Reliever Vinny Nittoli is coming back to the Orioles organization.

Nittoli, 34, signed a minor league deal and is reporting to Triple-A Norfolk after opting out of his contract with the Brewers last week.

Nittoli posted a 3.86 ERA in 27 games with Triple-A Nashville, striking out 37 batters in 28 innings. He tossed four scoreless innings with the Orioles over two games in 2024.

Left-handed reliever Keegan Akin began his injury rehab assignment today in the Florida Complex League and tossed a scoreless first inning against the FCL Rays with one hit and two strikeouts.

Akin is on the injured list retractive to July 1 with left shoulder inflammation. He’s appeared in 39 games with the Orioles and posted a 3.32 ERA and 1.421 WHIP in 38 innings. He’s started three times as an opener.

Alex Pham, also on a rehab assignment after going on Double-A Chesapeake’s injured list with right forearm inflammation, tossed a scoreless second inning with one hit, one walk and two strikeouts. The first two batters reached in the third, the game was delayed by rain, and Juan Rasquin let both inherited runners score.

MLB Pipeline ranks Pham as the organization's No. 29 prospect.

Second baseman José Mejía hit a grand slam and added an RBI single.

The Orioles have signed 13 of their 24 draft picks, with today’s announcement covering the following:

Center fielder RJ Austin (third round), shortstop Colin Yeaman (fourth), shortstop Jaiden Lo Re (fifth), left-hander Caiden Hunter (sixth), right-hander Hunter Allen (seventh), left-hander Kailen Hamson (eighth), center fielder Cam Lee (ninth) and right-hander Dalton Neuschwander (10th).

Prep outfielder Slater de Brun, the 37^th-overall pick, remains unsigned.

Outfielder Vance Honeycutt, last summer’s first-round pick, was placed on High-A Aberdeen’s injured list with a left ankle sprain. He’s batting .172/.295/.266 with nine doubles, four triples, three home runs, 19 RBIs, 24 steals in 27 attempts, 45 walks and 131 strikeouts in 76 games.

The Orioles are in Cleveland tonight to kick off a four-game series against the Guardians. Their lineup hasn’t been posted.

Jackson Holliday has a five-game hitting streak against the Guardians, tied for his longest streak versus any opponent. He’s batting .400/.478/.750 with seven RBIs against them.

Also per STATS, the Orioles are 10-3 when Jordan Westburg records an RBI and 12-22 when he doesn’t.

Tomoyuki Sugano hasn’t pitched since Game 2 of a July 10 doubleheader against the Mets, when he allowed three runs in six innings for his seventh quality start.

Sugano faced the Guardians on April 17 and allowed two runs in seven innings. Daniel Schneemann and Austin Hedges hit back-to-back home runs in the third.

Sugano has a 3.28 ERA in four starts against the American League Central, his lowest against any division.

The Orioles won two of three from the Guardians in April. They split a four-game series in Cleveland last August.

The Orioles have won or split three consecutive road series against Cleveland.

Right-hander Tanner Bibee has a 4.29 ERA and 1.239 WHIP in 19 starts. He’s also registered seven quality starts.

Bibee faced the Orioles on April 17 and allowed six runs in 5 2/3 innings. Gunnar Henderson, Ryan O’Hearn and Heston Kjerstad homered. He’s made two career starts against the Orioles and surrendered seven earned runs and eight total with 10 hits in 11 2/3 innings.

Henderson is 3-for-6 with two doubles and a homer against Bibee.

Henderson has a career .658 slugging percentage against the Guardians, the highest in the majors in a minimum 80 plate appearances, according to STATS.

The Guardians have won eight of their last 10 games and are in second place in the American League Central, but they’re carrying a 48-50 record and are 4 ½ behind for the last Wild Card.

José Ramírez’s next home run will give him a seventh career 20/20 season. Only five players in major league history have seven or more 20/20 seasons, per STATS: Barry Bonds (10), Bobby Bonds (10), Bobby Abreu (nine), Carlos Beltran (seven) and Eric Davis (seven).

Cleveland’s .295 on-base percentage is second lowest in the majors behind Colorado’s .292.

For the Guardians

Steven Kwan LF
Angel Martínez CF
José Ramírez 3B
Kyle Manzardo DH
Carlos Santana 1B
Nolan Jones RF
Daniel Schneemann 2B
Brayan Rocchio SS
Bo Naylor C

Tanner Bibee RHP

The Orioles are still listing Brandon Young as Tuesday’s starter and TBA for the next two games. Zach Eflin could be reinstated from the injured list.

MASNsports.com’s Brendan Mortensen is in Cleveland for game coverage.

For the Orioles

Jackson Holliday 2B
Jordan Westburg 3B
Gunnar Henderson SS
Ryan O'Hearn 1B
Ramón Laureano LF
Colton Cowser DH
Tyler O'Neill RF
Cedric Mullins CF
Alex Jackson C

Tomoyuki Sugano RHP