masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgBefore the Orioles continue their series tonight against the Astros, now one game out of first place in the American League East, they’ll pay close attention to Yovani Gallardo’s second bullpen session that will be followed by Saturday’s simulated game in Cleveland.
Gallardo is nearing an injury rehab assignment that figures to consist of only one or two starts before he’s activated from the disabled list and the Orioles must make room for him in the rotation.
If I’m anyone not named Chris…

Before the Orioles continue their series tonight against the Astros, now one game out of first place in the American League East, they’ll pay close attention to Yovani Gallardo’s second bullpen session that will be followed by Saturday’s simulated game in Cleveland.

Gallardo is nearing an injury rehab assignment that figures to consist of only one or two starts before he’s activated from the disabled list and the Orioles must make room for him in the rotation.

If I’m anyone not named Chris Tillman or Kevin Gausman, I’m feeling at least a little pressure to hold onto my spot.

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Tillman’s streak of quality starts has reached a career-high seven. Not long ago, manager Buck Showalter talked about how Tillman constantly is carrying over what he saw from him in spring training.

“Results sometimes, I’ve got it, gets out of whack here and there, but just the consistency of the stuff,” Showalter said. “And I’ll tell you, the slider really has become more than a cutter. It’s become a slider. It’s given him a whole different look. Fun to watch.”

* Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard was 0-for-5 last night to lower his average to .255 until he doubled in the 12th inning. The average jumped back up to .259.

Rickard still offers quality at-bats, working Doug Fister for eight and 10 pitches in separate plate appearances, but he may need a break from the leadoff spot.

Rickard is 8-for-41 in his last 10 games and 10-for-50 in his last 12.

Perhaps he sits tonight versus right-hander Collin McHale. Maybe he starts but is lowered in the order. Perhaps nothing changes.

It’s one of those.

* Brad Brach worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings last night to lower his ERA to 1.08 in 25 innings. He’s allowed three runs and served up one home run. He’s also walked seven and struck out 26.

Brach was 7-1 with a 3.18 ERA in 46 appearances in 2014 and 5-3 with a 2.72 ERA in 62 appearances last season. He’s won all four decisions this year.

It’s no fluke. He’s good and more people in the industry need to take notice of it.

* Mychal Givens retired all four batters he faced with four strikeouts to lower his ERA to 1.83 in 19 2/3 innings. He’s struck out 29 and has surrendered only one home run.

Left-handers were 11-for-21 against Givens before he retired three of them in the 12th inning.

* Dylan Bundy has allowed runs in three straight outings and five of six this month, including an unearned run on May 7. He didn’t retire a batter in the 13th inning last night, with Tony Kemp’s leadoff triple, two intentional walks and Carlos Correa’s walk-off single sending fans to bed.

Bundy has surrendered seven runs and nine hits in his last three appearances over 4 1/3 innings, including the four batters faced last night.

* In case you missed it, the Marlins designated former Orioles left-hander Tim Berry for assignment.

Berry, a waiver claim on Dec. 23, was 0-2 with an 11.66 ERA and 2.73 WHIP in four starts at Double-A Jacksonville. He allowed 19 earned runs (21 total) and 32 hits in 14 2/3 innings, with eight walks, 15 strikeouts and two hit batters.

Berry made one relief appearance at Single-A Jupiter and surrendered three runs and three hits in two innings. He also walked a batter and struck out two.

It’s curious, to say the least, that Berry continues to struggle after being so good in 2014. He was 2-7 with a 7.32 ERA in 23 games with Double-A Bowie last year, including 15 starts before the Orioles moved him to the bullpen. Opponents hit .314 against him.

Berry figures to clear waivers and the Marlins will outright him to Triple-A. I can’t see a team putting him on its 40-man roster at this point. But the Orioles probably will attempt to sign him to a minor league deal over the winter if he becomes available.

Maybe a change of scenery to his old scenery would do him good.

* I wrote last night that Mike Yastrzemski went 4-for-6 yesterday in Triple-A Norfolk’s doubleheader and is batting .424 (14-for-33) with eight extra-base hits and seven RBIs over his first nine games in the International League. He scored the winning run in Game 2 on Dariel Alvarez’s walk-off single.

Alvarez is batting .375 (18-for-48) with seven doubles and 10 RBIs in his last 12 games. His 19 RBIs in May lead the league.

* Norfolk left-hander Andy Oliver has allowed one run in 18 1/3 innings in May and owns a 1.14 ERA this season, but the Orioles chose Ashur Tolliver as Brian Matusz’s replacement. Oliver must have been in the discussion.

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* I wrote about former third-round pick Brian Gonzalez earlier this month and he’s worth repeating. The 20-year-old southpaw is 5-1 with a 1.95 ERA in nine starts at Single-A Delmarva following last night’s 5-1 win in Greensboro.

Gonzalez allowed one run and two hits in six innings and struck out a career-high 10 batters. He’s permitted only three earned runs in his last five starts over 30 innings.

* I’ll close this entry with an amusing anecdote from Showalter regarding a recent encounter with Matt Wieters’ son, Maverick.

“I’ve never been one of those guys who says the kids can only come in after you win a game,” Showalter said. “What a stupid message to send kids, that dad’s only approachable after he’s won a baseball game. That’s such an unrealistic view of life. And the guys are real respectful of their teammates after someone’s had a tough game. But Mav walked in my office last night. Richie (Bancells) always comes in and gives me an update on where we are after the game physically. But Mav brought it in last night and goes, ‘Buck…’ He likes saying, ‘Buck.’ He goes, ‘Everybody’s OK,’ and turned around and walked out. ‘Thanks, Mav. Appreciate it.’

“We take ourselves so seriously and all of a sudden you see him growing up.”