Ynoa gets a start; Bleier closer to returning; Wright throws two scoreless innings

SARASOTA, Fla.-What’s happening?—Gabriel Ynoa, who had an injury-marred 2018 season, starts against the Boston Red Sox today at Jet Blue Park in Fort Myers. Dillon Tate, Paul Fry, Branden Kline, Evan Phillips, Tanner Scott and Bo Schultz are scheduled to pitch after Ynoa. Eduardo Rodriguez is Boston’s listed pitcher.

Right-hander Gregory Infante, who hasn’t been in camp because of an illness in Venezuela, is closer to coming to the U.S. for treatment, manager Brandon Hyde said.

Catcher Jesus Sucre is still detained in Venezuela because of visa issues, and that’s a week or two from being resolved, club officials said.

Right-handed pitcher Dean Kremer’s oblique injury is improving, but it will be a while before he’s able to throw.

Right-handed pitcher Zach Pop, who was shut down because of arm fatigue, should begin throwing in the next day or two.

Richard Bleier, who is returning from a lat injury, threw live batting practice, and he’ll likely throw another before he pitches in a game. Hyde thinks Bleier will pitch in a game within a week.

Hyde is still learning his team and says he’s been pleasantly surprised by the pitchers.

“I like our stuff,” he said. “I like our size. We’ve got a bunch of guys with upside. Just from the first bullpen, me and [pitching coach Doug Brocail] said, ‘We’ve got some big guys. We’ve got some horses with good arms.’”

What’s happened?— Mike Wright pitched two scoreless innings in his first start of the spring as the Orioles lost to the Tampa Bay Rays, 11-5, in a game shortened by rain in the bottom of the eighth.

Wright also threw two shutout innings on Saturday. Wright allowed two hits, struck out one and walked one against the Tampa Bay Rays.

“I like giving up no runs,” Wright said. “That’s fun. Too many hits, the walk today. We’re trying to limit that as much as possible because the less people that are on base, the less chance we have of giving up runs.”

Wright began his major league career as a starter, but last year pitched almost exclusively in relief.

“I learned a lot in the bullpen,” Wright said. “I definitely like starting. They approached me, and asked me if that’s what I wanted to do. I said, ‘Yes.’ That’s not necessarily what I’m going to do. I do have to win that spot. There’s a lot of people competing and a lot of young guys that have a lot of promise. In a rebuild, I understand that they get first dibs. I’m just in a position right now where I’m trying to get outs.”

Josh Rogers and Yefry Ramirez each threw two scoreless innings.

What’s up with-Jack Reinheimer. He’s one of many infielders competing for a utility job. Reinheimer has been put on waivers four times in less than three months. Since the season ended, he’s been on the rosters of the New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, Texas and the Orioles.

He was claimed by the Orioles on Jan. 26 and designated for assignment Feb. 7 when the team signed Nate Karns. When he cleared waivers, he rejoined the Orioles on a minor league contract.

Reinheimer had been getting ready to go to spring training with the Rangers.

“I was out in Arizona, sitting around for a few days, didn’t know what was going to happen, claimed by [the Orioles], had to redirect my car and ship everything out here and find a place to stay last minute,” Reinheimer said.

After he arrived in Sarasota, Reinheimer had to wait out the waiver period again. He couldn’t come to the Orioles’ complex to work out.

“It was stressful, man,” he said. “Part of me was pretty relieved that I cleared waivers and I could stay with the Orioles.”

Over the last two seasons, Reinheimer is batting .143 in 23 games with Arizona and the Mets.

What’s what? Hyde is unfamiliar with the opener used by Tampa Bay because no National League teams featured it. He’s intrigued by it and won’t rule out using it.

“I’m open to anything to help you win a game,” Hyde said. “Some teams have success with it, so I would be open to being creative like that if it gives us the best chance to win.”

What’s the word? “I think the expectations from within are that we are going to succeed. I think every guy in there wants to win. I think they’re going to prepare in a way that puts us in the best position to win. There is a little less pressure, I guess, knowing that we’re going to have a lot of young guys. We’re going to have a lot of new faces. For me, it’s an opportunity not only to see some of the young guys get some at-bats and get some game experience, but it’s a chance to kind of start over and start fresh.”-Chris Davis, who hit a home run Tuesday, on whether lower expectations will help him and the team perform better.

What’s the number? 10. The Orioles led 4-1 after seven innings, but Tampa Bay scored 10 runs in the top of the eighth. John Means allowed three runs, and two pitchers imported from minor league camp, Jay Flaa (five runs) and Taylor Grover (two) combined to give up eight hits while recording just two outs.

What’s the record? 2-2. The Orioles play the Boston Red Sox today at 1:05 p.m. in Fort Myers.