Hyde on Wells: "We feel like he needs a little bit of a break, a little bit of a reset"

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde isn’t ready to name a starter for Thursday afternoon’s series finale in Toronto.

“This is an unusual week,” he said, smiling, “so we’ll see what happens.”

The trade deadline could influence the choice after the Orioles optioned Tyler Wells to Double-A Bowie.

Jordan Montgomery is the latest starter to tumble off the board. He was dealt earlier today to the Rangers.

The urgency to address the rotation via trade seems to have increased after Wells’ demotion. His ERA has grown from 3.18 in the first half to 3.80, and his 1.021 WHIP removes him from the top spot in the majors.

“We feel like he needs a little bit of a break, a little bit of a reset,” Hyde said. “Just, his stuff since the break, really since the Minnesota game (July 8) hasn’t looked the same.  Not the same life to his fastball. The command’s obviously not where it was.

“He had an All-Star first half and was league-leading in WHIP because of the command and the lack of walks. His only issue a little bit was he gave up some solo homers once in a while. But really the last three or four starts there’s been some things in there that are uncharacteristic, so we feel like the right thing for him and for us, because we need him, is to give him a little bit of a break.”

The start in Minnesota resulted in two runs allowed in six innings, but Wells came out after 82 pitches.

“It was a hot day in Minnesota, we had a big lead, he was laboring,” Hyde said. “I was really happy we were having an All-Star break. I said in here to you guys, there’s a lot of guys who need an All-Star break in that room, and he was one of the ones I was talking about. He needs a little bit of a breather. And it’s OK he needs a breather, you know? I think it’s not a terrible thing, and he’s going to be better, an experience that he’s having in his career that he’s going to be better for down the road.”

The assignment in Double-A enables the Orioles to keep Wells close to them.

“Hopefully, he’s back with us soon after giving him just a little bit of time off,” Hyde said.

Wells will pitch in games after a rest period. The Orioles have formulated a plan for him on the mound that begins with a shutdown.

“It’s kind of a low workload, just so he stays somewhat stretched out but also keeps his feel,” Hyde said. “And we’re hoping that kind of low-pressure environment, low workload, allows him to then rejoin us and be the Tyler Wells we saw in the first half.”

Hyde doesn’t think Wells is injured. Wells has insisted that he’s fine, that he’s felt strong.

“He feels OK, but the eye test is telling that the stuff isn’t quite the same and the command’s not the same,” Hyde said. “The life to his fastball, for me, is down and the slider, a bunch of yanks yesterday, pulls with his slider. Or the missed location to (Aaron) Judge, he’s trying to go down and away, it’s up. All those types of things, and you’re seeing them now for three or four starts.

“Does the fatigue and the mechanics, are they correlated? Probably. So, we just feel like the right thing to do is let him relax for a couple weeks.”

The optioning of Wells keeps him down a minimum of 15 days unless he's replacing an injured player. The Orioles aren’t presenting an exact date for his return.

“How much you try to give a guy rest, it’s kind of to be determined,” Hyde said. “I don’t know the answer to that. I hope he’s back soon.”

Wells wasn’t in the clubhouse this afternoon during media access. He received the news following last night’s 8-3 loss, when he allowed three runs in 2 2/3 innings, walked three batters and hit one.

“A little disappointed last night, but of course, but incredibly understanding, unbelievably professional, appreciative,” Hyde said.

“He knows that we’re doing what we feel like is the right thing for him and then for us, because like I said, he’s a big part of our team and we need him to be right. And so, you make tough decision to try to have him pitch in big spots for us in September and, hopefully, October. And he understood all that.

“I love the makeup, I love the kid. I think he’s a winner, I think he’s unbelievably competitive. I think this hurts him because he’s so competitive, he wants to be out there. My conversation with him today was a lot about that. Because he wants to be out there so bad that, what can we do to have you out there and be yourself? A little bit of rest is probably a good thing for him right now. He’s going to be better for this long term.”

The Orioles are trying to navigate their younger starters through a season with innings counts swelling beyond their usual range.

Wells is 10 innings past last year’s total of 103 2/3 and approaching the 119 1/3 he accumulated in 2018 in the Twins’ system prior to his Tommy John surgery, the COVID 2020 season and his Rule 5 relief role with the Orioles.

“Tyler is in uncharted waters right now,” Hyde said. “He’s not had experience of pitching like a normal starter in a full season since the minor leagues years ago. All these guys are going to go through things for the first time, and that’s part of development and part of why they’re going to be really good down the road, too. We’re trying to win right now, we’re going to try to win down the road, and these guys have taken huge steps in their career this year.

“We’re going to monitor things and we’ll see what happens, but we need all of them to go where we want to go.”

The bullpen is a potential landing spot for Wells. The Orioles are searching for another reliever before Tuesday’s trade deadline.

“It’s possible. We’ll see what the roster looks like. I don’t know what the roster’s going to look like next week,” Hyde said.

The Orioles today selected the contract of reliever Joey Krehbiel from Triple-A Norfolk, and he’s in the bullpen for the first time since September 2022. He’s posted a 3.00 ERA and 1.467 WHIP in 25 games with Norfolk.

“Obviously, I would have loved to be here the whole time. So would everyone. But just go down there and work on some stuff and show it here,” he said.

“I think I did pretty good. I think good enough. Being healthy is the best part. Having some decent velo and some good other pitches I think will be a good mix to help us out.”

Krehbiel kept waiting while the Orioles dipped into Norfolk’s bullpen for fresh arms. No hard feelings.

“Those guys, they’re players but they’re also my friends,” he said. “Of course, you want it to be you, but when they get called up you’ve got to be happy for them, as well. And then, I played with everyone here all year last year, so I’m happy about the success they’re having this year.”

For the Yankees
Jake Bauers RF
Gleyber Torres 2B
Giancarlo Stanton DH
Anthony Rizzo 1B
Isiah Kiner-Falefa 3B
Harrison Bader CF
Greg Allen LF
Anthony Volpe SS
Kyle Higashioka C

Luis Severino RHP