CLEVELAND – The Orioles didn’t wait until Thursdays’ roster expansion to select infielder Gunnar Henderson’s contract from Triple-A Norfolk.
They did it early this afternoon, bringing up Henderson and optioning infielder Tyler Nevin to Norfolk.
Pitcher Denyi Reyes was designated for assignment to create room on the 40-man roster.
Henderson, who’s wearing No. 2, could be in tonight’s lineup against Guardians right-hander Triston McKenzie. We’ll find out later.
The first appearance will allow Henderson, 21, to become the youngest Oriole to make his major league debut since infielder Manny Machado in 2012. Machado was a first-round shortstop who switched to third base. Henderson is a second-round shortstop in 2019 who’s played all four infield positions in the minors, gaining experience on the right side this month.
CLEVELAND - Orioles manager Brandon Hyde spoke with Ryan Mountcastle yesterday afternoon, trying to get his first baseman to relax at the plate. To be the hitter he was a few months ago.
“It’s a young guy pressing. That’s what it is,” Hyde said before the series opener in Cleveland.
“A young guy who’s just trying to do way too much.”
Mountcastle flied to deep right field in the second inning, keeping his hitless streak at 14 at-bats in a row but scoring Ramón Urías with a sacrifice fly.
Lowered to seventh in the order for the first time since 2021, Mountcastle also grounded out and walked.
CLEVELAND – The Orioles are ready to increase their roster with two of the top prospects in the organization.
According to an industry source, infielder Gunnar Henderson and reliever DL Hall are flying to Cleveland on Wednesday to join the taxi squad.
Rosters can expand to 28 players on Thursday, when the Orioles complete their three-game series against the Guardians and head home.
Henderson is rated as the No. 1 prospect by Baseball America, and his promotion has been anticipated for more than a week. He played second base tonight for Triple-A Norfolk and collected three more hits.
The Orioles had Henderson making starts on the right side of the infield to increase their flexibility when he arrived in the majors. He’s primarily been a shortstop and third baseman since they drafted him in the second round in 2019 out of John T. Morgan Academy in Selma, Ala.
CLEVELAND – Spenser Watkins retired the first 11 batters tonight and seemed intent on maintaining the recent run of quality starts from the rotation.
To do so, of course, required Watkins to limit the number of runs.
Watkins surrendered two in the fourth inning and three more in the fifth, exiting before the final out, and the offense sputtered again in the Orioles’ 5-1 loss to the Guardians at Progressive Field.
The beginning of another important series for the Orioles produced the third loss to Cleveland in four games this season and lowered their record to 67-61.
Cal Quantrill allowed a leadoff single to Ramón Urías in the second inning, and it was the last Orioles hit. Quantrill retired the last 10 batters he faced after Anthony Santander’s two-out walk in the third.
CLEVELAND – Tyler Wells is getting closer to appearing in games and rejoining the Orioles.
Wells threw about 30 pitches today during a bullpen session at high Single-A Aberdeen, and he’s poised to begin an injury rehab assignment with the IronBirds.
Today’s activity followed the simulated game from a few days ago.
“Felt great after, so positive news there,” said manager Brandon Hyde.
“We’re going to get him into some sort of rehab game if he wakes up tomorrow and feels well. We’re taking it just kind of day-to-day with him right now, but as of right now, it went well and we’re going to continue to progress him.”
CLEVELAND - The Orioles leave Houston after winning two of three games against the team with the best record in the American League, and now they play three games in Cleveland against the leaders in the Central Division.
Yesterday’s off-day actually cost the Orioles a half-game in the wild card race. They’re two behind the Blue Jays for the last spot.
The Guardians won two of three games from the Orioles at Camden Yards on June 3-5. They’ve lost six of their last 11.
Right-hander Cal Quantrill is 10-5 with a 3.59 ERA and 1.203 WHIP in 24 starts. He’s walked 38 batters and struck out 94 in 143 innings.
Quantrill is having his best month in August, going 3-0 with a 2.25 ERA and 0.781 WHIP in five starts. He’s tossed six, seven and seven scoreless innings in three of his last four outings, holding the Blue Jays to one hit in seven frames on Aug. 12.
Colton Cowser was supposed to move quickly through the Orioles’ system. They believed it would happen before making him the fifth overall selection in last year’s draft. The advanced, polished bat with its high contact rate. The defensive skills to play anywhere in the outfield.
And that’s exactly what’s happening. Right before our eyes.
