Orioles option Baumann to Norfolk, reinstate Voth; Kremer will start instead of Flaherty Wednesday

BALTIMORE–The Orioles optioned right-hander Mike Baumann, who lost for the first time in 10 decisions on Tuesday night, to Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday. Baumann allowed three runs in the 10th inning of the Orioles’ 6-3 loss to Toronto.

Baumann is 9-1 with a 3.82 earned-run average in 56 games. Baumann and Yennier Cano lead the Orioles in appearances.  In nine August games, Baumann had a 5.59 ERA.

“Michael’s had an amazing season for us to this point with what he’s done,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “New role that was handed to him late in spring training and I’ve been so impressed with him all year, the way he’s taken the ball, the way he’s stayed durable. I love his competitiveness. He’s in innings territory right now and appearance territory where he’s never been before, and we feel like right now is the right time to give him a breather. Send him down, go on a strict appearance, throwing program, low-pressure situations, along with some other guys. We’ll see him back up here soon because he’s done an amazing job for us this season.”

Closer Félix Bautista is the only Oriole reliever who’s been on the 26-man roster all season.

The Orioles activated right-hander Austin Voth from the 60-day injured list. Voth, who was 1-2 with a 4.94 ERA in 23 games, had been on the injured list because of right elbow discomfort. He concluded his rehab assignment at Triple-A Norfolk this past weekend. Voth had a 3.97 ERA in eight rehab games in the Florida Complex League, Double-A Bowie and Norfolk.

“Definitely took a little bit longer than I wanted to,” Voth said. “I need to make sure I get right, just being away from the time and seeing what they’re accomplishing, it’s incredible. It’s been fun to watch from afar.”

Voth’s last appearance for the Orioles was on June 13th, and he’s confident he’s ready.

“It’s a feel thing,” Voth said. “Getting out there and having no discomfort, just having the tightness go away. Being able to come out and let one rip, that feels good.”

Voth was a member of the 2019 Washington Nationals, who won the World Series, and he sees some similarities between the two teams.

“The camaraderie in the clubhouse for the most part,” he said. “The main thing is everyone has each other’s back. They’re rooting for each other through the successes and failures.”

To make room for Voth on the 60-day injured list, the Orioles transferred left-hander Keegan Akin from the 15-day to 60-day injured list. Akin is on the injured list because of lower back discomfort.

Kremer in place of Flaherty. Dean Kremer will start in place of Jack Flaherty Wednesday night against the Blue Jays.  Kremer, who was supposed to start on Thursday, will face former Oriole Kevin Gausman (9-7, 3.24).

“It was decided yesterday pregame to just give him [Flaherty] a little extra time,” Hyde said. “In his catch play yesterday, there was a little bit of soreness and we just wanted to give him a little bit of a break, and we moved up Dean to today.”

The Orioles haven’t decided on Thursday’s starter or the starters for this weekend’s Colorado series.

“This is what’s going to happen,” Hyde said. “It’s late August, and we have a lot of guys that are beat up and have played a lot of baseball so far. These are things we’re going to have to roll with and make adjustments and next guy steps up … I think it’s general soreness that generally goes away between starts. We feel like we want to be precautionary with him.”

Flaherty, who spoke before Hyde did, wasn’t specific.

“Sometimes you don’t bounce back the way you want to,” Flaherty said. “You just try to make the right decision, making sure that you feel right.”

Flaherty declined to say what didn’t feel right or if the issue was mechanical or physical.

“I don’t want to get into specifics, but throwing yesterday, didn’t quite feel like I bounced back. Sometimes those are hard decisions to make,” Flaherty said. “You want to take the ball every time out, just one of those things.”

Flaherty said he wasn’t sure when he’d pitch again.

“I don’t know if that’s been discussed,” he said. “Working on things, just try to get ready for the next one … You push things around all the time depending on the way it works out. Sometimes, you don’t hear about it. If it comes right before a start, you hear about it.”

Notes: Starter John Means will make his next rehab appearance for Norfolk on Friday. … Infielder Adam Frazier was unavailable on Tuesday night because of hand soreness. He’s not in the starting lineup, but is available for Wednesday’s game. … James McCann, who was hit by a pitch on his left hand on Tuesday night, was pinched by the ball and has a blood blister.