Notes on Bradish, Nevin, wild card race and more

Kyle Bradish is making at least one appearance on an injury rehab assignment.

Bradish will start for Double-A Bowie in Saturday night’s game at Somerset. He’s on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation.

The Orioles could activate Bradish next week, depending on whether they decide that he’s built up and ready to face major league hitters again. The other alternative would be to option him to Triple-A Norfolk.

Bradish is 1-4 with a 7.38 ERA and 1.770 WHIP in 10 starts. He allowed 11 runs and 20 hits in 8 2/3 innings in his last two games, and didn’t complete the fifth in his last five.

The initial plan of having Bradish pitch in a simulated game today at Camden Yards was scrapped in favor of Saturday's rehab start.

Manager Brandon Hyde said Tyler Nevin will be in the lineup this weekend against the Angels. Nevin’s father, Phil, is the interim manager.

Phil Nevin is serving a 10-game suspension that ends Saturday. He’s never watched his son play in the majors, with a positive test for COVID-19 last summer preventing him from attending Tyler’s major league debut.

They conducted interviews together near the Orioles dugout this afternoon before batting practice.

“What a cool moment for the Nevin family,” Hyde said. “I’ve been lucky enough to know Phil for a while now, and it’s going to be an incredible moment for him to be on the same field as his son.

“I can’t even imagine what that would feel like. That’s going to be a super-proud moment for the family, and it’s going to be fun to be here for it.”

The Orioles have reached a point in the season, and in their rebuild, when the wild card standings are referenced in media sessions with Hyde.

It happened this afternoon with the Orioles six games back for the final spot.

Their .470 winning percentage is the best among baseball’s last-place teams and would put them third in the American League West and fourth in the Central.

“Honestly, this is going to sound super cliché, but I am taking this game by game, series by series. I’m not looking big picture,” Hyde said.

“I like the way we’ve played the last two months or so. I think if we continue to pitch, we’re going to stay in games and we’re going to have chances to win games, and that’s really been the key so far. I’m not looking too far ahead. I’m just trying to win tonight and I’m going to try to win this series, and our guys are really just focused on that right now.

“We play in a really difficult division, we’ve played them well so far this year, so there’s a lot of baseball left. So, really focusing on what’s in front of us.”

The same approach as always.

“When I sit up here before the game, I’m trying to win that night, whether we were 30 games out or whatever,” Hyde said. “This team is more enjoyable because we’re pitching, and our position players have improved, our core guys. We have great dugout chemistry and energy in our dugout, which we’ve never had, really.

“The games are more enjoyable because of the confidence our guys are showing. We’ve always played with effort, but we haven’t had energy in the dugout, and that’s what’s been more fun this year, for sure, is guys pulling for each other outwardly and not just privately.”

Has the increase in talent enabled Hyde to better demonstrate the kind of manager he can be in the majors, on a more level playing field than the dramatic slants of past seasons?

“I don’t know,” he replied. “I think we’re pitching better, and so, when you’re pitching better, bullpen decisions work out better and you’re not having to go in the bullpen in the third or the fourth inning, and having three guys available that night, and things that we’ve had in the past here that’s been really, really challenging. Or be able to close out games by trusting somebody to close it out.

“When pitchers are getting people out, those are great bullpen decisions. When pitchers are not, those are bad bullpen decisions. That’s just the bottom line. You can match up the best you possibly can, but that’s what it is. Our guys have always played hard, our guys have always been prepared. We’ve grown and we’ve gotten more mature and we’re playing better baseball and our pitchers are pitching with confidence.

“I had no idea what we were going to be like on the mound. I was really nervous, extremely nervous, going into the season. I had no idea what our rotation was going to be like, I had no idea how our bullpen was going to work out. None. So, I’m proud of our guys, I’m proud of our coaches. I think the guys in our coaching room have done an amazing job getting as much out of our players as we have so far. And I’m encouraged by the improvement of our hitters, as well as some of the young pitchers that have come through here.”

And the waiver claims who make the bullpen much better than in Hyde’s previous years in Baltimore.

Closer Jorge López broke out of his slump last night by closing out a 2-1 win over the Rangers. López had back-to-back blown saves in Minnesota and surrendered home runs in three straight appearances, but he stranded a runner last night.

“After the game, we look at it and we learn from it, we move on, and just try to get better the next day,” said catcher Adley Rutschman.

“He’s a big-time player and he was able to come out and get the job done last night, and that was definitely huge. I’m really happy for him. He was able to locate his pitches, execute well, and we had a good game plan and were able to execute that.”

Pitcher Carter Baumler, who missed his last three starts with Single-A Delmarva due to right shoulder inflammation, has gone on the Shorebirds’ injured list.

Baumler, recovered from 2020 Tommy John surgery, is the No. 26 prospect in the organization, per MLBPipeline.com.  

Former Orioles infielder Jonathan Villar is starting at third base tonight with the Angels.

Villar signed with the Angels over the weekend after the Cubs released him.

For the Angels
Jonathan Villar 3B
Mike Trout CF
Shohei Ohtani DH
Taylor Ward RF
Jared Walsh 1B
Luis Rengifo SS
Michael Stefanic 2B
Brandon Marsh LF
Kurt Suzuki C

Chase Silseth RHP