Updating the rotation for the last series (and more)

NEW YORK – The Orioles have set two-thirds of their rotation for the final series of 2022.

Dean Kremer and Mike Baumann are starting the first two games against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards. The spot for Wednesday afternoon is listed as TBA.

Manager Brandon Hyde said he wants to check on veteran Jordan Lyles, who’s made a career-high 32 starts this season and is one inning short of the career-high 180 he reached last year with the Rangers.

Grayson Rodriguez, the No. 1 pitching prospect in baseball, has been throwing to stay ready in case of a late promotion, but the Orioles aren’t expected to select his contract this week.

Asked about Rodriguez, Hyde said, “That would be a question for Mike (Elias). Moving prospects to the big leagues, those are directed to the front office decisions.”

Closer Félix Bautista is still experiencing some soreness in his left knee. There’s improvement, but it’s doubtful that he’s available today.

“We’re going to play it by ear, day-to-day right now,” Hyde said.

The tarp is off the field and the Yankees sound confident that the game will start on time despite a threatening forecast. Manager Aaron Boone told reporters that he thought it would be played in a light rain.

Aaron Judge has his last chance to hit his 62^nd home run at Yankee Stadium.

Fans boo each time an Orioles pitcher throws a pitch outside the strike zone. Some members of the New York media have piled on.

“We’re trying to win games and we’re not trying to miss out of the strike zone like that against him,” Hyde said. “I do appreciate what Aaron said after the game yesterday, about how it’s not easy on the pitcher, either. When 50,000 people here are standing up and booing on every ball, it’s not easy to do, and our guys are trying to get him out. Hopefully, Kyle (Bradish) can kind of harness that. But I think our guys are, rightfully so, a little bit nervous out there at times, too, and trying to make good pitches against him.

“Hopefully Kyle can harness that today and pitch to him well. But he’s had an amazing season. It’s hard to listen to people booing every time you throw a ball. They’re doing the best they can.”

Fans began chanting a two-syllable profanity at Spenser Watkins yesterday. He couldn’t immediately decipher it, but he figured it out.

“I fully appreciate that they want to see history and that they came to the ballpark for a reason,” Hyde said. “I don’t think they understand how hard that is for him, too. Spenser’s trying to do his job and trying to get a great player out.

“He was supposed to go from the stretch that entire inning because he felt better out of the stretch, and I think the moment got to him where he threw the first three pitches out of the windup without knowing it and then realized it, and then went to the stretch on 3-0 – strike, 3-1 strike, and then punched him out 3-2. I just think that shows you how big the moment was and is for these guys, and they’re trying to do the best they can.”

Hyde smiled when asked about the chant, saying, “I’ve seen crowds before that appreciate things.”

“My reaction was, what are they saying at first,” he said. “You could hear in the dugout, ‘What are they saying, what are they saying?’ Then you heard it and you could understand what they were saying, and honestly I just wanted Spenser to throw a strike. Please throw a strike. Hopefully, we’re throwing strikes today.”

The Orioles are done with traveling after today.

“I was hoping it wasn’t going to be the last road game of the season, but it’s been a great season for us so far in terms of development, taking the next step,” Hyde said. “The season’s coming to an end here shortly. We’d love to see us play well these last four games, love to see us try to win the series today.”

For the Yankees
Aaron Judge DH
Anthony Rizzo 1B
DJ LeMahieu 2B
Josh Donaldson 3B
Oswaldo Cabrera RF
Harrison Bader CF
Isiah Kiner-Falefa SS
Jose Trevino C
Aaron Hicks LF

Chi Chi González RHP