The Orioles start a three-game series in Seattle today, and while they mercifully miss Felix Hernandez again, they will face old friend Erik Bedard tomorrow. Of course, there are only four Orioles on the current roster who played with Bedard, so any special interest in Bedard is mostly from the fans. And it's not just interest in how well he's playing and how he'll pitch against the Orioles; seeing Bedard also reminds the fans of how far the team as come since the trade that sent Bedard to...

The five open dates in June provide more than just rest for the Orioles. They allow manager Buck Showalter and president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail to more easily practice what they preach. If you're not doing the job, we'll find someone else who will. Brad Bergesen and Chris Tillman weren't getting through the middle innings consistently. They weren't making the kind of progress expected and needed of them. It figured to be one or the other when the Orioles had to create room...

The Orioles announced after today's game that they have optioned right-handed pitcher Chris Tillman to Triple-A Norfolk. Tillman made 10 starts for the Orioles and was 2-3 with a 4.69 ERA (4.0IP, 25ER). A corresponding roster move will be announced at a later time.

With the First-Year Player Draft now just one week away, Baseball America executive editor Jim Callis is projecting the Orioles will take Oklahoma high school pitcher Dylan Bundy with the fourth overall pick. But trying to predict the draft is tricky business at best, even for someone with Callis' background. This year, he said, even the first pick is unclear right now. "Two years ago, we had the most hyped prospect and probably the best prospect in draft history in Stephen Strasburg. We...

Chris Tillman beat out Brad Bergesen for a spot in the Orioles' rotation. That victory lasted one day. Manager Buck Showalter hinted earlier today that another roster move could be coming, and it happened after the game with Tillman being optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. The Sun's Jeff Zrebiec and MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli tweeted that Chris Jakubauskas is expected to join the team in Seattle, giving Showalter another long reliever. The Orioles have five open dates on their June schedule...

When the Orioles scored four runs in the top of the fifth today it looked like the club might pick up a rare win at Oakland and give Zach Britton his first win since May 1. But the good vibes didn't last long. Josh Willingham's three-run homer capped Oakland's four-run last of the fifth off Britton as the A's regained the lead and beat the Orioles 6-4 to sweep the series. Oakland joins Cleveland and Tampa Bay as clubs that have swept the O's in a three-game series on the year. The...

I don't mean it in a good way. Zach Britton allowed a career-high six runs and 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings today before Jeremy Accardo replaced him. Britton gave up five runs on April 15 in Cleveland. He surrendered nine hits in his last start against the Royals at Camden Yards. Britton threw 97 pitches today, 57 for strikes. And once again, manager Buck Showalter is forced to go to his bullpen earlier than desired. In this series, Orioles' starters have logged 4 1/3, 5 2/3 and 5 2/3...

Outfielder Kipp Schutz of the Single-A Frederick Keys left today's game at Salem in the second inning when he was hit by a pitch in the helmet. That was according to the team's Twitter feed, which said he left the field under his own power. The initial report was that Schutz was taken out as a precaution and was not showing any ill effects from being hit and that appears to be good news. He was just promoted to the Keys from Single-A Delmarva and played his first game in the Carolina League...

The Orioles have gotten pretty good at loading the bases with no outs. This time, they did more than come away frustrated. They're taking a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the fifth. J.J. Hardy reached on an infield hit to open the fifth. Mark Reynolds grounded a single into left field and Robert Andino reached on a fielder's choice after laying down a bunt that was meant to advance two runners. Oakland starter Guillermo Moscoso tried unsuccessfully for the out at third. Felix Pie followed...

They're left-handed and their paychecks are distributed by the Orioles, but there's more to the connection between Brian Matusz and Zach Britton. Britton wouldn't have made his major league debut April 3 without Matusz going on the disabled list. The Orioles are 1-11 in Oakland since 2008. The one victory was provided by Matusz. And I seem to recall guaranteeing it. Matusz threw a bullpen session today in Oakland, the last step before making his 2011 debut Wednesday in Seattle. It...