joe saunders

Former Orioles closer Zach Britton is getting more accustomed to pitching in pinstripes.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter on how the team prepares to face three relievers as starters this weekend against Tampa Bay, and what's next for injured All-Stars Darren O'Day (elbow) and Mark Trumbo (knee)

It's October baseball, and thanks to these winner-take-all wild-card games it's all the drama of a Game 7 in a three-plus hour serving.

The current front office deserves a chance to make this right. But if it chooses instead to fall back on player development and a long-term rebuild — rather than increasing the payroll and trying to get right back up after this year's collapse — the Orioles are going to lose the fans they worked so hard to win back.

Despite their recent funk, Dan Duquette said he is still having trade talks with teams to better the 2015 club

Laurel Park closed its 2015 winter meet Sunday with a mandatory payout of its Jackpot Pick 5. Five of five winners returned $1,037.02.

Despite Friday's announcement that the Orioles declined right fielder Nick Markakis' option for next season, discussions to keep team's longest-tenured player in an Orioles uniform on a multiyear deal are progressing.

As expected, the Orioles on Friday declined their $17.5 million option for 2015 on right fielder Nick Markakis, essentially making the team¿s longest-tenured player a free agent.

Seven Orioles are unrestricted free agents

The Orioles will probably have nine players become free agents, headed by Nelson Cruz, Andrew Miller and likely Nick Markakis.

As the Orioles prepared to leave the visitors' clubhouse Wednesday night after being swept in the American League Championship Series, they understood the harsh reality of today's industry: This group, in its entirety, will never again be together as a team.

As they have all season, the Orioles found a less traditional way to outduel flashier talent. Two first-time postseason performers, starter Chris Tillman and reliever Andrew Miller, combined to produce a better line than Scherzer before the Orioles blew the game open against the Tigers bullpen and won, 12-3.

Sitting at the media dais under the glare of television lights Thursday, left-hander Wei-Yin Chen made a prediction about his start Friday in Game 2 of the American League Division Series.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said before Thursday's game that he faced some difficult choices in selecting the team's American League Division Series roster, but he said the decision to add right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez gives his 11-man pitching staff a dynamic that he likes.

When Chris Tillman takes the mound Thursday as the Orioles' starting pitcher in Game 1 of the best-of-five American League Division Series matchup against the Detroit Tigers at Camden Yards, he will be making his postseason debut.

When Orioles executive vice president introduced Nelson Cruz to the media back in February, he was quick to point out the slugger¿s postseason accolades.

Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman will start Game 1 of the American League Division Series next week, manager Buck Showalter officially announced Tuesday.

Right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez hasn't made a start in nearly a month -- and he has made just two relief appearances since then -- but he said he's ready for Tuesday's spot start against the Toronto Blue Jays.

After being sent to the bullpen, Jimenez to start at least one more regular-season game

Right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez will fill the Orioles¿ open starting slot on Tuesday against the Toronto Blue Jays, manager Buck Showalter announced before Saturday¿s game.

Orioles left-hander Wei-Yin Chen briefly flirted with history Wednesday afternoon at Fenway Park. He had to settle for his 15th win of the year while guiding the Orioles to a sweep in their 10-6 victory over the Boston Red Sox before an announced 35,374.

Ryan Flaherty, who had a career-high four hits in the Orioles' 10-6 win Wednesday, doesn't have a specific reason for why he hits so well at Fenway Park. But the Maine native admits that it is somewhat special playing in front of familiar faces.

The Orioles have not yet named a starter for Tuesday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Even though the Orioles used seven relievers in their 11-inning win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday afternoon, manager Buck Showalter said he didn't think he would need to call for bullpen reinforcements for the three-game series against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.

Even though the Orioles enter Wednesday night's game against the Cincinnati Reds with a 9 1/2-game lead in the American League East and have a magic number to clinch the division of 17, manager Buck Showalter said he's far from thinking about postseason strategy.

The Orioles made a series of moves Monday, the first day that major league rosters could expand to include all players on a team's 40-man roster. And additional moves will happen Tuesday.

Left-hander Joe Saunders, who started the Orioles' victory in the American League wild-card game two years ago, rejoined the club Monday in a much different role.

The Orioles added a pair of relievers Monday, the first day of expanded rosters, as they recalled right-hander Evan Meek from Triple-A Norfolk and purchased the contract of left-hander Joe Saunders from the Tides.

The Orioles tried to give Ubaldo Jimenez some work in a pressure-free situation on Sunday afternoon, allowing the struggling right-hander to work the ninth inning with a seven-inning lead.

The Orioles will make a number of moves when rosters expand Monday, including recalling at least two pitchers from Triple-A Norfolk.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said the club nearly has decided which players will be promoted once rosters expand Monday.

Manager Buck Showalter said he has had preliminary discussions with his coaching staff and the Orioles player development staff this week about potential call-ups when rosters expand Sept. 1.

The Orioles still don't know their next step with pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez, but sending the veteran right-hander to the bullpen for the time being is among the possibilities.

On the night the Orioles gave away "Crush Davis" action figures, first baseman Chris Davis was not in Saturday's starting lineup — in part because the Seattle Mariners started tough young left-hander James Paxton.

The Orioles already have signed Joe Saunders to a minor league deal. Could Jim Johnson and Brian Roberts be next?

Orioles sign lefty Joe Saunders to minor league deal and he will report to Norfolk Monday.

The Orioles have acquired the do-it-all left-handed reliever they were seeking, picking up Andrew Miller from the Boston Red Sox for minor league left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez.

Dan Connolly has been talking to several baseball people outside of the Orioles organization for the past week or so about the club's trade possibilities as the July 31 nonwaiver deadline approaches. And everyone basically says the same thing: Dan Duquette will do something.

They followed that up with a 5-2 win over the Texas Rangers without hitting one longball -- the Orioles first homerless victory since April 26 to secure a four-game sweep at Camden Yards for the first time since 2008.

Rookie right-hander Kevin Gausman, who was eligible to return to the Orioles from the minor leagues Tuesday, is a candidate to start Sunday against the Boston Red Sox, Orioles manager Buck Showalter said.

As Ubaldo Jimenez walked off the mound in the middle of the eighth inning of the Orioles' 7-1 win over the Texas Rangers on Monday night, he was greeted by the home crowd at Camden Yards with a standing ovation.

How does this year's squad stack up through 81 games against successful Orioles teams of the past?

At 35, Santana's playing future also may be in jeopardy

In his fifth plate appearance Tuesday, Nelson Cruz hit a three-run homer to cap the Orioles' six-run eighth inning in an 8-3 win over the Rangers in front of an announced 31,542 at Globe Life Park in Arlington.

Nelson Cruz is in the Orioles' starting lineup Tuesday against the Texas Rangers batting third and playing left field.

The Orioles interest in Ervin Santana has increased as they still seek a starting pitcher.

The Orioles shouldn't buy a lower-tier starter; put that money into a top pitcher or Kendrys Morales