Reduction in Orioles on injured list, Hyde on Rivera and Holliday, plus other notes

The Orioles are down to nine players on the injured list, including outfielder Colton Cowser and pitchers Kyle Bradish, Grayson Rodriguez, Albert Suárez and Tyler Wells on the 60-day. This is the healthiest they’ve looked in a long time.

Infielder Ramón Urías was the latest player to escape it yesterday, and he did so without going on a rehab assignment. He can get a bundle of starts at third base and also sub at second if needed. Outfielder Tyler O’Neill and pitcher Zach Eflin were reinstated with the team in Anaheim. Pitcher Chayce McDermott was reinstated and optioned on May 4, and the Orioles used him yesterday as the 27^th man to start Game 2 before returning him to Triple-A Norfolk.

“It’s great for us,” Urías said. “It’s just what we need now, a full team together. We’re just ready to win some games.”

Reliever Andrew Kittredge is nearing his return, but a few more boxes need to be checked. He’s made four rehab appearances since undergoing surgery in March to repair cartilage in his left knee, and a fifth is coming over the weekend.

“All good news with how he’s throwing the baseball and how he feels,” said manager Brandon  Hyde. “I think he throws again this weekend and then he’ll do a back-to-back and maybe another one. We’ll see how it goes.”

This plan gives the Orioles more time to contemplate how to make room for him if the current eight-man bullpen stays intact.

Colton Cowser has his fractured left thumb wrapped but he removed the brace and did some light outfield work yesterday. He’s eligible to return May 30, which seems unlikely to happen. The following month could be a more realistic target, but Cowser hasn’t spoken to the media since diving into first base in Toronto and the club doesn’t have much information to share.

The Orioles are back down to four outfielders with Dylan Carlson optioned yesterday. Ryan O’Hearn and Jorge Mateo can play the position.

Questions about which player will be removed from the roster to create space for infielder Jordan Westburg has been put on hold. He experienced a setback in his recovery from a strained left hamstring and never got into a game with Norfolk. The running progression was halted.

The lineup needs a healthy Westburg, who missed almost two full months last year with a fractured right hand. More starts go to Jackson Holliday at second base, and Urías and Emmanuel Rivera could alternate at third.

Rivera had two more hits in Game 2 and is batting .367 with an .839 OPS.

“Same thing he did in September last year,” Hyde said. “He’s playing really good baseball, getting big hits for us, playing great defense. He played great defense in Anaheim. Manny’s a good player and plays with a lot of confidence. Love him on defense. With him and Ramón, we’ve got two really good third basemen. Ramón’s not going to be able to play every day anyway because just coming off a hammy, so find spot and time for both of those guys.”

Holliday batted leadoff in both ends of the doubleheader and went 1-for-10. He was 9-for-29 (.310) with a double and two home runs in May before yesterday.

“Huge improvement, and the last couple weeks especially. Just the ability to get on base,” Hyde said.

“His at-bats are vastly improved. Last year, young player, overswinging. Trying to live up to the hype and trying to figure it out at the major league level is really, really challenging. This year he’s more relaxed. His defense has really improved. He’s gotten more comfortable at second base. But the ability to get on base, I love that he’s walking, especially his last couple weeks. Using the whole field. Base hits the other way, base hits through the middle. Just taking good at-bats.”

The series concludes today and the Twins might need to find some healthy bodies. First baseman Ty France came out of Game 1 with a left foot contusion and outfielder Harrison Bader left Game 2 with left groin tightness.

Tomoyuki Sugano makes his ninth major league start and first against the Twins. His ERA is down to 2.72 after holding the Angels to one run in 7 1/3 innings.

The Twins counter with right-hander Chris Paddack, who held the Giants to one run in 7 1/3 innings in his last start. He’s faced the Orioles three times in his career and allowed 11 runs and 19 hits in 16 innings.

Gunnar Henderson is 3-for-4 with a home run against him. Ramón Laureano is 3-for-8 with a double.

The Orioles’ five-game losing streak against the Twins is their longest since dropping 16 straight from March 31, 2018-May 31, 2021.

Cedric Mullins is the sixth Orioles player with at least 300 RBIs and 100 stolen bases, joining Brady Anderson, Mark Belanger, Paul Blair, Al Bumbry and Brian Roberts.

Ryan Mountcastle has hit safely in 16 consecutive games against the Twins since May 4, 2022, tying Miguel Tejada for the longest streak by an Oriole.

A loss today puts the Orioles 12 games below .500 for the first time since they ended the 2021 season at 52-110.