BRADENTON, Fla.-What’s happening?—Andrew Cashner starts against the Boston Red Sox at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota today. Cashner, who allowed four runs on six hits in four innings on March 5 against the Detroit Tigers, is scheduled to be followed by Gabriel Ynoa, Nate Karns, Sean Gilmartin and Josh Osich.
Catcher Austin Wynns is out because of a sore left oblique. Wynns felt it during batting practice and had an MRI.
“Take precaution, be smart and just get back on the field as soon as possible,” Wynns said. “I definitely avoided something big-time serious.”
Manager Brandon Hyde wants to be cautious.
“I think he’s day-to-day with the oblique,” Hyde said. “But I also think that with an oblique, you’ve got to really careful, so we’re not going to push him in any way. We’re going to make sure he’s 100 percent, that that side’s cleared up and then maybe do a couple of days to make sure from there. Oblique’s are such a tricky thing. You can redo it quickly.”
Jesus Sucre is scheduled to catch three innings today and start on Sunday.
Richard Bleier is scheduled to pitch for the first time this spring on Saturday night against the New York Yankees.
Chris Davis remains out because of a strained left hip flexor.
“It sounds like it felt a little bit better today,” Hyde said. “But he’s still day-to-day.”
Left-handed relief pitcher Donnie Hart was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
What’s happened?—Mike Wright pitched three scoreless innings, giving up one hit in the Orioles 5-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He has pitched 10 shutout innings, allowing eight hits.
This could be Wright’s best spring training.
“If you look at the stats, it is,” Wright said. “I feel pretty good right now, and I hope to keep that rolling and continue to have the best spring possible.”
Austin Hays made an excellent diving catch in center field, and Wright was delighted by it.
“Confidence is huge,” Wright said. “I can’t really stress that enough. It seems weird for people who don’t go out there every single day. It’s big and, obviously, it helps you when you’ve got defense behind you like we did today.”
Yefry Ramirez allowed four solo home runs in three innings, striking out six.
“I just thought Yefry got into some predictable counts,” Hyde said. “One was the changeup, the other three were fastballs, kind of thigh-high, kind of ambushed, selling out on fastballs on him. Around that, he pitched pretty good with some really good changeups. But just left the ball in the middle part of the plate three times, and they had their home run swing going.”
Branden Kline allowed Cole Tucker’s game-winning home run in the ninth.
What’s up with-Sean Gilmartin. In 12 games with the Orioles last season, Gilmartin had a 3.00 ERA. Despite the good stats, Gilmartin was taken off the 40-man roster in October but quickly re-signed with the Orioles.
“It’s just what you get with this game, you can do everything right,” Gilmartin said. “It was a business/baseball decision that they had to make, and I understand it. You had a bunch of guys on the [disabled list] that had to come off, and they didn’t want to lose those guys.”
Gilmartin allowed three runs and retired just one batter in the February 24th opener against Toronto. In his second outing, he allowed a hit in a scoreless 1 2/3 innings on March 1.
What’s what? After Mike Elias was named executive vice president and general manager, he wrote a letter to season-ticket holders, naming Cedric Mullins as one of the keys to the club. Hyde didn’t guarantee that Mullins had the starting center field job locked up.
“I think it’s fair to say that he’s going to get every opportunity to be the center fielder or get a lot of playing time,” Hyde said. “He’s going to get a big opportunity to win a big league job. I can’t say in cement that he’s going to be our Opening Day center fielder. Just like a lot of our guys, he’s going to get every opportunity to be on the club and be a big part of our lineup.
What’s the word? “I was a free agent for less than a day. I wasn’t going to get a better opportunity than here. This organization, where we’re at right now, it’s the best place to be.”-Gilmartin on his choice to remain with the Orioles
What’s the number? 21. Opening Day at Yankee Stadium is three weeks away. Hyde hasn’t named a starter.
“I’m not ready to announce that, yet.” Hyde said.
What’s the record? 7-5-2. The Orioles play the Boston Red Sox at Ed Smith Stadium at 1:05 p.m.
