World Champions 1983, 1970, 1966

American League Champions 1983, 1979, 1971, 1970, 1969, 1966 American League East Division Champions 2014, 1997, 1983, 1979, 1974, 1973, 1971, 1970, 1969

American League Wild Card 2012, 1996

Thursday, August 4, 2016

Game Stories:

Orioles recap: Birds' three-run first enough for third straight win, 3-2 over Rangers The

Sun 8/3

Gausman outduels Hamels, O's edge Rangers MLB.com 8/4

More on Bundy, Miley and sitting hot-hitting lefties (O’s win 3-2) MASNsports.com 8/3

Kevin Gausman gets the win as Orioles beat Texas 3-2 MASNsports.com 8/3

Gausman Gets Through Seven And Orioles Have Third Straight CSN Mid-Atlantic 8/3

Columns:

Five stats that stand out for new Orioles pitcher Wade Miley The Sun 8/4

Orioles closer Zach Britton's ridiculous numbers The Sun 8/4

Orioles' 'Utopian closer' Zach Britton sets several records with 33rd straight save The Sun

8/4

Orioles' Kevin Gausman overcomes early struggles to show why he can be a top starter

The Sun 8/3

Schmuck: Yankees' rare rebuild puts them in stark contrast with win-now Orioles The

Sun 8/3

Orioles' Steve Pearce a new asset against left-handers, but hot hitters still sit The Sun 8/3

Orioles notebook: Wade Miley stays on turn, to make debut Thursday The Sun 8/3

Orioles on deck: What to watch Wednesday vs. Rangers The Sun 8/3

Adam Jones, Local Fry owners go head-to-head in cookoff; the winner is ... The Sun 8/3

First child to receive double-hand transplant throws out first pitch before Orioles game

The Sun 8/3

Majors' best home team turns it on in Baltimore MLB.com 8/3

Miley debuts as Orioles eye sweep of Rangers MLB.com 8/3

The best of Britton and bonding with Miley MASNsports.com 8/4

Showalter on Gausman, O’Day, home success and a 3-2 victory MASNsports.com 8/3

Showalter on Britton: “There’s nobody out there better than him” MASNsports.com 8/3

Quick hits from Camden Yards MASNsports.com 8/3

Orioles and Rangers lineups MASNsports.com 8/3

A look at Kevin Gausman’s home versus road stats, plus other notes MASNsports.com

8/4

Kevin Gausman and Matt Wieters on the win over Texas MASNsports.com 8/3

O’s game blog: Kevin Gausman faces Cole Hamels in Game 2 with Texas

MASNsports.com 8/3

When it comes to Dylan Bundy, the veteran is impressed with the kid MASNsports.com

8/3

Return of Darren O'Day bolsters Birds' bullpen ESPN 8/4

Buck Showalter Sticks To Strategies, No-Hitter Bids Or Not CSN Mid-Atlantic 8/3

It's Not Only Miley And Pearce Who Orioles Added CSN Mid-Atlantic 8/3

Orioles' Joey Rickard Set To Take Next Step In Rehab From Injury CSN Mid-Atlantic

8/3

Orioles Stage Mock Presser For Chris Davis' Dog Samson Ahead Of Bobblehead Night

CSN Mid-Atlantic 8/3

Orioles' Favorable Home Schedule Should Make Stretch Run Interesting In AL East

PressBoxOnline.com 8/3

Wade Miley has waited five years to pitch for a first-place team in August

BaltimoreBaseball.com 8/4

Gausman’s win Wednesday not as important as the lesson learned in second inning

BaltimoreBaseball.com 8/3

The Baltimore Orioles Are Baseball’s Slowest Team in Decades The Wall Street Journal

8/3

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-orioles-recap-birds-rangers-20160803-

story.html

Orioles recap: Birds' three-run first enough for third

straight win, 3-2 over Rangers

By Peter Schmuck / The Baltimore Sun

August 3, 2016

The Orioles treated Texas Rangers ace Cole Hamels rudely in the first inning Wednesday night,

and that was all it would take to score a 3-2 victory to move to the brink of a three-game sweep

of the American League West leaders at Camden Yards.

Hamels, who came into the game with an impressive 12-2 record and 2.84 ERA, was facing an

offense that has not been producing up to potential since the All-Star break. But the Orioles (61-

45) broke through against a premier starter for the second night in a row after beating right-

hander Yu Darvish on Tuesday.

They scored three times in the first inning and took a lead they would not relinquish on a two-

out, two-run single by Matt Wieters.

Perhaps more importantly, Orioles right-hander Kevin Gausman shook off a couple of rough

early innings to bounce back from his disappointing performance against the Toronto Blue Jays

at Rogers Centre last weekend.

Gausman (3-8) gave up three homers in the first inning against the Jays and would surrender

another one in the first inning Wednesday night. He also gave up a run in the second inning

before settling down to work through the seventh and earn his third victory of the season.

He seemed more impressed, however, with the way his team rallied around him and beat the

winningest team in the AL for the second straight night.

“That’s big," Gausman said. “They’re a very good baseball team and they’ve just kind of had our

number this year. For us to come out here and get the first two is huge and we’ll look for a sweep

tomorrow. But anytime you can win a series against a team like that that’s playing really good

baseball, that obviously has a great pitching staff and an explosive lineup, to win two games in a

row like that is huge.”

Hamels also pulled it together quickly and was overpowering from the second inning until he

was replaced by reliever Matt Bush in the eighth. Hamels gave up just one more hit after the first

inning, but took only his third loss since Aug. 7, 2015.

The Orioles finished with just four hits.

Darren O’Day took over for Gausman in the eighth and pitched a perfect inning after pitching the

final 1 1/3 innings to get the save in Tuesday night’s game. Zach Britton came on to pitch the

ninth and allowed a one-out walk to Rougned Odor. But Wieters pounced on a pitch that

bounced away from the plate and made a perfect throw to second base to get Odor and take the

potential tying run off base.

“It was one of those things where I knew he was an aggressive runner," Wieters said. “I didn’t

have time to check and see if he was going. I just assumed he was going and just spun and the

ball just happened to come out good to second base.”

Britton went on to get the final out and record his AL-leading 33rd save in 33 opportunities.

The series concludes Thursday, when newly acquired left-hander Wade Miley takes the mound

against Rangers right-hander A.J. Griffin.

Britton makes left-handed history

When Britton got the final out of Wednesday night's one-run victory over the Rangers, he set

both a club record for career saves by a left-handed pitcher with 106 and became the first left-

hander in major league history to open a season with 33 consecutive saves.

He was previously tied with Tippy Martinez for the Orioles record and he broke the major league

record for consecutive saves by a left-hander from the start of a season that was set by Detroit

Tigers closer Willie Hernandez in 1984.

Beltran belts one: Carlos Beltran, in his second game since being traded to the Rangers by the

New York Yankees, came to the plate against Gausman with two outs in the first inning and

launched his 23rd home run of the season into the right-center-field bleachers. It was his first hit

in five at-bats in his new uniform. The Rangers also would score a run off Gausman in the

second inning on a double by Odor and an RBI single by newly acquired catcher Jonathan

Lucroy.

Both starters struggle early: Hamels grappled with his command in the first inning and allowed

three runs on three hits and two walks. Jonathan Schoop started the Orioles rally with a one-out

single and Manny Machado doubled before the Orioles tied the game on an RBI fielder's

choice groundout by Mark Trumbo. Hamels then walked both Chris Davis and Steve Pearce to

load the bases and set up a two-run single by Wieters.

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/193486402/kevin-gausman-orioles-beat-hamels-rangers/

Gausman outduels Hamels, O's edge Rangers

By Brittany Ghiroli and Ryan Baillargeon / MLB.com

August 4, 2016

BALTIMORE -- In a clash of two first-place teams with potent lineups, Wednesday's game was

more about the pitching than anything else.

Backed by seven innings from starter Kevin Gausman, Baltimore -- which jumped on leftyCole

Hamels for three first-inning runs -- edged Texas, 3-2, to secure a series win at Camden Yards.

"He's one of the best starting pitchers in the game, and for good reason. He's been great, really,

his whole career," Gausman said of Hamels. "But when the guys put up three on him, I knew that

probably wasn't going to happen again. Runs are at a premium in games like this, and you knew

that he was going to lock it down and throw up some zeros for them. I just kind of tried to do the

same thing."

The O's handed the Rangers, who started the day with the best record in the American League,

their sixth loss in their past eight road games. Conversely, Baltimore improved to a Major

League-best 39-16 at home.

Hamels went seven innings and didn't allow a run after the first, though Matt Wieters' two-run

single held up as the difference. Carlos Beltran homered in the first inning off Gausman, who

also got better as the game went along.

"We couldn't get enough going there to push any more runs across the board," Rangers manager

Jeff Banister said. "I felt like in the second, if we had gotten to Gausman there, we had a really

good opportunity to put more runs on the board."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Gausman rebounds: After laboring through the first two innings, including a 35-pitch second,

Gausman was able to stick to his game plan and get through seven. On the heels of one of his

worst starts of the season in Toronto, the righty held Texas to two runs in the quality start.

"They put up some good at-bats against him. They took some tough pitches and he was able to

just keep going and keep throwing strikes and keep throwing strikes," Wieters said. "It's big. It

was a big learning experience for him today. That's a good lineup that put together good at-bats,

but if you make good pitches, pitching is going to win over hitting most nights."

Spinning out of control: Hamels' start could've looked considerably different if first

baseman Mitch Moreland would've converted a play Banister said he makes nine times out of 10.

With one out in the first, Manny Machado hit a spinning liner to first for a potential inning-

ending double play. Instead, the ball trickled off Moreland's glove into right field for a double.

The Orioles went on to score all three of their runs in the frame. Hamels would settle in to allow

just one hit in the next six innings, but the first inning proved to be his undoing.

"To put that type of English on a baseball is tough," Hamels said. "I did kind of miss my spot,

but it was the right type of pitch to throw to him in that situation. It's just he was able to make it

do something that you don't see too often with that type of crazy spin. More times than not you

see that on crazy trick shots in billiards."

Beltran blast: After going hitless in his Rangers debut, Beltran made his presence felt in his first

at-bat Wednesday. The designated hitter turned on a 2-0 fastball from Gausman and drove it over

the wall in right field. According to Statcast™, the ball left the bat at 101 mph and traveled an

estimated 376 feet. It was his 23rd homer of the season and first with the Rangers. He's now

homered for seven different Major League organizations.

"The fact that I got my first hit here, it's good," Beltran said. "It's good to get it out of the way."

Home cookin': There's something about Camden Yards for the Orioles, who have not had a

losing homestand all year. (Their worst was going 4-3 from May 12-19). The O's are 39-16 in

Baltimore, and despite not going deep on Wednesday, they have hit a Major League-leading 86

home runs at their home ballpark.

QUOTABLE

"I think the step-ups come from our pitcher. You know those guys' runs are going to be at a

premium. Our guys, you've got to be ready to go first inning. That's probably one of the few poor

pitches he made all night. You can give in to what conventionality says it should be like, or you

can compete and look at it as an opportunity to present yourself real well to your team and to the

opposition, and one that may not look good on paper." -- Showalter, on Gausman settling down

after allowing one run in each of the first two innings

WHAT'S NEXT

Rangers: A.J. Griffin (4-1, 3.99 ERA) will get the ball in the final regular-season meeting

between these teams Thursday at 6:05 p.m. CT. The 28-year-old has held right-handed hitters to

a .190 batting average this season, the second lowest among qualified AL starters. Griffin has

struggled to pitch deep in games, though, as he hasn't pitched six complete innings in any of his

seven starts since returning from the disabled list.

Orioles: Newly acquired Wade Miley will make his Orioles debut in Thursday's 7:05 p.m. ET

series finale. Miley is coming off one of his best starts of the year for Seattle on Saturday, and is

7-8 with a 4.98 ERA on the season.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2016/08/more-on-bundy-miley-and-sitting-hot-

hitting-lefties.html

More on Bundy, Miley and sitting hot-hitting lefties (O’s win

3-2)

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

August 3, 2016

Following Dylan Bundy in the rotation means facing both the opponent and a raised bar.

Bundy has taken no-hitters into the sixth inning in his last two starts. He walked off the mound

last night to multiple standing ovations.

Kevin Gausman would welcome the same results tonight, the same reception, though a team win

always takes priority.

Manager Buck Showalter has been peppered with questions about Bundy’s latest flirtation with

history and how he would have responded if it continued past the sixth inning. The answer stays

the same.

“It’s happened twice with him now,” Showalter said. “I wasn’t going to let him pitch more than

seven innings because his progression’s perfect. He almost got through the sixth last time.

“He was leaking a little oil in the seventh. If you look at the elevation of some of his pitches, it

was getting a little more feathery. That’s why I had Brad (Brach) up. He was going hitter to

hitter. In fact, the last guy he got out was his last hitter. It wasn’t so much pitch count. But what

would happen if he had a no-hitter going into the eighth with 85 pitches? He would have been

done. We would have taken him out.

“It’s not easy. I’m just telling you want we would have done. There’s nothing easy about it at all.

There’s things you think about with your heart as much as your head, but usually what’s right in

your head is what’s good for the Orioles. It’s more about what’s best for us. Plus, we have some

very capable people down in our bullpen.”

The seven innings were a career high for Bundy. They may not be his ceiling.

