Entering Thursday night’s start, the Orioles were hoping they’d face a difficult decision. With Trevor Rogers eligible to come off the 15-day injured list on Monday, should they send right-hander Brandon Young or left-hander Cade Povich back to Triple-A Norfolk?
Young had given the Orioles a rare quality start on Wednesday night, allowing three runs on four hits in six innings in a 7-4 win over Miami.
Povich was removed from Thursday’s game after three innings with left forearm discomfort.
After the game, manager Craig Albernaz told reporters in Miami that Povich would get an MRI on Friday. Albernaz cited Povich’s elbow and triceps.
“It’s on the outside of his elbow,” Albernaz said. “We’ll get some imaging and kind of see where we’re at.”
Not only does that mean yet another injury for an Orioles starter, but it meant that an overly taxed Orioles bullpen needed to cover five innings in a 4-3 loss to the Marlins.
On the Orioles’ road trip, the Orioles received three four-inning starts from Povich, Kyle Bradish and Chris Bassitt. In his first major league game, Trey Gibson pitched 4 2/3 innings while Shane Baz made it through 5 2/3.
After Young’s start, Albernaz wanted to see Povich match it.
But Povich is likely to join Rogers, Dean Kremer and Zach Eflin on the injured list.
Rogers has been out because of illness. Kremer is on the 15-day injured list with a strained right quadriceps muscle. Eflin had Tommy John surgery last month and won’t pitch again this season.
After a makeup doubleheader on April 30th, the Orioles needed an extra starter and added Gibson, who gave up three runs on four hits against the Yankees on Sunday.
Needing another relief arm, the Orioles signed veteran right-hander Lou Trivino on Monday when Gibson went back to Norfolk.
For the moment, the Orioles will need another relief arm and could recall Tyler Wells, who was one of the few relievers who had options. He was sent to Norfolk on Saturday but hasn’t pitched for the Tides, who were rained out on Thursday.
Wells could be recalled if he’s replacing an injured pitcher.
The Orioles already have 11 players on the injured list.
Orioles bullpen’s strong performance
With Povich out, the Orioles received a strong performance from their bullpen.
Yennier Cano reduced his ERA to 1.29 with two spotless innings. Dietrich Enns walked one in two hitless innings.
Keegan Akin allowed two hits but then battled back for a scoreless eighth.
The Orioles lost the game in the bottom of the ninth on a double by Joe Mack and a throwing error by third baseman Coby Mayo.
Andrew Kittredge recorded the first two outs of the ninth before Mack doubled.
Rico Garcia, who’s been outstanding, Anthony Nunez and Grant Wolfram were unavailable because they’d pitched consecutive games.
Had the game continued, Trivino, who allowed six runs on four hits in 2/3 innings on Monday night at Yankee Stadium, was the only available reliever.
Holliday rehabs
Second baseman Jackson Holliday was hitless in three at-bats as Double-A Chesapeake’s designated hitter in his first rehab game. It’s Holliday’s third rehab stint.
He didn’t play in spring training after February surgery to remove the hamate bone from his right wrist. His two previous rehab assignments were stopped because of hand discomfort.
Outfielder Nate George, the Orioles top prospect, was placed on the 7-day minor league injured list because of illness. George, who’s hitting .293 with a .738 OPS at High-A Frederick, has stolen 15 bases in 17 attempts.
Outfielder Vance Honeycutt, the No. 29 prospect, who had a thumb injury, was activated by the Keys and he’ll be on a planned progression working back to full games.
Single-A Delmarva outfielder Jordan Sanchez, the No. 16 prospect, is on the 7-day injured list because of right hand discomfort.
Ethan Anderson homered in Chesapeake’s 4-3 win over Erie.
Honeycutt and Wehiwa Aloy homered in Frederick’s 11-4 win over Jersey Shore. Twine Palmer pitched four scoreless innings in relief, allowing three hits and striking out six.
Esteban Mejia gave up a run on three hits in four innings, but walked six and struck out six in Delmarva’s 6-2 win over Salem.
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