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Opposite dugout: Behind balanced roster, Red Sox have sights set on World Series

May 16, 2018, 6:36pm

Orioles

Opposite dugout: Behind balanced roster, Red Sox have sights set on World Series

Manager: Alex Cora (1st season)Record: 29-14 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: RF Mookie Betts (.353 with 13 HR, 28 RBIs); DH J.D. Martinez (.344 with 12 HR, 36 RBIs); SS Xander Bogaerts (.306 with 12 2B); LHP David Price (3-4, 4.89 ERA); RHP Rick Porcello (5-1, 3.28 ERA), RHP Craig Kimbrel (2.45 ERA, 13 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: 3-0 Pitching probables: May 17: RHP Kevin Gausman (3-2) vs. LHP David Price (3-4), 7:10 p.m., MASNMay 18: RHP Alex Cobb (0-5) vs. LHP Drew Pomeranz (1-1), 7:10...

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Josh Michael: Shorebirds have gotten dominant work from Michael Baumann

May 15, 2018, 11:42am

Orioles

Josh Michael: Shorebirds have gotten dominant work from Michael Baumann

Most Orioles fans are now well aware that the low Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds are off to a phenomenal start to the 2018 season. One of the big reasons why has been their starting pitching and right-hander Michael Baumann has led their stout rotation. Baumann, 22, was selected by the Orioles last June in the third round of the First-Year Player Draft out of Jacksonville University. It marked the second straight year the O's used their third-round pick on a Jacksonville player after selecting...

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Opposite Dugout: Rebuilding Phillies have surprised in early going

May 11, 2018, 7:44am

Orioles

Opposite Dugout: Rebuilding Phillies have surprised in early going

Manager: Gabe Kapler (1st season) Record: 23-16 Last 10 games: 7-3 Who to watch: 3B Maikel Franco (7 HR, 28 RBIs), LF Rhys Hoskins (5 HR, 25 RBIs), CF OdÃºbel Herrara (.360, 24 RBIs),1B Carlos Santana (7 HR, 27 RBIs), RHP Nick Pivetta (2-2, 4.15 ERA), RHP HÃ©ctor Neris (8 saves)Season series vs. Orioles: First meeting (1-3 in 2015) Pitching probables: May 15: RHP Nick Pivetta (2-2) vs. Andrew Cashner (1-4), 7:05 p.m., MASN2May 16: RHP: Vince Velasquez (3-4) vs.TBA, 12:35 p.m. MASN Inside...

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Andrew Stetka: Machado's MVP case could be unique

May 14, 2018, 5:18am

Orioles

Andrew Stetka: Machado's MVP case could be unique

We may not be to Memorial Day yet, but it's not too early to start examining candidates for Most Valuable Player. The Orioles have their own this year, and it's a familiar face. Manny Machado is going to be in the conversation all season long, no matter what team he is playing for by the end of it. The 25-year-old has already twice finished in the top five in MVP voting in his career, placing fourth in 2015 before coming in fifth two seasons ago. Only five other players have sniffed the top...

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Opposite dugout: Rays challenged to be little more than a pesky foe

May 10, 2018, 1:26pm

Orioles

Opposite dugout: Rays challenged to be little more than a pesky foe

Manager: Kevin Cash (4th year) Record: 15-19 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: CF Mallex Smith (.326/.407/.421 with 8 SB), C Wilson Ramos (.313 with 4 HR, 18 RBIs), 2B Daniel Robertson (.289), 1B C.J. Cron (7 HR, 20 RBIs), LHP Blake Snell (4-2, 2.40 ERA), RHP Alex ColomÃ© (6 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: 0-2 Pitching probables: May 11: RHP Jake Faria (3-1) vs. RHP Kevin Gausman (2-2), 7:05 p.m., MASN May 12: RHP Chris Archer (2-2) vs. TBA , 3:05 p.m., MASN2 May 12: TBA vs. RHP Alex Cobb...

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Josh Michael: Rifaela, McKenna making strong early impressions

May 09, 2018, 6:45am

Orioles

Josh Michael: Rifaela, McKenna making strong early impressions

The Orioles may not be playing as well as all fans had hoped, but there is some good baseball being played down on the farm. Two of the lesser-known outfield prospects in the organization, Ademar Rifaela and Ryan McKenna, are off to fantastic starts. Rifaela, 23, has been in the organization since 2013, when he played for the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League Orioles as an 18-year old after being signed by the O's as an international free agent out of Curacao. As his body matured, so too...