“I’m going to see what the opposition says and how he looks to Wally (Dave Wallace) and I

through the outing,” Showalter said. “I’d love to think he goes to eight next time and 81 pitches.

I don’t think it’s going to happen.

“I’ve really been, not surprised, but just about the efficiency of his pitches. That really didn’t

play itself as a reliever too much. When we got to that three, four and five (days’ rest), he really

showed what he’s showing now.”

Wade Miley will get his opportunity on Thursday in front of the home crowd, which apparently

wasn’t a factor in Showalter’s decision.

“I don’t think so. There’s two ways to look at it, too. You could do it the other way,” Showalter

said.

“I think having him sit around too long, he’s pitching well. I want to keep the ball in his hand.

Also, I wanted to give Tilly (Chris Tillman) an extra day, just one, and I didn’t want (Yovani)

Gallardo to sit around for four or five extra days. He’s been throwing the ball pretty well. I want

to keep that intact. So it kind of fit for everybody.

“You look at matchups, comparatively speaking, other people that they were against might not

be here anymore. When you’re pitching well, does it matter who you’re facing? There’s a lot of

different ways to look at it. But I think the big thing is he needs to get it going and stay active,

stay where he is. It allowed us to kind of set things up down the road for a while.”

Tonight’s lineup doesn’t includeHyun Soo Kim, who’s batting .331/.416/.442 and quieting

critics who thought he’d be exposed if used with any semblance of regularity. It doesn’t

include Pedro Alvarez, who homered twice last night, has eight hits in his last 19 at-bats and has

12 home runs since June 1.

Both players are on the bench because the Rangers are starting left-hander Cole Hamels, causing

Showalter to counter with Steve Pearce and Nolan Reimold. Kim is 0-for-11 with three walks

against left-handers this season. Alvarez is 4-for-27 with a home run.

Showalter isn’t fully committed to a strict platoon and left open the possibility of Kim and

Alvarez starting against left-handers down the road.

“Depending on who it is,” he said. “Has Kim had a hit off a left-handed pitcher yet? I don’t think

he has, but he will. He would if we run him out there. We’ve left Pete in there some during

games, when we could have pinch-hit for him, but he’s swinging the bat well. But I think we’re

going to take each pitcher as it comes.”

Update: The first inning bit Gausman again. He struck out the first two batters and surrendered a

home run to Carlos Beltran.

Update II: The Orioles tied the score in the bottom of the first on Jonathan Schoop’s single,

Manny Machado’s double and Mark Trumbo’s fielder’s choice grounder to short.

Chris Davis and Steve Pearce walked with two outs and Matt Wieters delivered a two-run single

into center field.

Cole Hamels threw 28 pitches in the inning.

Update III: Rougned Odor led off the second by doubling on an 0-2 pitch and he scored on

Jonathan Lucroy’s RBI single on a 1-2 pitch. Gausman threw 35 pitches in the inning, raising his

total to 50, but he leads 3-2.

Update IV: The Orioles held on to defeat the Rangers 3-2 and assure themselves of another

home series win.

Gausman allowed two runs and seven hits in seven innings, with one walk, seven strikeouts and

a home run. He was removed after 108 pitches.

Darren O’Day retired all three batters he faced, working back-to-back nights, and Zach Britton

recorded his 33rd save.

Britton’s 33 saves to start a season are the most by a left-hander, surpassing the Tigers’ Willie

Hernandez in 1984.

The Orioles were held to no runs and one hit after the first inning.

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2016/08/kevin-gausman-gets-the-win-as-the-

orioles-beat-texas-3-2.html

Kevin Gausman gets the win as Orioles beat Texas 3-2

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com

August 3, 2016

Orioles right-hander Kevin Gausman followed up Dylan Bundy’s scoreless outing last night with

a strong outing of his own tonight. Although it didn’t start out that way.

Gausman recovered from early trouble to allow two runs over seven frames as the Orioles beat

Texas and southpaw Cole Hamels 3-2 tonight at Camden Yards.

Darren O’Day pitched a scoreless eighth on seven pitches and Zach Britton a shutout ninth.

Britton is now 33-for-33 in save chances. According to STATS, LLC, Britton sets a major league

record for most consecutive saves to start a year by a left-hander. He had been tied with Willie

Hernandez of the 1984 Tigers with 32 in a row.

Over seven innings, Gausman gave up seven hits and two runs with one walk and seven

strikeouts. He improves to 3-8 with an ERA of 4.08. He threw 108 pitches, 74 for strikes. Over

his past four home starts, Gausman has an ERA of 0.98 and this is his fifth quality start over his

last seven outings. Gausman needed 50 pitches to pitch the first two innings tonight and then

threw just 58 pitches over the next five innings.

But for the second game in a row, Gausman allowed a home run in the first inning. While

Toronto hit three off him in the first inning on Friday, Texas got just one on a solo shot with two

outs by Carlos Beltran. It was his first with his new team, the 23rd he’s hit this year and the

415th of his career for the 1-0 lead.

Gausman has allowed nine homers in the first inning this year and 11 in all other innings. He has

not allowed more than three in any other single inning.

The Orioles quickly took the lead in the last of the first against Hamels.Jonathan Schoop singled

with one out and raced to third when Manny Machado’s soft liner went off the glove of first

baseman Mitch Moreland for a double. Machado then was out at third while Schoop scored

on Mark Trumbo’s 6-5 fielder’s choice grounder. Two walks followed to load the bases

before Matt Wieters’ two-out, two-run single to center made it a 3-1 Orioles lead. Wieters

entered tonight hitting just .127 with three RBIs since July 1.

Texas got a run back against Gausman in the second. Rougned Odor led off with a double and

scored on Jonathan Lucroy’s single on a 1-2 pitch. But then the right-hander settled and pitched

the Orioles to a win that gives them a series victory with one game to go.

Hamels allowed three runs and four hits over seven innings to take the loss to fall to 12-3 with an

ERA of 2.89. On Sunday, the Orioles won a game started by American League ERA leader

Aaron Sanchez of Toronto. Tonight they won one starter by Hamels, who is second in the league

in ERA.

The Orioles are 61-45 overall and have won three in a row since ending a five-game losing

streak. They are 39-16 at home where they have won 22 of their last 28. AL Central-leading

Texas falls to 62-46.

In the series finale on Thursday night, lefty Wade Miley (7-8, 4.98 ERA) makes his Orioles

debut against Texas right-hander A.J. Griffin (4-1, 3.99 ERA).

http://www.csnmidatlantic.com/baltimore-orioles/gausman-gets-through-seven-and-orioles-have-

third-straight

Gausman Gets Through Seven And Orioles Have Third

Straight

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Mid-Atlantic

August 3, 2016

BALTIMORE---Before this series between the leaders of the American League East and West

began, the Texas Rangers had the league’s best record.

After two games, the Orioles now do.

On consecutive nights, the Orioles beat two of the league’s best, Yu Darvish and Cole Hamels,

and it was two of the Orioles young guns, Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman, who did it.

Through two innings, Gausman had thrown 50 pitches, allowed two runs, and looked like a

pitcher who wouldn’t give the Orioles what they needed.

Instead, Gausman soldiered through seven innings, and helped give the Orioles their third

straight win.

The Orioles’ 3-2 win over the Texas Rangers before 24,552 at Oriole Park on Wednesday night,

secured their hold on first place in the American League East.

“I think the step-ups come from our pitcher. You know those guys’ runs are going to be at a

premium. Our guys, you’ve got to be ready to go first inning,” manager Buck Showalter said.

Gausman struck out the game’s first two batters, then Carlos Beltran hit a home run, his 22nd, in

his second game with Texas (62-46).

The Orioles (61-45) took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the first against Cole Hamels. With one out,

Jonathan Schoop singled, and Manny Machado lined a ball off first baseman Mitch Moreland’s

glove at first. It wound up in right field, and there were runners at second and third.

Mark Trumbo grounded to short, and Schoop scored while Machado was out at third. Chris

Davis and Steve Pearce walked to load the bases, and Matt Wieters singled to center, scoring

Trumbo and Davis.

Those were all the runs the Orioles scored, and all they would need.

“Hamel’s having a great year. You can make a case for him being the leading candidate for the

Cy Young. But it wasn’t like we beat him up or anything. We had one shot at it and we took

advantage of it. And our pitching made it hold up. And the defense,” Showalter said.

Gausman (3-8) labored through the second inning, and the Rangers scored on a leadoff double by

Rougned Odor and a single by Jonathan Lucroy.

“When the guys put up three on him, I knew that probably wasn’t going to happen again,”

Gausman said. “Runs are at a premium in games like this and you knew that he was going to

lock it down and throw up some O’s for them. I just kind of tried to do the same thing.”

In the next four innings, Gausman gave up three hits, but nifty double plays started by J.J. Hardy

in the fifth and Davis in the sixth helped out tremendously.

“Any time you can kind of limit that damage and not let it get out of control it’s going to be good

and it’s going to be in your favor,” Gausman said. “With our defense, if you get a guy on first

base, you’re always one pitch away from getting a double play and getting out of it.”

Gausman allowed two runs on seven hits.

Hamels (12-3) didn’t allow another hit until Trumbo led off the sixth with a base hit and left after

seven.

Darren O’Day retired all three batters he faced in the eighth, and Zach Britton finished up the

ninth for his 33rd save. It’s the most consecutive saves by a left-hander to start a season in

baseball history, and he has 106 lifetime saves, third most by an Orioles reliever and most by a

left-hander.

Britton walked Odor with one out in the ninth, but with Lucroy off, threw a pitch off the plate

that Wieters scampered after. He threw to second to get Odor for the second out.

“I knew he was an aggressive runner. I didn’t really have time to check and see if he was going. I

just kind of assumed he was going and just spun. And the ball just happened to come out good

right to second base,” Wieters said.

The Orioles are 39-16 at home, and 22-29 on the road. After Thursday’s game, they have a 10-

game road trip to Chicago, Oakland and San Francisco.

“We’re playing some good teams. If you look at our schedule, it’s a top-rated schedule the rest of

the way. You know what? Our guys are pretty good, too. They enjoy the competition. They don’t

shirk from it. They like people telling them they shouldn’t be able to do it. They like proving

people wrong. They’ve done that for quite a while,” Showalter said.

NOTES: A.J. Griffin (4-1, 3.99) faces Wade Miley (7-8, 4.98) on Thursday night. It will be

Miley’s Orioles debut. … The time of the game was two hours, 26 minutes, quickest of the

season.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bal-five-stats-that-stand-out-for-new-orioles-

pitcher-wade-miley-20160804-story.html

Five stats that stand out for new Orioles pitcher Wade Miley

By Jon Meoli / The Baltimore Sun

August 4, 2016

Orioles left-hander Wade Miley, who was acquired ahead of this week's trade deadline from the

Seattle Mariners, introduces himself to his new team in proper fashion Thursday as he looks to

clinch a sweep of the Texas Rangers in his Camden Yards debut.

For those not willing to wait, this week's edition of five stats that stand out focuses on what's

been behind Miley's success and struggles so far in his career. It all tells you what your eyes will

-- good secondaries, but command issues and some trouble keeping the ball in the park.

Click through the photos above to explore key stats attached to Miley.

43.48 percent ground ball rate on two-seamer

While Miley’s four-seam fastball has produced inconsistent results throughout his career, his

two-seamer has been a pretty strong ground-ball pitch this season. In 2016, it’s yielding ground

balls on 43.48 percent of balls in play, down from 48.13 percent in his career, but still closer to

his career rates than his four-seamer. The two-seam fastball is a pitch Miley could rely on in

front of the Orioles’ strong infield defense, and possibly lower the .354 batting average off of it

this year. He’ll be playing before an upgraded infield from the one he played with in Seattle, so

it’s possible fewer of those can go for base hits. That all really comes down to whether Miley can

command the pitches in the strike zone, or if he’s leaving them in meaty parts of the plate.

[Source: Brooks Baseball]

33.7 percent chase rate out of strike zone

Only 16 qualified pitchers in the majors have a higher chase rate than Miley’s 33.7 percent, and

as his new manager Buck Showalter says, that’s where you get major league hitters out.

However, his contact rate out of the zone is 66.7 percent, meaning he’s not getting a ton of

swinging strikes out there. Miley is 73rd out 95 qualifiers with 46 percent of his pitches in the

strike zone, with that high contract rate indicating his misses aren’t too far out of the zone and

are still susceptible to finding barrels. In the short term, it’ll be interesting to see how the Orioles

plan to have him attack a Rangers lineup that has been jumping on fastballs all series, and

whether he stays in the zone with them, if his command allows. [Source: Fangraphs]

.234 batting average off slider

Miley’s been improving of late, and most of that is owed to an increased usage of his best pitch,

his slider. Opponents are batting .234 on his slider this season, and .215 lifetime on the pitch.

