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Friday, August 25, 2017

Columns

 Orioles' Darren O'Day using Players Weekend to honor his Odachowski family heritage The Sun 8/24  Source: MRI on Orioles Zach Britton's knee shows no structural damage The Sun 8/24  White Sox rookie sensation Nicky Delmonico beat addiction on way to majors The Sun 8/24  Orioles’ Camden Yards an iconic piece of Baltimore The Sun 8/23  Orioles Players Weekend nicknames explained MLB.com 8/24  'Helly' looks to get on track against Red Sox MLB.com 8/24  News of the day and tonight’s game MASNsports.com 8/25  Updating Britton, Labor Day start time and more MASNsports.com 8/24  Previewing the O’s-Red Sox series, plus farm notes MASNsports.com 8/25  As Adam Jones returns to Fenway, has changed? ESPN.com 8/25  Do Orioles Have A Future Starter In Miguel Castro? PressBoxOnline.com 8/24  What's in a name? O's visit Red Sox on Players Weekend CBS Sports 8/25  Fans Are Demanding The Orioles Need To “Pay Up” To Keep Manny Machado CBS Baltimore 8/24

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bs-sp-orioles-oday-off-day-0825-story.html

Orioles' Darren O'Day using Players Weekend to honor his Odachowski family heritage

By Eduardo A. Encina / The Baltimore Sun August 24, 2017

When the Orioles play their pivotal three-game series against the this weekend at , players throughout the majors will wear names they selected on the backs of their jerseys as part of baseball’s first Players Weekend, an initiative focused on allowing a glimpse into the backgrounds and personalities of the game’s individuals.

Most players will don nicknames. Manny Machado will wear “Mr. Miami” as an homage to his hometown. The name “Pappo” that Adam Jones will wear is a nickname his mother called him growing up. Chris Davis will wear “Crush.” Welington Castillo will wear “Beef.”

Orioles reliever Darren O’Day’s jersey will carry extra meaning, his own way of offering a tribute to a family history that is still being explored to this day.

He will wear “Odachowski” on the back of his jersey in Boston. It’s not a nickname; it’s his original family name.

O’Day’s grandfather, Stanley Odachowski, fought in World War II, and tales passed through the family say that he played a role in the D-Day invasion, but he returned with what is now known as post-traumatic stress disorder. When Stanley returned, he never spoke about his service overseas, and he died in a car accident when O’Day’s father, Ralph, was just 14 years old.

That left O’Day’s grandmother, Geraldine Odachowski, with three boys to raise on the northwest side of Chicago on the corner of Addison Street and Normandy Avenue, a straight shot east over to Wrigley Field.

“A good, strong Polish woman who fought long and hard to get us all to go to college,” Ralph said.

Geraldine worked multiple jobs to raise her boys, and at one — as an accounting clerk at a local Montgomery Ward store — she went by the last name Odach, which was pronounced “Oh-day.” When Ralph married at age 25, he legally changed his name to O’Day to honor his mother, as did one of his brothers upon getting married, and a new surname was born.

“Names are interesting,” O’Day said. “You can learn a lot about a person finding out where they’re from. And maybe my last name brings to light what my grandfather went through. He went off to fight in a war and ended up never being the same afterward. It changed his life, it changed my dad’s life obviously and his brothers’ lives and his mother’s life. So maybe if somebody reads about that story and learns about it, it’s worthwhile. For me, it’s a tribute to that side of the family.”

O’Day, 34, also plans to use a glove that has the Odachowski name stitched on the side. He said he hasn’t used the glove in years and limited its usage to games — he was concerned that the open webbing would give hitters a clue to the grip he was using. But O’Day said he figured out a way to maneuver through that this weekend.

“I’m kind of glad that he’s doing this,” Ralph said. “One of his little cousins in Chicago told his friends in school that his cousin played professional ball and they didn’t believe him because his name’s Odachowski and [Darren is] named O’Day. … And I’m kind of honored he’s doing this. I’ve often wondered what my college and childhood friends would think if they saw an Odachowski on the mound someday. So the fact that he’s doing it kind of gives me an opportunity to show people what he’s achieved in his life. ….There’s not a lot of Odachowskis in the world.

“But yeah, like Darren says, it’s easier to chant, ‘O’Day, O’Day, O’Day,’ than ‘Odachowski, Odachowski, Odachowski.’”

O’Day also plans to wear a USO shirt during batting practice. Players can wear shirts of a charity they’d like to spotlight before this weekend’s games as part of Players Weekend. O’Day and his wife, Elizabeth Prann, a Fox News reporter based in Washington, D.C., have held several events to benefit the USO.

O’Day also donates $50 for every to Luke’s Wings, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the support of current and former military service members who have been wounded in battle. Over the past five years, he has donated more than $15,000 through the effort. Last month, O’Day was recognized as the Orioles’ nominee for the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award, which acknowledges players who support service personnel.

Meanwhile, O’Day would love to find out more about his grandfather’s story. He didn’t know about it until he had to do a report on his heritage in the fifth grade. And still now, there’s lots to learn.

Ralph has scoured several avenues to find out more about his father. A fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis in 1973 destroyed 16-18 million military personnel files. He was able to uncover microfilm of some troop reports, but many of the details within were redacted.

He does know that Stanley served in the 1359th Military Police Company out of Illinois, which according to the American Air Museum in Britain’s online archive was a part of the Ninth Air Force Command, parts of which fought in the Battle of Normandy.

A few offseasons ago, O’Day visited the site of the Dachau concentration camp in Germany, and just being there made him wonder about what his grandfather saw.

“I know he saw some horrible things,” O’Day said. “He’s come home and he would start screaming in German at night like someone was attacking him. When he was awake, he wasn’t entirely there. He saw some pretty terrible stuff.”

Ralph still has a box of about 150 letters that his father sent his mother while serving overseas, but even they offer few details.

“There’s no mention in there at all about location; just typical lovers’ banter,” Ralph said. “But it’s interesting to pull those out.

“I’d certainly love to know more. It’s the last great generation and it’s dying. I’d love to be able to pass it along to my kids and their grandchildren, so they can know about it.”

Orioles’ Players Weekend roster

Name; Number; Nickname

Tim Beckham; 1; Swaggy T

Richard Bleier; 48; Bleier

Brad Brach; 35; B-Rad

Zach Britton; 53; Brit

Dylan Bundy; 37; Bundy

Welington Castillo; 29; Beef

Miguel Castro; 50; Castro

Chris Davis; 19; Crush

Ryan Flaherty; 3; Flash

Kevin Gausman; 39; Gausy

Craig Gentry; 14; Gent

Mychal Givens; 60; Tony

J.J. Hardy; 2; J.J.

