pedro alvarez

An analysis of the Orioles spring training stats through the lens of Baseball Reference's opponent quality stat.

Orioles first baseman Pedro Alvarez made his return to the Pirates' McKechnie Field and homered in his first at-bat.

Since they began the business portion of spring training Thursday ¿ six of their last eight Grapefruit League games are at home, and will feature the regulars they¿ll rely on during the season ¿ the Orioles have hit an eye-popping 12 home runs.

Their Grapefruit League matinee Friday saw their starter stake the opponent to a big early lead on a combination of walks, bad luck and a home run. As the game wore on, the Orioles hit a bunch of home runs and made it a game.

Pedro Alvarez, who on Friday is starting for the third time this spring at first base, will also see time over the final week of Grapefruit League play at third base, manager Buck Showalter said.

J.J. Hardy might not feel like he has been that busy, but he should be up to speed by this time next week thanks to a back-loaded schedule of home games this spring. The Orioles play six of their last eight Grapefruit League games at Ed Smith Stadium, beginning with Thursday's win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, before heading north for an April 1 exhibition in Philadelphia.

With spring training winding down and another scoreless outing in the books Wednesday against his former team, right-hander Vance Worley arrived for work Thursday no closer to understanding where he fits in the Orioles' pitching picture.

Chris Davis is having a bad spring training for the Orioles, but in getting extra work in a minor league game and hitting a home run, may be finding a groove.

Ubaldo Jimenez threw 5 2/3 shutout innings in a minor league game, and Matt Wieters returned to the field for the Orioles.

Five Orioles stats that stand out, including Jonathan Schoop's spring training success, Manny Machado's errors and pitching staff struggles.

Provided he recovers well during today's day off, Wieters will throw again Tuesday.

The two new position players projected for every day roles on the Orioles' Opening Day roster, designated hitter Pedro Alvarez and right fielder Mark Trumbo, each homered and drove in seven total runs.

SARASOTA, Fla. ¿ Orioles right-hander Kevin Gausman received a cortisone injection on Sunday for lingering shoulder tendinitis and will miss his next scheduled spring training start.

Juan Nicasio struck out 10 batters in just four innings during an impressive display of mid-spring command that victimized every starter in the Orioles batting order except outfielder Hyun Soo Kim. The Pirates took advantage of that dominating performance to take an early three-run lead, but the Orioles stormed back to score a 9-3 victory before a sellout crowd of 7,842 at Ed Smith Stadium.

It was never a secret that this year¿s Orioles lineup would be vulnerable to the strikeout, but Pittsburgh Pirates starter Juan Nicasio showed just how vulnerable it could be Wednesday.

Newly signed slugger Pedro Alvarez doesn¿t look at all like he showed up three weeks into Orioles spring training.

Even if he has nowhere to play, first baseman Christian Walker is having a good spring for the Orioles.

Everyone seems to want to talk to Mark Trumbo about his defense, and whether the right field position that seems to be earmarked for him in this power-packed Orioles lineup is one he can handle.

New Orioles starter Yovani Gallardo might have had a solid second start of the spring if he hadn¿t run into Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco or, more accurately, Franco had not run into a couple of pitches and driven them over the left field fence to account for four of the five runs Gallardo gave up over 2 1/3 innings of work.

Orioles slugger Pedro Alvarez didn¿t wait long to show why he was considered one of the more dangerous power hitters in the National League.

He allowed six earned runs in 1 2/3 innings on the way to a 14-5 loss to the Minnesota Twins at Hammond Stadium.

Left-hander T.J. McFarland threw a 25-pitch bullpen session Sunday morning, his first time on a mound after leaving his March 6 appearance with elbow inflammation, and after reporting no issues says the next step in his mind is returning to game action.

Pedro Alvarez doubled off the fence in his first spring at-bat and played first base on Sunday. He'll probably play some third base and outfield.

Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman will make his spring training debut Tuesday in a road game against the Toronto Blue Jays, a decision made necessary by his need for innings after a hip strain but contrary to manager Buck Showalter¿s previous desire to keep his starters away from division opponents.

Pedro Alvarez could play in a Grapefruit League game on Sunday or Monday.

Pedro Alvarez went unsigned all offseason after being nontendered by the Pirates in December before finally signing a one-year, $5.75 million contract with the Orioles, giving the team six hitters who have hit at least 30 homers in a season.

