The Baltimore Orioles will need lots of pitching in an upcoming part of their schedule.
They’re just not sure when they might need which pitchers.
But holding the second-best record in the American League allows for some flexibility. That’s the approach Orioles manager Brandon Hyde is taking into the weekend as a series with the visiting Seattle Mariners continues Saturday afternoon.
The Orioles beat the AL West-leading Mariners 9-2 on Friday night, beginning a stretch in which Baltimore’s schedule shows 30 games in a 31-day stretch.
“So it’s been a lot of juggling right now,” Hyde said. “That’s why we’re TBA the next couple days, and it’s going to affect roster moves and things like that.”
The Orioles didn’t play Tuesday (rainout) or Thursday (scheduled day off) this week, so Hyde wanted to keep some pitchers on their normal rotation.
The rotation shifts meant that Cole Irvin didn’t start Friday night and was instead available in the bullpen.
On Saturday morning, the Orioles activated right-hander Grayson Rodriguez from the 15-day injured list to start that day’s game against the Mariners.
Rodriguez (4-1, 3.71 ERA) had been sidelined by shoulder inflammation. He will be facing the Mariners for the first time in his career.
Hyde said the Orioles intend on lining up a six-man rotation.
“We’re not in that stretch yet,” Hyde said. “But it’s coming soon, so we’re trying to keep them all as healthy as possible. … We feel great about adding a really good starter right now into our bullpen. It’s kind of a unique deal.”
Right-hander Luis Castillo (4-5, 3.31 ERA) is dubbed as Seattle’s starting pitcher on Saturday. He has a decision in all nine of his starts this season, with four of the last five landing in the win column.
He handled the Oakland Athletics for six innings, allowing two runs on solo homers, in Seattle’s 8-4 victory on Sunday. Castillo has fanned 64 batters in 54 1/3 innings this year, notching at least eight strikeouts in half of his last six starts.
Castillo’s lone career outing against the Orioles resulted in a victory when he limited Baltimore to one run on two hits across six innings last August.
The Mariners, who will be in the second game of 10 straight away from home Saturday, didn’t have shortstop J.P. Crawford on board Friday as anticipated. Crawford remained in Seattle for treatment for a hand injury and stayed on the injured list.
“Hopefully, he will meet up with us at some point on this road trip,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said.
The Mariners had Mitch Garver in action as the designated hitter in the series opener after he missed the two previous games with a sore back.
Seattle has scored three runs or less in four of its last five road games.
Baltimore’s bullpen should be fresh given the limited schedule this week combined with Friday night’s situation in which four relievers were used, but none for more than an inning of work.
Orioles center fielder Cedric Mullins, who’s batting .183, is expected to be in the lineup at some point this weekend even though he didn’t play Friday night.
“Trying to get him right,” Hyde said. “He’s so important for us, and feel really good about the work he’s putting in right now. I think good things are going to happen soon for him.”
–Field Level Media
