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SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles weren’t supposed to play an exhibition game this afternoon until it became a late addition to the revamped post-lockout schedule, necessitating another trip to Lakeland to face the Tigers.
So much for that idea.
It wasn’t fun while it lasted.
The teams agreed to cancel due to a shortage of pitching, with the announcement coming as the Orioles returned to Sarasota following a 2-1 loss to the Blue Jays in Dunedin. The minor league camp is ahead of the majors and players are scattering. Triple-A Norfolk opened its season last night.
The Orioles finished with an 8-8-2 record. The camp roster is down to 37 players with infielder Shed Long Jr. and pitcher Rico Garcia listed on Norfolk’s seven-day injured list.
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles set their 28-man roster today, with the caveat that 24 hours remained before the deadline. The waiver wire could create a late change.
The club decided to split its roster among 14 pitchers and 14 position players after an earlier indication that they’d limit the bench to four reserves. The expansion allowed them to carry outfielders DJ Stewart and Ryan McKenna.
None of the pitchers needed to be added to the 40-man roster, which is full with the Orioles selecting the contracts of backup catcher Anthony Bemboom and infielder Chris Owings. Bemboom made his first opening day roster after beating out Jacob Nottingham and Beau Taylor, who could remain in the organization.
Owings and Jorge Mateo can start or be used as utility players. Richie Martin didn’t make the club after going 9-for-22 this spring with five doubles, one home run, nine RBIs and three walks.
Third baseman Kelvin Gutiérrez and second baseman Rougned Odor are on the roster, as expected. Ramón Urias could start at shortstop.
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Brandon Hyde has been knocking on wood and handling his words with care to avoid a jinx when reviewing his team’s collective health in camp. Trying to get out of Sarasota without a significant injury. Don’t let a short spring training inflict harm.
DJ Stewart was hit on the left hand by a fastball on March 23 and didn’t play again until yesterday. Adley Rutschman strained his right triceps, but it shut down the debate over his possible inclusion on the opening day roster. The Orioles may score that one a win.
A stomach bug gnawed through the clubhouse, affecting about a dozen players.
Reliever Dillon Tate has a sore throat and remains day-to-day. It’s been more than a week since he pitched in an exhibition game, his last appearance on March 26, but there could have been some backfield action.
Tate hasn’t allowed a run or walked a batter in 3 1/3 innings, with one hit and three strikeouts. He could get some save opportunities.
DUNEDIN, Fla. - As the Orioles burn away hours on the composition of their opening day roster, the decision to option left-hander Zac Lowther creating more hope for the non-roster pitchers, players on the fringes insist they haven’t been told whether they’re on the club.
The Orioles can bring extras to St. Petersburg for the taxi squad, but some of the more pressing issues won’t be resolved until much closer to Thursday’s noon deadline.
One reason is the possibility that an upgrade appears on the waiver wire as teams make late cuts or players exercise opt-out clauses in their contracts.
Tyler Wells is one of the certainties, his spot in the rotation confirmed. His final start came this afternoon against the Blue Jays, when he tossed 3 2/3 scoreless innings with seven strikeouts.
Wells had six strikeouts in two innings, four coming from his slider, including called third strikes against Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Matt Chapman. His fastball was sitting at 95 mph, and he blew it past Teoscar Hernández to end the first.
DUNEDIN, Fla. - Reliever Dillon Tate remains out of camp with an illness that the Orioles have described only as “a sore throat.”
Tate began spring training as a virtual lock to make the club, but he hasn’t pitched since March 26 - his third appearance, all of them scoreless.
Manager Brandon Hyde said Tate is feeling better, but he’s away from the team for at least one more day.
Asked whether Tate is dealing with something that could keep him out, Hyde said, “I’m hoping not.”
The camp roster is down to 39 players with left-hander Zac Lowther optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. The only cut this morning.
DUNEDIN, Fla. - Zac Lowther isn’t breaking camp with the Orioles.
One of the pitching questions has been resolved.
The Orioles announced this morning that Lowther was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk, removing him as a candidate to start or work in a tandem role coming out of the bullpen.
Lowther walked four Pirates batters yesterday in 2 1/3 innings and was tagged with four runs. He made two appearances in exhibition games and allowed four runs and five hits with five walks and four strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.
Today’s move leaves the Orioles with 39 players in camp, and they must get down to 28 by noon Thursday. Adley Rutschman, Shed Long Jr., Isaac Mattson and Rico Garcia have been in rehab mode at spring training and will be removed from the roster.
The failure yesterday of Major League Baseball and the Players Association to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement and the subsequent cancellation of the first two series leaves the Orioles with the possibility of opening their season at Tropicana Field on April 8. A best-case scenario that requires the two sides to resume negotiations in New York. The Orioles most recent opener in St. Petersburg happened in 2015, a convenient drive from major league camp in Sarasota. Chris Tillman...
