Orioles Hall of Famer Frank Robinson has been named a senior adviser and the new honorary president of the American League, Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred announced Monday.

The Orioles finished their Grapefruit League schedule with a 4-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays under the lights at Ed Smith Stadium on Thursday night.

Tillman, who will be the team's Opening Day starter on Monday against the Boston Red Sox at Camden Yards, made his first start in nine days after missing his last scheduled appearance with the flu.

The Orioles made a pair of significant roster cuts following their 7-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday, optioning South Korean right-hander Suk-min Yoon and catcher Johnny Monell to Triple-A Norfolk.

Left-hander Wei-Yin Chen gave up six runs and 10 hits over 3 2/3 innings in the Orioles' 7-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays at Ed Smith Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

The Orioles have signed veteran infielder Alex Gonzalez to a minor league deal with a spring training invite, an industry source confirmed.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado injured his left knee while beating out a single in the seventh inning Monday. It appeared to be serious.

Orioles right-hander Jason Hammel will start Friday's series opener in Tampa Bay, manager Buck Showalter announced before Tuesday's game in Boston.

Down the Stretch is a daily Orioles Insider blog that will set up the coming night for the O's and their American League competition as the push for the postseason continues.

BOSTON ¿ The Orioles will open their three-game series at Fenway Park tonight just two games out of the second American League wild-card spot.

Wilson Betemit, who has been with the Orioles since 2012, was designated for assignment

Orioles reliever Darren O'Day has finger soreness and the club doesn't know why. It could be a big blow to the bullpen.

Wilson Betemit has struggled to regain his stroke since returning from a right knee injury that robbed him of most of the season, and as it appears now, his role as the Orioles' designated hitter against right-handed pitching has all but diminished.

When the Orioles left Baltimore for their nine-game road trip to Boston, New York and Cleveland, they knew how important it would be to play well against three teams they are jockeying with for playoff spots.

As expected, the Orioles made an interesting move Wednesday, bringing up last year's No. 1 pick, Kevin Gausman, while sending Tuesday's starter, Wei-Yin Chen, all the way down to the Gulf Coast League.

The Baltimore Orioles need to put together a run. Now.

Orioles left-hander Wei-Yin Chen had never thrown fewer than four innings or given up more than seven runs in any of his starts as a major leaguer. He picked a particularly inopportune time to do both.

The Orioles roster is shuffling, with Ryan Flaherty sent to Frederick and Kevin Gausman likely in Boston on Wednesday.

The Orioles have activated Wilson Betemit from the 60-day disabled list and optioned infielder Ryan Flaherty to High-A Frederick.

Over the past several days, Orioles manager Buck Showalter and executive vice president Dan Duquette have met with the organization's player development and minor league staff to discuss which players to add when rosters expand Sunday.

Buck Showalter said in pre-game media briefing that the Orioles are still considering their options with designated hitter Wilson Betemit, but there really isn¿t a lot they can do.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter moves Brian Roberts to leadoff, drops Nick Markakis to seventh in batting order

The impending return of switch-hitter Wilson Betemit from the injury he suffered in spring training does not preclude the Orioles from adding a designated hitter within the next two weeks, according to the club¿s top executive.

Buck Showalter thinks right-hander will need two rehab starts before he's ready

The Orioles recalled right-hander Josh Stinson from Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday to take outfielder Henry Urrutia¿s roster spot following the team¿s 6-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies.

Orioles rookie Henry Urrutia hasn't started a game since Aug. 3, but he was still an important part of the club's eight-game interleague road trip through National League West parks in San Diego, San Francisco and Arizona, as he pinch hit in all but one game.

PHOENIX ¿ A day after Jim Johnson blew his eighth save of the season in the Orioles¿ 4-3 extra-inning loss to Arizona, Orioles manager Buck Showalter is still standing by his closer.

While the Orioles bullpen has received its share of work over the course of the club's eight-game road trip to San Diego, San Francisco and Arizona, manager Buck Showalter says he isn't worried about his relievers tiring.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter often shuns the spotlight, so when the Arizona Diamondbacks showed a video tribute to Showalter -- who was their first manager and played a large role in the expansion club¿s growth -- he hesitated before tipping his cap as fans applauded.

Orioles right-hander Scott Feldman will make his first start after eight days rest in Monday's series opener in Arizona.

The Orioles look to rebound from yesterday's 3-2 loss to the Giants in this afternoon's series finale in San Francisco.

Executive vice president Dan Duquette wouldn't comment on the Orioles' interest in bringing back former first baseman Mark Reynolds, who was designated for assignment by the Cleveland Indians on Thursday, noting that Reynolds is still under contract.

Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy said he believes players are glad that baseball has taken added measures to try to rid the game of performance-enhancing drugs.

The Orioles recalled infielder Danny Valencia from Norfolk and immediately inserted him into Sunday's lineup as the designated hitter. Valencia responded with a homer and a double against the Seattle Mariners.

With the Orioles pitching rotation in flux with the addition of right-hander Bud Norris, the subtraction of right-hander Jason Hammel to the disabled list and the opportunity to shift around pitchers with the number of off days in August, manager Buck Showalter added some clarity to the situation.

At 3 p.m. Wednesday, Steve Pearce was in Frederick preparing to take batting practice for his third rehabilitation game with the High-A Keys. By 7 p.m., Pearce was at Camden Yards, batting ninth as the Orioles' designated hitter in an 11-0 loss to the Houston Astros.

Infielder Wilson Betemit (knee) will begin a rehab assignment in the Gulf Coast League on Tuesday, manager Buck Showalter said before Thursday¿s game between the Orioles and Astros. He hasn¿t played since suffering a Grade 2/3 tear of his PCL in spring training.