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Baltimore Orioles pitcher Darren O’Day has suffered a right hamstring injury.

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O’Day Placed on 15-Day DL

Friday, June 3

According to a report by CBS Baltimore, O’Day was placed on the 15-day disabled list in what is being described as a right hamstring strain.

MASNSports.com’s Roch Kubatko reported that O’Day will receive a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection in his right leg, and manager Buck Showalter is “cautiously optimistic” that he will be back in 15 days. 

This could have been a far more serious blow for Baltimore because O’Day has developed into one of the best setup pitchers in the league. The submariner has played for the Los Angeles Angels, Texas Rangers and New York Mets in his career, but he’s shone over the past couple of seasons for the Orioles. 

Thus far, he is 2-1 with a 3.15 ERA and two saves this season with 25 strikeouts in 22 appearances.

O’Day agreed to new contract with the Orioles this offseason that was the richest in MLB history for a non-closing reliever at the time, per Matt Snyder of CBSSports.com. That came after O’Day made his first All-Star Game in 2015 and finished with a sparkling 1.52 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 82 strikeouts in 65.1 innings pitched.

According to ESPN.com, he posted a career-high 2.8 WAR as well, and it was the second consecutive year he tallied a sub-2.00 ERA for the Orioles (1.70 in 2014).

The Orioles still have Zach Britton at the end of the bullpen to shut the door on opponents, and they will likely turn to Brad Brach to shoulder more of the load while O’Day is out.

Still, there is a reason they committed to O’Day this offseason. If they are going to challenge the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox in the American League East, they need him back and healthy to anchor the bullpen alongside Britton.

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Baltimore Orioles closer Zach Britton suffered an ankle injury in the Orioles’ 8-7 loss Saturday to the Chicago White Sox, per ESPN.com. 

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Britton Nearing Return to Mound

Tuesday, May 3

Britton left after fielding a bunt by White Sox outfielder Adam Eaton:

On Sunday, he said the ankle had improved, but he remained in a walking boot, per ESPN.com:

I think I’d be surprised if I had to go on the [disabled list]… It feels pretty good compared to yesterday, how it feels this morning, but it’s still some tenderness in there and obviously I’m not walking great. I think you’ve got to walk fine before I can even start pitching again. Hopefully, it’s just a few days and I can maybe throw a bullpen or something, or at least run on it and see how it feels.

It looks as though the left-hander will get his wish after MLB.com’s Brittany Ghiroli reported the results of an MRI showed only inflammation in his injured ankle. Ghiroli added he’ll start playing catch Tuesday with the goal of returning within the week.

Britton had big shoes to fill when he assumed ninth-inning duties in 2014. Jim Johnson saved a combined 101 games between 2012 and 2013, leading the league in both seasons. Replicating that success would be hard enough for the most experienced reliever, let alone somebody who made two appearances out of an MLB bullpen to that point in his career.

The 28-year-old subsequently recorded 37 saves in 2014 and 36 a year ago. It might be a stretch to call Britton an elite closer, but he has brought stability and consistency to the Orioles bullpen:

Baltimore will need Britton to continue delivering in 2016 if it hopes to make the playoffs coming out of what should be an even better American League East.

Darren O’Day blew the save in Saturday’s game after replacing Britton, but he’ll likely handle any ninth-inning duties until Britton returns. O’Day has been an excellent setup man since arriving in Baltimore in 2012, and during that time, he has saved 12 games.

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Baltimore Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy is dealing with a small fracture in his left foot and hit the disabled list on Tuesday. 

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Latest on Hardy’s Playing Status

Tuesday, May 3

The Orioles placed Hardy on the DL and recalled Ryan Flaherty from Triple-A on Tuesday, per Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com. 

On Monday, ESPN’s Jim Bowden reported Hardy is expected to be out six to eight weeks with the injury, which is lengthy and indicative of the severity considering the toughness he’s shown in the past.

Hardy No Stranger to Injuries

Hardy spent time on the DL toward the beginning of each of the prior two seasons. He admitted this past October that he played the entire 2015 campaign with a torn labrum in his left shoulder—not to mention the other ailments he dealt with such as back spasms, a right groin strain and a sore oblique.

Unfortunately, the trend of sitting early on will continue in 2016, but it’s better for Hardy and the club to get it out of the way early in the year if he must leave the lineup.

That doesn’t mean Baltimore will find it easy to win without Hardy, though. The 33-year-old veteran is a key leader in the infield as a three-time Gold Glove Award winner who made only three errors in 114 games last season at short.