Especially in July, when Miley pitched to a 3.45 ERA with 23 strikeouts and 10 walks in 31 1/3

innings, it was due in part to more sliders than he’s thrown all season. The 19.56 percent usage

rate on his slider was more than double the rate he threw it in July, and his highest since May

2015, a month when he pitched to a 3.49 ERA. It’s clear that in the last two years for Miley, the

more he throws his slider, the better he is. [Source: Brooks Baseball]

1.45 home runs per nine innings this year

The other main difference between current Miley and peak Miley is home run rate, which

currently sits at 1.45 per nine innings but was 0.65 per nine innings when he was an All-Star in

2012. Safeco Field hasn’t exactly been the pitcher’s haven it was in years past, and Miley fell

victim to that, but you can’t say he’ll find himself in a better environment at Camden Yards in

August. His home run/fly ball rate has been volatile his whole career, bottoming out at 6.9

percent in 2012 and climbing to 15.8 percent upon his arrival with the Orioles. If it all comes

down to environment, as his steady overall fly ball rate would suggest, then the transient left-

hander will need to keep the ball in the center of the park at Camden Yards and hope they come

down where Adam Jones can still catch them. [Source: Fangraphs]

1.71 walks per nine innings at his peak

In Miley’s superlative rookie season in 2012, he posted a career-low 1.71 walks per nine innings.

On the surface, that’s the only rate stat he’s dealt with that’s noticeably different since, along

with another we’ll get to soon. With 2.73 walks per nine innings this season, he’s as close as he’s

been to that 2012 mark in his entire career, but that’s what happens when you live outside the

strike zone like he does. Miley’s stuff is mostly the same since then, tantalizing teams with the

prospect of a durable left-handed starter the way he did the Orioles. The location of it, both in the

strike zone and out of it, is why he’s failed to realize that level since breaking out.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bal-orioles-closer-zach-britton-s-ridiculous-

numbers-20160804-story.html

Orioles closer Zach Britton's ridiculous numbers

By Ron Fritz / The Baltimore Sun

August 4, 2016

Zach Britton set a major-league record Wednesday night for most consecutive saves by a left-

handed relief pitcher to start a season. Here is a look at his numbers:

0.59: ERA this season.

1.45: Career ERA as a reliever.

2: All-Star game selections.

33: The record-setting consetive saves streak, topping Willie Hernandez of the Tigers by one.

Hernandez set his record in 1984.

106: Career saves by Britton in two-plus seasons. It's a club record, surpassing Tippy Martinez

for most saves by an Orioles left-handed reliever.

$6.75 million: What he's earning this season.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-orioles-utopian-closer-zach-britton-sets-

several-records-wednesday-with-33rd-straight-save-20160803-story.html

Orioles' 'Utopian closer' Zach Britton sets several records

with 33rd straight save

By Jon Meoli / The Baltimore Sun

August 4, 2016

A left-handed closer, Orioles manager Buck Showalter said, is a “Utopian closer,” and he

believes so for a variety of reasons.

“That Utopian closer is left-handed, because those guys negate the left-handed bats late in the

game that come off the bench, a lot of these ballparks are left-handed friendly, it holds runners

— it does a lot of great things to have a left-handed closer,” he said before Wednesday’s game.

His own Utopian closer, Zach Britton, just hours after his manager praised his growth into the

role over the last two-plus seasons at length, clinched a lot of great things on his own in

Wednesday’s 3-2 win over the Texas Rangers.

Britton’s 33rd save in as many chances to begin the season represented the longest season-

opening save streak by a left-handed pitcher in baseball history, passing Detroit Tigerslefty

Willie Hernandez’s mark of 32 in 1984, according to STATS, LLC. It also tied him for the

seventh-longest saves streak in baseball history to start a season, and gave him 106 career saves,

which is the most by an Orioles left-handed closer.

Such qualifiers on handedness might put Britton into the world’s thickest record book, but

Showalter doesn’t need to distinguish by which hand he throws with.

“He just doesn’t give in,” Showalter said. “He knows who he is. There’s always a debate [for

best closer], and you can throw four or five guys in the same hat, I’m sure, but there’s nobody

out there better than him.”

The record came on a night when the fickle nature of relief pitching, and the save statistic in

general, came into focus. Britton’s sinker was a touch heavy throughout the ninth, with third

baseman Adrian Beltre working a 3-1 count before grounding out to open the inning and second

baseman Rougned Odor working an eight-pitch walk to represent the game’s tying run.

With the count already 2-0 against catcher Jonathan Lucroy, Britton buried a sinker for a

swinging strike that leaked away from his own backstop, Matt Wieters. Wieters tracked it down

and threw out Odor, and Lucroy was soon retired.

Britton has now 1.45 ERA as a reliever over the course of his career, with Showalter noting just

how quickly the lefty has thrived in the role since taking it over early in 2014.

“I don’t think I’ve seen too many guys take to it that quickly,” Showalter said. “I think he’s

learned about little things like last night, knowing that if we score a run he’s not in the game;

giving an honest evaluation about where he is physically and everything; saving his bullets. He’s

worked hard on his breaking ball for strikes, because there’s going to be some nights on that

third time out there where he’s going to probably need to go to a secondary pitch. … Kind of

knowing who he is — and he never gives in.”

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-orioles-rangers-0804-20160803-story.html

Orioles' Kevin Gausman overcomes early struggles to show

why he can be a top starter

By Jon Meoli / The Baltimore Sun

August 3, 2016

Peel back a layer or two, and the man on the mound for the Orioles on Wednesday has all the

makings of a top starter in the American League.

If you started watching Kevin Gausman about an hour into the Orioles’ 3-2 win over the Texas

Rangers, once he got everything out of his system that has kept him from achieving and

sustaining that rank, he was every bit the top starter his team dreams on.

“It’s all a process, and pitching is having expectations to be perfect, but then knowing that you’re

never going to be perfect,” Gausman said.

In a showcase matchup featuring Cy Young Award contender Cole Hamels for the visitors,

Gausman navigated his usual foibles in the first two innings before settling in for seven innings

of winning baseball. He struck out seven and allowed two runs on seven hits and one walk to

draw the Orioles (61-45) even with the Rangers (62-46) atop the American League standings.

It wasn’t always shaping up that way.

Home runs have beleaguered Gausman all season, and after striking out the first two batters he

faced Wednesday, flashbacks to his previous start in Toronto and the three first-inning home

runs he allowed cropped up again.

Before new Rangers outfielder Carlos Beltran sat on a 2-0 fastball and drove it into the right-

center-field bleachers, Gausman had allowed 1.65 home runs per nine innings, which was sixth

highest in the AL among pitchers with 100 innings this season.

A dozen of those 20 home runs have come on fastballs, a pitch that Gausman has battled to

command in stretches this season. On the home run to Beltran, catcher Matt Wieters set up low

and inside; the pitch ended up high and over the middle.

To open the second inning, the Orioles were shaded for second baseman Rougned Odor to pull to

the right side. Gausman’s fastball leaked away with the count 0-2, and Odor hit it against the

shift for a soft double down the left-field line.

He scored on a single by catcher Jonathan Lucroy one batter later, setting off a 35-pitch slog of a

second inning that veered Gausman’s outing in a direction he didn’t want it to go. Lucroy, too,

went down 0-2 quickly before working back into the count and singling home a run.

Gausman acknowledges those have been his two downfalls all season — two-strike hits and first-

inning home runs. Both disappeared as his fastball command improved after the second inning.

“I kind of base my starts on one, how I feel, and two, the type of contact that they were making,”

Gausman said. “They hit a lot of balls pretty deep to center field, and on a different day, could

have possibly gotten out. I’m not sitting here praising myself, obviously, but that’s one thing that

could have easily gone the other way. That’s kind of what makes this game so great and so

frustrating at times.”

The batted balls that didn’t leave Gausman with his heart in his throat as center fielder Adam

Jones chased them down near the bullpen were of the variety that every Orioles pitcher loves —

playable ground balls to his sure-handed infielders.

Leadoff hits in the fourth and fifth innings spelled trouble, but Gausman stranded Odor at third

base in the fourth inning and erased shortstop Elvis Andrus with a double play in the fifth inning.

A quick-twitch double-play started by first baseman Chris Davis ended the sixth inning as well.

“Anytime you can kind of limit that damage and not let it get out of control, it’s going to be good

and it’s going to be in your favor,” Gausman said. “But like I said, with our defense, if you get a

guy on first base, you’re always one pitch away from getting a double play and getting out of it.”

All that meant quick work for Gausman, who ended the second inning with 50 pitches and

walked off the mound after recording his seventh strikeout of the game to end the seventh inning

with 108 pitches thrown.

Those early problems gave way to an efficient and effective pitcher. Eliminate the home runs,

which Gausman is giving up at a higher rate than all but a handful of major league starters, and

Gausman would be a different pitcher. The league average for home run/fly ball rate is around 10

percent traditionally. Gausman entered the game with a 17.6 HR/FB rate, seventh highest in

baseball.

His expected fielding-independent pitching, which calculates ERA with a league-average home

run rate, strikeouts and walks to represent a pitcher’s skills in front of a normal defense, was 3.79

entering the start, suggesting that he’d been pitching a bit better than the numbers bore out.

Once he eliminated those long balls Wednesday, and eliminates them going forward, the story on

Gausman changes. He becomes a mere fly-ball pitcher who, when he’s on, has three pitches to

keep batters off balance, and can add and subtract with his fastball. He becomes a worthy

complement to Chris Tillman, who has sat atop the Orioles rotation all season, and Dylan Bundy,

who has shot there in three weeks time.

And in a matchup with a once and future Cy Young candidate Wednesday, on a night when both

pitchers struggled early before finding the plate and laying waste to the opposing lineup,

Gausman earned the win to improve to 3-8 with a 4.08 ERA.

“I think it is big for him, in-game adjustments,” Wieters said. “I think the one thing he is coming

along with is in-game adjustments and knowing that if his best stuff isn’t there in the first or

second he might have it there in the fourth or fifth. Just kind of keep hanging on and give us a

chance and get us back in the dugout.”

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-schmuck-column-0804-20160803-

column.html

Schmuck: Yankees' rare rebuild puts them in stark contrast

with win-now Orioles

By Peter Schmuck / The Baltimore Sun

August 3, 2016

There was a time not that long ago when the concept was inconceivable. The Orioles went into

the midseason searching for talent to complete a first-place club and the New York Yankees

unloaded a bunch of big name players to restock their farm system.

How long have Orioles fans waited to watch the Evil Empire crumble? The Yankees have

finished first or second in the American League East in 21 of the past 23 seasons and have not

finished lower than third over a span of nearly a quarter century.

The Orioles, of course, have reawakened during the Buck Showalter-Dan Duquette era after

suffering through a string of 14 losing seasons, having not finished below .500 since 2011. But

this is the season of greatest contrast between the two franchises since the Yankees last did any

serious rebuilding in the early 1990s.

So, it's OK to revel in the fact that the Yankees were the big sellers in this year's midseason trade

market … to a point.

The decision to break up the team could not have been an easy one, considering that the Yankees

were right at .500 and only seven games out of first place when the deadline passed. But it might

end up being a watershed moment in Yankees history.

"They did a great job," said Orioles manager Buck Showalter, who took over as Yankees

manager in the middle of their last rebuild. "It reminded me of what they did with us in 1991 and

'92. That's the last time they went in that direction. I think everybody in baseball is really

impressed with what they did."

That's a scary thought when you consider that the Yankees built a dynasty during that decade,

and — for all the talk about their huge economic advantage over the other teams in the American

League — they built that dynasty around a core of homegrown players that included Derek Jeter,

Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte.

They also wielded their great organizational wealth to bring in a steady stream of star-quality

players from outside the organization while they were appearing in six World Series and winning

four of them over an eight-year period.

Which brings us back to the good news/bad news nature of the Yankees' dismantlement as it

relates to the Orioles' continued willingness to sacrifice future assets to stay in the hunt for a

playoff berth every year.

It's certainly good news to the players in the Orioles clubhouse as well as a fan base that hungers

for the team's first World Series since 1983.

"It's better to be a buyer than a seller," center fielder Adam Jones said. "When you buy, it gives

your players a sense that our front office is trying to improve us because we have something

special here. … I think the last five years here, we've proven to the front office that we have a

formidable team on the field. And all you need sometimes is a little push, and we got a little push

right now."

It's bad news when you look at the haul of young prospects the Yankees just reeled in by trading

elite relievers Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller, 39-year-old slugger Carlos Beltran and

starting pitcher Ivan Nova.

Here's why. The Yankees also will be shedding the huge expiring contracts of Alex Rodriguez,

CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira by the end of next season, which at least theoretically will take

them into 2018 with a ton of money available to augment their developing roster.

And they could get there right about the time three of the best young players in a generation —

Manny Machado, Bryce Harper and Nolan Arenado — will be entering their walk years if the

Orioles, Washington Nationals and Colorado Rockies aren't able to lock them up with lengthy

megabucks contract extensions.

It's a scary thought, but just the likelihood of a huge a free-agent spending spree by the Yankees

over the winters of 2017 and 2018 could impact whether those teams will be able to sign their

young superstars ahead of free agency.

No doubt, the Yankees hope to be back in contention sooner than 2019, but they might have

trouble finding top-flight players in the free-agent market for a while, no matter how much they

have to spend.

"I think they spend it regardless," Showalter said. "I think it's a lot more fun doing it the way we

have to do it and I'm sure Brian [Cashman] and them kind of enjoyed this a little bit. They've

probably been pushing for it for a while. That's such a win-now scenario [in New York], so I

think you'll see them spend, but it's not a very good free-agent crop this year."

