The Orioles optioned left-handed pitcher Bruce Zimmermann to the alternate training site at Double-A Bowie on Monday night and recalled right-handed pitcher Isaac Mattson, who was on the taxi squad.
This is the second move the Orioles have made with a rookie starting pitcher. On April 18th, the Orioles optioned Dean Kremer, Monday night’s starter against Seattle, in part to limit his innings.
Zimmermann, who is 1-3 with a 5.40 ERA in six starts, allowed four runs, one unearned, on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings at Oakland on Sunday.
The Orioles have offdays on Thursday, May 13th and May 17th. They’ll need a fifth starter on May 11th, and again on May 22nd. Zimmermann is eligible to be recalled in 10 days, so barring injury, someone besides him will have to make that May 11th start against the New York Mets at Citi Field.
Mattson, who was at the alternate training site and has not pitched in the major leagues, was obtained in the December 2019 trade with Los Angeles for Dylan Bundy. The move gives the Orioles 10 relievers.
Stewart scratched: DJ Stewart, who was in Monday’s lineup as the rightfielder, was scratched because of lower back stiffness. Manager Brandon Hyde said that the injury was day-to-day and not related to Stewart’s bullpen collision in Oakland on Saturday. Stewart hit the bullpen awning while running at full speed to catch a popup.
Hyde made multiple changes to the lineup for the first game against the Mariners. Ryan Mountcastle is starting in left, Austin Hays in right, Maikel Franco at designated hitter, Rio Ruiz at third and Pat Valiaka at second.
Call for questions: I’ll be answering Orioles questions later this week. You may leave yours in the comment box below or email them to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com.
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Wasn't Mattson one of the guys left unprotected this spring and snatched up by another team? At my age, the memory is one of the 1st things to go...can anybody refresh my memory?
Did somebody give him a whirl and send him back?
That was Gray Fenter.
Seriously... how much longer are they going to stick with Armstrong. This is beyond reality. Sheesh! Just saying...
Good job tonight Birds !
Save # 7 for Mr. Valdez
Nothing beats starting the day with an 8 AM coffee here in Tel-Aviv and watching our Birds just wrap up a great victory against a west coast foe. Super happy for Kremer to finally put together a very good outing!! Hope he keeps it up.
Dave (dlg), I am now more optimistic than just 24 hours ago!
I’m trying to temper my enthusiasm but it’s tough. I know there’s a long way to go and for all I know they may end up with around 60 wins like most prognosticators predicted, and quite honestly I agreed would be about right, but I’m not seeing it now. I love the grit they’re showing. The pitching has been SO much better than I expected, especially the bullpen. The defense, and correct me if I’m wrong, I think has statistically been better this year. They’re winning close games more often. So many positives that only my fear of jinxing them is keeping me from jumping on the bandwagon. I never in my wildest dreams thought Mullins would do anywhere near what he’s doing. Same with Means and even Harvey. The only guy not surprising me is Valdez. The league just can’t seem to figure him out. God I’m enjoying this season. Now if they can just get to that .500 mark tomorrow so they’ll know they can do it!!
He sends Zimmermann down and keeps the guy with the 8.15 ERA. My question is.........WHY?
Strategy....go O’s...
When Kremer was sent down for 10 days, some folks here got bent out of shape, but looks like it worked out pretty well for Kremer ... hopefully, the same will be true for Zimmerman, whose performance has steadily deteriorated since the beginning of the season.
Is that any reason to keep Lopez? We know he's not going to get any better. 8.15 ERA!!!
According to the article above, it’s to limit Zimmerman’s innings.
Who knows what will happen with Lopez, but I’m hoping he can find his “groove” or whatever you want to call it. The kid touches 97 and they must feel he’s worth an extended look.
Saying that we know he’s not going to get any better seems unjustified in early May, but you may be right.