Lester replaces Coulombe on Orioles' roster

The Orioles placed left-handed reliever Danny Coulombe on the bereavement list today and selected infielder Josh Lester’s contract from Triple-A Norfolk.

Reliever Dillon Tate was moved to the 60-day injured list with a right elbow flexor strain to create room for Lester on the 40-man roster.

Coulombe struck out the side last night in the seventh inning to lower his ERA to 2.08.

An off-day on Monday could limit Coulombe’s absence from the Orioles to two games. They’re carrying 12 pitchers tonight and 14 position players.

Lester, signed to a minor league deal on Dec. 6, was batting .282/.339/.549 with nine doubles, two triples, 14 home runs and 50 RBIs in 52 games with Norfolk. His second and last major league game was Sept. 6, 2022 with the Tigers in Anaheim.

Lester, who’s wearing No. 49, leads the Tides in RBIs and ranks second in home runs behind Jordan Westburg’s 15. His .888 OPS is third behind Colton Cowser (1.023) and Westburg (.986).

Cowser has returned from Norfolk’s injured list and is in tonight’s lineup, according to the team’s Twitter account.

The Orioles were impressed with Lester’s bat in spring training, when he hit .291/.339/.455 with two doubles, two triples, a home run and 12 RBIs in 23 games, and his with his ability to play third, second and first base and the corner outfield.

Tate completed his injury rehab assignment after 10 games, was shut down and now moved to the 60-day IL. He didn’t pitch in spring training due to a right flexor forearm strain.

The Orioles have a chance to clinch a series win after Gunnar Henderson hit a tie-breaking home run last night in the seventh inning in a 3-2 victory over the Giants.

Kyle Bradish is making his 10^th start. He’s posted a 3.89 ERA and 1.295 WHIP in 44 innings, with only five home runs surrendered.

Bradish allowed one earned run or fewer in three of his five starts last month.

The Rays lost Game 1 of today’s doubleheader against the Red Sox, leaving the Orioles three back in the division.

The Giants are starting former Oriole Alex Cobb, who has a 3.05 ERA and 1.403 WHIP in 11 games, with six home runs in 62 innings, and tossed a shutout on April 24 against the Cardinals.

Cobb’s ERA was down to 1.70 on May 11, but he’s allowed 12 runs in his last three starts over 14 1/3 innings. He’s walked 10 batters and struck out 16.

Cobb has made 13 career starts against the Orioles and gone 7-2 with 2.56 ERA and 1.148 WHIP in 81 innings. The last meeting was July 3, 2021, when Cobb was with the Angels. He allowed one run in 7 2/3 innings.