In the meantime, Orioles fans need to stay in the moment. The Orioles just upgraded the starting

rotation with rookie Dylan Bundy and newly acquired Wade Miley, and added some more pop to

their power-packed lineup with the return of Steve Pearce. They appear to be positioned well to

remain in playoff contention for at least the next couple of years.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-orioles-steve-pearce-a-new-asset-against-

left-handers-but-hot-hitters-still-sit-20160803-story.html

Orioles' Steve Pearce a new asset against left-handers, but

hot hitters still sit

By Jon Meoli / The Baltimore Sun

August 3, 2016

Starting Wednesday, newly acquired outfielder Steve Pearce is back as a fixture in the

Orioles lineup against left-handed pitching, owing it to his .377 batting average against opposite-

side pitching before he returned to Baltimore from the Tampa Bay Rays.

However, in inserting Pearce and reserve outfielder Nolan Reimold into the lineup against Texas

Rangers left-hander Cole Hamels, the Orioles are taking out two of their hottest hitters —

outfielder Hyun Soo Kim and designated hitter Pedro Alvarez.

Both are doing their damage almost exclusively off right-handed pitching, and manager Buck

Showalter said there has been consideration given to hitting either Kim or Alvarez against left-

handers.

“Depending on who it is,” Showalter said. “Has Kim had a hit off a left-handed pitcher yet? I

don’t think he has, but he will. He would if we run him out there. We’ve left Pete in there some

during games, when we could have pinch-hit for him, but he’s swinging the bat well. But I think

we’re going to take each pitcher as it comes.”

Kim has 11 at-bats off left-handed pitchers this season, walking three times without a hit.

Showalter has said that Kim would vary wildly against left-handed pitchers from year to year in

his native South Korea, showing no splits in some seasons and falling off drastically in others.

Alvarez has made one start against left-handers but has had 27 at-bats against left-handed

pitchers, mostly those who follow righties out of the bullpen. He has homered once among four

hits off them while batting .148. On his career, Alvarez is a career .200 hitter off left-handed

pitching.

However, Alvarez entered Wednesday batting .296/.321/.624 with 12 home runs since June 1,

and Showalter said he has quietly been the team’s best hitter in that stretch, one that has seen

basically everyone but shortstop J.J. Hardy fall off considerably at the plate.

Kim, too, is as steady as they come. He has been seemingly slump-proof while batting

.331/.416/.442 entering Wednesday.

Removing one from the lineup for Pearce makes plenty of sense, especially given that having

another player capable of playing the outfield gives Mark Trumbo -- one of two Orioles to start

every game this season -- an opportunity to get off his feet to serve as designated hitter. But

replacing the other with Reimold against left-handed pitching might be nearing the point of

diminishing returns.

Reimold's a right-handed batter who can’t crack the lineup against right-handed pitching, even

though he entered Wednesday batting .265 against same-side pitchers and .211 off lefties in

roughly the same amount of at-bats.

Reimold seemingly plays against left-handed pitching because he has to play against

someone. But continued success at the plate for Alvarez and Kim could mean even those

opportunities wane soon.

As a team, the Orioles went into Wednesday batting .237 with a .704 OPS against lefties. Rookie

outfielder Joey Rickard was tied with third baseman Manny Machado for the team lead with a

.313 average against them.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-orioles-notebook-0804-20160803-story.html

Orioles notebook: Wade Miley stays on turn, to make debut

Thursday

By Jon Meoli / The Baltimore Sun

August 3, 2016

New left-hander Wade Miley was kept on turn for his Orioles debut Thursday at Camden Yards,

with manager Buck Showalter not wanting to mess with his routine coming off a July where he

had a 3.45 ERA.

"I think having him sit around too long [could hurt]," Showalter said. "He's pitching well and

we'll keep the ball in his hand. I also wanted to give [Chris Tillman] an extra day, just one, and I

didn't want [Yovani] Gallardo to sit around for four or five extra days. He's been throwing the

ball pretty well. I want to keep that intact for everybody."

Showalter glad for tough Bundy decision: Twice in a week, Showalter has had to do the

calculations to figure out how far he'd be willing to let prized young pitcher Dylan Bundy carry a

no-hitter in the infancy of his career as a major league starter.

Bundy retired the first 16 batters he faced on July 27 against the Colorado Rockies, then didn't

allow a hit until the sixth inning again Tuesday. Showalter was emphatic Tuesday night, and

again Wednesday afternoon, that Bundy would have been limited to seven innings in his most

recent start regardless of the no-hitter.

"What would happen if he had a no-hitter going into the eighth with 85 pitches?" Showalter said.

"He would have been done. We would have taken him out. For what reason would he continue?

…

"It's not easy. I'm just telling you what we would have done. There's nothing easy about it at all.

There's things you think about with your heart as much as your head, but usually what's right in

your head is what's good for the Orioles. It's more about what's best for us."

Bundy is now 2-2 with a 3.00 ERA in four career starts, with 24 strikeouts and five walks in 21

innings.

Around the horn: Showalter said he considers Rickard (right thumb ligament tear), left-

hander T.J. McFarland (knee sprain) and left-hander Brian Duensing(elbow surgery) candidates

to return around the time rosters expand on Sept. 1. McFarland has a bullpen session scheduled

for soon, Showalter said. … Thirteen-year-old chef Bryce Taylor, a Baltimore native who was a

finalist on the Food Network's "Chopped Junior," threw out the ceremonial first pitch

Wednesday and judged a cooking contest during the day featuring center fielder Adam Jones.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-orioles-on-deck-what-to-watch-

wednesday-vs-rangers-20160803-story.html

Orioles on deck: What to watch Wednesday vs. Rangers

By Josh Land / The Baltimore Sun

August 3, 2016

Orioles (60-45) vs. Texas Rangers (62-45)

Where: Camden Yards

First pitch: 7:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: MASN2/105.7 The Fan

Starting pitchers: Orioles RHP Kevin Gausman (2-8, 4.18 ERA) vs. Rangers LHP Cole

Hamels (12-2, 2.84 ERA)

What to watch

1. Back in black (and orange): After being acquired by the Orioles for the fourth time in his

career, Steve Pearcemakes his first start back with the club. The Orioles traded catcher Jonah

Heim for Pearce at the nonwaiver trade deadline, and have inserted the lefty-mashing slugger in

the lineup tonight against southpaw Cole Hamels. Pearce is hitting .377/.476/.736 against lefties

this season. Hamels ranks second in theAmerican League with a 2.84 ERA. Will Pearce help the

Orioles get the best of him?

2. Gausman's turn: Dylan Bundy made an impressive seven-inning start Tuesday, and now it's

Kevin Gausman's turn. To make it two straight strong starts, Gausman will have to improve upon

one of his worst starts of the season -- he was torched for six runs in three innings Friday in

Toronto. Will he bounce back?

3. Streaking again? The Orioles offense has begun to heat up with at least five runs in three of

four games after a stretch of just three such performances in the previous 16 games. That has

helped the Orioles win two straight since losing five in a row. Can the offense help the Orioles

make it three consecutive victories and a series win over the American League-leading Rangers?

Orioles lineup

CF Adam Jones

2B Jonathan Schoop

3B Manny Machado

DH Mark Trumbo

1B Chris Davis

RF Steve Pearce

C Matt Wieters

SS J.J. Hardy

LF Nolan Reimold

http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/dining/baltimore-diner-blog/bal-adam-jones-local-

fry-cookoff-20160803-story.html

Adam Jones, Local Fry owners go head-to-head in cookoff;

the winner is ...

The Baltimore Sun

August 3, 2016

#Stayhungry.

Yes, Orioles center fielder Adam Jones swept the voting in a cookoff between himself and Local

Fry owners Kevin and Elizabeth Irish, the winners of MASN's 2016 CareFirst Fan Challenge, at

Dempsey’s on Wednesday.

The judges were Bryce Taylor, a Mount Washington teen who appeared on "Chopped Junior";

Chad Gauss, owner and executive chef of the Food Market; and Orioles pitcher Zach Britton.

(Perhaps the deck was stacked in Jones' favor.)

Jones ruled with a concotion of French fries, meat, guacamole, sour cream, cheese and hot sauce.

"That’s what I grew up on in the inner city of San Diego," he said. "I want to slowly bring that

kind of food out here because it’s inexpensive but it’s good. It’s efficient. It’s quick. That’s what

a lot of people like."

The Local Fry folks were gracious in defeat.

"I feel like a winner anyway if he just comes down to our shop and has some food with us. It’s

awesome meeting him just for this opportunity," said Elizabeth Irish.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-first-child-to-receive-double-hand-

transplant-throws-out-first-pitch-before-orioles-game-20160803-story.html

First child to receive double-hand transplant throws out first

pitch before Orioles game

By Josh Land / The Baltimore Sun

August 3, 2016

Lost before the one-hit gem of Dylan Bundy on Tuesday was the pregame ceremonial first pitch

thrown by Zion Harvey.

Harvey, a 9-year-old from Owings Mills, became the first child in the world to receive a double-

hand transplant last summer at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Harvey's hands and feet were amputated at age 2 after a sepsis infection led to gangrene.

He spent the year since his surgery working to regain hand function and the ability to throw a

baseball through rigorous therapy sessions.

And on Tuesday night, he accomplished it at Camden Yards by throwing out the first pitch to

center fielder Adam Jones.

Click here for video of the first pitch.

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/193517552/orioles-enjoying-mlbs-best-home-record/

Majors' best home team turns it on in Baltimore

By Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com

August 3, 2016

BALTIMORE -- The Orioles can practically do no wrong at Camden Yards.

Baltimore continues to be the best in the Majors at home, with Wednesday's 3-2 win over the

Rangers improving the club to an impressive 39-16 on the season.

"I wish I knew, but I don't," starter Kevin Gausman said of his own much-improved stats at

home. "I just feel comfortable pitching here. Maybe I know that the ballpark plays pretty small,

so maybe that's why I keep the ball down more here than anywhere else. I don't know if that has

anything to do with it, but this was a great team win."

Gausman, who threw seven innings of two-run ball, improved to 3-1 with a 2.22 ERA in eight

home games, vs. 0-7 with a 5.62 ERA in 11 road starts. But he's hardly alone.

As a whole, the O's have been able to pitch better, and their offense -- with a Major League-

leading 86 home runs at home -- has thrived at Camden Yards. Baltimore has lost just two home

series all year.

"I don't know. I haven't thought about it a lot," manager Buck Showalter said of his team's home

success, which includes no losing homestands. "When we get off this road trip, we'll have

played, I think, seven or eight more games on the road than we will at home, and we know at the

end of the year, we'll have played the same, home and away. If you act like it's a given, that goes

away. If you act like not winning enough on the road is something's that's going to happen all

year, then that becomes something. ... We just don't dwell on those things.

"If I knew ... it's not that easy to just dial it up. It's all about the body of the work. If you're not

going to play particularly well on the road, you've got to play real well at home. We've played

some good games on the road, too."

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/193473970/miley-debuts-as-orioles-eye-sweep-of-rangers/

Miley debuts as Orioles eye sweep of Rangers

By Ryan Baillargeon / MLB.com

August 3, 2016

In their 107th game of the season, the Orioles will send a left-handed starter to the mound for the

first time. Wade Miley, whom the O's acquired from the Mariners on Monday, will make his

Orioles debut Thursday in the series finale with the Rangers.

Coming from the American League West, Miley is familiar with the Rangers this year. His first

two starts of the season came against Texas, and he faced them again June 12.

Miley has struggled to contain the Rangers' lineup, though, and Thursday will be an ever tougher

challenge given that Texas has added Carlos Beltran and Jonathan Lucroy since their last

meeting. In his three starts against the Rangers this season, Miley is 0-2 with a 7.41 ERA.

"He throws strikes," manager Buck Showalter said. "He sinks a little bit, coming off some good

outings. Been throwing the ball good."

The Rangers will send righty A.J. Griffin to the mound against Miley. Griffin (4-1, 3.99 ERA)

has struggled to go deep in games this season -- he hasn't pitched six innings since May 2.

Three things to know about this game:

• Griffin will make his second career start against the Orioles, and his first this season. In his

2013 outing against Baltimore, Griffin took a loss after allowing four runs in seven innings.

• Rangers outfielder Shin-Soo Choo (lower back inflammation) could return from the disabled

list Thursday. Choo took batting practice Tuesday and did baserunning drills Wednesday.

Manager Jeff Banister said the Rangers would see how Choo felt after Wednesday and make a

decision from there.

• Thursday marks the final regular-season meeting between the clubs. The Rangers and Orioles

have split the first six games of the season series.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2016/08/the-best-of-britton-and-bonding-with-

miley.html

The best of Britton and bonding with Miley

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

August 4, 2016

Any discussion of Cy Young Award candidates in the American League must

include Oriolescloser Zach Britton. To omit him would be like forgetting to wear pants.

OK, that’s probably a poor analogy. There are no laws against omitting Britton. It would be a

mistake, but not indecent. You’d be exposing yourself in a completely different way.

Britton lowered his ERA last night to 0.59 in 45 2/3 innings, best in the majors, while converting

his 33rd consecutive save opportunity to start the season, the most by a left-handed reliever in

baseball history. His 106 career saves rank third in club history.

Sporting News contributor Ryan Spaeder (@theaceofspaeder) tweeted last night that Britton’s

career 1.45 ERA as a reliever is the lowest in baseball history among pitchers with at least 100

appearances.

Britton hasn’t given up an earned run since April. The Padres scored three unearned runs on June

21. That’s it.

He’s also doing it for the first place team in the American League East. The Orioles remain one

game ahead of the Blue Jays.

