Tuesday but the Orioles are pushing him back to reduce the chances of a setback. They aren't going to rush Cobb or anyone else, and especially in the middle of April. Nate...

BOSTON - The Orioles conclude their four-game series in rainy Boston this morning with Dwight Smith Jr. back in the lineup in left field after being a late scratch yesterday due to a sore right leg. Chris Davis is playing first base and Cedric Mullins is batting ninth as the center fielder. Jonathan Villar leads off again today. Jesús Sucre is catching Dan Straily. For the Orioles Jonathan Villar 2B Trey Mancini RF Dwight Smith Jr. LF Rio Ruiz 3B Renato Núñez DH Chris Davis 1B ...

After allowing three runs in the first three innings Sunday, right-hander Max Scherzer prevented the Pirates from scoring again under his watch. Pittsburgh went five innings without scoring another run because Scherzer switched up his sequencing, focusing more on employing his curveball, thanks to suggestions from pitching coach Derek Lilliquist and catcher Yan Gomes. "I think it was more when I kind of sat there with Yan and Lilly and thought we just needed to start throwing more...

New Orioles right-hander Dan Straily, signed by the team on April 5, has certainly struggled in his first two appearances with the team. He is 0-1 with a 19.29 ERA after allowing 10 runs over 4 2/3 innings. In his first Baltimore appearance, he gave up five runs in 1 1/3 in relief versus the Yankees. Then in a start last Wednesday versus Oakland, he allowed five runs and eight hits over 3 1/3 innings. Opponent batters have produced a slash line against him of .500/.536/1.077, going 13-for-26,...

BOSTON - The Orioles conclude their four-game series against the Red Sox this morning, reminded again that a baseball season isn't the only marathon. Dan Straily will try to build off his first Orioles start, a cumbersome process given his unexpected release by the Marlins in late March and an idle stretch that broke his rhythm. Straily is learning that Alex Cobb can be a handy resource. Cobb missed most of the 2018 spring training because he stayed on the free agent market until signing his...

As the Orioles are looking for some solid starting pitching - they don't have a quality start over their last 11 games - John Means provided an encouraging outing on Sunday at Boston. Means went five innings, allowing four hits and one run with one walk and three strikeouts in Boston's 4-0 win. He took the loss and is now 1-2 but has a 1.98 ERA over five outings. In 13 2/3 innings on the season, he has walked four and fanned 13. Means threw 82 pitches Sunday, averaging 91.5 mph on his 50...

Right-hander Max Scherzer went eight strong innings to keep the Nationals in the game, but a late clutch base hit by Jason Martin helped the Pirates to a 4-3 victory and a series win at Nats Park. Scherzer allowed only three runs on seven hits, struck out seven with one walk. He fired 98 pitches, 71 for strikes in finishing eight innings. Pittsburgh's Josh Bell continued a big series, going 2-for-3 with two doubles, three runs and two RBIs. He is batting .378 over the last 10 games. It was...

BOSTON - John Means gave the Orioles five innings today. Gave them a gritty effort with easy stretches, one jam escaped and minimal damage in another. Gave them reasons to consider him for a longer stay in the rotation. Alex Cobb is expected back next weekend, leaving Means to wonder how he's going to be handled. He'll let the people above his pay grade make the decision. Means complicated it by holding the Red Sox to one run in his second major league start, the deficit too much for the...

The Pirates pulled off a rare feat in the first inning, connecting on three hits for two early runs against right-hander Max Scherzer. In his first three starts, Scherzer had allowed two or fewer earned runs in two of those games. Josh Bell had an RBI double and Colin Moran dropped in a run-scoring single. The Nationals quickly got on the board in the bottom of the first against right-hander Jameson Taillon. Adam Eaton led off with a single and stole second base. Howie Kendrick continued his...