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The Orioles designated left-hander Nick Vespi for assignment this afternoon after optioning him for a fifth time, and they claimed right-hander Brooks Kriske on waivers from the Reds.

Kriske was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk to leave the active roster untouched. The 40-man remains full.

Vespi couldn’t be optioned again without passing through waivers. He tossed a scoreless inning Thursday against the Astros.

Kriske provides more flexibility, and he’s back in the organization after appearing in four games with the Orioles in 2021 and allowing five runs in 3 2/3 innings. He hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2023 with the Royals, spending the next two years in Japan.

The Reds signed Kriske as a free agent in December. He had a 3.10 ERA in 42 games with Triple-A Louisville and struck out 72 batters in 49 1/3 innings.

Dean Kremer is working on regular rest tonight. He’s allowed one run in six innings in back-to-back starts to lower his ERA to 4.30.

Kremer has made three career starts against Houston and is 3-0 with a 1.14 ERA and 0.761.

Jose Altuve is 7-for-11 with three doubles and a home run against Kremer. Yordan Alvarez is 3-for-7. Alex Bregman is 1-for-11.

The day began with the Orioles trailing the Yankees by a half-game in the division.

A victory today gives the Orioles their first three-game winning streak since July 14-20 and the first time winning three days in a row since June 26-29. They can claim their first home series against the Astros since May 25-27, 2015.

The Orioles are seeing their fifth left-hander in seven games, Yusei Kikuchi, who’s posted a 2.42 ERA in four starts since the Blue Jays traded him to the Astros. He was 4-9 with a 4.75 ERA in 22 starts with Toronto.

Kikuchi faced the Orioles on May 15 at Camden Yards and allowed one run and six hits with nine strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings. They met again the following month at Rogers Centre and he allowed one run in six innings.

Kikuchi, who hasn’t gone more than 5 2/3 innings in his last seven starts, owns a 4.80 ERA and 1.450 WHIP in 14 career games against the Orioles.

Ryan Mountcastle is 9-for-20 with a double and four home runs against Kikuchi.  Adley Rutschman is 9-for-23 with a double and three home runs. Eloy Jiménez is 4-for-11 with a double and home run.

Mountcastle was out of the lineup again yesterday with a sore wrist. The Orioles haven’t posted today’s order.