BALTIMORE—Outfielder Austin Hays, who has been on the 10-day injured list because of a strained left hamstring, won’t be ready to rejoin the Orioles on Friday. Hays has been on the injured list since May 24th, and his 10 days are up after Wednesday’s game.
“He is starting his running progressions, and we are hoping for a rehab assignment in Norfolk early next week,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “If all goes well, joining us later in the week next week.”
Relief pitcher Hunter Harvey, who threw 1 2/3 innings in his rehab assignment on Tuesday night in Norfolk, probably will come off the 60-day injured list this weekend, Hyde said.
Harvey, who has been on the injured list because of strained left oblique, is 2-1 with a 4.76 ERA in four games for the Tides. He has struck out four and walked one in 6 1/3 innings.
Mac Sceroler, who’s on the 10-day injured list because of tendinitis in his right shoulder, will make a rehab start for the Tides on Friday night.
Lowther returns: The Orioles recalled left-hander Zac Lowther from Triple-A Norfolk for relief help in Wednesday’s game. Lowther had been scheduled to start for the Tides on Wednesday night.
“I’m not exactly sure when I’m going to use him,” Hyde said. “I’m going to see how the game is playing out. [Matt] Harvey is excited about opening for us because he’s not going to pitch for a few days after. He’s on short rest, but he’s hopefully going to give us a couple of innings.
“See how the game goes, what the score is, etc. I’ve got a few guys down because of last night. Should have most of the guys available. Mix and match through this.”
In two games with the Orioles, Lowther is 0-1 with an 18.90 ERA. Lowther is 0-2 with a 7.15 ERA in three games for Norfolk.
Strange schedule: The Orioles are off June 7th and June 10th. They’ll play three games against Cleveland this weekend and two games against the New York Mets on June 8th and June 9th.
“We’re going to have to be really creative with how we give these guys rest with these three offdays within eight days,” Hyde said.
Keegan Akin (0-0, 4.80 ERA) John Means (4-1, 2.05) and Jorge López (1-6, 5.29) will start against the Indians this weekend. J.C. Mejia (1-0, 0.00) Aaron Civale (7-2, 3.28) will pitch Friday and Saturday for Cleveland. The Indians have yet to name Sunday’s starter. Saturday’s game will start at 4:05 pm.
Matt Harvey won’t start again until the series with the Mets.
Save for Sulser: Cole Sulser, who closed for the Orioles in the first weeks of the 2020 season, got a save opportunity and converted it in the ninth inning on Tuesday night. The Orioles celebrated the end of a 14-game losing streak.
“The music was going. Everyone was having a good time. You could just feel the weight off our shoulders,” Sulser said. “At least that’s what it felt like personally. You play the best baseball when you’re relaxed. That’s a huge help for use moving forward.”
Minor Matters: Grayson Rodriguez was named the High-A East Pitcher of the Month. He was 3-0 with a 1.54 ERA in five starts for the Aberdeen IronBirds before his promotion to Bowie.
Gunnar Henderson was named the Low-A East Player of the Month for Delmarva. Henderson hit .313 in 20 games. He hit six home runs and 20 RBIs.
Call for questions: I’ll be answering Orioles questions over the next several days. Please leave yours in the comments or email them to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com.
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I don’t know how far, you all go back, but back in the day, I don’t remember a team or teams, having so many injuries or needing so much rest, to be able to play baseball. Can someone explain to me, what is going on!!
Couldn't find any stats on player games lost per season on line w/o a paid subscription, but there is a good article on MLB 2021 injury spikes in NY Post 5/19 by Joel Sherman if you care to take a look at it. Article states that injuries are up 20% to 25% in 2021 in comparison to 2017-2019.
2nd to last paragraph in article: “Swings are bigger, efforts are bigger, deliveries are more explosive,” an AL executive said “Not a lot of guys play the game easy any more. You better be monitoring every swing, for example, your guys take because they are taking so many at full force even in batting practice. We have to protect guys from themselves. That is why you see load management and keeping guys out of the lineup to try to prevent the injury that has not yet happened.”