Jeremy Hellickson; 58; Helly

Ubaldo Jiménez; 31; Big U

Adam Jones; 10; Pappo

Caleb Joseph; 36; Cabob

Manny Machado; 13; Mr. Miami

Trey Mancini; 16; Trey

Wade Miley; 38; Miley

Darren O’Day; 56; Odachowski

Jonathan Schoop; 6; Mamba

Seth Smith; 12; Smith

Chris Tillman; 30; Tilly

Mark Trumbo; 45; Trumbo

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bs-sp-orioles-britton-20170825-story.html

Source: MRI on Orioles closer Zach Britton's knee shows no structural damage

By Eduardo A. Encina / The Baltimore Sun August 24, 2017

An MRI performed on Orioles closer Zach Britton’s left knee Thursday revealed no structural damage, according to an industry source.

Though the results were positive, it appears that the club is still undetermined whether the problem will land Britton on the disabled list — there is effusion in the knee that is causing swelling — especially as the Orioles attempt to maneuver the rest of the month with a six-man bullpen before rosters expand Sept. 1.

Britton, whose American League-record 60-consecutive-game save streak ended in the ninth inning of the Orioles’ 8-7, 12-inning win over the on Wednesday, said he didn’t believe the problem was serious.

The closer has been pitching through the knee injury since 2014 — well before his save streak began — but he said he did feel extra soreness in the joint while warming up Wednesday. Britton said that while he’s pitched through the soreness, there’s been added discomfort the past two weeks.

But Britton also said he was planning on getting an MRI on the knee at the end of the season regardless and said getting the test now is more to get ahead of it in case he might need a procedure in the offseason or before the season ends if the Orioles fall out of playoff contention.

Manager , conscious of the issue, has used Britton sparingly. Going into Wednesday’s outing — in which Britton allowed four of the five batters he faced to reach base and allowed two runs in the ninth inning — Britton had pitched just 3 2/3 innings over the past two weeks.

The Orioles will likely have to make a move before Friday night’s opener of a three-game series at Boston despite Thursday’s day off because Showalter had to use five relievers to get through Wednesday’s game.

Britton has dealt with several physical problems, pitching through the knee problem and turning his ankle multiple times, but avoided the disabled list until this year, when he spent most of the first half shelved with a left forearm strain.

Zach Britton's AL-record save streak ended by Athletics; closer will have MRI on knee Note: The start time for the Orioles’ Labor Day home game against the Yankees on Sept. 4 has been moved from 1:35 p.m. to 2:05 p.m.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/mlb/ct-nicky-delmonico-haugh-spt-0823-20170822- column.html

White Sox rookie sensation Nicky Delmonico beat addiction on way to majors

By David Haugh / Writer for The Chicago Tribune August 24, 2017

Arriving on the grounds of the Sundance Center in Scottsdale, Ariz., Nicky Delmonico knew taking the first step through the rehabilitation facility's doors was the reality he had to face if he ever hoped to fulfill his dream.

Delmonico was a 22-year-old addicted to Adderall, the attention-deficit disorder drug he had been prescribed since high school. And without undergoing 45 days of treatment in February 2015, the rookie White Sox knows he never would be enjoying one of the best debuts in team history now.

"I knew if I was going to get back into baseball, I needed to get myself right," Delmonico, 25, said Tuesday. "I dug down deep. Not only did I learn about the medicine and what it was doing to me, but I had to figure out what was going on in my life and get back to being myself."

If that marked rock bottom for Delmonico, his descent began the previous summer when he was suspended 50 games by . The July 2014 press release from the Commissioner's office announced Delmonico, a top 20 Brewers prospect at the time, tested positive "for an amphetamine." The stigma weighed too heavy to bear.

Delmonico feared the label of drug cheat would impede his path to the majors, his goal since he was a bat boy for the University of Tennessee, where his dad, Rod, coached from 1990-2007. He figured nobody would care to learn the real story; that he became conditioned to taking Adderall, which MLB had approved for medical purposes, but decided to come off the drug before the 2014 season so not to become overly dependent.

"But then I couldn't not take it," Delmonico said.

Withdrawal symptoms changed the young man with the infectious personality. His moods swung. Suddenly, Delmonico craved the way he used to feel.

"So I made the mistake of taking it again, and that led to my suspension," Delmonico said.

When he resumed taking Adderall, Delmonico neglected to notify MLB to gain the exemption he once had, and the positive test and suspension sent his emotions spiraling. On the flight home to Tennessee after his forced baseball exile, he reached a hasty conclusion.

"I got home and told my mom, 'I'm done playing,'" Delmonico said. "I just didn't have the love or passion for it. I wasn't in the right frame of mind."

Barbara Delmonico Courtney, Nicky's mom, listened but didn't hear the youngest of her three sons. Nobody in Nicky's large, blended baseball family did.

"I knew that was not my Nicky talking and all of us knew that," Barbara said in a phone interview. "He was born to be a baseball player."

After a dark few months of limbo, Nicky gradually escaped his funk. He asked for and received his release from the Brewers. He had resigned himself to plotting a post-baseball life when the Sox called a day later. Sox assistant general manager Buddy Bell knew Rod Delmonico and remembered the talented son the Orioles had selected in the sixth round of the 2011 draft The Sox liked Delmonico the player but, more importantly, the person.

"They told me don't worry about baseball, just take care of yourself first," Delmonico recalled of signing a free-agent contract with the Sox. "They gave me the faith to know that baseball would be here when I got back."

Added Barbara: "The White Sox always will have a special place in my heart."

The Sox signed Delmonico and wished him well in rehab, where Barbara recalled running into one of Nicky's regular visitors on family day. The man was Tommy Thompson, a Sox assistant director of player development, who knew from his own experience with substance abuse the hell Delmonico was enduring.

Thompson's personal touch typified the organizational commitment the Sox made to the lower- level prospect they viewed as a low-risk, high-reward gamble. Nick Capra, the Sox third-base coach who was director of player development then, remembered a consensus building due to Delmonico's character.

"We knew his history and, more or less, were willing to give him a second chance," Capra said. "Nicky's a winner. His baseball mentality is what you're looking for. You always see a smile on his face."

Delmonico's smiles have been wider and more frequent since Aug. 1, when the Sox called up the versatile 6-foot-2, 230-pound left-handed hitter. He reached base his first 13 games, a team record. He six home runs in his first 19 games, the fastest Sox player to ever do so. In sandlot terms, he is feeling it.

"I feel like I'm narrowing my strike zone, not trying to do too much, squaring up the ball and letting everything else take care of itself," said Delmonico, who had a .343/.443/.642 slash line before Tuesday. "I worked hard to prepare for this moment and, mentally, I'm the person I want to be right now."

