Rutschman and Akin ready to rejoin Orioles, plus other notes
The Orioles have multiple roster moves coming that aren’t tied to the trade deadline.
Catcher Adley Rutschman is expected to be in Monday night’s lineup against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards, and left-hander Keegan Akin should be in the bullpen. Their injury rehab assignments with Triple-A Norfolk ended last night.
Rutschman caught in back-to-back games to check the final box. He went 2-for-15 with a double, but plate results didn’t influence his timeline.
Jacob Stallings or Alex Jackson will be the corresponding move for Rutschman. Jackson is in today’s lineup. Stallings caught Trevor Rogers last night, when the left-hander tossed seven scoreless innings and gave up just one hit.
Akin retired both batters faced last night, and he can give the Orioles a second left-handed reliever with Grant Wolfram. Yaramil Hiraldo was recalled yesterday and retired the side in order in the eighth inning. Corbin Martin, Colin Selby and Kade Strowd also are in the ‘pen.
Of course, a trade could open a spot.
Kyle Bradish will make his next rehab start Tuesday night at Double-A Chesapeake. Tyler Wells will make his first start on Wednesday.
Bradish tossed two innings Thursday night at High-A Aberdeen and will be working on regular rest.
The Orioles haven’t determined Wells’ role after he’s reinstated next month. He could start or work in relief.
Ryan Mountcastle had three hits last night with Norfolk and he’s the designated hitter today.
Alex Pham had his rehab assignment transferred from the Florida Complex League to Aberdeen.
Here are the probable starters for the Blue Jays series that includes a split-doubleheader on Tuesday:
Monday: RHP Zach Eflin vs. RHP Chris Bassitt
Tuesday: RHP Charlie Morton vs. TBA, TBA vs. TBA
Wednesday: RHP Dean Kremer vs. RHP José Berríos
Morton will start Game 1 or 2 if he isn’t traded.
The roster should undergo more changes this week beyond the Bryan Baker and Gregory Soto deals.
“There will be some adversity throughout the week, without a doubt, as we lose players that we love and have helped us for a couple years win a lot of games,” said interim manager Tony Mansolino.
“There’s gonna be some tough hugs and some tough goodbyes and things like that, but in the end we’re gonna have to come out of this on Friday when we’re in Chicago, and we’re gonna have to come out and play good baseball. And the way things are lining up right now, it sounds like we’ll probably have, based on how it went last night, you’ll probably have Trev Rogers on the mound Friday and give us a chance to win, would be my guess. That could always change. Not announcing the starters. I’m just adding days right now. But if so, we’re gonna go out there and compete and do what we can. Try to figure out how to win.”