While his power at the plate has declined in recent years—he hit 77 homers in his first three seasons with the Orioles but has had only 19 since—Hardy is nevertheless going to be tough to replace in all areas.

Baltimore currently ranks 29th in quality starts, leaning more on its bullpen and batting order for a 14-10 record to date. The club needs its pitching staff to step up and make the defense’s job easier while Hardy recovers.

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The Baltimore Orioles reportedly reached an agreement Friday with veteran starting pitcher Wandy Rodriguez for a minor league deal.

Dan Connolly of BaltimoreBaseball.com first reported the news. Roch Kubatko of MASN confirmed the details of the depth signing.

Rodriguez struggled across 17 appearances, including 15 starts, for the Texas Rangers last season. He posted a 4.90 ERA and 1.56 WHIP in 86.1 innings before getting designated for assignment in late July. He then signed with the Kansas City Royals organization, but didn’t see any action in the majors.

The 37-year-old left-hander rejoined the Houston Astros, where he originally started his career, in January. He actually pitched quite well in six outings during spring training, going 2-0 with a 3.95 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 11 strikeouts in 13.2 innings, but he didn’t make the final roster.

All told, Rodriguez has mostly been a replacement-level starter for most of his career. He’s 97-98 with a 4.10 ERA in 275 career games at the MLB level. He also had a stint with the Pittsburgh Pirates sandwiched between his time with the Astros and Rangers.

Connolly reported the Dominican Republic native is being sent to extended spring training in Sarasota, Florida. That’s a long way from the big leagues, but Rodriguez stated “all I ever want is a chance” during his time with the Astros, per Jerome Solomon of the Houston Chronicle, and that probably still holds true.

He added: “Every time I get a chance, I will make it the best I can. Every opportunity, I try to do the best I can.”

The signing comes as Baltimore’s rotation has battled inconsistency out of the gate. The starting staff ranks 22nd in the league in ERA at 4.72 after nearly a month of action, per ESPN. So it doesn’t hurt to pick up another starter with MLB experience as insurance.

Ultimately, the Orioles will likely decide how to move forward after getting a chance to monitor his stuff during the stint in extended spring training. Rodriguez can provide a reliable veteran presence at Triple-A and serve as solid rotation or bullpen depth, at the very least.

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Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo will miss at least his next few starts after being placed on the disabled list due to “right shoulder bicep tendinitis.” An exact return date has yet to be announced.

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Gallardo’s Diagnosis, Treatment Revealed

Monday, April 25

Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com reported the Orioles are “encouraged” by Gallardo’s MRI, noting there was “nothing new” revealed by the test.

Ghiroli also said Gallardo will “probably get an injection and rest for now.”

Showalter Comments After Gallardo Placed on DL

Sunday, April 24

The Orioles announced Saturday that Gallardo was placed on the 15-day disabled list.

“Until we get the MRI and [team orthopedist] Dr. [Michael] Jacobs sees it, you don’t know exactly what it is,” said Orioles manager Buck Showalter, per the Associated Press (via ESPN.com). “I don’t think anybody knows what’s causing the symptoms he has. It’s not acute pain or anything. It was just general weakness there.”

Orioles GM Comments on Gallardo’s Recovery

Saturday, April 23

General manager Dan Duquette provided more insight as to the team’s plans for the right-hander, per MASN’s Roch Kubatko: “Hopefully (Gallardo) will respond to a period of rest and rehabilitation and return to contribute to the team.”

Gallardo Comments on Injury

Friday, April 22

After the game, he discussed how his shoulder was giving him problems on the mound, per the Baltimore Sun‘s Eduardo A. Encina:

My shoulder just didn’t feel right. To be honest, it was one of those feelings that I’ve never had my whole career. I’ve never had any issues with my shoulder and I hadn‘t been. For some reason, in the bullpen it just didn’t feel right. I wasn‘t able to extend to get that release point. I think that’s why the ball was just up and all over the place. Felt like the ball was coming out of my hand and the strength wasn‘t there. Hopefully it wasn‘t anything serious.

Gallardo only lasted two innings in his last start—a 4-2 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Friday night:

Gallardo’s Velocity Dipping in 2016 from 2015

The injury is concerning since shoulder/elbow fatigue can foreshadow a much larger problem, such as a need for Tommy John surgery. According to BrooksBaseball.net, Gallardo‘s fastball velocity is 87.95 mph through four starts in 2016. That’s nearly a four mph drop from 2015, another worrying sign.

