Did you know about Ynoa?

In an Orioles season defined in large part by its abundance of oddities, right-hander Gabriel Ynoa offered his own contribution.

Tell me if this makes any sense.

Ynoa was 1-10 with a 5.61 ERA and 1.373 WHIP in 36 games and 0-9 in 13 starts. He averaged only 5.4 strikeouts per nine innings and surrendered 29 of the club's 305 home runs to tie Dylan Bundy for the team lead.

None of this is going to knock the wind out of you, but I was surprised to find that Ynoa held cleanup hitters to a .186 average (13-for-70) that ranked as the second-lowest in the majors among qualifying pitchers.

Players slotted fourth in lineups have slashed .186/.284/.229 during Ynoa's career and he's held them to 13 hits and only one extra-base hit among 81 batters faced.

He needs to start pitching around the bottom of the order.

Though winless in his starts this season, for what that's worth, Ynoa didn't receive more than four runs of support in any of those games and received two or fewer in 10.

Ynoa's 2.80 run support average was the lowest among league starters with a minimum of 60 innings.

He should be used to it. He owns a 3.10 run support average in 20 career starts and has received three runs or fewer in 19.

The Orioles selected Ynoa's contract from Triple-A Norfolk in April. He's out of minor league options and again sits on the 40-man roster bubble.

Hopefully it provides more support than his teammates.

* I heard again earlier this week that scouts from other organizations really like Grayson Rodriguez and DL Hall, who were first-round selections in 2018 and 2017, respectively. Those are the names that immediately come up in discussions about the Orioles' pitching prospects.

Just as it should be, given their draft status, production and potential.

Rodriguez turns 20 later this month. He was 10-4 with a 2.68 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and .171 average against in 20 starts with Single-A Delmarva, and had 36 walks and 129 strikeouts in 94 innings. The 11th overall pick was named the South Atlantic League's Most Outstanding Major League Prospect.

He allowed only four home runs.

Call him up now.

Hall, 21, made 19 appearances at Single-A Frederick and posted a 3.46 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and .189 average against. He walked 54 batters and struck out 116 in 80 2/3 innings and surrendered only three home runs.

The Orioles shut down Hall following an Aug. 8 start due to a Grade 1 strain of his left lat muscle.

Rodriguez figures to move up to the Keys next summer. Hall could get bumped to Double-A Bowie.

Maybe this whole growing the arms thing is going to work after all.

* Interesting report last night from MLB Network's Jon Heyman that former Orioles first base coach Wayne Kirby is joining the Padres' staff.

Kirby accepted a job with the Braves as minor league outfield instructor, but I guess his contract allowed him to leave for a better offer.

Former Orioles third base coach Bobby Dickerson has been hired by the Padres as bench coach. I was able to confirm that report yesterday.

* Because there's still some lingering confusion regarding the Rule 5 draft, I'll pass along again that Baysox outfielder Yusniel Diaz and left-hander Alex Wells don't need to be protected. They aren't eligible to be selected. They don't need to be included on the 40-man roster, which has to be set by Nov. 20.

The Orioles are going to protect Ryan Mountcastle, Dean Kremer and Keegan Akin. There isn't an ounce of doubt. Cody Sedlock, a first-round pick in 2016, seems to be a likely inclusion after posting a combined 2.84 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and .202 average against in 22 games with Frederick and Bowie.

Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias singled out Sedlock during a media session as a poster child of sorts for the benefits of the new data that's provided. The Orioles are proud of their work with him. They don't want to lose him.

That gives the Orioles at least four players to protect, with a few other possibilities to consider. They have four spots open on the 40-man but will use one to reinstate Alex Cobb from the 60-day injured list.

Today's question: Which of the following 19 pitchers appear to be the most vulnerable?

Shawn Armstrong
Richard Bleier
Aaron Brooks
Dylan Bundy
Cody Carroll
Miguel Castro
Paul Fry
Mychal Givens
Eric Hanhold
Hunter Harvey
David Hess
Branden Kline
John Means
Evan Phillips
Tanner Scott
Cole Sulser
Dillon Tate
Asher Wojciechowski
Gabriel Ynoa