When Delmonico received news of his promotion July 31, he instantly called his mom — even if she was sleeping.

"I didn't know what to think when the phone rang at 12:30 in the morning," Barbara said. "And Nicky just said, 'Mama, your baby is going to the big leagues.' I've teared up every day since."

The tears started falling at Delmonico's debut Aug. 1 at Guaranteed Rate Field when Nicky laced an eighth-inning to center for his first major-league hit. Delmonico stood on first base and started looking for his family in the stands: his mom and stepfather, his dad, his two brothers and their wives, and his girlfriend. He thought of all those long days in Arizona and lost months after the suspension. He never has felt more emotional on the baseball field.

"It just didn't feel real," Delmonico said.

The real deal now puts Delmonico in position to be a bigger part of the Sox rebuilding project than expected, all because he persevered through a drug addiction.

"I went through all that at a time it was the best thing for me because I got to learn about myself, more than anything, and got back to what I loved the most," Delmonico said.

He paused, took a breath and looked toward the sky.

"I hope my story," Delmonico said, "can inspire a lot of people to never give up on your dreams."

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/readersrespond/bs-ed-rr-camden-yards-20170822- story.html

Orioles’ Camden Yards an iconic piece of Baltimore

By Herman Williams Jr. / The Sun August 23, 2017

Five members of the 1992 Orioles team participated in a derby as part of the 25th Anniversary of at Camden Yards celebration.

As a lifelong, diehard Orioles fan, I’m sure I’m not the only Baltimorean reflecting this week as the team celebrates the 25th anniversary of the opening of Oriole Park at Camden Yards (“A walk down memory lane with the Orioles team that christened Camden Yards,” Aug. 18).

Just a few weeks before in 1992, I was appointed chief of the Baltimore City Fire Department and was very involved in the preparation of Oriole Park’s big debut. In my first visit to the stadium, I was in awe of the beauty of the park and what it represented for the city as well as the Orioles team.

Twenty five years later, I feel the same excitement stepping into the stadium that I did back then. I love the fans, the food and the energy! Camden Yards is a jewel not only in Baltimore but in all of MLB and deserves to be celebrated.

Herman Williams Jr.

The writer is MECU’s chairman of the board

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/250328646/orioles-to-show-flair-on-players- weekend/?topicId=27118142

Orioles Players Weekend nicknames explained

By Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com August 24, 2017

BALTIMORE -- This weekend, the Orioles -- and players across the Majors -- will get a chance to show their personality.

Starting on Friday, the O's will wear alternate jerseys inspired by youth league designs with custom nicknames for the inaugural Players Weekend. Players are also allowed to wear custom- designed flashy equipment, from batting gloves to bats, to have even more fun with their late- August series in Boston.

So whose name is the coolest? And what do all of these mean?

Below are all the details on the new jerseys and tribute patches the Orioles will wear. Some players elected to not put a nickname on their jersey, while others used a clever play on their last name. Many patches honor family members and former coaches who influenced their journey to the Major Leagues.

Tim Beckham: "Swaggy T" Beckham, who was acquired in a non-waiver Trade Deadline deal with the Rays, opted to go with a nickname.

Tribute patch: Mom, Dad, two oldest brothers

Beckham, the youngest son of Jimmy and Ella Beckham, grew up in the Crestview Heights neighborhood of Griffin, Ga. He often played baseball in his yard with his older brothers Stephen and Jeremy.

Brad Brach: "B-Rad"

Tribute patch: Mom, Dad, Jenae, Brian, Brett

Brach will pay tribute to his family with the patch. His wife, Jenae Cherry, is a singer-songwriter based out of Nashville, Tenn.

Richard Bleier: Using last name

Tribute patch: Mom and Dad

Bleier's father, Lawrence, is from the Bronx and grew up playing stickball. His mother is named Kathy. Both had a major impact on his baseball career, which started at South Plantation High School in Plantation, Fla.

Zach Britton: "Brit"

Britton shortened up his last name. The O's lefty is often called Brit in the clubhouse. Tribute patch: Mom and Dad

Greg and Martha Britton raised Zach, the youngest of three boys, in Santa Clarita, Calif. Britton's older brother, Buck, spent some time in the Orioles' Minor League system. Dylan Bundy: Using last name

Tribute patch: Denver and Lorie, Bobby Bundy

Bundy will wear a patch for his parents one day and his brother the next. His mother, Lorie, passed away in 2013. Bobby is currently in the Orioles' Minor League system.

Welington Castillo: "Beef"

The tried his first Beef Wellington back in 2015 when the nickname trended on Twitter after a red-hot week in July. And it's stuck, with chants of "Beeeeef" echoing through Camden Yards.

Tribute patch: Federico Castillo, Argentina Paulino Castillo will honor his family all weekend.

Miguel Castro: Using last name

Tribute patch: Eddy Santana Lachalupa

Castro, who has is having an impressive year for the Orioles, will pay tribute to his favorite coach.

Chris Davis: "Crush"

In 2008, after a hot start with his hometown team, the Rangers, Davis was dubbed "Crush Davis" by local media and fans. It's a play on "Crash Davis" from the movie "Bull Durham." The name stuck with the slugger, who led the Majors in home runs in 2013.

Ryan Flaherty: "Flash"

The nickname isn't for Flaherty's speed. Growing up, people used shorten his last name to "Flats." From there, it went to "Flash," and the rest is history.

Tribute patch: Mom and Dad, Deering High School

Flaherty is the son of Edward and Deborah Flaherty. His dad was a star at the University of Maine, and he is the longtime head coach at the University of Southern Maine.

Kevin Gausman: "Gausy"

Tribute patch: Mom and Dad, Chief Joseph

Gausman's parents are Claire and Winifred. His mother often goes by Jo, and Chief Joseph is her nickname.

Craig Gentry: "Gent"

Tribute patch: Mom and Dad, Cooley In addition to Gentry's parents, he'll also pay tribute to current Orioles hitting coach Scott Coolbaugh. The pair has long been close, and it was Coolbaugh who helped convince Baltimore to take a chance on Gentry this offseason.

Mychal Givens: "Tony"

Givens' middle name is Antonio.

Tribute patch: Liduvinia Padilla, Plant High School

Givens will pay tribute to his great grandmother and his high school in Florida. J.J. Hardy: "James Jerry" It's what J.J. stands for.

Tribute patch: Mom and Dad

Hardy's parents, Mark and Susie, were terrific athletes in their own right. Hardy's father was a professional tennis player, and his mother was a pro golfer.

