Kremer will start Orioles’ 2nd game; Hyde optimistic on Givens

SARASOTA—Manager Brandon Hyde has decided that Dean Kremer will pitch the second game of the season against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on April 1^st.

Kremer, who will start the final Grapefruit League game of the season on Monday against St. Louis, has pitched in four games for the Orioles this season and started three. He has allowed five runs on eight hits in 14 innings, walked two and struck out nine.

He also threw four scoreless innings for Team Israel against Nicaragua on March 12^th in the World Baseball Classic.

Manager Brandon Hyde hasn’t named any starters beyond the second game. Kyle Gibson will start the March 30^th opener.

“We’ve leave it there for right now,” Hyde said.

Tyler Wells will pitch on Saturday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton, and Kyle Bradish will start Sunday against Philadelphia.

Givens might be ready: Reliever Mychal Givens hasn’t pitched since March 16^th because of left knee soreness, but Hyde hasn’t ruled him out from starting the season on the 26-man roster.

“He’s improving. Still a little bit questionable,” Hyde said. “Hoping he’s able to break with us.”

Givens has thrown four innings this spring, and that could be enough to make a decision.

“I’d like to get him on the back field, at least,” Hyde said. “We’re not there yet.”

Injury update: Ramón Urías, who was scratched from Thursday night’s game because of a bruised right thumb, was in the lineup for Friday night’s game, but was again scratched before the game. Urías hurt the thumb when he was hit by a bad-hop grounder . … Reliever Dillon Tate, who will begin the season on the injured list because of a forearm injury, threw a side session on Friday.  “He’s had no setbacks, so that’s a positive,” Hyde said.