Cowser already has reached Triple-A Norfolk, which is hosting Lehigh Valley tonight, after 143 minor league games. Only 32 in his first professional season.
The Tides are his fifth affiliate, counting the seven games played in the Florida Complex League. And he gets a full month with them before the offseason.
The Cowser watch begins next spring. Whether he actually breaks camp with the team or returns to Norfolk and is deemed ready at a certain date.
The Orioles launched a few more significant minor league promotions this afternoon, including a first-round draft pick’s ascension to Triple-A. To be determined is whether the ripple effect touches the major league roster.
Outfielder Colton Cowser and shortstop Joey Ortiz are moving from Double-A Bowie to the Norfolk Tides. Infielder Darrel Hernaiz is going from High-A Aberdeen to the Baysox.
Grayson Rodriguez, the No. 1 pitching prospect in baseball, is starting for Aberdeen on Thursday night after recovering from a Grade 2 strain in his right lat.
Mondays are rarely dull in the minors, even with the lack of games.
Cowser, the fifth overall selection in the 2021 draft out of Sam Houston State, is speeding through the system. He began the year with Aberdeen and is reporting to his third affiliate with a combined .294/.422/.479 slash line in 502 plate appearances, 29 doubles, two triples, 14 home runs and 55 RBIs.
The Orioles create their own breaks and catch a few along the way. Or at least, it appears that way.
Doesn’t always lead to a win, but it happens.
Going for the three-game sweep yesterday in Houston, they were tasked with trying to beat Cy Young candidate Justin Verlander. The major league leader in ERA and OPS, and tied for the lead in WHIP. A tough matchup, to say the least.
A brief one, too, with Verlander leaving after three scoreless innings with right calf discomfort.
Nothing related to his surgically repaired right elbow or his shoulder. Just his calf muscle.
The Orioles are trying for their second three-game sweep in Houston in two seasons.
The rotation has tied a season high with four quality starts in a row, posting a 1.26 ERA during that stretch. The ERA is 2.25 in the last 11 games.
The Astros have been held to one run in the first two games. Kyle Bradish and Dean Kremer have combined for 15 2/3 innings, after Jordan Lyles completed seven innings on Thursday.
It really does start with starting pitching.
Only 1 ½ games separate the Orioles from the last wild card spot. But they’re facing Justin Verlander today.
Kyle Bradish came up with a nice solution Friday night to the bullpen’s recent struggles that raised concerns about its ability to hold up through the rest of the wild card chase.
Stay on the mound for eight innings and don’t allow any runs.
So simple. Why didn’t anyone else think of it?
Dean Kremer ran with the idea last night, holding the Astros to one run in 7 2/3. All it takes is one person to start a movement.
A fresh right arm arrived to the team Thursday afternoon when the Orioles recalled Rico Garcia from Triple-A Norfolk. Rosters expand to 28 players on Sept. 1, which allows them to bring up another pitcher.
The Orioles won last night and remained 2 ½ games back for the last wild card after the Mariners defeated the Guardians in 11 innings.
Gain ground on two teams ahead of them, with the Blue Jays and Rays losing, but also stay planted in the same spot.
Kyle Bradish tossed eight scoreless innings with only two hits allowed, Dillon Tate struck out Trey Mancini to strand two runners in the ninth, and the Astros fell to 42-19 at home.
The Orioles are seven games above .500 for the first time since May 22, 2017. They haven’t been eight above since May 21.
Cedric Mullins is the designated hitter tonight. Anthony Santander is playing left field, Ryan McKenna is in center and Austin Hays is in right.
The Orioles wanted veteran starter Jordan Lyles to be durable and dependable. To make each start, push past the middle innings and give his club a chance to win. They sought his leadership on an inexperienced staff.
And they were willing to sign him for $7 million guaranteed with a $11 club option for 2023.
How’s it working out?
“I think he’s exceeded our expectations and what he’s done for us in every way,” says manager Brandon Hyde.
Hyde has gone on record with that opinion multiple times this season, most recently before Thursday’s game.
The challenges keep coming at the Orioles, one after another, contenders leaving them and others waiting right around the corner.
A ninth walk-off win last night is followed by a three-game series in Houston, where the Orioles can visit with former teammate Trey Mancini and try to gain ground in the wild card race.
Last night’s improbable result, a 4-3 win in 11 innings over the White Sox, kept them 2 ½ games back for the last spot.