Jeremy Hellickson: "Helly"

Tribute patch: Mom and Dad

Hellickson is a big deal in Des Moines, Iowa. When he was with the Rays earlier in his career his parents, Steve and Leanna, would coordinate watch parties, with a portion of the night's sales donated to Hoover High, where Hellickson went to school.

Ubaldo Jimenez: "Big U"

The name is a play on Jimenez's stature. The righty is 6-foot-5. Tribute patch: Dios

Jimenez is a spiritual guy; "Dios" means God.

Adam Jones: "Pappo"

Jones' mom, Andrea Bradley, gave him the nickname when he was young whenever he got into trouble. It stuck with him into adulthood.

Tribute patch: Andrea Bradley, Anna Brown, Audie Jones

Jones will wear the names of three important women: his mother, his grandmother and his wife. Caleb Joseph: "Cabob"

Pronounced "K-BOB," Joseph's aunt gave him the nickname.

Tribute patch: Jeff Forehand

The head coach at Lipscomb University (Tenn.), Forehand had a huge impact on Joseph's development.

Manny Machado: "Mr. Miami"

Machado chose to honor his hometown with his jersey. Machado attended Brito High School in Miami.

Tribute patch: G. Brito, H.A.A. (Hialeah Athletics Association), Rosa Nunez

Brito is for Machado's uncle, Geovanny Brito, who helped raise him and used to take Machado to play baseball after school. H.A.A. is Machado's hometown baseball league. Nunez is his mother.

Trey Mancini: "Trey"

His full name is Joseph Anthony Mancini III. Mancini's parents went out to eat while his mother was pregnant and the waiter's name was Trey. They asked about it, and the waiter said he was the third in his family. They loved the idea and decided to do the same.

Tribute patch: Blake Doyle

Doyle was one of Mancini's coaches growing up, and Mancini still helps out at Doyle's Baseball Academy. Doyle was the hitting coach for the Rockies from 2013-16.

Wade Miley: Using last name

Tribute patch: Family

Darren O'Day: "Odachowski"

O'Day's Polish grandmother went by Mrs. O'Dach (pronounced O'Day) instead of Mrs. Odachowski at work because it was easier to pronounce, and her sons eventually changed their last names to "O'Day" as a tribute to her. O'Day is honoring his heritage on his jersey with his original family name.

Tribute patch: Mom and Dad

Jonathan Schoop: "Mamba"

Schoop always loved Kobe Bryant and playing basketball, so his friends started calling him "Mamba" like Kobe.

Tribute patch: Jaja

Schoop will honor his deceased aunt who used to take him to baseball practice.

Seth Smith: Using last name

Tribute patch: Mom and Dad, Proverbs 22:6

Chris Tillman: Using last name

Tribute patch: Family

Mark Trumbo: Using last name

Tribute patch: Mom and Dad

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/250141598/hellickson-looks-to-slow-hot-porcello-red- sox/?topicId=26688836

'Helly' looks to get on track against Red Sox

By Mandy Bell / MLB.com August 24, 2017

When the Red Sox and Orioles renew their American League East rivalry Friday for the start of a three-game series at Fenway Park, it will also be the first Players Weekend series for both teams.

"Obviously it's something that's different. It's cool to get further background on the individual [player]," Orioles outfielder Adam Jones (aka "Pappo") said of the jerseys. "People are going to have nicknames, patches, people they are representing that have helped push them in their career. I think it's beneficial to see what drives the individual, not just the game, but individuals that drive us to do what we do as people and baseball players."

The first-place Red Sox lead the AL East by 4 1/2 games. The O's are 11 games back, but are still in contention for one of the AL Wild Card spots.

Rick Porcello will get the ball for the Red Sox in the opener. Porcello (8-14, 4.48 ERA) -- who will be wearing "Veintidos," which represents his jersey number, 22, as his nickname on his jersey -- will be looking to record his fifth consecutive win.

After a four-start skid from July 8-18 that was mostly due to a lack of run support, Porcello has won his past four starts, dropping his season ERA from 4.70 to 4.48 and striking out 23 through those 24 1/3 innings.

"When a gets a win next to his name, there's a relaxation that takes over, an added confidence that grows," said Red Sox manager John Farrell. "And it's shown how he's come out of the bullpen early on, and I thought has had very good command of his two-seamer in particular and particularly to his glove side, that's the pitch that locked him in last year for such a long period of time."

Picking up his fifth consecutive win won't come easy as Porcello has not always found success against the Orioles. The righty is 4-10 with a 4.75 ERA in 17 career starts against Baltimore and has allowed 17 home runs to the O's, which is the third highest of any opposing team he's faced.

The Orioles will send Jeremy Hellickson -- who will be sporting a shortened version of his last name, "Helly," on the back of his jersey -- to the mound on Friday. The righty is looking for his second win in an O's uniform and hoping to get back into the rhythm he had in his first two starts with Baltimore. In his two most recent outings, Hellickson has allowed 13 runs in 9 2/3 innings.

Friday will be Hellickson's first start in Boston since 2014. The right-hander has posted a 5.09 ERA in eight appearances (seven starts) at Fenway Park, holding Red Sox hitters to a .272 average.

Three things to know about this game

• A red-hot Manny Machado (aka "Mr. Miami") has found success against Porcello in his career, hitting .303 (10-for-33) with two home runs and four RBIs.

• Although the Red Sox have not had much experience against Hellickson, Mookie Betts is 5- for-5 against the right-hander, while Mitch Moreland (aka "2-Bags") is batting .500 (4-for-8) with a home run and three walks.

• Two of the five home runs Hellickson allowed in his last start came on changeups, bringing his season total to an MLB-high 11. Only two other this year have allowed 10 or more homers on changeups, while Hellickson himself surrendered just three in 2016.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2017/08/news-of-the-day-and-tonight.html

News of the day and tonight’s game

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com August 25, 2017

The Orioles are in Boston tonight for a series that could get them on firmer ground in the wild card race or knock them on their backs. So much also depends on the teams jockeying for position in front of them.

The roster could undergo a change with pitcher scratched from yesterday’s start at Triple-A Norfolk and leaving the club. And we’ll find out whether closer Zach Britton avoids the disabled list.

Will confirmation come today that Chris Tillman is starting Sunday’s series finale? It’s never wise to assume too much. And there’s talk of the Red Sox anticipating left-hander Wade Miley.

Manager Buck Showalter may have an update on J.J. Hardy’s rehab assignment after the shortstop played Game 1 of yesterday’s doubleheader and went 1-for-2 with a , walk and run scored. Hardy is 2-for-7 with three walks, two , two runs scored and one error in three games against Charlotte.

The Tides are in Durham this weekend and Hardy could hit the road with them if it’s decided that he needs more at-bats and throws. Three games doesn’t seem like much when the guy hadn’t played in two months, but the Orioles will heed his diagnosis.