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Orioles, Advocates donate baseball equipment to local fan bound for Rwanda

May 08, 2018, 6:10pm

Orioles

Rwanda is a small nation in east central Africa, dominated by rainy seasons that drench mountains to the west and savannas to the east. Green bananas are a mainstay of the country's agricultural commerce, occupying more than a third of its farmland. Other exported crops include potatoes, wheat, maize and coffee. But if 11-year-old Jack Fones has his way, baseball will soon be introduced to the African country where activities like soccer, cross-country mountain biking and basketball are the...

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"MASN All Access" podcast: Making sense of winless road trip

May 07, 2018, 12:29pm

Orioles

"MASN All Access" podcast: Making sense of winless road trip

Well, there's no way to really sugarcoat it, but the Orioles are not playing great. After an 0-6 road trip in California, the Birds are now 8-26 on the season. Paul Mancano and I are back on the "MASN All Access" podcast to try to make sense of the West Coast swing on the Orioles' off-day. Yes, it doesn't look good right now. But there are some positives we point to as the Orioles come back home. Manny Machado is playing really well. Mark Trumbo has been hitting strong since his return...

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Andrew Stetka: Bundy and Gausman continue to progress

May 07, 2018, 5:03am

Orioles

Andrew Stetka: Bundy and Gausman continue to progress

The Orioles are getting exactly what they need from one of their keys to a successful season. That sounds strange to say for a team that has the worst record in baseball, but if you look back about six weeks, there was one big thing everyone was pointing to as crucial to the team's success. It's the development of their two young starting pitchers, Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman. The pair has been great, there's no other way to put it really. Both have taken steps to be productive members of...

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Zach Wilt: Defense has let down Orioles this season

May 04, 2018, 6:29am

Orioles

It's easy to point to the Orioles' struggles on offense and in the bullpen for their 8-23 record. You don't have the American League's worst winning percentage when your bats and arms are going good. There are many stats to point to and blame for the O's place in the standings. A 25.2 strikeout percentage is one of them, it's the highest in the AL and third in baseball behind the Padres and Phillies. A 4.37 ERA for the bullpen is another, nearly half a run higher than their total a season...

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Opposite dugout: For A's, bats have produced better than arms

May 03, 2018, 3:12pm

Orioles

Opposite dugout: For A's, bats have produced better than arms

Manager: Bob Melvin (8th year) Record: 15-16 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: 2B Jed Lowrie (.346/.399/.614 qurg 8 HR, 30 RBIs), LF Khris Davis (7 HR, 23 RBIs), 3B Matt Chapman (6 HR, 15 RBIs), SS Marcus Semien (13 RBIs), RHP Trevor Cahill (1-1, 3.00 ERA), RHP Blake Treinen (5 saves, 1.2( ERA) Season series vs. Orioles: First meeting (3-4 in 2017) Pitching probables: May 4: RHP Andrew Cashner (1-4) vs. RHP Daniel Mengden (2-3), 10:05 p.m., MASN2 May 5: RHP Kevin Gausman (2-2) vs. RHP Trevor...

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Josh Michael: With O's on West Coast, check out affiliates' promotions

May 01, 2018, 2:26pm

Orioles

Josh Michael: With O's on West Coast, check out affiliates' promotions

This week, I wanted to shift gears, just like the weather finally seems to be, and focus on some fun things going on at some of the Orioles' minor league affiliates' ballparks this weekend. Three of the four O's full-season affiliates will be home this weekend, with the high Single-A Frederick Keys being the lone affiliate on the road. The Triple-A Norfolk Tides, Double-A Bowie Baysox and low Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds will all be home and there is a lot of fun to be had at their...

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Opposite dugout: Angels flying low after quick takeoff

April 28, 2018, 6:56am

Orioles

Opposite dugout: Angels flying low after quick takeoff

Manager: Mike Scioscia (19th season) Record: 16-12 Last 10 games: 3-7 Who to watch: CF Mike Trout (10 HR, 18 RBIs, 5 steals), 1B Albert Pujols (5 HR, 14 RBIs), SS Andrelton Simmons (15 RBIs), DH Shohei Ohtani (4 HR, .341 average), RHP Garrett Richards (3-1, 4.88 ERA), RHP Kenyan Middleton (six saves, 2.40 ERA) Season series vs. Orioles: First meeting (4-2 in 2017) Pitching probables: May 1: RHP Alex Cobb (0-3) vs. RHP Nick Tropeano (1-2), 10:07 p.m., MASN2May 2: RHP Dylan Bundy (1-3) vs. LHP...

