Hyde on Givens' struggles, Trumbo's return (game update)

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said after his recent struggles that reliever Mychal Givens - he was on the mound for two walk-off losses at Colorado - may pitch in lower-leverage situations in the short term moving forward.

Over his last four games Givens has allowed eight runs on seven hits and six walks in three innings. He's suffered two blown saves and three losses in this span.

"I think it's just command," Hyde said this morning. "I look at his numbers at this point last year and he's thrown less innings and pitched in five less games. His stuff is playing relatively the same. Similar walks and strikeouts. I actually haven't used him as much as they have in the past.

"I think it's just a command and confidence issue. Talked to him for a while this morning. I want to get him on the mound with maybe a couple of lower-leverage situations to try and get him right. We need Mike bad. We need the good Mychal Givens.

"I think maybe he's forcing it to knowing he wants to be the guy there at the end. It's one of those where you try to be the guy because you see how hard everyone else is working to try and win the game. Maybe trying too hard. I'm going to try and get him back on track somehow. So I might pitch him in the seventh or even if we're down. Just to get him to get some confidence back and get his command where he needs. And then you'll see whoever after that. We'll figure it out."

Mark Trumbo's return to the Orioles' active roster is getting closer. On the injured list since late March recovering from knee surgery, Trumbo will enter the next stage of his rehab when he joins Double-A Bowie tomorrow, following a stint at extended spring training in Florida.

Trumbo's stint on the 60-day injured list is over, and now we'll see how many rehab games he needs. Hyde did say the Orioles have mapped out his schedule for the next few weeks, so it appears he's not days away from a return to the roster.

"Pretty optimistic," said Hyde. "He's progressing well and likes how he feels physically. Now it's about getting at-bats and seeing how he recovers. Run the bases a little bit more and play some defense and hopefully, he'll be here soon."

Hyde said Trumbo will play some at first base and right field to get tests in the field as well. He also said Trumbo's leadership is missed in the Baltimore clubhouse.

"Very. Mark's a pro. Seen a lot in the game and done a lot of great things," Hyde said. "Just to have him around is big for all of us. Love having veteran guys, and guys look up to him. He's a presence, so great to have him around."

Trumbo said he's certainly doing better than he was late in spring training, adding that he might go the full 20 days on his rehab.

"I would say that's probably in play," Trumbo said. "Probably had 15 or so at-bats in Sarasota. It's a good thing to get as much as you can. I think some of the aggressive baserunning is going to be where the biggest hurdles will be. I do see enough improvement. Especially the strength of the leg. I think I have much better chance than I did in spring."

The Orioles will host the Tigers for three games starting today. They'll play for the second game in a row with a two-man bench, 14 pitchers and 11 position players.

"Yeah, we've got two guys on the bench and a spot starter going today," Hyde said. "We're not in great shape, bullpen-wise, but should have enough. I don't know how long we're going to go with nine (pitchers), but at least through today. I don't want to play with a two-man bench, and that will, hopefully, change soon. It's very difficult with a two-man bench."

Hyde said it's too soon to know if Chris Davis, who went on the IL Sunday with left hip inflammation, can return as soon as his 10 days are over.

"I have no idea. It's pretty sore," Hyde said. "He's been a dealing with a sore hip for a few days. We didn't want to put it out there that he was dealing with it. Got to a point where just felt like that was the best thing to do. Let it heal and get some rest. He dealt with it a little bit on the same side in spring training."

Hyde was asked how his team is holding up after some recent brutal losses. They are 16-37 and have lost eight of nine and 11 of the last 13 games. They are 1-8 the last nine home games.

"I don't think our guys are damaged by it," Hyde said. "I think they're irritated and mad after yesterday. I want them to feel that way. I think that's a good thing. I think they've turned the page after losses. Our clubhouse was really quiet yesterday, but it's OK to feel that way.

Another Nunez homer: Renato Núñez homered for the fifth time in six games and hit his sixth in the last eight contests this afternoon. His two-run shot in the home first gave the Orioles a 2-0 lead. It was No. 13 for Núñez. An RBI single in the Detroit second by Grayson Greiner cut that lead to 2-1.

Lead extended: In the Baltimore third, Detroit shortstop Ronny Rodriguez fielded a possible inning-ending double play ball and threw it into a right field as a run scored for a 3-1 lead. The batter, Núñez, made it all the way to third and scored on Pedro Severino's sac fly. So O's gain a 4-1 lead.

Still leading: Detroit has scored single runs in the fourth and fifth to cut the O's lead to 4-3. Gabriel Ynoa went four innings. allowing five hits and two runs. Dan Straily came on in the fifth.