Meanwhile, Tim Beckham will get another start at shortstop and see whether he can improve on that .421/.439/.716 slash line in 22 games with the Orioles. He has multiple hits in 13 of them, including three in Wednesday’s 12-inning win over the Athletics.

Beckham has been OK in the field, making a couple of outstanding plays and falling short in other instances.

The mishaps aren’t always accompanied by an error, but he was late making a throw to first base in the seventh inning Sunday after ranging up the middle to snatch Ryon Healy’s ground ball, and he bounced a throw to Jonathan Schoop while attempting to start a . Schoop saved Beckham by playing the hop and almost turned two.

Never take Hardy for granted. But it’s also hard to just hand him the starting job again while Beckham is keeping his average above .400. And it’s not like Beckham is the defensive equivalent of Wilson Betemit and Mark Reynolds at third base. He’s just not as smooth transferring the ball.

Beckham is hitting .296 against left-handers and right-handers this season. He’s batting .319/.333/.505 in 20 games from the leadoff spot.

The Orioles are 7-6 against the Red Sox this season, splitting six games at Fenway Park.

Hey, remember when won the American League’s Award? Kate Upton does. Or is it “Uproar?” Anyway, Porcello is 8-14 this season with a 4.48 ERA and 1.360 WHIP in 26 starts. Upton will portray herself in the upcoming “E! True Hollywood Story.”

Going into last night’s games, Porcello’s 14 losses led the majors and his 189 hits led the American League and ranked second in the majors.

More like Sigh Young. Am I right?

Maybe it’s turning around for him. He’s won all four decisions this month with a 4.07 ERA and 1.274 WHIP. He lost all four decisions in July with a 3.06 ERA and 0.962 WHIP. Again, a pitcher’s won/loss record is largely meaningless.

Porcello has faced the Orioles twice this season, allowing two runs in six innings in a 5-2 loss on May 1 in Boston and three runs in six innings in a 3-2 loss on June 2 in Baltimore. He’s 4-10 with a 4.75 ERA in 17 career starts against the Orioles.

Seth Smith is 10-for-25 (.400) with three doubles, one triple and one home run lifetime against Porcello. Manny Machado is 10-for-33 (.303) with a double and two home runs. Ryan Flaherty is 6-for-16 with a home run, and he’s a career .308/.356/.440 hitter with seven doubles, one triple, one home run and 11 RBIs in 30 games at Fenway Park. Can Showalter squeeze him into the lineup?

Jeremy Hellickson is 1-2 with a 6.35 ERA and 1.235 WHIP in four starts with the Orioles over 22 2/3 innings. He’s walked only four batters, but he’s still trending in the wrong direction.

Hellickson tossed seven scoreless innings in his debut and has allowed three runs in six innings, six runs in five innings and seven runs - including five home runs - in 4 2/3 innings.

The last start came last Friday against the Angels, putting Hellickson on extended rest. He owns a career 2.94 ERA and 1.187 WHIP in 33 career starts while working on six-plus days.

Hellickson is 4-4 with a 4.78 ERA in 16 career games (15 starts) against the Red Sox and 3-1 with a 5.09 ERA in eight games (seven starts) at Fenway Park. He faced them on June 14 while pitching for the Phillies and allowed six runs and nine hits in five innings.

Mookie Betts is 5-for-5 with a double and home run lifetime against Hellickson. Mitch Moreland is 4-for-8 with a home run and Xander Bogaerts is 4-for-9 with a double.

Rajai Davis, acquired on Wednesday from the Athletics, is 2-for-10 with four strikeouts.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2017/08/updating-britton-labor-day-start-time-and- more.html

Updating Britton, Labor Day start time and more

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com August 24, 2017

Orioles closer Zach Britton underwent an MRI this morning on his left knee and the results were positive, according to one person in the organization.

Whether the good news keeps Britton off the disabled list will be determined later today or Friday, when the Orioles begin a three-game series in Boston. Britton blew his first save yesterday after 60 successful conversions in a row, an American League record, but the Orioles defeated the Athletics 8-7 in 12 innings on Manny Machado’s leadoff home run.

Britton is 1-0 with a 3.55 ERA, 11 saves and 1.737 WHIP in 28 appearances and has twice gone on the disabled list with a strained left forearm.

Manager Buck Showalter revealed yesterday that Britton has been bothered by some soreness in the knee, which has led to a more cautious approach to using him. Britton threw only four pitches Monday night while retiring a batter and notching his latest save, but he wasn’t called upon yesterday until the ninth inning as the Athletics rallied to get within 6-5.

Showalter didn’t attempt to get a four-out save from Brittton, who downplayed the issue while talking to reporters after the game. He said the latest discomfort started to “creep up” on him a couple of weeks ago.

“Gosh, I probably had it since like 2014,” Britton said. “I got my cleats stuck one time in Toronto on their turf and it’s something that was kind of bothering me. I think I pitched through it the last three or four years. So, (Dr. Michael Jacobs) kind of wants me to get it checked out.

“I was kind of pushing it off. He said, ‘Let’s just look at it.’ I’ll be going to Boston. It’s not something that’s going to prevent me from going with the team. He just wants to see where it’s at, if there’s anything that needs to get cleaned up maybe. I don’t think it’s anything serious.

Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to pitch on it, but I’m going to do that and we’ll find out.”

* The starting time for the Labor Day game against the Yankees on Sept. 4 at Camden Yards has been moved from 1:35 p.m. to 2:05 p.m. Gates will open at noon. The game will air on MASN and all fans will receive a Tim Beckham T-shirt.

* According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Beckham and (2009) are the only players in the modern era - since 1900 - with 40 hits in their first 22 games with a team after playing for another team earlier in the season.

Also according to Elias, Machado and are the only players in franchise history with two walk-off home runs within a span of six days or fewer. Lynn did it in back-to-back wins over the Twins on May 10-11, 1985.

Machado and the Blue Jays’ at the only players this season with two game-ending home runs within a span of seven days.

In an odd twist, Machado and Pearce hit their walk-offs against the Athletics and Angels.

* J.J. Hardy played shortstop again today for Triple-A Norfolk in Game 1 of a doubleheader and went 1-for-2 with a double, walk and run scored. He’s expected to sit out Game 2.

Gabriel Ynoa tossed six scoreless innings against Charlotte, allowing only two hits, walking two and striking out five, to lower his ERA to 5.38.

Logan Verrett is taking the mound for Game 2 after Mike Wright had been listed as the starter. The Virginian-Pilot reports that Wright is a healthy scratch. The Orioles may be keeping him available in case of a roster move.

