The Orioles announced that they have recalled right-hander Dillon Tate and left-hander Nick Vespi. In corresponding moves, right-hander Jonathan Heasley has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk while righty Dean Kremer has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to a right triceps strain. Kremer’s IL move is retroactive to May 21.
The Orioles have not yet provided any information about the severity of Kremer’s injury, but it will provide the Orioles with a challenge nonetheless. Just a week ago, the club began a stretch of playing 42 games in 44 days and was planning to go to a six-man rotation to keep their starters fresh. However, John Means landed on the injured list yesterday due to a forearm strain and now Kremer is on the shelf as well.
That leaves Baltimore with a rotation of Corbin Burnes, Kyle Bradish and Grayson Rodriguez. The latter two were also on the IL earlier this year, though each was reinstated this month. Cole Irvin and Albert Suárez were each in the rotation earlier this year but had been bumped to the bullpen. With the injury bug biting this week, both of them may have to return to starting roles.
That plan will come with a couple of challenges. Irvin threw 56 pitches in a relief outing on Wednesday and may not be available for a couple more days. Suárez was stretched out earlier this year but it’s been about two weeks since he pitched more than an inning.
Even if the O’s can find a way to smoothly transition Irvin and Suárez back to the rotation, that still leaves them with just five starters when they had planned on having six. Perhaps they consider that acceptable, but with Bradish and Rodriguez having already missed time this year, getting them a bit of extra rest during this tough part of the schedule could still be a priority.
Bruce Zimmermann is on the 40-man roster but has been on the minor league IL for almost two weeks now due to a hamstring strain. Cade Povich and Chayce McDermott, two of the club’s top pitching prospects, are pitching well in Triple-A but neither is on the 40-man roster.
Whatever the Orioles are planning, more information may be forthcoming this weekend. Burnes is taking the ball tonight but Kremer was scheduled for Saturday. Both Bradish and Rodriguez pitched too recently to take the ball on normal rest by tomorrow.
Povich time soon.
I agree but this is more of a “we need fresh arms in the pen” move for now
It wouldn’t be outrageous to give Povich the spot start on Saturday since he hasn’t pitched in a week. Give Suarez Monday’s start against Boston.
Yeah for sure. No need to call up Povich til the day you want him to pitch.
But Heasley stinks. Be better to have Baumann right now but injuries hit a few days late.
@skinsfandfw. Suarez and Irvin back in the rotation. Agree focus should be on fresh pen arms. Hunch play. Bryan Baker?! Ugly Tides stats but a ton of experience in the pen for Baltimore over the last 2 seasons. Bring him up and put him out there.
@c yards Jeff – late reply but that’s what I thought they’d do too. Suarez is back today. I’m hoping for Povich over Irvin. IMO, get him up now so he gets some ML experience if anything. We may need him later on this season/postseason.
As for Baker: HELL NO
Lol
I think Kremer has been battling a blister, hasn’t he? Could be just wanting to give it more time to heal.
All these Orioles starters were trying so hard to perform against the high powered Cardinal offense they got hurt.
You’re welcome rest of the league……
Bizarre comment
You need me to explain it to you?
Nope, BP. Stooge.
Not good for Baltimore. They had a full-strength rotation for one turn. Bummer.
Well they got a deep farm system , time to make a trade for a starter
Oh where oh where has Mike Baumann gone? Oh where oh where can he be?
I remember posting a couple of months ago that this rotation wasn’t something to bank on. I was told I was crazy because Bradish and Means would be coming back, and they added Burnes. And they still had Tyler Wells and Grayson Rodriguez.
My specific response was about Means and Bradish. You didn’t know how well they would hold up returning from injury, so it would be a mistake to pen them in your rotation and count on them.
Burnes has been as good as advertised. Rodriguez has been pitching well. The unsung hero is Cole Irvin who is pitching very well, and then the boost this team got out of almost nowhere from Suarez. If they want to make a post season run this year, they’re going to have to trade for another top-line starter and not some back end of the rotation guy.
Relax O fans. It’s a long season. Your roster is deep. Time off in May and June as long as it’s not major surgical issues, gives u fresh arms down the stretch.
Thinking about that , Os fans, isn’t it nice u can now fret about every game , unlike losing 100 plus seasons. So go ahead enjoy worrying game to game.
With that being said Orioles fans are one of the best a handling success. Most other fanbase become insufferable when they’re good again.