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Glad for Donnie Hart. Ramirez should not make the club. He is totally erratic. Starting pitching is our biggest weakness right now.
Let's see how Wright reacts after the 1st called ball 4 he doesn't like, or somebody makes an error behind him.
And if Cedric Mullins is not guaranteed to be the starting in center fielder this year ... then pigs CAN fly.
Read elsewhere that Wright has developed a cutter to use in place of his slider. I get the feeling you will hate on Wright no matter how well he does...
Mullins is struggling at the plate so far this ST so try to keep a low profile when the pigs start flying about.
You've got me pegged spot on regarding the Mike Wright attitude ... but anybody that's been reading this website for the past 3 years can tell you I'm not one to keep a low profile .... Center field is Cedric Mullins to lose. Barring injury, pigs won't fly on opening day.
Still no mention of Yac? What’s the story with that? Is he hurt... in the “dog house” or what?
Ekim, Jimmy Yacabonis is not hurt. He's only pitched twice in games, and he is one of the few players I haven't interviewed yet this spring, which you astutely picked up on. There were more than 60 players in camp at one point, and I like to try to get to all of them.
I have had Yacabonis on my list for an interview for the past few days, and I'll try to get to him soon.
Not surprised Hyde hasn’t named a starter. Who in the world thinks we really have a number one pitcher? ........ and time is running out as we wait for one of these guys to show something.
It's apparent Hyde and Elias see something in Wright that others don't see. He certainly has pitched well albeit against a mix of prospects and veterans. If he continues to perform well as the training camp rosters shorten. He will likely make the team as a starter.
Most Orioles fans including myself believe he will likely revert back to his poor performances. He just doesn't have the makeup to be a successful mlb pitcher imo.
Wright has developed a cutter and has taken well to the analytics being presented according to Joe Trezza. Maybe Wright's makeup is changing?
I don't believe Hyde & Elias see anything the rest of the world can't see. He's always been big, strong and has got good to very good stuff. But he invariably loses his location following by losing his cool. I'm not a glass half empty guy either ... I'm usually very positive. I like a LOT of what I see in the youngsters ... Sisco .. Mullins ... HAYS ... Santander .. there's a lot to be postiive about on this squad.
Mike Wright is not one of those positives. Until he proves otherwise .. I agree with you in that he will revert back to the old Mike Wright.
Not a good time for Wynns to come up lame. There is C competition in camp. Not only is Mullins not the quintessential lead off hitter he could very well be a 4th OFer within a year. Hope I'm wrong. If Cobb has a decent ST make him the opening day starter. Ramirez and Ortiz are laying a lot of eggs. Straight,mid range fastballs maybe?
Wright's trade value will never be higher. Let's stop the suspense and send C. Davis for Tommy John surgery. Why mess with assorted tweaks and day-to-day stuff?
That my friend, is probably the most intelligent suggestion I've ever heard regarding what to do with Chris Davis!
Lets hope this is not like the past two seasons for Mike Wright . He has a good spring, makes the cut, does pitch well, gets sent to Norfolk, pitches well in the minors, gets call back up , and stinks again. Hopefully he carries his spring into the regular season this year.
I feel either Mullins or Hays will end up playing center field and leading off to start the season.
Spring Numbers
Austin Hays .286 BA .318 OBP 2HR 3RBIS 1BB 4Ks
Cedric Mullins .176 BA .240 OBP 1HR 2RBIs 2BB 3Ks
My guess would be Villar at lead-off, but who knows. I certainly didn’t predict Davis to open the season at that spot last year...
Mike Wright has always had the arm and has decent stuff. Who knows, maybe he has found something with all this new stuff. I’ll say this about this young team , they’re hungry and they play hard. If they could just find something to do about CD, it would clearly open up some playing time for others
Mike Wright’s last good spring training was 2015. His past two springs 6.63 (2018) and 8.38 (2017) were bad. Does he have to prove himself? Yes. But credit him with having done something different this year that has improved his game.
Someone mentioned the makeup, if its working maybe all the pitchers should try it, yikes...lol