Wade Miley may be making his first start with the Orioles tonight, but he’s not unfamiliar to the

team he’s facing at Camden Yards.

Miley already has seen the Rangers three times this season, including his first two starts. He’s

done as follows:

April 6: six innings, seven hits, five runs, no walks, seven strikeouts

April 12: six innings, 10 hits, six runs, no walks, seven strikeouts

June 12: five innings, four hits, three runs, three walks, six strikeouts

Miley is 1-4 with a 5.55 ERA in six career starts against the Rangers. He’s working on normal

rest tonight, with manager Buck Showalter choosing to push back Yovani Gallardo to Friday

night in Chicago.

Delino DeShields, Jr. is 4-for-9 lifetime against Miley. Jonathan Lucroy is 4-for-11 with a

double and home run. Elvis Andrus is 5-for-15 with three doubles. Ian Desmond is 3-for-16 with

a home run and six strikeouts.

Miley registered a 7.40 ERA in four starts in June and a 3.45 ERA in five starts in July. Hence,

his increased trade value. Get him while he’s hot.

Right-hander A.J. Griffin is 4-1 with a 3.99 ERA in 13 starts this season. He hasn’t provided

much length for the Rangers, his innings totals in July reading as follows:

Four innings

Five innings

Five innings

Five innings

Five innings

5 2/3 innings

Get him while he’s still in the game.

Right-handers are hitting .190 against Griffin and left-handers are hitting .264. Go ahead and

pencil in Hyun Soo Kim in left field, Mark Trumbo in right and Pedro Alvarez as the designated

hitter.

Griffin’s lone start against the Orioles came on April 27, 2013 in Oakland, where he allowed

four runs and five hits and struck out seven batters over seven innings in a 7-3 loss. Adam

Jones and Nick Markakis homered off him.

The current Orioles are 4-for-25 against Griffin. Trumbo is 1-for-8 with four strikeouts.

Miley and the Orioles are still getting acquainted. The relationship between Miley and his

catchers especially is important for obvious reasons. It’s a process, but it doesn’t have to be a

tedious one.

“I was thinking about that,” Showalter said. “The first time you’ve ever been traded, you’ve been

in one organization your whole life, it’s a big adjustment, depending on who it is. But a guy like

Miley, who’s been with his fourth club, this is kind of old hat to him, so I think it’ll be a quick

adjustment.

“I’ve seen our catchers the last two days looking at tape of his last couple outings, getting ready

to ... And they’re talking. I was watching Caleb (Joseph) and him talking in the dugout last night

about different things. It’s an adjustment, but our guys spend a lot of time to make his path

easier. We’re going to try to adjust to him instead of him to us.”

It’s important for the catchers to learn Miley’s sequences and patterns.

“He’s a really quick-tempo guy,” Showalter said. “He’s got some (Mark) Buehrle in him, the

way he goes about things, which is always good in August with the heat. But just looking for

things he likes to go to. Look at the shake offs, a lot of things to get a feel for so you can cut to

the chase.”

No word yet on whether Joseph or Matt Wieters will catch Miley tonight. Joseph was at his

locker yesterday afternoon. Wieters appeared for about 10 seconds, grabbed something from his

locker and left before I could talk to him. So, here’s Joseph on the process of getting comfortable

with Miley, which shouldn’t be mistaken for a lineup prediction:

“I think there’s a blueprint there, but sometimes things seem one way and they’re really not, if

that makes any sense,” Joseph said. “A lot of it will be done by just talking to him and some

video work, obviously, just going back and seeing if he’s faced these guys. The majority of it

will just be talking.

“From a catcher’s standpoint, you want to know the guy’s best or favorite out pitch, the pitch

he’s most comfortable throwing behind in the count 2-0, 3-1. An off-speed pitch maybe. Where

he misses. What I like to know is if you get two strikes on a guy, do you normally bounce the

slider? Very basic things just to make sure you’re prepared to present those pitches the best you

can. But the game plan will be heavily dictated on their strengths and their weaknesses versus his

strengths and his weaknesses.”

So much depends on the opponent, not just the pitcher.

“There’s a period there where you just want to learn the guy, because you don’t always want to

go straight to their weaknesses because sometimes that may not be the best pitch,” Joseph said.

“Sometimes you want to go mano y mano. For example, let’s say whoever we’re playing does

really well with changeups. Well, does that mean we’re not going to throw (Dylan) Bundy’s

changeup? Not necessarily. Whose changeup do they hit and in what location. So, those are

things you feel out.

“It takes more in-game experience than just sitting down and talking. You can talk all you want,

but you really find out a lot in-game. So, there’s a level of communication and knowledge you

can attain, but in my opinion, most of the work will be done during the game. Feeling him out in

certain situations. And then you go from there.

“And of course, the catcher who’s not catching is paying close attention and watching and you

can learn a lot just by watching, as well.”

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2016/08/showalter-on-gausman-oday-home-success-

and-a-3-2-victory.html

Showalter on Gausman, O’Day, home success and a 3-2

victory

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

August 3, 2016

Kevin Gausman threw 15 pitches in the first inning tonight and 35 in the second. He served up a

home run to the third batter of the game. Nothing about the early portion of this story suggested a

happy ending.

Gausman did a major rewrite against the Rangers, working through the seventh inning and

leaving with a 3-2 lead that held up after manager Buck Showalter turned to his bullpen.

Darren O’Day, working on back-to-back nights, retired the side in order in the eighth, and Zach

Britton recorded his 33rd save to give the Orioles their third consecutive victory and guarantee

another home series win.

Britton’s 33 consecutive saves to begin a season are the most by a left-handed reliever,

surpassing the Tigers’ Willie Hernandez in 1984. His 106 saves move him past Tippy Martinez

for third place on the Orioles’ all-time list.

Gausman allowed two runs - none after the second - and seven hits while improving to 3-8 with a

4.08 ERA. He walked one, struck out seven and gave up a home run to Carlos Beltran. Showalter

removed him after 108 pitches.

The Rangers scored again in the second on Rougned Odor’s leadoff double and Jonathan

Lucroy’s single with the counts 0-2 and 1-2, respectively. Nomar Mazara walked and Gausman

threatened to make another early exit, but he retired nine of the next 10 batters.

Gausman has three quality starts in his last four outings and five in his last seven.

The Orioles jumped left-hander Cole Hamels in the first inning, a guy who ranks among the

favorites for the American League’s Cy Young Award. They scored all three of their runs and

didn’t get another hit until Mark Trumbo’s leadoff single in the sixth.

Four hits would suffice tonight.

Matt Wieters had the decisive hit with a two-out, two-run single after back-to-back walks toChris

Davis and Steve Pearce. Pearce twice struck out looking and expressed his displeasure with plate

umpire Stu Scheurwater. Body language can speak volumes.

Wieters earned Player of the Game honors by also throwing out Odor trying to advance to

second base with one in the ninth. The ball got away from Wieters, but not far enough for Odor

to move into scoring position.

Anyone still questioning Wieters’ elbow may now stop.

Here’s a sampling from Showalter:

On a one-run second inning and holding the lead being key for Gausman: “That’s what

Wally (Dave Wallace) and I were talking about when the game ended. That was one of the keys

to the game. Another was getting right back in there and scoring three. The old bent but didn’t

break. Showed a lot of moxie that inning. It’s the time of the year where the individual stuff kind

of goes away.

“We played really well defensively tonight, Chris (Davis) made a really good play. J.J. (Hardy)

made a play up the middle not many shortstops make. Matt made a great play in the last inning.

That’s a hard play for a catcher.”

On whether the second inning shows Gausman’s maturation that may carry over: “That’s a

good narrative, but every game is a different challenge. You’re on the road, it’s hot, it’s cold, it’s

windy, there’s different hitters. It’s just, it can’t hurt. He’s done that before. It’s not the first time

he’s answered a challenge.

“He had really good command on his fastball. They’re a good offensive team and Kevin and

Dylan (Bundy) really pitched well the past two nights. So did our bullpen. Darren had a good

eighth inning for us.”

On the Orioles’ tendency to beat good pitchers: “I think the step-ups come from our pitcher.

You know those guys’ runs are going to be at a premium. Our guys, you’ve got to be ready to go

first inning. That’s probably one of the few poor pitches he made all night.

“You can give in to what conventionality says it should be like, where you can compete and look

at it as an opportunity to present yourself real well to your team and to the opposition, and one

that may not look good on paper. But Hamel’s having a great year. You can make a case for him

being the leading candidate for the Cy Young. But it wasn’t like we beat him up or anything. We

had one shot at it and we took advantage of it. And our pitching made it hold up. And the

defense.”

On the difference in O’Day since he came off the DL: “He’s healthy. He had a couple plays

the last two nights. He had the jump in the air tonight. He had to stop and start covering first

base, which was the one I was really looking at last night. I think his last probably three outings

before he went on the DL, he was fighting it, hoping it (hamstring) would quiet down. We stayed

away from him some, but that last day we could tell he wasn’t able to pitch at the level he’s

capable of. But sometimes Darren, that’s good enough. But with a long season ...

“He’s been big since we got him back. He’s kind of picked up where he left off when he was

healthy.”

On the reasons for the Orioles’ continued success at home: “I don’t know. I haven’t thought

about it a lot. When we get off this road trip, we’ll have played, I think, seven or eight more

games on the road than we will at home and we know at the end of the year we’ll have played

the same home and away. If you act like it’s a given, that goes away. If you act like not winning

enough on the road is something’s that’s going to happen all year, then that becomes something

...

“We just don’t dwell on those things. We just take each game and there’s been times we sat in

this room the last two or three years and our record wasn’t very good at home. What’s that all

about? If I knew ... It’s not that easy to just dial it up. It’s all about the body of the work. If

you’re not going to play particularly well on the road, you’ve got to play real well at home.

We’ve played some good games on the road, too.”

On beating playoff-caliber teams: “We’re playing some good teams. If you look at our

schedule, it’s a top-rated schedule the rest of the way. You know what? Our guys are pretty

good, too. They enjoy the competition. They don’t shirk from it. They like people telling them

they shouldn’t be able to do it. They like proving people wrong. They’ve done that for quite a

while.”

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2016/08/showalter-on-britton-theres-nobody-out-

there-better-than-him.html

Showalter on Britton: “There’s nobody out there better than

him”

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

August 3, 2016

The Orioles are starting Yovani Gallardo, Chris Tillman and Dylan Bundy for their three-game

series against the White Sox that begins Friday night in Chicago.

Manager Buck Showalter is pushing back Gallardo, who was listed as Thursday’s starter against

the Rangers before the Orioles traded for Wade Miley. He also wanted to give Tillman an extra

day of rest.

Former Orioles right-hander Miguel Gonzalez is starting Friday for the White Sox. He’s 2-5 with

a 4.06 ERA in 17 games, including 16 starts, but he’s registered quality starts in his last six

outings.

The White Sox will start Carlos Rodon on Saturday and James Shields on Sunday.

Showalter started off today’s media session with an update on outfielder Joey Rickard, who’s on

the disabled list with a thumb ligament injury.

“He’ doing good,” Showalter said. “I don’t think it’s going to be any earlier. They kept him in

the splint. The swelling’s gone. It’s very similar to the one (Dustin) Pedroia had. The one

(Trevor) Story just had required surgery because he tore it all the way off. Joey’s wasn’t, so I

think we’ll get him back sometime this year. It’s just a matter how quickly. It’s going to be hard

to think it would be before September.”

As I wrote this morning, Rickard will go to Sarasota next week while the Orioles are on the West

Coast.

Closer Zach Britton warmed up last night before the Orioles tacked on another run in the bottom

of the eighth inning to remove him from a save situation. His 32 consecutive saves tie him with

the Tigers’ Willie Hernandez (1984) for the most by a left-hander to start a season.

Britton has recorded 105 saves in fewer than three full seasons. The first came on May 15, 2014

after he replaced Tommy Hunter as closer.

“He was pretty good from the get-go,” Showalter said. “He’s just got great presentation now. I’d

picky telling you he’s got to improve on this. I don’t think I’ve seen many guys take to it that

quickly. I think he’s learned little things like last night, knowing if we score a run he’s not in the

game. Giving an honest evaluation about where he is physically and everything. Saving his

bullets.

“He’s worked hard on his breaking ball. There are going to be some nights when that third time

out there he’s probably going to need to go to a secondary pitch. Kind of knowing who he is, and

he never gives in. He just doesn’t give in.

“There’s always a debate. You could throw four or five guys in the same hat, but there’s nobody

out there better than him.”

Britton didn’t have a clear role before inheriting the ninth inning. He was out of options and out

of chances in the rotation. The first step was adapting to the bullpen. Then came the closer’s job.

“His personality fit it so much,” Showalter said.

“There were nights when you’d see for four or five innings as a starter he’d just sit there and

pitch with his sinker. With all that being said, nobody knew, nobody’s that smart. I’ve said that

100 times about a lot of things. You just reach back with the experience you’ve had with other

guys, the personality.

“First of all, he had really good stuff. Really good stuff.”

Being a left-hander also elevated Britton as a closer.

“Those guys negate the left-handed bats late in a game that come off the bench,” Showalter said.

“A lot of these ballparks are left-handed friendly. And it holds runners. It does a lot of great

things to have a left-handed closer. That’s why there are so few of them. It’s hard to come up

with 10 of them in the last 20 years.”

