Dylan Bundy on getting extra rest in upcoming starts

TORONTO - After a recent two-start stretch where he gave up 10 earned runs over 9 1/3 innings and his ERA jumped from 3.05 to 3.72, the Orioles decided to give right-hander Dylan Bundy some extra rest. He made his last start on regular rest and pitched well on Saturday against Tampa Bay. He gave up three runs over seven innings to improve to 8-6 with a 3.73 ERA through 16 starts.

But with more than half of the 2017 season still to play, Bundy is at 99 innings. He threw a total of 109 2/3 last year. He, of course, has a past that includes Tommy John surgery and shoulder issues.

Bundy's next start may not exactly be set at this moment. At least he was not certain or ready to publicly announce which day it will be when asked by reporters here this afternoon.

"I've got a start coming up," he said. "We've got some different things going on, too, so it could be one day this weekend, could be a different day. We'll see when it is, but everyone is good to go with it. I feel fine. I feel stronger than I did during the beginning of the year and stronger than I did last year, so I'm ready to go whenever."

So will the next start possibly be on Friday or Saturday at home?

"Something like that. Like Friday, Saturday or Sunday. It kind of depends on how things fall into place I think," Bundy said.

He added he would throw a bullpen session today at Rogers Centre.

Bundy is aware that getting some extra rest between starts was likely always in the plan for him in 2017.

"I know it needs to me done, yeah, absolutely, because it's all about me pitching all the way to the end of the season and not getting shut down early for any reason at all," he said. "I'd rather pitch in October, deep into October if I can, and that's why you have to look at things early in the year to plan for later on in the year. You can't all of a sudden come up with a plan at the end of the year. I think that's what we're doing and just trying to take care of it while we're ahead of it right now."

Bundy has easily been the club's best starter and has 12 quality starts. No one else has more than five, and that is Wade Miley. But Bundy continues to feel strong even as he approaches his 2016 season innings total. A total he could exceed by the All-Star break.

"It's awesome. The arm is recovering well," he said. "I'm taking care of my body the way I'm supposed to. I'm doing my work in between starts. And occasional minor bullpen one week, in case I need it, or take a complete rest day and not do something one day because I need to. I'm still learning my body after years of getting injured in Florida and then last year getting a full year up here, I'm just learning my body more and learning that in between starts.

"I think I'm at (99) innings right now. I know what I threw last year. I know that we have a plan and it can change a little bit here and there. But we have a pretty decent plan and grasp on it. Communication is there and it's open. I think we have a good plan and it is all about my body and the way it is recovering. That is kind of the plan going forward and so far it's been great."