The Orioles earned their 29th comeback win, the most since 2017, after Kyle Stowers tied the game with his first major league home run after falling behind 0-2 with two outs in the ninth. Anthony Santander singled in the 11th for his second career walk-off hit.
The club has registered three consecutive winning months for the first time since April-June 2016.
Jordan Lyles coaxed the double play grounder that he needed last night with runners on the corners with one out in the third inning. Catcher Adley Rutschman jogged to the first base line, gave Lyles a congratulatory pat and maintained a dialogue with him as they walked to the dugout.
Tim Cossins, the Orioles’ major league field coordinator, is watching from a distance this season after relocating from the dugout to the bullpen. He smiles at the mention of Rutschman’s enthusiastic routine. And he’s reminded of the conversations that were held to debate its merits.
The bottom line was this: Changing anything about Rutschman defied logic. Let the kid keep doing it.
Tweak some mechanics behind the plate to improve throwing accuracy. That’s fine. But otherwise, don’t fix the parts that aren’t broken.
Cossins, also the team’s catching instructor, believes that baseball’s former No. 1 prospect came as advertised, and this is a supreme compliment.
A clubhouse that’s started to check the standings while it’s in the thick of a wild card race – likely a majority of players, if not universally – knew exactly where it stood tonight before the first pitch.
The Rays won. The Mariners won. Two teams gaining ground ahead of the Orioles.
The outcomes don’t really matter if the Orioles can’t take care of their own business, which is why they glance at the scores and lock in on their opponent.
Jordan Lyles surrendered a first-pitch home run tonight and cruised into the seventh, where the White Sox tied the game on two soft hits and a throwing error. They scored a run in the eighth against Dillon Tate, again doing damage within the bullpen, and came within a strike of winning in regulation. Of retiring the last 13 batters.
Down 0-2 against closer Liam Hendriks, Kyle Stowers hit his first major league home run with a shot to center field that tied the score. A rookie in his seventh major league game, with three hits in 23 at-bats and none in his last 13, handling some of the business.
Tyler Wells threw his second bullpen session today and keeps making progress in his eventual return from a left oblique injury.
Wells is nearing a live batting practice session to get him reacclimated to facing hitters.
“It’s going very well,” Hyde said. “Threw his second bullpen, feels great after. All positive news from there.”
The Orioles haven’t determined Well’s role after he makes it back onto the active roster. Building him back up as a starter will take longer, which could influence them to make him a reliever.
“We’re still going to work some things out,” Hyde said.
The Orioles recalled reliever Rico Garcia from Triple-A Norfolk today to provide a fresh arm for a struggling bullpen. They optioned reliever Louis Head after last night’s game.
The club also optioned reliever Phoenix Sanders after claiming him off waivers yesterday from the Rays. He has three minor league options.
Garcia has appeared in four games with the Orioles and allowed four runs and eight hits in six innings. He has a 2.30 ERA in 14 appearances with Norfolk.
The Orioles will try tonight to win another series and move closer to the final wild card spot. They remained 2 ½ games back after last night’s 5-3 loss to the White Sox.
Kyle Stowers is in right field and Terrin Vavra is starting at second base.
The debate over American League Rookie of the Year is boiling down to Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman and Mariners center fielder Julio Rodríguez. Much of the field is evaporating. They could be one and two, though more than a month of the season remains.
The ballot distributed to qualified members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America holds three names.
Does Orioles reliever Félix Bautista belong on it?
“Yeah, he’s been unbelievable this year,” said first baseman Ryan Mountcastle.
“Absolutely,” said starter John Means.
First baseman Ryan Mountcastle made a diving stop of Yoán Moncada’s ground ball tonight and outraced him to the bag to record the out and prevent at least one more run from scoring. Elvis Andrus struck out, and Spenser Watkins caught a break only down 2-0 in the first inning.
On many nights in 2022, that play would launch a comeback for the Orioles. Their starter would get on a roll, they’d string together some hits, and the outcome would strengthen the belief that they have the stamina to stay in the wild card chase.
They still feel that way. Their confidence won’t erode. And Watkins didn’t allow another run. But the Orioles couldn’t push past the White Sox, who kept the lead and won 5-3 at Camden Yards.
Austin Hays slugged a two-run homer off Liam Hendriks in the ninth, his 300th career hit, but a fifth attempt to move seven games above .500 failed, dropping the Orioles to 64-59.
Watkins stranded a runner in each of his next four innings and retired the side in order in the sixth on three ground balls. The White Sox hadn’t cashed in much during this series, leaving 27 on base.