Showalter named former Orioles Randy Myers and B.J. Ryan. We could go back further and

include Tippy Martinez.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2016/08/quick-hits-from-camden-yards-7.html

Quick hits from Camden Yards

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

August 3, 2016

There wasn’t much news to come out of today’s pregame session with Orioles manager Buck

Showalter.

Showalter doesn’t sound confident that Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard will be cleared to play before

September.

Rickard continues to wear a splint on his right hand due to a torn ligament in his thumb. He can

remove the splint for short periods, but he’s still required to wear it following Monday’s

examination.

While Showalter believes that Rickard will return this season, he added that it’s “hard to think

before September.”

Left-hander T.J. McFarland is ready to throw a bullpen session as he recovers from a knee

injury.

Another left-hander, Brian Duensing, should be ready to return when he’s eligible in about three

weeks “if he continues down the path he’s on,” Showalter said.

Duensing underwent surgery in late June to remove cartilage chips from his elbow. He’s

currently on the 60-day disabled list.

Rickard, McFarland and Duensing can be the equivalent of September call-ups to an expanded

roster.

Showalter didn’t have an update on reliever Chaz Roe, who was designated for assignment on

Friday.

Double-A Bowie left-hander Chris Lee still hasn’t been cleared to throw after being shut down

again with a lat injury. Lee could get some innings in the fall instructional league or Arizona Fall

League.

The Orioles met today to discuss rosters for both leagues. Showalter didn’t think the 2016 draft

picks would be included. First-rounder Cody Sedlock will have enough innings this year.

The Orioles eventually will have to decide which players to protect from the Rule 5 draft. One

possibility is Bowie’s Jesus Liranzo, 21, who posted a 1.05 ERA and 0.79 WHIP in 16 relief

appearances at low Single-A Delmarva before moving up two spots in the system.

Liranzo, who combines a plus slider with a fastball that touches the upper 90s, has made two

appearances with Bowie since his promotion. He’s walked one and struck out three in three

scoreless and hitless innings.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2016/08/orioles-and-rangers-lineups-15.html

Orioles and Rangers lineups

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

August 3, 2016

Steve Pearce makes his 2016 Orioles debut tonight, starting in right field and batting sixth

against Rangers left-hander Cole Hamels.

Pearce is 1-for-6 with a double and three strikeouts lifetime against Hamels.

Nolan Reimold is in right field andMark Trumbo is the designated hitter.

Trumbo, batting cleanup tonight, is 3-for-34 in his last nine games.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Dylan Bundy is only the second Orioles rookie to go at

least seven innings and allow no more than one hit and one walk. He joins Wally Bunker on July

3, 1964.

Mitch Moreland is batting .302/.351/.642 (16-for-53) with three doubles, five home runs, 12

RBIs and 11 runs scored over his last 14 games against the Orioles since June 4, 2014.

Online betting site Bovada has the Orioles at 16/1 to win the World Series. They were 12/1 on

July 1.

Left-hander Nick Additon was granted his release from Triple-A Norfolk. Tyler Wilson was

added to the Tides roster and is starting tonight. Odrisamer Despaigne starts on Thursday.

For the Orioles

Adam Jones CF

Jonathan Schoop 2B

Manny Machado 3B

Mark Trumbo DH

Chris Davis 1B

Steve Pearce RF

Matt Wieters C

J.J. Hardy SS

Nolan Reimold LF

Kevin Gausman RHP

For the Rangers

Jurickson Profar LF

Ian Desmond CF

Carlos Beltran DH

Adrian Beltre 3B

Rougned Odor 2B

Jonathan Lucroy C

Nomar Mazara RF

Mitch Moreland 1B

Elvis Andrus SS

Cole Hamels LHP

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2016/08/a-look-at-kevin-gausmans-home-versus-

road-stats-plus-other-notes.html

A look at Kevin Gausman’s home versus road stats, plus

other notes

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com

August 4, 2016

In the first two innings last night, it didn’t look like Kevin Gausman was on his game.

The Oriolesright-hander allowed a run in the first and threw 35 pitches as Texas cut the O’s two-

run lead into a one-run game in the second.

But without warning, Gausman got locked in. After throwing 50 pitches over those first two

innings, he needed to throw just 58 more pitches over the next five innings. With Texas left-

hander Cole Hamels getting locked in himself, the Orioles needed Gausman’s big outing to win

3-2 last night.

This was much better than Friday’s game at Toronto, where Gausman allowed three homers in

the first inning to the first five batters. Gausman has allowed two runs or fewer in three of his

past four starts and has quality starts in five of his past seven outings. He had a bad night at

Rogers Centre, but he certainly bounced back last night.

By the stat sheet, Gausman is a very different pitcher at home this year. While he is 0-7 with a

5.62 ERA and .309 average against in 11 road starts, Gausman is much better at Oriole Park. In

eight home starts, he is 3-1 with a 2.39 ERA and .224 average against.

In Gausman’s last three home starts he has allowed no runs over 7 2/3 innings against Tampa

Bay, no runs over seven innings versus Cleveland and two runs over seven innings last night

against Texas. That is an ERA of 0.84.

Gausman was at a loss Wednesday night when asked to explain why the difference is so vast in

his home and road stats.

“I wish I knew, but I don’t,” Gausman said. “I don’t know if I just feel comfortable pitching

here. Or, maybe I know the ballpark plays pretty small and maybe that’s why I keep the ball

down more here than anywhere else. I don’t know if that has anything to do with it.

“But this was a great team win the and obviously the defense came through big. (Matt) Wieters

had some huge blocks and that play in the ninth too. When you have (Jonathan) Schoop and J.J.

(Hardy) up the middle, you always feel comfortable with a guy at first. Anytime you can get a

ground ball, it doesn’t matter how hard it’s hit, it kind of seems like they knock it down and get

you a good chance to get two.”

Gausman has allowed nine of his 20 homers in the first inning this year. But he keeps the ball in

the park much better at home, where he has allowed 1.03 homers for every nine innings pitched

compared to 2.18 per nine innings away from home.

More notes on the Orioles:

* Since losing five in a row, the Orioles have won three straight, outscoring their opponents 14-

5. The Orioles had allowed 30 runs during the five-game loss streak.

* The Orioles tagged a rare one-run loss on Texas last night as the Rangers are now 23-8 in one-

run contests. The Orioles are 13-10.

* O’s pitchers have held Texas to three runs on 10 hits and a team batting average of .172 in this

series.

* Orioles third baseman Manny Machado doubled in the bottom of the first inning, his 31st

double of the season in 101 games. He hit 30 doubles in 162 games last season. Machado has hit

safely in 10 of his last 13 games, batting .271/.364/.479 (13-for-48).

* Catcher Matt Wieters has recorded at least one RBI in a season-high-tying three straight

games. He also did that from April 4-8.

* The Orioles are 39-16 at home and are 13-2-3 in 18 home series. They have won this series by

taking the first two games. At Oriole Park, the Orioles are 8-2 their last 10 games and 22-6 in

their last 28.

* The O’s last three starting pitchers - Chris Tillman, Dylan Bundy and Gausman - have allowed

four earned runs over 19 2/3 innings for an ERA of 1.83.

* Chris Davis stole second base in the bottom of the sixth inning, his first stolen base of the

season. It was his first steal since Aug. 19, 2015 versus the New York Mets.

Nearly perfect: Right-hander Tyler Wilson got the start for Triple-A Norfolk last night at

Durham. He pitched five perfect innings and then Edgar Olmos came on. He pitched three

perfect innings. So when new Tide lefty Tom Gorzelanny took the mound for the bottom of the

ninth inning, he had a 6-0 lead and was three outs from a three-pitcher perfect game.

But the Tides didn’t get it.

Gorzelanny retired the first batter he faced, but Eury Perez reached on a one-out fielding error by

third baseman Michael Almanzar to break up the perfect game. Juniel Querecuto then singled

through the left side and the no-hit bid ended too. But he retired the next two hitters to complete

a one-hitter for the Tides and Wilson got the win.

Christian Walker had a two-run single while Corban Joseph added a two-run homer for Norfolk.

Francisco Pena and Trey Mancini hit solo homers for the Tides.

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2016/08/kevin-gausman-and-matt-wieters-on-the-

win-over-texas.html

Kevin Gausman and Matt Wieters on the win over Texas

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com

August 3, 2016

So over the last three games, the Orioles have won games started by Toronto’s Aaron Sanchez

and by Yu Darvish and Cole Hamels of the Texas Rangers. Sanchez was first in the American

League in ERA when they faced him and Hamels was second when he took the mound tonight.

But the Orioles scored three in the first off Hamels and their pitching made it stand up for a 3-2

win. Kevin Gausman needed 50 pitches to get through the first two innings, when he allowed

single runs each inning. And then he needed just 58 pitches over the next five scoreless innings.

He allowed seven hits and two runs over seven innings and is 3-8 with an ERA of 4.08. Over his

past four home starts, Gausman has an ERA of 0.98.

What was the reason tonight for the slow start before he settled in?

“I think just fastball command, more than anything,” Gausman said. “Felt really good early on

but they were also really tough early on. They didn’t go after many changeups or splits down.

But just tried to throw more strikes. But definitely got better as the game went on.”

And he got the win against Hamels, who began the game at 12-2 with an ERA of 2.84 and an

ERA of 0.84 in three second-half starts.

“Yeah, he’s one of the best starting pitchers in the game and has been great, really his whole

career,” Gausman said. “You know when the guys put up three on him, I knew that probably

wasn’t going to happen again. Runs are at a premium in games like this. You knew he’d lock it

down, so I tried to do the same thing.”

The Orioles now have a series win against AL Central-leading Texas and now go for a sweep

after pinning loses on Darvish and Hamels on back-to-back nights.

“It’s big,” Gausman said. “They are a very good baseball team and they kind of had our number

really this year. But to come out and get the first two is huge and we’ll look for a sweep

tomorrow. But that is a tough lineup, especially with the two guys they picked up (Carlos Beltran

and Jonathan Lucroy). Good pitching staff and and an explosive lineup, so when you can beat a

team two games in a row like that, it’s huge.”

Gausman’s outing tonight was a nice bounceback game from Friday in Toronto when he allowed

three homers in the first inning. Now we see if he can build on it.

Catcher Matt Wieters thinks he can.

“I think what is big for him is in-game adjustments,” Wieters said. “The one thing he is coming

along with is in-game adjustments. Knowing that if his best stuff isn’t there in the first or second,

he might have it in the fourth or fifth. You keep hanging on, giving us a chance and getting us

back in the dugout.”

Gausman really had to hang on during the top of the second. He led 3-1 and gave up a run to

make it 3-2, but he survived a 35-pitch inning that seemed to fuel the rest of his night and the

five zeroes he would put up after that.

“Yeah, they put some good at-bats against him and took some tough pitches,” Wieters said. “But

he kept going and was able to keep throwing strikes and keep throwing strikes. It was a big

learning experience for him today. That is a good lineup that puts together good at-bats, but if

you make good pitches, pitching is going to win over hitting most nights.”

Wieters produced a big two-out, two-run single in the first inning as the Orioles scored three in

the first off Hamels, who took his third loss of 2016.

“Anytime you can put up a big inning against Hamels, it’s good, because he’s tough.,” said

Wieters, who is 2-for-6 with three RBIs in the series. “Kevin and Darren (O’Day) and Zach

(Britton) did a great job of making those three runs hold up. That’s a great job out of our staff.

“(Steve) Pearce had a great at-bat in front of me. Stevie laid off some good changeups and I

knew Hamels was going to come after me a little bit. So I was able to get a fastball in the middle

and get it through. Took a good swing last night and a couple tonight, so feeling better and hope

to keep it going.”

The Orioles had lost seven of their last eight and nine of 10 against Texas at the start of this

series. The Rangers were 7-2 their last nine games before losing two in Baltimore. The Orioles

are 61-45 overall and 39-16 at home where they are 22-6 in there last 28 games.

Britton earned his 33rd save and moved into sole possession of third place on the Orioles all-time

saves list with 106 career saves, passing Tippy Martinez. Britton now holds the club record for

most saves by a left-handed pitcher.

By going 33-for-33 in save opportunities to start the season, according to STATS, LLC., Britton

set the major league record for the longest saves streak in as many chances to start a year by a

left-handed pitcher. He passed Willie Hernandez of the 1984 Detroit Tigers who began 32-for-

32. Britton’s 33 straight saves are tied for the seventh-longest stretch in major league history.

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2016/08/os-game-blog-kevin-gausman-faces-cole-

hamels-in-game-2-with-texas.html

O’s game blog: Kevin Gausman faces Cole Hamels in Game

2 with Texas

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com

August 3, 2016

The recently streaky Orioles look for a third straight win tonight when they host the American

League Central-leading Texas Rangers at Camden Yards. Since July 17, the Orioles have lost

four in a row, won five in a row, lost four straight and now have won their past two games over

Toronto and Texas.

At 60-45, the Orioles lead the AL East by one game over Toronto and two games over Boston.

The Orioles are 38-16 at home and are 12-2-3 in 17 home series at Oriole Park.

On the mound tonight, right-hander Kevin Gausman (2-8, 4.18 ERA) faces Texas left-hander

Cole Hamels (12-2, 2.84 ERA). Hamels is second in the AL in ERA, tied for fifth in wins and

was on the AL All-Star team.

