I'll remind you of a stat I passed along in my previous entry. The Orioles were averaging 3.53 runs per game for Jake Arrieta, the third-worst total among American League starters. Arrieta has a 3-0 lead after two innings tonight. Six of the first eight batters reached against Pirates starter Kevin Correia. The Orioles collected three singles, two doubles and a walk in one inning plus three batters. Chris Davis followed J.J. Hardy's one-out single in the first inning with an RBI double...

Well, that bullpen stint for Jake Arrieta didn't last very long. With Brian Matusz's start pushed back to Friday, Arrieta will get the ball tonight, five days since his last outing when he gave up a career-high nine runs over four innings at home against Philadelphia. Here are the recent numbers on Arrieta: *He has an ERA of 13.15 over his past three starts. *Opponents are batting .328 against him in that stretch and he has pitched just 13 innings in three starts. *Over his last seven...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter explained why he pushed back Brian Matusz's start until Friday and gave the ball to Jake Arrieta tonight. "A lot of factors," he said. "We're fortunate to have somebody rested, normal day, and I just didn't want him to get out there and... He said he actually slept better than he has in a long time. I was talking to him about his breathing during the night. And then if he has a problem with it first or second inning and have to use a lot of bullpen, which...

For today at least, Orioles outfielder Endy Chavez will avoid his second trip this year to the disabled list. He suffered a strained right hamstring injury when he hit the first base bag awkwardly last night after a bunt single in the last of the sixth inning. "I feel better today but it's still sore," Chavez said. "I'm getting some treatment to see how it will respond. I don't think it's that bad." But when asked if he could play tonight, Chavez said he could not. "Not really,...

Going back over the Orioles' rotation, Jake Arrieta is starting tonight, followed by Tommy Hunter on Thursday, Brian Matusz on Friday and Jason Hammel on Saturday. Arrieta is taking Matusz's place. Manager Buck Showalter wanted to give Matusz a few more days to recover from being hit in the nose by a ball yesterday during a bunting drill. Also, Hammel will only have to pitch once in a National League ballpark, which puts less strain on his right knee. Hammel's next turn wouldn't come...

Major League Baseball and the Orioles today announced that the start time for their Saturday, July 14 game against the Detroit Tigers at Oriole Park has been moved from 7:05 p.m. to 4:05 p.m. The change in time is due to the selection of the game for broadcast by FOX. July 14 also marks the unveiling of the Jim Palmer sculpture as part of the Orioles Legends Celebration Series. The Palmer sculpture unveiling will take place at 2:15 p.m. that day, with all ballpark gates opening at 2:00 p.m. ...

Brian Matusz said he could have started tonight for the Orioles, but the decision has been made to push his start back now to Friday night in Atlanta. Matusz suffered a nose contusion yesterday here when he tried a bunt a ball and it hit him in the nose. "Yeah, pushed back to Friday," Matusz said. "I woke up this morning and felt good. I feel good enough to go, but just talked with Buck (Showalter) and we feel like it was best to give me a couple of extra days and I feel like I should be...

Wishing reliever Pedro Strop a happy 27th birthday and passing along an Orioles lineup that once again includes Brian Roberts at the leadoff spot and second base. Jake Arrieta is getting the start tonight in place of left-hander Brian Matusz, who fouled a bunt off his nose yesterday. Arrieta will work on normal rest. Matusz is still expected to pitch Friday in Atlanta, with Tommy Hunter taking the ball tomorrow night. We're waiting for official word. Matusz is taking batting practice today...

Have yourself a day, Tyler Moore. Filling in for Adam LaRoche, who is getting his first day off since May 7, Moore not only notched his first career RBI with a two-run double to left in the second inning, he also recorded his first major league homer in the fourth inning. That was a two-run shot that made it a 4-2 game. But Moore wasn't done. His next time up, the rookie crushed another ball, this one to dead center field. It landed in the tarped-off seats for another homer, giving the...

Among the fans in attendance at last night's game at Camden Yards was a gentleman who's practically become part of Brian Roberts' family. No one else outside of it talks to him more - almost on a daily basis - or has a better understanding of what the Orioles' second baseman has gone through since he suffered his first concussion late in the 2010 season. Dr. Michael Collins, director of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Sports Medicine Concussion Program, wouldn't have missed...