While the extent of his shoulder issues remain unknown, major surgery is at least a possibility.

Showalter won’t need to worry about finding a replacement for Gallardo in the rotation, with Kevin Gausman set to take the hill Monday against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Gausman made 17 starts and appeared in 25 games last year, finishing 4-7 with a 4.25 ERA. Once considered a top prospect in MLB, the 25-year-old has yet to fulfill those massive expectations. Especially if Gallardo is forced to miss a long period of time, the Orioles will need Gausman to take a major step in his development.

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Baltimore Orioles outfielder Adam Jones is dealing with a stomach virus that forced him to leave Tuesday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays.

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Jones Active vs. Blue Jays

Wednesday, April 20

John Meoli of the Baltimore Sun reported Jones was starting and batting third Wednesday against Toronto.

Jones Crucial to Orioles Offense 

Jones has emerged as one the American League‘s most important players over the past handful of seasons. The slugger has earned five All-Star Game selections and four Gold Glove Awards while helping Baltimore end an extended playoff drought with two postseason trips in the last four years.

The 30-year-old center fielder has also remained highly durable during that stretch. He’s played at least 135 games in six consecutive campaigns dating back to 2010. He did previously miss some time this season due to ribcage soreness, though.

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Baltimore Orioles outfielder Mark Trumbo slugged a pair of home runs during the seventh inning of Friday’s 11-5 win over the Texas Rangers, becoming just the second player in franchise history to homer twice in the same inning, per Elias Sports Bureau (h/t ESPN Stats & Info).

The only other player to accomplish the feat was Ken Williams, who did so in 1922 when the team was known as the St. Louis Browns.

Trumbo‘s two-run and three-run homers accounted for five of the RBI in a nine-run seventh inning, with the Orioles quickly turning a 5-1 deficit into a 10-5 lead.

Acquired this offseason in a trade with the Seattle Mariners, the 30-year-old slugger is now the first player in Orioles history to hit five home runs in his first 10 games with the team, per Elias Sports Bureau (h/t ESPN Stats & Info).

Trumbo is also the first player to hit two home runs in the same inning of any MLB game since July 26, 2013, when Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion accomplished the feat, per Sportsnet Stats.

Known for his massive power and equally prodigious strikeout totals, Trumbo also hit five home runs through the first 10 games of a season in 2014 while playing for the Arizona Diamondbacks, per ESPN Stats & Info.

History suggests his current .400 batting average will likely dip well south of .300 sooner rather than later, but for now, the Orioles can largely thank Trumbo for their unexpected 8-2 start and spot at the top of the American League East standings.

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If you haven’t added Manny Machado to your short list of American League MVP candidates, now is the time.

Seriously, do it.

Through the first five games of the 2016 season, the Baltimore Orioles‘ budding superstar is teasing next-level production. And he’s carried the O’s to a surprising undefeated start.

Yes, it’s way early, the caveat that must accompany all April storylines. But when you add Machado’s raw ability and recent track record to the mix, there’s cause to believe this is far more than a small-sample mirage.

Machado won’t turn 24 until July 6, meaning his prime is far on the horizon. And he’s already padded his resume with two All-Star appearances, two top-10 MVP finishes and a pair of Gold Gloves at third base.

Machado truly broke out last season, bashing 35 home runs with an .861 OPS, 20 stolen bases and 14 defensive runs saved at the hot corner, per FanGraphs.

If WAR is your thing, Machado’s 6.8 mark was third-best in the Junior Circuit, behind only AL MVP Josh Donaldson and AL MVP runner-up Mike Trout.

So far in 2016, Machado owns a .429/.455/.904 slash line with three home runs. On Sunday, he went 4-for-4 with a homer, two runs scored and two RBI as the Orioles defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3.

If you zoom back to the end of 2015, he’s on an eye-poppingly epic power binge, as ESPN Stats & Info noted:

Donaldson is raking in the early going as well, with four home runs and nine RBI for the potent Toronto Blue Jays. And if you think Trout’s 4-for-20 start means anything, you have never watched that man play baseball.

It’s too soon to handicap any awards race, but expect last season’s top two finishers to make convincing cases once again. And don’t be surprised if a veteran star such as Miguel Cabrera or a budding stud like Carlos Correa muscles into the picture.

Machado’s squarely in that conversation, though. Soon, he might be starting that conversation.

Machado himself tempered the hype after Sunday’s win. 