Gausman is coming an outing where he allowed three solo homers to the first five batters he

faced Friday at Toronto. He gave up six runs over three innings in that game and afterward said,

“This is obviously a big series for us right now, so for me to go out there and not even be

competitive was bad.” You can read Gausman’s postgame quotes from that last start here.

In seven home starts, Gausman is 2-1 with a 2.36 ERA and .218 batting average against.

Gausman has allowed just one run in 20 2/3 innings in his past three home starts. He has a

scoreless streak of 17 2/3 innings at home.

Hamels is 3-0 with an ERA of 0.84 in three starts since the All-Star break. He has allowed 15

hits and two earned runs in 21 1/3 innings with four walks and 23 strikeouts. He has recorded 14

quality starts this season and the Rangers are 16-5 in his 21 starts.

Showalter on some baby Birds: Orioles manager Buck Showalter is known to often mention

minor league players during his pregame press conference and it happened again today. It came

in the context of what he said could be an interesting winter for the Orioles to decide which

players they may have to add to their 40-man roster in advance of the Rule 5 draft.

One name that is now on the radar is 21-year-old right-hander Jesus Liranzo from the

Dominican Republic. He was released by Atlanta and signed by the Orioles. After he had an

elbow procedure, he’s had a big year on the O’s farm and was recently promoted from Single-A

Delmarva to Double-A Bowie.

“You been watching this Liranzo kid? Pretty special,” Showalter said. “They moved him up to

Double-A because he was lighting it up. He’s got a plus slider, too. He has a screw in his elbow.

Guy named Pedro Strop had one of those. Great pickup by our guys. He may have to be

protected.”

Liranzo throws 96-97 mph with a solid slider. He had an ERA of 1.05 with Delmarva and fanned

46 while allowing just 12 hits in 34 1/3 innings with the Shorebirds. He has pitched three

scoreless innings in his first two games for Bowie. The Orioles signed him as minor league free

agent July 6, 2013.

“Tell you a kid that is coming onto the scene is (Jimmy) Yacabonis. He’s come on throwing 97,

98,” Showalter said. “The (Stefan) Crichton kid, too. There are four or five of them throwing the

ball good. Audry Perez has had heck of a year down there. He’s healthy again. Going to be an

interesting offseason roster.”

Yacabonis is 2-1 with a 1.65 ERA in 23 games at Bowie. Crichton is 2-5 with a 3.79 ERA for the

Baysox. He has an ERA of 1.46 in July.

New Aberdeen boss: The short-season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds today announced the

appointment of Matt Slatus as general manager. Slatus will oversee the front office and game day

operations, lead all ticket sales efforts and continue to engage the local Harford County

community.

With more than 10 years of experience working with professional sports organizations, Slatus

has also spent time with the Brooklyn Cyclones, Staten Island Yankees, Madison Square Garden

Sports and Major League Baseball. Slatus received his bachelor’s degree in sports management

from New York University before earning his master’’s degree at Ohio University.

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2016/08/when-it-comes-to-dylan-bundy-the-

veteran-is-impressed-with-the-kid.html

When it comes to Dylan Bundy, the veteran is impressed

with the kid

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com

August 3, 2016

Orioles right-hander Dylan Bundy has made four major league starts. His teammate, Yovani

Gallardo, has made 257. The veteran is impressed with the kid. How could you not be after

Bundy’s latest outing for the Orioles last night.

Bundy had a no-hitter through 5 2/3 innings and gave up just one single over seven scoreless

frames as the Orioles beat Texas 5-1 in the series opener at Camden Yards.

“It’s pretty impressive,” Gallardo said. “Just from getting to know him a little bit this year, he’s

really learned throughout the year. He’s approaching the game the way he should. He’s been

scouting guys, seeing their reactions and reading swings. You don’t always see that from guys as

young as he is. It’s been fun to watch.

“Fun to see him get the opportunity to start. We are all excited for him. You never know what he

is going to go out there and do each and every time he takes the mound.”

Bundy improved to 4-3 with an ERA of 3.05 last night. In his four starts, he is 2-2 with an ERA

of 3.00 and 24 strikeouts over 21 innings.

Gallardo is also impressed by Bundy’s thirst for knowledge and that he comes to the veteran

pitchers to seek out tips and information.

“He actually does,” Gallardo said. “He asks a lot of questions and he wants to know the game.

He wants to know what to look for in certain spots and what to look for with certain hitters. He’ll

ask myself and (Chris) Tillman. He really wants to learn and we are both here to help any way

we can, whether it be on the field or off. He is really focused on what he is doing and he takes

whatever he works on out there on the field.”

Gallardo added that strong secondary pitches have been big for Bundy to complement his

fastball, which we have seen touch 97 and even 98 mph on a few pitches.

“His curveball is a plus, above-average curveball. It’s a really good curve that he commands at

any point in the count,” Gallardo said. “I think now that he can throw that changeup for strikes

and even as a putaway pitch, it makes him that much better. He can command both pitches and

that makes it that much harder to put good swings on against him which we have seen this year.”

http://www.espn.com/blog/baltimore-orioles/post/_/id/1170/return-of-darren-oday-bolsters-birds-

bullpen

Return of Darren O'Day bolsters Birds' bullpen

By Eddie Matz / ESPN

August 4, 2016

BALTIMORE -- This just in: Shortly before the trade deadline, the Baltimore Orioles added an

All-Star reliever to their already stacked bullpen. His name isDarren O'Day.

OK, so maybe the O’s didn’t acquire him via trade, as the Cubs did with Aroldis Chapman and

the Indians did with Andrew Miller. But on the scale of game-changing personnel moves, getting

O’Day back on the active roster ranks right up there with any deadline move made over the past

few weeks.

In Baltimore’s 3-2 victory Wednesday, the veteran right-hander, who was activated on July 24

after missing nearly two months because of a hamstring strain, entered the game in the eighth

inning with the Birds clinging to a one-run lead. Charged with the unenviable task of facing the

top of Texas’ order (Jurickson Profar, Ian Desmond, Carlos Beltran), O’Day retired the Rangers’

1-2-3 hitters in 1-2-3 fashion. A night earlier, he came on with two down in the eighth after

teammate Brad Brach had loaded the bases and punched out Desmond, then came back out to

pitch a perfect ninth and earn the save.

At first glance, you wouldn’t think the O’s pen needed any help. After all, the group's 3.08 ERA

in the first half of the season was the second-best in the American League. Closer Zach

Britton has been virtually unhittable and has converted every save appearance sent his way

(including the All-Star Game). Setup man Brach, filling in for O’Day, was just as good if not

better than Britton, and he made it to the Midsummer Classic too. But as good as the bullpen was

in the first half, the starting rotation was equally bad. The result? A decided lack of relief for the

relievers, who worked 3⅓ innings per game prior to the break, the AL’s heaviest load.

The overtime effort seems to be wearing on Brach more than anyone else in the O's pen. After

posting a 0.91 ERA in the first half, he has worked to a 3.68 ERA since the break. His 0.83

WHIP pre-hiatus has turned into a 1.50. In the series opener against Texas, when he loaded the

bases in the eighth, it was the first time all season that he had allowed multiple hits and multiple

walks in an outing. Fortunately, his recently rehabilitated teammate was there to bail him out.

“Darren’s been big since we got him back,” manager Buck Showalter said after Wednesday’s

win. “He's kind of picked up where he left off when he was healthy.”

The operative word there is healthy. Before hitting the DL in early June, O’Day had given up

four home runs in his previous six outings. It was enough to make folks in Baltimore think that

maybe -- just maybe -- the O’s had spent unwisely during the offseason, when they re-signed

their All-Star setup man and gave him $31 million over four years. At the very least, O’s fans

wondered what was up with their normally rock-solid reliever. As it turned out, O’Day was

o'dinged up.

“His last few outings before he went on the DL, he was fighting it, hoping that it would quiet

down," Showalter said. "We stayed away from him some, but that last day, we could tell he

wasn't able to pitch at the level we knew he was capable of.”

O’Day could tell too.

“Pitching is tough to do when you're hurt,” the 33-year-old submariner said. “It's a full-body

movement. If anything's weak or lacking, it's going to show, so I wasn't throwing to my

capability. Now I feel great.”

It shows. Since returning from the DL, he has been filthier than a pig in a Porta Potty. In 5⅔

scoreless innings over five appearances, O'Day has allowed one hit and one walk while striking

out seven. As tough as it was for the Orioles to survive without one of their key cogs, they

managed to stay at or near the top of the AL East. Now the silver lining is that even though they

and the rest of the league are firmly entrenched in the dog days of summer, a time when

relievers’ arms routinely turn into mashed potatoes, O’Day is partying like it’s April all over

again.

“I'm probably a little fresher than the other guys,” he said.

Chances are not even Aroldis Chapman or Andrew Miller can say that.

http://www.csnmidatlantic.com/baltimore-orioles/buck-showalter-sticks-strategies-no-hitter-

bids-or-not

Buck Showalter Sticks To Strategies, No-Hitter Bids Or Not

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Mid-Atlantic

August 3, 2016

BALTIMORE — Buck Showalter could have been faced with a very difficult decision on

Tuesday night.

Dylan Bundy had completed five hitless innings against the Texas Rangers. In his previous start,

Bundy had gone 5 1/3 perfect innings facing the Colorado Rockies.

Bundy ended up allowing a hit after 5 2/3 hitless, and he left after seven innings with a one-

hitter. The Orioles would go on to win 5-1.

“It’s happened twice now. I wasn’t going to let him pitch more than seven innings,” Showalter

said.

Showalter firmly said that Bundy, whom the Orioles have handled very carefully, wasn’t going

for the glory.

“What would happen if he had a no-hitter going into the eighth with 85 pitches? He would have

been done. We would have taken him out. For what reason would he continue?”

Showalter would not have listened to Bundy if he tried to lobby his way into a more extended at-

bat. He knows his young pitcher better than that.

“No. No, he wouldn’t,” Showalter said.

While he was firm, Showalter says a decision to remove a pitcher from a potential no-hitter

would be a hard one.

“Nothing easy about it at all. There are things you think about as much with your heart as with

your head. Usually what’s in your head, is what’s right for the Orioles,” Showalter said.

http://www.csnmidatlantic.com/baltimore-orioles/its-not-only-miley-and-pearce-who-orioles-

added

It's Not Only Miley And Pearce Who Orioles Added

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Mid-Atlantic

August 3, 2016

BALTIMORE —Ever the optimist, Buck Showalter looks upon the Orioles acquisitions as larger

than picking up Wade Miley and Steve Pearce at the nonwaiver trading deadline.

The Orioles’ pickups weren’t as flashy as say, the New York Mets acquiring National League

RBI leader Jay Bruce or the Texas Rangers adding Carlos Beltran and Jonathan Lucroy.

Showalter likes the additions of Miley and Pearce as well as reliever Logan Ondrusek, who was

signed on Friday.

“Those are some pretty good additions. I’ll put them up against some other people,” Showalter

said.

Putting Dylan Bundy in the starting rotation and having Darren O’Day return from seven weeks

on the disabled list with a strained groin was just as important.

“Sometimes just getting your own people back,” Showalter said. “We basically added Bundy.

We added O’Day…I like the potential expansion of the roster people we’re going to bring in

September.”

In 29 days, the Orioles can add to the 25-man roster, which can balloon to 40.

NOTE: Yovani Gallardo, Chris Tillman and Dylan Bundy start in Chicago this weekend. The

White Sox are scheduling former Oriole Miguel Gonzalez, Carlos Rodon and James Shields.

http://www.csnmidatlantic.com/baltimore-orioles/orioles-joey-rickard-set-take-next-step-rehab-

injury

Orioles' Joey Rickard Set To Take Next Step In Rehab From

Injury

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Mid-Atlantic

August 3, 2016

BALTIMORE—Two weeks after he injured a ligament in his right thumb, Joey Rickard still has

his splint on. Rickard injured the thumb trying to catch a ball at Yankee Stadium on July 20.

At the time, Rickard was estimated to be out four-to-six weeks. Manager Buck Showalter hasn’t

deviated from that.

“I don’t think it’s going to be any earlier,” Showalter said. “The swelling’s gone.”

When he was injured, Showalter hoped that Rickard’s season wasn’t going to be over. He still

believes that.

“I think we’ll get him back some time this year. It’s just a matter of how quickly. It’s hard to

think it’s going to be before September,” Showalter said.

Rickard, who has stayed in Baltimore during the initial rehabilitation, won’t go on the upcoming

10-game road trip. He’ll go to Sarasota, Fla.

Showalter said that T.J. McFarland, who has been on the disabled list since June 30 with left

knee inflammation, threw a bullpen in Sarasota, and he’s progressing more quickly.

Brian Duensing, who’s on the 60-day disabled list with left elbow inflammation, should be ready

to pitch when he’s eligible on Aug. 19. month. He’s been on the DL since June 20.

NOTE: Nothing has been decided on Chaz Roe, who the Orioles designated for assignment when

Logan Ondrusek was signed on Friday.

http://www.csnmidatlantic.com/baltimore-orioles/orioles-stage-mock-presser-chris-davis-dog-

samson-ahead-bobblehead-night

Orioles Stage Mock Presser For Chris Davis' Dog Samson

Ahead Of Bobblehead Night

By Kevin Connell / CSN Mid-Atlantic

August 3, 2016

The Orioles are getting the word out ahead of time about their next giveaway.

