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The Orioles placed starter Kyle Bradish on the 15-day injured list again today with an ulnar collateral ligament sprain in his right elbow – the same injury that led to a platelet-rich plasma injection in January and delayed his 2024 debut until May 2.

Left-handed reliever Nick Vespi was recalled for the fourth time, giving the Orioles an eight-man bullpen.

The rotation is down to five starters.

Bradish exited last night’s game after the fifth inning with elbow discomfort. He’s undergoing more tests.

I’ll have more on Bradish later today.

Gunnar Henderson returns to the leadoff spot against Phillies right-hander Taijuan Walker. Henderson has hit at least six home runs against fastballs, breaking balls and off-speed pitches, per STATS.

Ryan Mountcastle is the first baseman, Ryan O’Hearn is the designated hitter, Jordan Westburg is starting at second base and Ramón Urías is at third. Colton Cowser is in left field.

Grayson Rodriguez is 7-2 with a 3.27 ERA and 1.232 WHIP in 11 starts. He’s struck out 71 batters in 63 1/3 innings and surrendered only six home runs.

Rodriguez has never faced the Phillies.

The Orioles are 3 ½ games behind the first-place Yankees after losing two straight. Their longest losing streak is three in a row when they were swept in St. Louis.

Walker has a 5.40 ERA and 1.454 WHIP in eight starts. He’s 4-1 with a 2.54 ERA and 1.148 WHIP in nine career starts against the Orioles.

Walker uses his fastball 49.8 percent of the time against right-handers but only 31.5 percent against left-handers, per STATS.

Only four of Bryce Harper’s 15 home runs this season have been hit on the road.

For the Orioles

Gunnar Henderson SS
Adley Rutschman C
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
Ryan O’Hearn DH
Anthony Santander RF
Jordan Westburg 2B
Cedric Mullins CF
Colton Cowser LF
Ramón Urías 3B

Grayson Rodriguez RHP

For the Phillies

Kyle Schwarber DH
Nick Castellanos RF
Bryce Harper 1B
Alec Bohm 3B
Bryson Stott 2B
Edmundo Sosa SS
Brandon Marsh LF
Garrett Stubbs C
Johan Rojas CF

Taijuan Walker RHP