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SARASOTA, Florida-What’s happening? –Ty Blach will start for the Orioles when the team begins a two-game trip to Florida’s East Coast with a game against the Washington Nationals at FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach on Tuesday.
Tommy Milone was scheduled to start for the Orioles,but he’ll throw in Sarasota.
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Max Scherzer will start for the Nationals.
Alex Cobb will throw in a simulated game on Friday and is scheduled to start on March 11 against Toronto in Dunedin. Cobb, who’s recovering from illness, threw 50 pitches in a simulated game on Sunday.
“He looked great and felt great after,” Hyde said. “He actually threw a little more than we had planned for, and felt outstanding during and after.”
Shortstop José Iglesias, outfielder Anthony Santander and catcher Pedro Severino didn’t play on Monday because they’re scheduled to play both games on the East Coast.
Infielder Rylan Bannon, who was sent to minor league camp after Sunday’s game, was brought back for Monday’s game. Bannon, Malquin Canelo and Mason McCoy, who were reassigned to minor league camp, will return for games this month, manager Brandon Hyde said.
One player brought over from minor league camp who made an impact was Cesar Valdez, who ended Sunday’s game on a three-pitch strikeout.
“He’s an experienced guy that’s older, and you always want those guys that can come up here and throw strikes,” Hyde said. “You’ll see him back up here.”
What’s happened? Asher Wojciechowski threw three hitless innings as the Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays played to a 3-3 tie before 4,897 at Ed Smith Stadium on Monday.
“I thought I threw the ball well,” Wojciechowski said. “… I threw a lot of strikes again. Just really coming into my delivery and my mechanics. Still got some work to do on my offspeed stuff. I was happy with the fastball, and how it’s coming out, and the location.”
Wojciechowski isn’t satisfied.
“No, I don’t think I’m there, yet,” Wojciechowski said. “It’s my second outing. We have three more weeks of camp. I’ll use this as a springboard. I’ve got three more weeks, probably four more starts, to really get tuned up and ready for the season. I’m just trying to take advantage of every day and be ready for the season.”
Wojciechowski has allowed a run on two hits in five innings. He has struck out four without walking a batter.
Hunter Harvey, another Oriole who was sidelined by illness, allowed a hit and struck out a batter in his first spring action.
“Trying to get everything under control,” Harvey said. “Trying to get the butterflies under control and just attack.”
Bruce Zimmermann gave up three runs in 2 2/3 innings. He struck out six but allowed two home runs.
Renato Nunez hit a two-run home run, his first of the spring.
Trey Mancini left after two at-bats because he wasn’t feeling well.
What’s up with Yusniel Diaz? He’s been hampered by a left shoulder injury and needs to make up for lost time. Diaz had a triple and walked in his two plate appearances. He’s 1-for-5 in three Grapefruit League games.
Diaz was considered the top player the Orioles received when they traded Manny Machado to the Dodgers on July 18, 2018. The 23-year-old outfielder finished last season at Double-A Bowie.
“I need to get ready, just like everybody else,” Diaz said through a translator. “That’s the main reason I came, to be ready and to compete.
“I want to show them everything that I am as a whole — the way that I train, the way that I play the game, my defensive skills, my offensive skills, how good of a teammate I am.”
Diaz is expected to begin the season at Triple-A Norfolk.
“It’s really not up to me,” Diaz said. “Wherever they send me, I’m going to do the best that I can so that I can be [in the major leagues.]”
Hyde anticipates seeing Diaz often.
“He’s going to be playing a lot,” Diaz said. “I think he’s going to get plenty of at-bats here and a lot of playing time. He’s the first guy in the clubhouse. He’s ready to go. I know he wants to play as much as possible, and I’m going to give him a ton of at-bats.”
What’s what? – Melanie Newman broadcast three innings on radio, the first female play-by-play broadcaster in team history. Newman is scheduled to call 58 games on radio and serve as the sideline reporter for 57 television games.
Four years ago, she served as a MLB employee for Orioles spring training games, running the between-innings clock.
Newman has worked as a broadcaster for affiliates of Arizona, Texas and last year was half of baseball’s first all-female broadcasting crew with Boston’s High-A affiliate in Salem, Virginia.
“My parents never told me this was different,” Newman said. “I was just doing what I knew I was good at, what I was put on the earth to do, and I enjoyed it.
“Females can do this job as well. I don’t ever want my gender to be the reason I have a job. I get that it’s a factor, and it’s going to make younger generations look up and say, ‘Hey, I can do that.’”
Newman called the third, fourth and seventh innings while Geoff Arnold, who’s scheduled to broadcast 150 games, broadcast the other six.
Brett Hollander, the latest addition to the Orioles’ broadcasting crew, appeared on both the radio and television broadcasts.
What’s the word? “They haven’t told me to go home.”-Wade LeBlanc, who’s scheduled to start Wednesday against Miami in Jupiter on how his spring is going.
What’s the number? 6. The Orioles are unbeaten in their last six games, five wins and a tie.
What’s the record? 6-4-1 The Orioles play the Nationals in West Palm Beach at 1:05 p.m. The game will be streamed on Orioles.com/MLB At Bat.
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