In preparation for Crush Davis and Samson superhero bobblehead night on Aug. 20, the pair held

a mock press conference Wednesday on the team’s Facebook and Twitter accounts to talk about

being superheroes.

Davis, who actually is first baseman Chris Davis, has been known as a superhero after the

Orioles released an action figure of the alter ego two years ago.

Samson, an English bulldog, is Davis’ dog and superhero sidekick.

The bobblehead depicts Crush as a Superman lookalike, with a cape around his neck and an

Orioles “O” on his chest. Samson also wears a cape.

The first 20,000 fans age 15 and over at the game will receive the bobblehead. The Orioles host

the Houston Astros at 7:05 p.m. on the night of the giveaway.

The Nationals also held a similar giveaway in June, when fans received a figurine of outfielder

Jayson Werth and his Great Dane, Magnus.

https://www.pressboxonline.com/2016/08/03/orioles-favorable-home-schedule-should-make-

stretch-run-interesting-in-al-east

Orioles' Favorable Home Schedule Should Make Stretch

Run Interesting In AL East

By Jim Henneman / PressBoxOnline.com

August 3, 2016

Before we join the crowd in prematurely declaring the winners and losers in the rash of trades

leading up to baseball's Aug. 1 non-waiver trade deadline, let's emphasize the fact the Orioles are

right about where they belong.

At least that was the thinking six weeks ago, when the conspiracy theorists were convinced the

schedule would do them in. Not a whole lot has changed. The Orioles' rugged 10-game, three-

city road trip to Chicago, Oakland and San Francisco Aug. 5-14 will determine the Orioles'

position heading into the last seven weeks of the season.

Of the three contenders in the American League East, the Orioles have the toughest schedule

based on opponents' won-lost record, but they will not play a game outside the Eastern Time

Zone during that period. After the upcoming road trip, the Orioles will play 25 of their next 39

games at Camden Yards, leading up to a final six-game road trip to Toronto and New York.

It's not an easy task, but it is a piece of cake compared to what's facing the Red Sox, who are in a

stretch that has them playing 19 of 57 games at home before closing the season with three games

at Fenway Park against the Blue Jays. During that killer stretch, the Red Sox will play 23 straight

days, thanks to a makeup game in Cleveland Aug. 15 before a two-game series at Camden

Yards.

Of the three teams, Toronto still seems to be the best positioned for a stretch run, but a funny

thing has happened to the Blue Jays, Red Sox ... and Orioles of late -- runs have become tough to

come by. It all promises to make for a fun final week of the season.

***

As the saying goes, the current Yankees are nothing like your grandfather's Yankees -- but they

could be your grandson's Yankees in the near future. Only in the strange world of baseball could

a team become the biggest winner by being the biggest loser. That's what seemingly happened, at

least according to the experts, when the Yankees dismantled the 2016 team with an eye to the

future.

By trading relief pitchers Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller and powerful switch-hitter Carlos

Beltran, the Yankees officially said goodbye to this year -- and next. Already, the pundits are

pointing to 2018, when they are no longer saddled with the bulging contracts of CC Sabathia and

Alex Rodriguez, and with Mark Teixeira gone after this year, the Yankees will be well-armed for

a free-agent class that could include the likes of Bryce Harper and Manny Machado.

For the first time since the pre-Steinbrenner era of the early 1970s, the Yankees have become

irrelevant. They've had down time in between, but never before have they gone through such a

dramatic transformation. They now have a minor league system loaded with top 100 prospects

but a major league roster almost devoid of top 100 major league players.

***

After acquiring Miller, the Cleveland Indians were almost immediately deemed the big winners

at the trade deadline -- after which they promptly went out and got drubbed twice by the lowly,

but resurging Minnesota Twins and suddenly look very vulnerable.

The Texas Rangers added Beltran to a lineup that was already loaded and now looks to be the

equal, or better, than any in the major leagues. The Red Sox added some needed pieces while

waiting for left-hander David Price to become the invincible stopper they thought he would be

when they committed $217 million over seven years.

Meanwhile, the Orioles stayed under the radar, and were unceremoniously dumped into the

"losers" bracket after the trade deadline passed. They added a left-handed starter in Wade Miley

and a right-handed bat when Steve Pearce was re-cycled back for the umpteenth time -- but

neither was deemed significant by most experts.

The Orioles' best late-season acquisition, however, might be players already on the roster. Right-

hander Dylan Bundy has given enough evidence to believe he could be the real deal these last

two months. If first baseman Chris Davis, and to a lesser degree outfielder Mark Trumbo, can re-

emerge in the middle of the lineup, it could be the turning point.

***

When Jonathan Lucroy turned down a trade to the Cleveland Indians, it looked like he was just

exercising a right in his contract, but it now looks like he knew something else was brewing. At

the time he blocked the deal to Cleveland, one of eight teams on his "no trade" list, Lucroy said

something to the effect that people would understand once all the facts came out.

It makes me wonder if he didn't have an idea that another first-place team was in the picture.

***

One reason I'm happy the Orioles brought Pearce back into the fold is it presents another

opportunity to display the weaknesses of the WAR (wins above replacement) rankings that are

much too prevalent. By WAR standards (5.9), Pearce was the team's Most Valuable Player -- by

a wide margin -- in the Orioles' 2014 Eastern Division championship winning season.

Designated hitter Nelson Cruz led baseball in home runs that year, but was only third on the

Orioles' WAR list (4.6) behind Adam Jones (4.8), who drove in 96 runs that were apparently as

meaningless as the 40 home runs hit by Cruz. With 21 home runs and 49 RBIs, Pearce was

certainly a steady contributor, but team MVP? Don't think so.

http://www.baltimorebaseball.com/2016/08/04/wade-miley-waited-five-years-pitch-first-place-

team-august/

Wade Miley has waited five years to pitch for a first-place

team in August

By Dan Connolly / BaltimoreBaseball.com

August 4, 2016

Wade Miley was a 24-year-old rookie in 2011 when he pitched in eight games and made seven

starts for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Diamondbacks had 94 wins that year and captured the NL West title before losing to the

Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Division Series.

Miley didn’t pitch in the playoffs, but figured he’d get a chance as his career progressed.

He hasn’t. He hasn’t played for an above-.500 team for a full season since he was a rookie.

So when he was traded from the Seattle Mariners to the Orioles on Monday, there was one

thought on his mind. The biggest of all motivators, he said: A chance to finally pitch in the

postseason.

“That’s huge. I was a part of it in 2011 in Arizona and just the way, in that August and

September, we were making that playoff push and that excitement that you get. The playoffs are

like a whole new season,” Miley, 29, said. “So, obviously, I would love to get back and do that,

and then actually be a part of the playoffs and get to pitch in the playoffs, in meaningful games

like that.”

Miley is known as a fierce competitor. And he said what drives him most is to win on the biggest

stage.

“It’s that fire. It’s what we all play for,” he said. “A bunch of grown men are playing for one ring

at the end of the year. It’s kind of crazy, but that’s the goal.”

Miley’s pursuit of that ring in Baltimore begins Thursday evening, when he attempts to help the

Orioles sweep the Texas Rangers, who entered this three-game series on Tuesday with the best

record in the AL.

It’ll be his first outing as an Oriole. And it comes at Camden Yards.

“I’m looking forward to pitching in front of these guys,” he said. “I’ve pitched here before. It’s a

great fan base, so it’s going to be good to go out there and give us a chance to win.”

The Orioles initially were going to have former Ranger Yovani Gallardo start Thursday, but

manager Buck Showalter changed his mind. It’s not because Showalter wants Miley’s debut to

be in Baltimore.

It’s because Miley allowed just one hit against the Chicago Cubs in a win for the Mariners

Saturday and because Miley has made four quality starts in his last five outings. Showalter wants

to keep him on turn, and keep him in a rhythm.

“I think having him sit around too long (would be counterproductive),” Showalter said. “He’s

pitching well. Want to keep the ball in his hand.”

Miley has made three starts at Camden Yards as a visitor. He is 1-2 with an 8.03 ERA. In six

outings against the Rangers, he is 1-4 with a 5.55 ERA. None of that matters now, though. He’s

in a different uniform with a redefined purpose.

He said he’s not sure how he’ll be received by the home crowd. But if succeeds, he has an idea.

“Hopefully, if I throw well it’ll be good. So I can kind of control my own destiny in that

department as far as that goes,” he said. “But I’m just looking forward to the opportunity of

being on a first place team and trying to keep it there.”

There is one other big difference between Thursday’s Miley and the one that had success in the

past. There’s no long hair. No scruffy beard. Just a goatee. He’s adhering to the club’s facial hair

rules. That, he says, is the least of his concerns. He’s with a playoff contender now.

“I don’t want to draw any attention to myself, the beard can come off in a heartbeat, no

problem,” he said. “I’m just excited for the opportunity. This will be the first time in August

(since 2011) that I’ve pitched for a first-place team, so I’m just looking forward to it.”

http://www.baltimorebaseball.com/2016/08/03/gausmans-win-wednesday-not-important-lesson-

learned/

Gausman’s win Wednesday not as important as the lesson

learned in second inning

By Dan Connolly / BaltimoreBaseball.com

August 3, 2016

The end line looks great for Kevin Gausman.

He allowed just two runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out seven Wednesday night

as the Orioles beat the Texas Rangers, 3-2.

The pitching line, though, is not the important thing. Nor is the fact Gausman picked up his

second win in three outings after getting just one victory in his first 16 starts.

What made Wednesday night essential for Gausman and the Orioles is that the 25-year-old right-

hander really struggled in the second inning.

Gausman had already given up a run in the first on a home run by Carlos Beltran, when the

Orioles scored three in the bottom of the first against AL Cy Young candidate Cole Hamels, two

on a clutch, two-out, two-run single by catcher Matt Wieters.

Gausman took the ball for the second and immediately surrendered a double to Rougned Odor

and a run-scoring hit to Jonathan Lucroy. Gausman then walked the next batter.

It was crunch time. He could have given the lead back. And who knows what happens after that?

Maybe Gausman unravels. Maybe he doesn’t get through five innings – he had 50 pitches

through two.

But Gausman rallied. He threw strikes. He commanded his fastball.

A fly out. A ground out. A strikeout. An escape.

“The old bent, but didn’t break,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “Showed a lot of moxie

that inning.”

Here’s what Gausman had to say about the 35-pitch second: “Any time you can get out of those

jams — I think it was twice that Odor led off with a double to start the inning — any time you

can kind of limit that damage and not let it get out of control, it’s going to be good. And it’s

going to be in your favor.”

Easier said than done. But it’s what good pitchers do. They battle through the rough innings and

yield very little. They then make adjustments and move forward. After 50 pitches in two innings,

Gausman threw 58 in the next five, all scoreless.

“I think it is big for him, in-game adjustments,” catcher Matt Wieters said. “I think the one thing

he is coming along with is in-game adjustments and knowing that if his best stuff isn’t there in

the first or second he might have it there in the fourth or fifth. Just kind of keep hanging on and

give us a chance, and get us back in the dugout.”

To be clear, this was not one of Gausman’s best starts. But it might have been one of his more

important ones in 2016. Because he beat an excellent team by surviving, by gutting it out and by

relying on a tremendous defense to do its job.

Those are invaluable lessons to learn.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-baltimore-orioles-are-baseballs-slowest-team-in-decades-

1470261727

The Baltimore Orioles Are Baseball’s Slowest Team in

Decades

By Eric Eisenberg / The Wall Street Jounral

August 3, 2016

Forget speed. The Baltimore Orioles will score their runs when they’re good and ready.

Baltimore may just be the slowest MLB team in 50 years. So far this season, the O’s have legged

out only three triples. Two active players, Denard Span and Yasiel Puig—and many more who

are no longer active—have hit three triples in a single game. In the entire history of Major

League Baseball, there has never been a team with fewer than 10 triples, according to Baseball-

Reference.com, save for a handful of Union Association teams in 1884 that played fewer than 30

games.

The Orioles aren’t much better at swiping bases. Through 104 games, they have only 13 stolen

bases, which puts them on pace for just 20 over 162 games. No team has had so few since the

1972 Detroit Tigers, who only played a 154-game season.

Yet Baltimore still leads the American League East, which says a lot about how the game has

changed. Consider the speedy St. Louis Cardinals of 1985: They hit just 87 home runs as a team,

but stole an incredible 314 bases on the way to the World Series. The league average that year

was 119.1 steals per team; 30 years later, that figure is down 28% to just 83.5 per ball club.

The stolen base has lost its luster largely due to the rise of advanced statistics. The numbers

indicate that unless you have a base runner who is successful roughly three-quarters of the time,

the risk of forfeiting a valuable out is too costly.

Yet even that change in baseball strategy cannot fully explain Baltimore’s deliberate plodding

around the bases this season. The average team has stolen more than four times as many bases as

the O’s, a ratio unmatched by any team since the 1970s. Baltimore is also the only team that’s

failed to have swiped third base at all.

The opportunities are certainly there, as the Orioles have the 10th-most plate appearances with at

least one runner on base and the next base open. However, they’ve only been successful on 59%

of their steal attempts this season. The 2012 Pittsburgh Pirates (58%) are the only team to have

finished a season with a lower percentage in the past decade.

The key to Baltimore’s success: The Orioles lead all of baseball in home runs for the third time

in four years. Perhaps they’ve simply become accustomed to taking their time around the bases.