The Orioles are working with a six-man bullpen and Miguel Castro threw 3 2/3 scoreless innings yesterday to earn the win.

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2017/08/previewing-the-os-red-sox-series-plus- farm-notes.html

Previewing the O’s-Red Sox series, plus farm notes

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com August 25, 2017

The Orioles and their flickering playoff hopes head to Boston’s Fenway Park tonight to begin a three-game weekend series. The Red Sox are leading the American League East at 73-54 and are 16-5 their last 21 games.

The Orioles are 62-65 and won two of three against Oakland in the series that ended Wednesday. But they have lost five of eight overall and nine of their last 15. They are 24-39 in road games.

The Orioles and Boston have not met since June 4. They played 13 times in the Orioles’ first 55 games. They played nine times in the Orioles’ first 27 games, at a point where the O’s record was 17-10.

The Red Sox have not won a series this year against the Orioles and the Orioles have won just one. Twice they have split four games and once split a two-game series. The Orioles won two of three April 21-23 at Oriole Park.

The Orioles are 7-6 (.538) versus Boston this season. They are 61-46 (.570) against Boston since the 2012 season.

The Orioles have the best division record in American League East games:

.551 - Orioles (27-22) .547 - New York (29-24) .529 - Boston (27-24) .456 - Tampa Bay (26-31) .426 - Toronto (23-31)

Manny Machado is batting .283 (15-for-53) against Boston this year with four doubles, six homers and 11 RBIs. Trey Mancini is batting .306 (11-for-36) with three homers and nine RBIs. Jonathan Schoop is batting .356 (16-for-45) with three homers and eight RBIs.

The Orioles have held Boston outfielder Mookie Betts in check this season. He is batting .192 (10-for-52) with one homer and six RBIs versus the Orioles. Last year against Baltimore pitchers, Betts hit .408/.477/.816 with nine homers and 21 RBIs. Betts is batting just .219 with an OPS of .629 and one home run in August.

The Orioles have 35 games to play. A 20-15 record gives them 82 wins. A 23-12 record gives them 85 wins. They still have time to make a playoff push to prove their growing list of doubters wrong. Their next chance to begin to do that is tonight at Boston’s Fenway Park.

Fenter on the farm: Young right-hander Gray Fenter is quietly pitching well on the Orioles farm after undergoing Tommy John surgery in early April 2016. The 21-year-old Fenter is 0-1 with a 3.65 ERA over 24 2/3 innings for the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Orioles.

But it is his recent pitching that has really been stellar. In five games and 16 innings this month, he has allowed one earned run on five hits with three walks to 21 strikeouts. He pitched 3 2/3 hitless innings on Thursday.

The Orioles drafted Fenter in round seven in June 2015 out of an Arkansas high school and signed him to a well over-slot bonus of $1 million. The Orioles saw him touch 97 mph as a high school senior and he was ranked as the club’s No. 24 prospect by at the end of the 2015 season.

Double-A Bowie lost 2-1 at Altoona last night in the opener of an important four-game series between the top teams in the Eastern League’s Western Division. Bowie (67-62) began the series one game out of first, but now is two behind Altoona (69-60) after this loss. The top two teams will make the playoffs.

Bowie was held to seven hits and went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position Thursday night. Right-hander Lucas Long took a tough loss allowing two runs over seven innings. Long is 9-6 with a 2.75 ERA. Erick Salcedo had two hits and an RBI for Bowie. That series continues tonight with right-hander (10-8, 4.13 ERA) on the mound for the Baysox.

Triple-A Norfolk used a strong pitching performance in Game 1 of a doubleheader and six extra- base hits in the nightcap to sweep the 2-0 and 5-3 Thursday afternoon at Harbor Park.

In the opener, Gabriel Ynoa and Richard Rodriguez combined on a three-hit shutout to help the Tides blank the Knights 2-0. Ynoa allowed just two singles over six innings. In eight starts since the All-Star break, he is 4-1 with an ERA of 2.85 with six walks to 39 strikeouts in 47 1/3

innings. Rodriguez completed the shutout. He has now posted nine consecutive scoreless outings, lowering his ERA to 1.79.

Through three rehab games with Norfolk, Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy has hit .286 (2-for-7) with a double, three walks and two runs scored. Jimmy Yacabonis has not allowed a run in 34 of his 40 appearances with the Tides. Stefan Crichton’s seven victories lead the team. Norfolk’s bullpen finished the Tides’ 10-game homestand with a 1.27 ERA.

Single-A Frederick beat Wilmington 5-3 as lefty Reid Love allowed three runs (one earned) over a career-high 7 2/3 innings. He is 5-4 with an ERA of 3.44. Yermin Mercedes went 2-for-4 with two RBIs for the Keys. Third baseman Jomar Reyes was 3-for-4 and is batting .300.

Single-A Delmarva got shut out 6-0 at home versus Hickory. The Shorebirds were held to six hits. Shortstop Milton Ramos went 2-for-4 and is hitting .245. Losing pitcher Travis Seabrooke allowed eight hits and four runs (three earned) over seven innings.

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/20446699/as-adam-jones-returns-fenway-baseball-changed

As Adam Jones returns to Fenway, has baseball changed?

By Scott Lauber / ESPN Staff Writer August 25, 2017

It has been 3½ months since Adam Jones endured what he describes as "one of the worst nights" of his 12-year major league career.

Now, with the ' center fielder returning to Boston for the first time since a racial incident that rocked baseball, it's fair to ask: Has anything changed?

EDITOR'S PICKS

Major League Baseball plans to implement a universal code of conduct for fans who attend games next season.

Orioles outfielder Adam Jones received an apology from the Red Sox and a warm welcome from the Fenway Park fans a day after he heard racial taunts coming from the stands.

There are meaningful conversations to be had today, but instead everyone's talking about an F- bomb video. Last night, it took just 128 seconds to turn baseball from a unifying force into a farce.

In the 24 hours after being taunted with racial epithets by fans during a game at Fenway Park, Jones spoke out against intolerance and hate. He hasn't discussed the incident since. Moreover, the Red Sox haven't reported any instances of racism in the stands since the May series with the Orioles.

Still, in response to what happened to Jones, the Red Sox toughened their fan code of conduct to stress a zero-tolerance policy and impose the harshest possible penalties for violators. Major League Baseball also plans to implement a leaguewide fan code of conduct beginning next season, ESPN learned this week.

"I think as Adam Jones comes back, people are going to be more sensitive," says Robert Lewis Jr., founder and president of The BASE, a program that leverages baseball to keep inner-city Boston youth out of trouble while providing athletic and educational opportunities. "I think people are going to be more watchful. I think people are going to be more careful."

