Orioles manager Buck Showalter was hit with another rotation question today, causing him to shake his head and chuckle. Yes, it's still Wei-Yin Chen on Sunday and Kevin Gausman on Monday to close out the Twins series. Chen was in the Orioles clubhouse today after spending a few days in Sarasota. Gausman also is back in Baltimore. Showalter expressed relief that Steve Pearce's MRI didn't reveal anything more serious than a strained right abdominal muscle, though he didn't guarantee that the...

The Orioles continue to tinker with the 40-man roster. This afternoon, they outrighted infielder Cord Phelps and left-hander Suk-min Yoon off the 40-man and assigned them to Triple-A Norfolk, opening up two spots. Phelps, who was designated for assignment earlier this week when the Orioles recalled Miguel Gonzalez, hit .258 with seven homers and 49 RBIs in 97 games at Norfolk. He was 0-for-3 as a pinch-hitter with the Orioles. The Orioles signed Yoon to a three-year, $5.575 million deal in...

One night after making his Orioles debut, Jimmy Paredes is receiving his first start for them. Paredes is playing third base and batting seventh tonight while Chris Davis moves across the diamond. Steve Pearce is out of the lineup with a strained right abdominal muscle. Paredes replaced him last night. Nick Hundley is behind the plate for the Orioles, who are attempting to move a season-high 22 games above .500. For the TwinsDanny Santana CFBrian Dozier 2BJoe Mauer DHKennys Vargas 1BOswaldo...

I'm told that the MRI on Steve Pearce this morning didn't reveal an injury to his oblique or intercostal. The original diagnosis of a strained right abdominal muscle stands after a long review. The Orioles won't protest it. Pearce is considered day-to-day for now. Manager Buck Showalter will provide more information later today when he meets with reporters, but the news appears to be favorable. The Orioles already lost catcher Matt Wieters and third baseman Manny Machado to season-ending...

It is a distant memory now, but from May 21 to June 5, Chris Tillman had an ERA of 12.56 over a four-start stretch that twice included him not getting a single out in the second inning. Looking at how well Tillman is pitching now and with his current stats, it is hard to believe that actually happened. But it did. On June 5, Tillman's ERA was 5.20 and now he is 11-5 with a 3.41 ERA in 28 starts. Heading into tonight's start against Minnesota, Tillman is riding a streak of 15 straight starts...

SEATTLE - The guy on the mound had allowed more than three earned runs in a start just once all season. In that one outing, he had allowed four earned runs. The guy on the mound had a 2.07 ERA. The guy on the mound had never given up four homers in an outing. The guy on the mound is considered an overwhelming favorite for the American League Cy Young. And the guy on the mound got clobbered. Baseball is a weird game, folks. You can get stymied by an underwhelming pitcher one night, then hit the...

While wondering if I'd really get upset if someone sent me an ice cream sandwich while I was working ... I won't attempt to predict the result of Steve Pearce's MRI this morning, but as long as we don't hear "oblique" or "intercostal," it should be fine. It's been that kind of season for the Orioles. Pearce unexpectedly has emerged as one of the more valuable players on the roster and a guy who needs to stay in the lineup. I'd have to check, but I'm pretty sure the Orioles cut him...

SEATTLE - So much for that great pitchers' duel we were all expecting. The Nationals hit four of their six home runs tonight off Felix Hernandez, who entered tonight's game with a 2.07 ERA on the season and had never allowed four homers in an outing in his career, and rolled to an 8-3 win in the opener of this three-game set. Wilson Ramos homered twice, and Anthony Rendon, Jayson Werth, Ian Desmond and Bryce Harper also left the yard for the Nats, who tied a team record with those six...

For the second time in five games, the Orioles posted a 9-1 win last night. They have certainly bounced back well from the Cubs series, where they were swept three straight and scored four total runs. In five games since then, they are 4-1, outscoring their opponents 28-11. Chris Davis hit a grand slam, Delmon Young hit a disputed two-run homer and Steve Pearce got hurt. With all of that happening, it was easy to overlook Miguel Gonzalez. But there he was pitching well again for the Orioles....

The Orioles' Steve Pearce will have an MRI in the morning. He left tonight's game before the top of the fourth inning with a right abdominal strain. Pearce said it was not that painful, and he felt it could be a very short-term injury. The Orioles want to try and resolve this before it gets any worse. When did Pearce first become aware of this issue? "Yesterday," he said. "Taking some swings felt some discomfort. Was hoping it was just cramps. Felt it again today, so right now it's just...