“It’s the start of the season,” he said, per MLB.com’s Bill Chastain and Jeff Seidel. “We started off with a great homestand. We started off the year pretty well. Let’s keep this ball rolling.”

If the Orioles can in fact keep it rolling and challenge for supremacy in the crowded AL East, it would count as a mild surprise.

Their lineup is loaded with sluggers, including reigning MLB home run leader Chris Davis. But there are enough question marks, including in the starting rotation, for FanGraphs to project a modest 82-80 finish.

That might yet come to fruition, though Baltimore’s starting pitchers have acquitted themselves more than capably, surrendering six earned runs in 23.2 innings with 28 strikeouts and six walks.

Machado, however, has been the biggest revelation. Or, more accurately, continuing revelation. 

Drafted as a shortstop with the third overall pick in 2010, Machado made his big league debut at the position last season. This year, he’s already started one game at short in place of J.J. Hardy, who was dealing with a calf issue.

“It’s kind of like a new toy for him,” skipper Buck Showalter said of the defensive switch, per Jon Meoli of the Baltimore Sun.

If Machado ever makes a permanent move to shortstop, his power will profile even better there. For now, he’s an unmitigated asset wherever he plays.

Yes, this is the part where we mention the knee surgeries Machado underwent in 2013 and 2014. But if there were lingering doubts about his durability, he answered them last season by appearing in all 162 games and making an MLB-leading 713 plate appearances.

As for his 2015 output, FanGraphs’ Mike Podhorzer opined: “Nothing statistically stands out as a fluke…so can it get better? In fact, it could. With an average batted ball distance now over 290 feet, there might even be more power. Furthermore, if he could ever cure his pop-up problem, the batting average on balls in play could spike.”

The numbers like Machado. The eyeball test definitely likes him. The Baltimore faithful have got to be loving him.

Yes, it’s April. There are 157 games left to play. But if you’re still wondering whether to jump on the Machado train, we’ve got two words for you: Do it.

Seriously.

All statistics current as of April 10 and courtesy of MLB.com unless otherwise noted.

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Super Bowl winners dump gallons of Gatorade over their coach’s head. The NBA Finals conclude with stormy champagne showers. NHL champions sip (or guzzle) from Lord Stanley’s Cup. In short, sports celebrations are inexplicably intertwined with the decidedly messy utilization of food and beverage.

One MLB team, however, will part with a similar time-honored tradition. The Baltimore Orioles put an end to their beloved victory commemoration: a postgame pie in the face.  

The announcement, which came from notable sweet-smashing instigator Adam Jones via Twitter, began with some serious foreshadowing. 

Then, of course, the news came: no more celebratory on-field dessert consumption. But why?

As it turns out, the gleeful pranking has been deemed hazardous.

Is it the sugar intake? The terrifying tin? Perhaps the velocity of the impact itself is cause for concern?

Regardless of the reason for the tomfoolery’s abandonment, fans can still expect to see some horseplay. Jones isn’t abandoning antics of all kinds. In fact, he’s already fielding alternative ideas.

If his hashtags #PantsThem and #Swirly are any indication, however, his teammates may soon be lamenting the change in protocol.

[Twitter, h/t the Big Lead]

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Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Chris Tillman missed an intrasquad exhibition Sunday after suffering a “core muscle injury,” per Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com.

Continue for updates.

Tillman to Undergo MRI If Situation Doesn’t Improve

Monday, Feb. 29

Orioles manager Buck Showalter told reporters he’s unsure of how serious Tillman’s injury is, so he and the team’s medical staff aren’t going to take any chances in spring training.

“Right now, it’s precautionary, but who knows what [will happen]?” he said, per Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun. “If it lingers, we’ll probably proceed with some other forms of trying to find out what it is. It probably wouldn’t be as much of concern than if it was later in spring. Just want to be cautious with it right now. We’ll see.”

Tillman made 30-plus starts in each of the last three years, going 40-24 during that stretch. He’s coming off an uneven 2015 campaign, though. His 4.99 ERA was his highest since 2011, while his strikeouts per nine innings fell for the third season in a row. He also allowed one more hit per nine innings than he did in 2014, per Baseball-Reference.com.

Tillman’s spot in the Orioles rotation isn’t under threat, but in Vance Worley, Mike Wright and Odrisamer Despaigne, Showalter has three options with starting experience in the majors.

He likely won’t be afraid to roll with one of those pitchers should Tillman’s injury force him to miss a big chunk of the team’s spring preparations.

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