Povich could start on Saturday as Orioles try to give starters extra rest

BALTIMORE—Left-hander Cade Povich was in the Orioles’ clubhouse on Friday, and he’ll likely start against Boston on Saturday night.

“He’s potentially going to pitch for us tomorrow,” manager Brandon Hyde said before Friday night’s game against the Red Sox. “Kind of see how tonight goes. Might push [Albert Suárez] back a day, so we’re going to talk to Al and have him go out there today, might push him back one day.”

Suárez started last Sunday and threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings at Tampa Bay, the longest start of his major league career.

The Orioles went to a six-man rotation late last season, but Hyde didn’t indicate that the Orioles were leaning that way.

“Probably not. We’d like to give these guys as much of a break as possible,” he said. “We could go … I don’t know. We’ll see what happens. We felt like Al threw more than he’s ever thrown last start. We’re getting in a spot in the schedule where a lot of guys are getting up there in innings and not used to it.

“Anytime we give a guy a break or an extra day or two, we’re going to.”

Hyde said it’s not just because Suárez has thrown 90 1/3 innings, more than the 34-year-old has thrown in a major league season. Before this season, Suárez last pitched in the majors in 2017.

“It’s more of the entire staff,” Hyde said. “If we can insert a starter in there and give everybody an extra day, I think that’s important right now.”

Hyde said starters wouldn’t be skipped.

“We’re just pushing guys back, more than likely,” he said.