Hyde likes Dominguez in closer role for Orioles

NEW YORK—Orioles manager Brandon Hyde prefers to have a set closer, and for now, his preference is to have Seranthony Dominguez in the ninth-inning role.

Dominguez was acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies on July 26^th, and as Craig Kimbrel has slumped, Dominguez has gotten the last three save opportunities, converting each of them.

Yennier Cano saved two games since Dominguez’s acquisition, but Hyde is comfortable with Dominguez.

On Sunday, he allowed a home run to Boston’s Rob Refsnyder in the ninth inning and recorded a four-out save, the last three on strikeouts. It was his first save of more than one inning since August 15th, 2018.

“I’m searching for guys to get outs in the back third of the game right now,” Hyde said. “He’s done really well in that spot when we’ve had an area of need to pitch in the eighth or the ninth inning against righties or lefties. Saw 99 [mph] with a really good slider right away as soon as he got here.”

Dominguez, who was 3-2 with a 4.75 ERA with a save with the Phillies, has a 1.74 ERA in 10 games with 13 strikeouts and three walks.

“I’m still going to try to match up,” Hyde said. “Right now to get the three toughest outs the way he’s throwing the ball, it’s a good shot he’s going to be in there.”

If the Orioles get a six-inning start, as they did with Albert Suárez on Sunday, Hyde likes to use Cionel Pérez, Cano and Dominguez.

“In an ideal world, you have a set bullpen with a closer and matchup guys, but the way the injuries have happened with everything else, we’re trying to do the best we can,” Hyde said.

Dominguez has 31 saves in his six-year career. Sixteen came in 2018, his rookie season. In 2022, when Philadelphia went to the World Series, he had nine.

“Just trying to give the guy some confidence,” Hyde said. “He was going to have maybe a little bit more opportunity here. to pitch in some high-leverage games than he was in Philly. We tried him out right away. He’s throwing the ball with a lot of confidence right now.”