Says Red Sox president/CEO Sam Kennedy: "Our fans are conscious of this, and they recognize that we have a zero-tolerance policy and we are going to take action wherever and whenever we can. It's an ongoing effort. There hasn't been any follow-up incidents with respect to racial taunting that have been brought to our attention, but that doesn't mean that it won't happen again. It likely will, and we need to be really diligent."

That's especially true, Kennedy says, at this time in America, two weeks since the deadly rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, and six days after a conservative "free speech" rally and a counterprotest converged on the Boston Common, less than two miles from Fenway Park.

If the Red Sox didn't realize it earlier, the ugliness of the Jones incident helped reinforce that those deep political and social divisions within the country can also seep into sports.

FENWAY PARK IS notoriously tough on opposing players. But on May 1, in the first game of the Orioles' most recent series in Boston, a few fans went way too far.

While playing center field in a 5-2 Baltimore victory, Jones was verbally abused with hateful language, including multiple uses of the N-word. Between innings, as he was running off the field and approaching the third-base dugout, a bag of peanuts was hurled at him from the stands.

After the game, Jones went public with what happened. The Red Sox swiftly apologized and denounced fan intolerance. So, too, did Major League Baseball commissioner , players' union chief Tony Clark and local political leaders, including Boston mayor Marty Walsh and Gov. Charlie Baker.

The next day, Red Sox owner John Henry and Kennedy met privately with Jones and urged him to speak out. Jones -- one of only 62 African-American players on Opening Day rosters and one of the more forthright players in the sport -- held a news conference in which he talked forcefully about racism. Kennedy called on fans to report incidents of hate speech, and almost on cue, the team responded to a man overheard uttering a slur in the stands by banning him for life from Fenway.

Jones' story -- and the fallout from it -- dominated baseball's news cycle for the better part of 24 hours.

Then, it faded away.

Approached by an ESPN.com reporter this week in Baltimore, Jones politely declined to comment about his return to Fenway.

"I'm censoring a lot of my stuff now," he said.

THE RED SOX -- and Boston, in general -- have a complicated history with race relations.

Not only did the Sox pass on opportunities to sign Jackie Robinson and Willie Mays, they were the last team to integrate their roster, finally doing so in 1959, 12 years after Robinson broke baseball's color barrier. Celtics great Bill Russell dealt with racism during his playing career. pitcher CC Sabathia said he has "never been called the N-word anywhere but Boston," and Red Sox lefty David Price told in January that he heard racist taunts at Fenway last season.

Some people in Boston, including former pitcher , even doubted the veracity of Jones' story.

"When it first happened, I was [angry]," Lewis says of the way Jones was treated. "But this idea that people were shocked that it happened at Fenway shocked me. Like, what makes Fenway different? What I appreciated is the Red Sox stepped up. They owned it. They didn't hesitate. Because they have history, if they did less than what they did, they'd be in trouble. But I also loved what they said, too, that this is a societal issue that we all have to recognize."

Kennedy, in particular, was mortified by the situation. Having grown up within walking distance of Fenway, he took personally the suggestion that Red Sox fans were more prone to intolerance. But he was also realistic about the fact that the 105-year-old ballpark, a civic treasure, isn't immune to what's happening throughout the country.

And so, the Red Sox responded. They added the term "hate speech" to their code of conduct and imposed the threat of a lifetime ban for bigotry. Ushers and security personnel were given

additional training for how to handle future incidents, Kennedy says, and the team made it easier for fans to report violations by better promoting the number fans should text for security issues.

Henry and Kennedy met with staff and players -- including African-American Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Chris Young -- to solicit their thoughts and opinions. And just last week, Henry told the Boston Herald he plans to lead an effort to rename , the street that serves as Fenway's address, because it honors the racist legacy of former Red Sox owner .

"One of the things that Chris Young and Mookie and Jackie and [ ] and [pitcher Rick] Porcello and John Henry, John Farrell and I all talked about was how the world has changed, at least in America, over the last 6-12 months," Kennedy says. "We had the Adam Jones incident, and a lot of discussion grew out of that, internally and externally. Then we had the follow-up incident the next night. Then we had Charlottesville. The general sense that I've gotten is that there's a willingness and a freedom for people to speak out, and that has changed the climate."

With the Red Sox taking the lead, the commissioner's office conducted a survey of all 30 teams about their policies governing fan behavior. Effective next season, MLB will implement a leaguewide fan code of conduct. By adopting a uniform policy, MLB is seeking to establish a set of minimum behavioral standards and consequences that are consistent for each club, according to a league source.

"We have certainly made the clubs more aware on this issue," Manfred says, "and I'm comfortable, particularly in Boston, that everything possible will be done that we don't have another one of those incidents."

IMMEDIATELY AFTER JONES spoke out, his fellow players closed ranks.

Betts took to Twitter and encouraged Red Sox fans to stamp out racism by giving Jones a standing ovation before his first at-bat the following night, a request that was fulfilled. Young said he has experienced racism at ballparks during his 12-year major league career, an admission made by others around the league, including Sabathia, second baseman Dee Gordon and utility man Delino DeShields.

"It's happened to probably the majority of black players in the game -- and not just black players," Young says. "It happens to Latin guys as well, or anyone who's different from whatever the norm is considered to be. It's very upsetting that it happens in environments where you're surrounded by 35,000 other people. You have kids in the stadium. This kind of stuff is passed down. Hate is taught."

Lewis says it's incumbent upon fans to act as good citizens and speak up when confronted by hate. He also says he believes the best way to rid ballparks of social injustice is for the athletes to band together in protest.

"I think if a group of African-American players walked off, MLB would have to take a look at doing something," Lewis says. "If Mookie and [Pirates outfielder Andrew] McCutchen, Adam Jones and even more start to speak out, I think they'd realize their power and effect. And let me tell you, who would follow them? It'll be white superstars that will stand with them."

What happens Friday night -- and beyond -- will tell us a lot about the state of America's pastime.

"The important thing here is for the Red Sox to walk the walk," Kennedy says. "What does that mean? That means we need to do everything we can to make people feel welcome. We need to be active in the community. We need to provide a safe and welcoming environment at Fenway."

https://www.pressboxonline.com/2017/08/24/do-orioles-have-a-future-starter-in-miguel-castro

Do Orioles Have A Future Starter In Miguel Castro?

By Rich Dubroff / PressBoxOnline.com August 24, 2017

BALTIMORE -- Lost in Manny Machado's game-winning home run and the end of Zach Britton's save streak Aug. 23 was the strong performance from Miguel Castro.

Both the third baseman and closer made it a point to talk about Castro's performance.

The right-hander, who had just returned from three days bereavement leave in the Dominican Republic, pitched 3.2 innings of shutout ball in relief of Britton during the Orioles' exciting, 8-7 win against the Oakland Athletics.

