Scott can step up in Bleier's absence

One man's torn latissimus dorsi muscle is another man's opportunity to become an established major league reliever.

It sounds harsh, but it's also baseball reality.

No one is celebrating Richard Bleier's season-ending injury, and that's especially true of Tanner Scott. They're friends who sat next to each other in the clubhouse. They traded playful insults while I sought their opinions on the movie "The Sandlot" for a MASN pregame segment.

Scott had to be highly upset by the news of Bleier's anticipated surgery. However, he got back to the majors because of it, and there's no reason for the Orioles to keep plopping him on the shuttle as they languish in last place and should be evaluating some of their younger talent.

Bleier was valuable as a multi-purpose reliever who could be more than just a matchup guy in need of a replacement after one or two batters. Left-handers are hitting .231 against him in his career and right-handers are hitting .283.

"The way he pitches plays against both sides," manager Buck Showalter said. "Very valuable to have a left-handed pitcher who can pitch to both sides. I'm not saying it's an equal split, but at least they have a chance to defend themselves with some stuff.

"It's a loss, because he's a guy that, he (prevents) ups in the bullpen. You see how few dry humps we have. He keeps you from having to (warm up) a guy behind him because you know that you can leave him in there for an extended period of time.

"Richard could be a lot of things. He could be a long reliever. Heck, we thought a lot about him as a starter."

Bleier won't pitch again this year and could miss an early chunk of the following season.

"It breaks my heart because he's done so much," Showalter said. "It makes you realize as much as you try to take care of guys, it can still happen regardless."

Scott was used as a starter at Double-A Bowie before returning to a bullpen role this year at Triple-A Norfolk. He isn't a mirror image of Bleier beyond how they're both left-handed. Bleier was averaging 4.1 strikeouts per nine innings. Scott was averaging 12.7 in 13 appearances with the Orioles before last night. Scott throws an upper-90s fastball complemented by a nasty slider that's becoming a strikeout pitch.

Right-handed hitters have posted a .319 average against Scott, while left-handers are 3-for-24 after he retired two of them last night on ground balls. He's working to reach Bleier's level of dependability and it's going to be a process.

Showalter removed him last night with right-handed hitting Brian Anderson on deck.

"Tanner's got a chance," Showalter said. "And Donnie (Hart)... Donnie first got my attention when he was closing in Double-A. That tells you he's got a changeup, that tells you he can command a fastball. That tells you he's got a few other things that you need to do that job. But I think Tanner's got a chance to be both sides, especially with the slider.

"He's starting to remind me of a few guys who can survive at this level. Guys who can do that become potential eighth- and ninth-inning guys."

The first nine Orioles were retired last night before Corban Joseph, in his first major league game since May 13, 2013, lined a single into right field. He may not start today against former Orioles left-hander Wei-Yin Chen, but he owns a career .356 on-base percentage in the minors, is versatile and certainly is deserving of another chance.

"Gary (Kendall) and our guys really pushed to re-sign him. They really liked having him around," Showalter said.

"One thing I noticed bringing him over to big league camp a few times, he's a professional hitter. This guy's a professional hitter. And a lot of times you've all heard me say that 28 to 31, guys start figuring out a few things about themselves."

"He's never had a bad year. He's always been a good offensive player. Dissect his numbers this year. I don't care what level you're doing that at, there's some relevancy to it. I think you'll see a guy put a professional at-bat together. We're all pulling for him. He's good people. It's obvious. We know what good people Caleb is.

"Good story. But he's not here for some feel-good story. He's here because we think he can help us. The things he does bring at that level - the walks, the lack of strikeouts - every club, including us, is in need of that."

No club needs a win more than the Orioles, who have lost 15 of 17 games and are 30 below .500.

Chen returns to Camden Yards today after spending his first four major league seasons with the Orioles and going 46-32 with a 3.72 ERA and 1.252 WHIP in 117 games. He signed a five-year, $80 million deal with the Marlins that also included a possible $16 million in incentives.

The Marlins were banking on a healthy Chen, but he logged only 33 innings last year due to an elbow injury and didn't make his 2018 debut until April 28. He's 8-9 with a 5.01 ERA and 1.311 WHIP in 40 games (36) starts since switching leagues.

Chen has made nine starts this season and gone 1-3 with a 6.13 ERA and 1.639 WHIP in 39 2/3 innings. He's allowed 27 runs and 43 hits, with 22 walks and 31 strikeouts. Chen had a 9.8 WAR with the Orioles, but it's -0.5 with the Marlins.

Today's game provides Chen with his first start against his former team. He's 24-15 with a 3.76 ERA and 1.244 WHIP in 59 starts at Camden Yards over 366 2/3 innings.

Danny Valencia is 5-for-22 (.227) lifetime versus Chen. The left-hander also has faced Craig Gentry (2-for-9), Mark Trumbo (0-for-7), Jace Peterson (2-for-4) and Pedro Álvarez (0-for-3).

Alex Cobb is 3-1 with a 1.78 ERA and 0.829 WHIP in four career starts against the Marlins. He's allowed five runs and 14 hits in 25 1/3 innings.

Starlin Castro is 1-for-11.