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Andrew Stetka: Davis' struggles don't mean contract was a mistake

April 29, 2018, 6:41pm

Orioles

Andrew Stetka: Davis' struggles don't mean contract was a mistake

Orioles manager Buck Showalter benched first baseman Chris Davis for a second straight game yesterday, giving him time to clear his head and work on some adjustments at the plate. Hitting coach Scott Coolbaugh was providing instruction this weekend for Davis, who is off to perhaps the worst start of his career. The 32-year-old is hitting just .167/.257/.256 with two home runs, 33 strikeouts and 10 walks. He's carrying around an OPS+ of 44 with 25 games under his belt. Any way you slice it, he...

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Zach Wilt: What has to happen in May for O's

April 26, 2018, 7:03pm

Orioles

Zach Wilt: What has to happen in May for O's

As a baseball fan, April is a month that I look forward to all year long. As an Orioles fan in 2018, I can't wait for this April to be over. The O's have just three more games remaining in this terrible month. They're currently 6-19, 13 1/2 games back of first place in the American League East and 8 1/2 games back of a wild card spot - it's never too early to think about the wild card. Another couple of weeks of losing baseball and the Orioles will most certainly be looking to sell at the...

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Opposite dugout: Tigers in middle of the pack, but still battling and still surprising

April 27, 2018, 3:40am

Orioles

Opposite dugout: Tigers in middle of the pack, but still battling and still surprising

Manager: Ron Gardenhire (1st season) Record: 10-13 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: RF Nicholas Castellanos (.330 with 16 RBIs), 1B Miguel Cabrera (.325 with 16 RBIs), OF JaCoby Jones (.275, .345 OBP), C James McCann (10 RBIs), LHP Francisco Liriano (2-1, 3.13 ERA) Season vs. Orioles: 3-0 Pitching probables: April 27: RHP Mike Fiers (2-1) vs. RHP Chris Tillman (0-4), 7:05 p.m., MASN2April 28: LHP Francisco Liriano (2-1) vs. RHP Andrew Cashner (1-3), 7:05 p.m., MASN2April 29: LHP Daniel Norris...

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Andrew Stetka: Firing Showalter would answer only one of many O's questions

April 16, 2018, 6:35am

Orioles

Andrew Stetka: Firing Showalter would answer only one of many O's questions

There's been lots of chatter in the last few days and weeks about the status of Orioles manager Buck Showalter. As everyone knows, Showalter is in the final year of his contract. He, executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette and a number of prominent players are all facing a walk year. But the Las Vegas sportsbook Bovada last week released its latest odds on the first major league manager to be fired, and Showalter topped the list at 3/2. He's leaped ahead of the likes of...

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Andrew Stetka: Farm system leaves O's future in doubt

April 21, 2018, 2:24pm

Orioles

Andrew Stetka: Farm system leaves O's future in doubt

It's been an abysmal start to the 2018 season for the Orioles, and that could even be a massive understatement. In a year that seemed so crucial at the start with so many key cogs in the organization potentially moving on in the near future, the Birds have yet to take flight. It's something that has led many to look ahead, giving up hope of a postseason berth in 2018 before Memorial Day even hits. With organizational uncertainty, the Orioles have done few things to set themselves up for some...

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"MASN All Access" podcast: Enrolling in the School of Roch

April 25, 2018, 11:24am

Orioles

"MASN All Access" podcast: Enrolling in the School of Roch

Attention, attention: Class is in session. Even though it's late April, Paul and I are heading back to school - the School of Roch that is - as MASNsports.com's Orioles beat writer Roch Kubatko joins us on the latest episode of the "MASN All Access" podcast. The Orioles are in a slump. Everyone knows that. They have lost three straight, are 1-9 in their last 10 games and are in last place 11 1/2 games back in the American League East. Are there any rays of sunshine in sight? Roch tries to...

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Opposite Dugout: Rays are in midst of a rebuild

April 23, 2018, 6:50am

Orioles

Opposite Dugout: Rays are in midst of a rebuild

Manager: Kevin Cash (4th season) Record: 8-13 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: CF Mallex Smith (.344/.412/.871) 1B C.J. Cron (5 HR, 13 RBIs), OF Denard Span (17 RBIs), 2B Daniel Robertson (.318), RHP Blake Snell (3-1, 2.54 ERA) Season series vs. Orioles: First meeting (11-8 in 2017) Pitching probables: April 24: RHP Jake Faria (1-1) vs. RHP Alex Cobb (0-2), 7:05 p.m., MASNApril 25: RHP Chris Archer (1-1) vs. RHP Dylan Bundy (1-2), 7:05 p.m., MASN2April 26: RHP Blake Snell (3-1) vs. Chris...