"It's allowed us to stay on our feet, whether we're going to have to make a pitching move now or not," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "At least he provided some length for us."

Castro, who was acquired from the for a player to be named later and cash considerations April 7, is 3-1 with a 2.74 ERA. He's allowed 35 hits in 46 innings.

"He comes in in tough situations and gets the job done every time," Machado said. "Buck puts him in there in certain situations. Those are the little things that we're going to need to win the next games, to get where we need to be."

Castro began his time in the Orioles' organization with Double-A Bowie, but when the Orioles needed an arm, they called him up in mid-May and he threw three scoreless innings at Detroit May 17 and 18. In June, he was back up again, but after a couple of rough outings was sent back to the Baysox.

On June 30, he returned for good and has impressed Showalter with his durability and adaptability. Castro has pitched short stints and long ones. On Aug. 3, he threw a career-high six innings, allowing one hit in relief of Chris Tillman, leading some to believe he was a candidate to take the right-hander's place in the rotation.

That talk was premature, but Showalter has mentioned he might want to consider Castro as a possible starter for 2018.

Castro began his professional career as a starter in the Toronto organization, but the Blue Jays brought him to the big leagues at 20 as a closer.

He had four saves for Toronto in 2015 but after he was 0-3 with a 6.11 ERA, the Blue Jays traded him to Colorado in July 2015 in the deal that brought shortstop Troy Tulowitzki to Toronto.

Castro's time with the Rockies was difficult. In 24 games in 2015 and 2016, he had a 7.20 ERA, and early this season, Colorado designated him for assignment.

Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette was delighted to obtain him.

His teammates have taken to teasing the 6-foot-7 Castro about his resemblance to the Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant. They've posted a cardboard cutout of Durant on Castro's locker.

With his long, lean body and ever-present headphones, Castro looks the NBA part, but more important for the Orioles are his skills.

"Where we are right now, you want to win those games, and obviously we did and it's because of Castro," Britton said. "I mean, gosh, what a job he did coming in for me. First off, getting out of that jam and then throwing what, three more innings after that? I mean that's pretty impressive.

"I think you're looking at a future starter probably with that arsenal, so it ended well."

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/whats-in-a-name-os-visit-red-sox-on-players-weekend/

What's in a name? O's visit Red Sox on Players Weekend

By STATS / CBS Sports August 25, 2017

BOSTON -- It will be "Helly" against "Veintidos" when the Baltimore Orioles begin "Players Weekend" against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Friday night.

Those are the monikers that will be on the back of the starting pitchers' jerseys. Jeremy Hellickson goes for Baltimore against Boston's Rick Porcello, whose nickname is the Spanish translation of his number -- 22.

"Obviously, it's something that's different," center fielder Adam Jones said before his Orioles flew to Boston. "It's cool to get further background on the individual (player).

"People are going to have nicknames, patches, people they are representing that have helped push them in their career. I think it's beneficial to see what drives the individual, not just the game, but individuals that drive us to do what we do as people and baseball players."

Jerseys aside, this is another huge series for the Orioles, who are trying to hang on in the chase for an American League wild card. Baltimore (62-65) sits three games behind Minnesota in the battle for the league's last postseason berth, but five other teams are between the Orioles and the Twins.

Despite Manny Machado being on fire, the Orioles have lost three of their past five, and they haven't won consecutive games since Aug. 6-7.

Machado is batting .340 with 10 homers and 31 RBIs this month, including three homers and seven RBIs on Aug. 18, when he ended the game against the with a walk- off .

Hellickson (7-7, 5.00 ERA overall) is familiar with the Red Sox and Fenway from his days in the American League East with the (plus one start vs. Boston earlier this season with the ). He comes in off two straight poor starts, and he allowed five home runs to the Angels his last time out.

Meanwhile, Porcello (8-14, 4.48 ERA) is turning around what had been a miserable season. The reigning Cy Young Award winner, 22-4 last season, started 4-14 in 2017. However, he is getting more run support -- he got more than any pitcher in baseball last year -- and has won four straight.

Porcello defeated the Yankees on Sunday after losing three straight to New York. He comes into this start 0-2 against the Orioles this season, allowing five runs in 12 innings.

"The numbers show that he's winning more games," Red Sox manager John Farrell said after the victory over the Yankees, "but that's been a combination of a few things. He's maintained the strike zone. He's been better to the overall quality in the strike zone with command. And we've scored runs for him."

Baltimore's Seth Smith is 10-for-25 (.400) with a home run against Porcello, while Machado is 10-for-33 (.303) with two homers, and Mark Trumbo has three homers against him. Adam Jones is 11-for-51 (.216) and like Chris Davis (9-for-41, .220, 12 strikeouts) also has three homers versus Porcello.

The Red Sox split a four-game series in Cleveland this week, and they come home 4 1/2 games ahead of the New York Yankees in the AL East.

Hellickson might want to be a bit careful against Mookie Betts, who he is 5-for-5 with a homer against the right-hander. Mitch Moreland is 4-for-7 with a homer and Xander Bogaerts 4-for-9 while Eduardo Nunez is 2-for-11 and newcomer Rajai Davis 2-for-10.

Betts sustained a right knee contusion Thursday in Boston's 13-6 loss to the Indians and was officially listed as day-to-day.

"Two impacts tonight, one up against the wall and another where he made a diving play," Farrell said. "Little bit of swelling in there. Day-to-day right now. He's gone through a number of physical examinations in the training room, and nothing is limiting him. Still, some soreness there, and we'll see if he's available tomorrow."

The Orioles blew a five-run lead and Zach Britton saw his save streak end at 60 straight but Machado hit another walk-off to beat the Oakland A's 8-7 on Wednesday night.

Baltimore leads the season series with Boston 7-6.

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2017/08/24/fans-are-demanding-the-orioles-need-to-pay-up-to- keep-manny-machado/

Fans Are Demanding The Orioles Need To “Pay Up” To Keep Manny Machado

By WJZ August 24, 2017

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Mr. Miami is hot right now.

The Orioles’ third baseman looked as if he was experiencing a “sophomore slump” of sorts in the first half of the season, but as of late he’s been crushing the ball like no other. Manny Machado now has 10 homers, 29 RBI and 16 runs through his past 19 games.

Machado’s name is now being chanted over and over and fans are asking for the powers at be to pay the man.

We’ve seen a walk-off grand slam, multiple hit games and a walk-off home run in the past several weeks.

The Orioles have now won five of their first seven games in August. They needed Wednesday’s victory to even their record for the month at 11-11 and are just 3.5 games back of the Angels in the wild card race.