As expected, the Orioles¿ one-year, $5.75 million deal Pedro Alvarez was made official Thursday morning, the team announced. To make 40-man roster space, the Orioles released right-hander Andrew Triggs, who could be re-signed.

As Hyun Soo Kim's hitless streak grew to 21 at-bats following an 0-for-3 outing in the Orioles' 8-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday afternoon, the club is remaining hopeful that the South Korean outfielder will break out of his early spring slump sooner than later. But it's growing evident that the Orioles are getting just as frustrated with Kim's struggles.

Manager Buck Showalter brought much of his front-line batting order to Bright House Field on Wednesday, but the song remained the same.

The pending addition of slugger Pedro Alvarez adds another 30-home run bat to the Orioles' power-packed lineup, but it also creates a logjam at the designated hitter spot that the club will have to maneuver around this season. When the Orioles' late attempts to sign a corner outfielder failed — their pursuit of outfielder Dexter Fowler proved unsuccessful last month when he returned to the Chicago Cubs and outfielder Austin Jackson turned down more money to sign with the Chicago White Sox

The pending arrival of free agent Pedro Alvarez has given rise to all manner of speculation regarding the likely makeup of the Orioles' regular-season lineup and defensive alignment. Does the Alvarez signing mean, for instance, that Chris Davis will spend significant time in right field this season? Or does it mean that newly acquired Mark Trumbo just became the everyday right fielder by default?

The pending addition of Pedro Alvarez to an already power-packed lineup gives the Orioles yet another slugger with 30-homer capabilities.

Orioles first baseman Chris Davis has proven he can hold his own in right field, but he said Tuesday that he doesn't expect the pending arrival of free-agent designated hitter/first baseman Pedro Alvarez to significantly alter his status as the everyday first baseman.

The Orioles agreed to terms with slugger Pedro Alvarez on a one-year, $5.75 million deal Monday night, adding more power to their batting order.

The Orioles still appear likely to enhance their outfield depth, which should be less complicated now that there are no more free agents tied to draft-pick compensation.

The Orioles collectively attempted to move on from the Dexter Fowler fiasco on Friday, one day removed from being blind-sided by news that the veteran outfielder was remaining with the Chicago Cubs instead of joining the Orioles. Now, the club is left with more questions than answers.

Orioles fans are glad to see that first baseman Chris Davis will remain in Baltimore long term after the 29-year-old slugger made his club-record seven-year, $161 million deal official Thursday, but there are mixed reactions regarding the events that led to his return.

Reports that the Orioles are a leading candidate to acquire slugger Yoenis Cespedes might bring a smile to the faces of fans, but the club seems unlikely to meet his price.

Amid the wildly-flowing dollars and multi-year commitments that exist every offseason during free agency, the Orioles aren't afraid of signing players to a one-year deal.

The Orioles stood by their reported seven-year, $150 million offer to Davis on Thursday, according to an industry source.

There's been little word of movement on the Chris Davis front this week in the Music City, setting up the makings of what's appearing to become an intriguing poker play between the Orioles and Davis' agent, Scott Boras.

Among the meetings the Orioles expect to have at the winter meetings today will be one with agent Scott Boras, according to an industry source.

The Orioles have been uncharacteristically active early in the offseason, trading for slugger Mark Trumbo, retaining catcher Matt Wieters on a one-year qualifying offer and nearing a deal with relief pitcher Darren O'Day.

Former Baltimore Orioles pitcher Jake Arrieta's Cy Young award was well deserved.

"I was able to work on what I needed to work on and get my `ups,' which is most important," Chris Tillman said.

The Orioles will host the Pittsburgh Pirates tonight at Ed Smith Stadium, just their second night game of the spring.

Kevin Gausman allowed one run on three hits over three innings, at one point retired eight straight batters against a Pirates lineup that included regulars Pedro Alvarez and Gregory Polanco.

SARASOTA, Fla. - For the first time this spring, Orioles starters Adam Jones, Chris Davis, Manny Machado and Steve Pearce will make a road trip this afternoon at the O's travel north to Bradenton to play the Pirates at McKechnie Field.

For those who don't know him -- even for some who do -- Orioles bench coach John Russell is a tough read. It's difficult to know what he's thinking. But, rest assured, he's thinking.