Too much $ involved, protecting their investment, 60’s, 70’s & 80’s pitchers pitched longer, 80’s closers started closing more, position players were tougher & played through more injuries, also some they shouldn’t have but we didn’t have the quick turnaround on tests, and finally I’m guessing today the players agents are way more involved than in the earlier days, just guesses on my part...go O’s...
Also, I mentioned this a few days ago, you would think teams would have people to specifically address stretching, seems players are way stronger today, but don’t seem to have the flexibility of yrs ago, unfortunately it kind of seems like it’s just the O’s, but players everywhere are suffering upper torso injuries, quads, calves...go O’s...
My theory is that the millenials are pretty much sissies.
IT'S A JOKE BOYS!
(Gotta spell these things out less I get called a racist or uninclusive or whatever again)
They all have multiple strength and conditioning coaches, including the Orioles, Ray.
Someone that specializes in stretching is totally different, who they have doesn’t seem to be doing too good of a job then...go O’s...
They lead the teams in extensive stretching before batting practice.
Again, then they need to re-evaluate, whatever they’re doing it’s not working...go O’s...
Too many weights and steroids. Not enough beer
In support of Shamus's theory, I offer this news item: "Walter Johnson...on May 15, 1918...pitched a total of 18 innings in one game – and won! The game took place at Griffith Stadium against the defending World Series champion White Sox, and ended on a wild pitch by Lefty Williams, giving the Senators a 1-0 walk-off win. For those 18 innings, Johnson gave up 10 hits, one walk, struck out 9, and gave up no runs...In today’s Major League Baseball, an 18 inning game would probably last for 6-7 hours. Yet somehow, this game lasted just 2 hours and 43 minutes – shorter than most MLB games today that finish in the regular nine innings..." IMHO They're not making baseball players the way they used to.
:)....could be....go O’s...
Hays was placed on IL May 26, retroactive to 5/24, having last played on 5/23.
Six rested/semi-rested pitchers for tonight's game: Matt Harvey, Lowther, Tyler Wells, Plutko, Armstrong, and Fry.
Does anyone think the extreme sparcity of the crowds yesterday and today at OPACY will have. any effect on Elias.Stadiums opened up around baseball with large. crowds. First 2 crowds here smaller than Pandemic allowed crowds!!!!!!
Please do not question the number (or lack of) fans in the stands/s...go O’s...
Careful now..... don't make the mean kids angry..
Oh noooo they are warming up Armstrong!!!!! insanity
Interesting to see Matt Harvey's strong 3 inning performance tonight, after several recent very bad starts ... maybe these short starts, or even long relief, is the way to go with him the rest of the season.
Shamus has the conditioning problem figured out!!
I loved his comment! Too many veggies, not enough suds. LOL!
I’m old, obviously haven’t been doing things right, any certain beer better? Totally ready to start this new program, lol....go O’s...
Natty Bo of course, CalsPals!
What was I thinking, of course...lol...go O’s...
I appreciate everyone’s feedback.
What a pleasure watching Wynns behind the plate
2nd day in a row that MOUNTY cracks the sky !
And a 3 run blast at that!! Hyde has taken a ton of criticism this season for various things but I love that he’s never given up on Mounty! I won’t be surprised at all if by the time all is said and done and the final game is played that he’ll be looking at 25-30 bombs and 80-90 RBIs.
Very much within his grasp
Hoping for the same for Mountcastle. He’s a kid you just want to believe in.
In the WIN column tonight!
3 run blast, just what Hyde was asking for...go O’s...
Wait. What ? ..............did we just win a series ?
Whatever Wynns whispered to Fry there in the 9th.....settled him down.
Nice ! No need to stop here. Win a couple more. We got good outings from Aiken & Lopez in their last turns. Add a focused Means and try and do this thing again.
Enjoy your day off Birds !
Wynns, the pitcher whisperer...go O’s...
Keep up the W’s! It’s a lot more fun this way.
:)....go O’s...