Brad Bergesen will make his fourth appearance and third start of the new season tonight versus the New York Yankees here at Camden Yards. Bergesen said this week he continues to work on his sinking fastball and perfecting the pitch that was a key reason he went 7-5 with a 3.43 ERA over 19 starts in 2009. He said that last year he struggled so much with the sinker that he turned more to his four-seam fastball as the year went on. Now he wants to get back to being more of a sinkerball pitcher...

Chris Tillman says he's felt good for a few days after making a couple plays in the field during his last start that caused discomfort in his right groin, but the Orioles are being cautious and skipping him in the rotation until next Saturday. Tillman is available to pitch in relief tonight, but only if manager Buck Showalter has to use him. "I can't pinpoint an exact time, but it happened during the last game (Monday) around the second inning," Tillman said. "There were a few things...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter pointed out today how hard players like Derrek Lee and Nick Markakis are working behind the scenes to get out of batting slumps. He knows fans are wondering when his No. 2 and No. 3 hitters will get it going. Markakis is batting .203 over 18 games with two homers, two doubles, six RBIs and a .327 slugging percentage. So how is Markakis feeling about his swing right now? "I've got mixed emotions about it," he said. "I'm definitely not where I want to be,...

Whatever you called him - Mr. Mayor, Governor, Hizzoner, Willie Don, Don or Mr. Schaefer - William Donald Schaefer, who passed away at 89 last week, wasn't some egomaniacal politician who craved the spotlight at the expense of the people who voted him into office. Truth be told, Schaefer was never really comfortable in the spotlight and eschewed being the center of attention, though he often drew it. That well-publicized dip in the seal pool at the National Aquarium? Look carefully and you...

As expected, the Orioles will send left-hander Brian Matusz to Sarasota next weekend while they embark on a two-city road trip that begins Friday in Chicago. Matusz will throw from 120 feet tomorrow and throw bullpen sessions here on Tuesday and Thursday. He'll pitch in an extended spring training game in Sarasota, and will require at least three starts on his injury rehab assignment, placing his projected return to the Orioles' rotation in the middle of May. Manager Buck Showalter said the...

The Orioles are using the same lineup tonight that they posted yesterday before the game was postponed. Here's your reminder: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Adam Jones CF Mark Reynolds 3B Matt Wieters C Jake Fox LF Robert Andino SS Brad Bergesen RHP

Outfielder Matt Angle, who is on the Orioles' 40-man roster, will return to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides' lineup tonight. Angle has not played since April 13. He tweaked his hamstring earlier against Gwinnett, but will be back in the lineup tonight. I know this because I just asked him on his live chat at NorfolkTides.com. Angle is batting .167 at 4-for-24 through the first seven Triple-A games. Last year with Norfolk, he hit .260 in 87 games. During the chat, Angle was asked by one fan when...

Alfredo Simon will pitch again Monday or Tuesday at extended spring training in Sarasota, and he'll likely work two innings in his next appearance before being extended to three innings in his following start. The Orioles will stretch him to four innings the following week as part of their two-week projection to get him to 50 pitches. The Orioles want to get Simon up to 12-15 pitches per inning, which they can manipulate in these games. The rules are flexible. Simon could go through a six-...

Manager Buck Showalter has been pretty good at blindsiding reporters this year. We gather on the field in spring training or in his office or in the auxiliary clubhouse, and he brings up an injury or medical issue that we didn't anticipate. Brian Matusz has a wart? Justin Duchscherer felt a twinge? Brian Roberts has a stiff neck? Derrek Lee has a sore wrist? Lee has a sore foot? Matusz got hit on the arm by a line drive? J.J. Hardy has pain in his lower ribcage? Roberts went to the hospital...

Some fans are already asking if the Orioles should consider dropping Derrek Lee in the batting order. He has had every at-bat this year at the third spot in the lineup and is batting just .209 with one homer, two doubles and two RBI over 18 games. Lee has certainly not been productive in that third spot. He has gone 13 consecutive games without an RBI and is 0-for-12 on the year batting with runners in scoring position with eight strikeouts. His double in the eighth inning on Thursday ended a...