Why play one game when you can play two?

Well, doubleheaders are capable of shredding a bullpen, but yesterday was a refresher and the Orioles added reliever Cam Foster while also putting starter Trevor Rogers on the 15-day injured list with an undisclosed illness. And they will add a 27th man.

But they’d still like to get a couple of long starts.

Chris Bassitt and Brandon Young stay in turn, which was supposed to line up Rogers, Kyle Bradish and Shane Baz for the first three games of the Yankees series in the Bronx. Rogers and Bradish would have worked on an extra day of rest.

Now, the Orioles need a starter for Friday or Saturday, depending whether they bump up Bradish.

The teams also play on Monday and Bassitt and Young aren’t available. A starter would be added for that night, unless he’s inserted on Sunday and Baz is given an extra day.

They’ll figure it out.

Let’s dip into the mailbag before lineups are posted.

Should we send out an APB for Colton Cowser? Three hits in his last 6 at-bats but hasn’t started in a week. Many cow costume wearing fans in the stands are looking a bit silly without some playing time from the Moo Man.
We’re going from ABS talk to an APB. Let’s try to avoid IBS. Cowser is in the clubhouse and in the dugout. He’s entered games as a pinch-hitter and defensive replacement. And with two opposing right-handed starters in today’s doubleheader, I’ll assume that Cowser is in one of those lineups. Cowser is losing at-bats to switch-hitter Leody Taveras and left-handed hitting Dylan Beavers. They’ve been more productive and they can play center. Taveras has made 17 starts in center and he’s batting .286/.392/.429 in 24 games. Cowser won’t really get hot if he doesn’t play, but he’d play more if he was hot. It’s a conundrum.

Has anyone asked Alby why he doesn’t always have his best defenders on the field in the late innings with a lead? I have noticed that in some games with a late, close lead, Colton Cowser and Blaze Alexander will be on the bench. This almost bit him in K.C. when Coby Mayo spiked a throw to first and Anthony Nunez then had to go after Bobby Witt.
There are instances where Albernaz wants to keep a bat in the lineup, even with the lead. I’m seeing defensive substitutions on most nights. He was asked why Cowser didn’t play right field late in Tuesday’s game, but Tyler O’Neill had just pinch-hit for Dylan Beavers and he’s a two-time Gold Glove winner, so it wasn’t a reckless omission. “Didn’t want to do a double move in that situation with the score being down two,” Albernaz said. “Never know what’s going to happen. So having the guys on the bench is always a great insurance policy. And plus, last time I checked, Tyler O’Neill has a gold patch on his glove. You don’t get that from being bad in the outfield.”

Any inside info on Jackson Holliday’s recovery?
The inside is the same as the outside. He was shut down again with discomfort in his right hand, but an MRI and CT scan and X-rays came back clean. He’s going to hop back into another rehab assignment. In the meantime, he’s working out at Camden Yards. He was taking ground balls at second base.

Where is Heston Kjerstad? This hamstring strain is taking too long for someone in a make-or-break season.
The importance of his season has nothing to do with his recovery from an injury. Hamstrings are tricky. Can’t rush them. Kjerstad is in Sarasota, and the Orioles say he’s continuing his rehabilitation, running and baseball activities progressions. When I asked Mike Elias for an update recently, he said, “Not ready to announce rehab assignment dates with him, but I feel like it’s right around the corner.”

Is Alby on solid food?
Ah, the ol’ manager-solid food question. I get at least one of these every season. Finely chopped works for Alby. Minimize any chewing. But most of his diet comes in shake form. The Orioles’ chefs are doing a great job taking care of him.

What were your impressions of Brady Anderson after his playing days, and back in uniform? Did you see him jumping right into being a major league hitting coach?
I didn’t. And he didn’t immediately become one. I never asked, but I just assumed that coaching wasn’t an interest. He worked in the front office until Mike Elias’ hiring. When news broke that the Angels hired Brady Anderson as hitting coach, I immediately did a Google search to check whether there were two Brady Andersons in baseball. Nope. I texted him congrats, also to get confirmation. He’s been an unofficial hitting coach for a long time, working with lots of players in the majors and minors, including Trey Mancini. He filled many roles in an unofficial capacity. I’m happy to see a team think inside the box.

What Orioles would be All-Stars right now? I would say Adley Rutschman and Taylor Ward.
I’d say those are two solid picks. Rutschman could win the vote, as he did in 2024. He was a reserve in 2023. Ryan Helsley is 7-for-7 in save chances and he’s a two-time All-Star with the Cardinals. And hey, do not sleep on Rico Garcia!

What do you think your last meal would be if you were on death row?
Whatever takes the longest to prepare. There’s a Swedish dish called “Tjälknöl”that involves freezing a meat roast like elk or reindeer for a month, followed by long slow roasting and marinating. You know, something like that.

Is Dietrich Enns’ $2.5 million contract guaranteed? I assume it’s not, as he has less than a year of major league service time.
Yes, it’s guaranteed. There isn’t a spring training release date at work here. The Orioles held a $3 million option on Enns’ previous deal. This one guarantees $2.625 million, which breaks down to $2.5 million this season and a $125,000 buyout on a 2027 club option worth $3.5 million.

Have you ever been in a Turkish prison?
This seems like a good place to stop.