I'll pass along new reliever Willie Eyre's uniform number as soon as I get it. That will be my first order of business today. With Chris Tillman optioned last night, the Orioles will need a starter for Tuesday's game in Oakland after Tommy Hunter takes the mound for the series-opener on Monday. Brian Matusz would be working on normal rest and he's coming off his finest outing of the year. He would be the obvious replacement unless team officials want him to stay down a little longer....

Brad Bergesen replaced ineffective starter Chris Tillman in the third inning and gave the Orioles a fighting chance. Bergesen shut out the White Sox on two hits over 4 1/3 innings, with one walk and no strikeouts. He threw 48 pitches, 33 for strikes. In his previous outing, Bergesen held the Blue Jays to one run and three hits over three innings, with no walks and four strikeouts. Add it up, and he's allowed one run and five hits over his last 7 1/3 innings, with one walk and four...

Orioles minor league pitcher Dan Klein tried to throw twice recently and is still having discomfort with his right shoulder. He is going to head back to see Los Angeles Angels physician, Dr. Lewis Yocum on Monday. Klein has a SLAP tear in his right labrum and the Orioles third-round draft pick in 2010 out of UCLA has not pitched since June first for Bowie. The 23-year-old right-hander began this year at Single-A Frederick and went 0-1 with a 1.15 ERA in seven games over 15 2/3 innings. After...

We already knew the Orioles would not win this series against Chicago, after they had lost the first two games of a four-game series. Now that they are trailing 6-3 in the fifth, they have an uphill battle to even tie this series. A loss tonight would mean the Orioles will have lost 10 of their last 11 series and split one other, since taking two of three from the Reds June 24-26. They split four games coming out of the All-Star break here against Cleveland, but would have lost every other...

The Orioles are trying to get back into this game. J.J. Hardy singled with two outs in the third inning to score Nolan Reimold, who reached on a ground-rule double, and Nick Markakis followed with his 100th career home run. The ball landed on the flag court in right field. Estimated distance: 368 feet. White Sox 6, Orioles 3 Markakis' last home run came July 24 against the Angels. Left-hander Mark Buehrle retired the first seven batters before Reimold's double. That's two straight hits...

In his last start, Chris Tillman held the Blue Jays to two runs and four hits over seven innings in a 6-2 victory at Camden Yards. In tonight's start, the first five White Sox's batters strung together a single, home run, double, double and double. So much for building momentum. Tillman was down 4-0 before recording his first out on his 20th pitch of the inning, getting a ground ball from Alex Rios that was met with a sarcastic ovation from fans. Adam Dunn walked, but Tillman struck out...

J.J. Hardy continues to hit home runs at a pretty amazing pace. He now has 21 on the year and that is tied for 11th best in the AL with teammate Adam Jones. Mark Reynolds, by the way, is tied for fourth, with 26. Hardy is second in the majors in homers by a shortstop to Colorado's Troy Tulowitzki, who has hit 23. But while Tulo averages a homer every 19.0 at-bats, Hardy has hit one every 15.95 at-bats. His 21 homers are the most by an AL East shortstop since Miguel Tejada hit 24 for the...

The Orioles apparently are on the verge of purchasing reliever Willie Eyre's contract from Triple-A Norfolk. Eyre isn't heading to Baltimore at this moment, but I'm anticipating another roster move within the next day or two. Update: The Orioles could announce Eyre's promotion after tonight's game or before tomorrow's series-opener against the Tigers. The club could choose to send down a reliever or a position player. Third baseman Josh Bell, whose playing time is limited again with...

With four days to go until the deadline to sign this year's draft picks, the Orioles do not have deals with top pick Dylan Bundy, second round pick Jason Esposito or sixth-round pick Nicky Delmonico. That is not unusual and if they sign one or all three, it could go down to the final day and often does. I asked Orioles manager Buck Showalter today if he had talked recently with scouting director Joe Jordan and had gotten any sense of what might happen over the next few days? "Joe had...

No matter how hard the media tries, manager Buck Showalter is not going to provide a timetable for left-hander Brian Matusz's return to the Orioles. Showalter said it wouldn't be "shocking" if Matusz was recalled before rosters expand on Sept. 1, but he's not looking to heighten expectations and place additional pressure on the young southpaw. "If everybody feels like he's ready to come back, he will," Showalter said. Matusz tossed a five-hit shutout today at Triple-A Norfolk, and...