O's pregame notes on Mountcastle, Wells, facing Verlander and more

HOUSTON – The Orioles' pitching has carried them to two wins at Minute Maid Park. As they go for the three-game sweep today they’d like to generate more offense.

First baseman Ryan Mountcastle, struggling in the second half, showed some signs of breaking out last night, when he hit one ball 102 mph and another 105 mph on line outs. It was a good sign for the Orioles, said manager Brandon Hyde.

“You know the way the three guys ahead of him in the lineup are getting on base, the at-bats they’re taking, you know with Ryan, I was happy with his at-bats last night,” Hyde said. “Had better at-bats, was a little more under control, stayed on the ball better. Hit a couple of balls pretty hard. When he stays with himself, good things happen. Being able to lay off sliders out of the zone and elevated fastballs, you know when he puts swings on strikes, good things happen. So we’re getting on base ahead of him and hopefully he can turn it around here pretty soon.”

In the second half, Mountcastle, who is 0-for-8 this series, is batting .177/.282/.298/.550 after he posted a .786 OPS in the first half.

“Yesterday felt a little better. Hit two balls hard,” Mountcastle said. “Thought I got the second one, but I guess it didn’t want to go out. It is what it is. I’m trying and working hard at it.”

Hyde talked further today about the brilliant starting pitching in this series from Kyle Bradish and Dean Kremer, who have allowed just one run and six hits over 15 2/3 innings against a Houston lineup that is among the best in baseball.

“Dean had no walks to the eighth inning," Hyde said. "A team that walks, with one of the highest on-base percentages in baseball. To be able to not give up any hard contact and no walks, that is difficult to do.

“For me, what stands out last night was Kremer, the curveball with a punchout of (Alex) Bregman. That really hasn’t been a strikeout pitch for him. But, because he had other stuff working, it was a surprise to Bregman. Just think the pitch mix, the confidence, you love seeing that confidence on the mound with the way they’re pitching. The tempo. Couple of young guys that have improved immensely.”

O’s pitchers have allowed one run and eight hits and just one extra-base hit this series.

Hyde said he expects Tyler Wells will throw a simulated game today or tomorrow. How soon he can return from an oblique injury could depend on what role he comes back to. Wells is 7-6 with a 3.90 ERA and last pitched July 27 versus Tampa Bay.

“He’s doing very well. He’s on track,” said Hyde. “We are still kind of deciding what we will do with him and how stretched out we need him to be. The longer we stretch him out, the longer it will take to get here, so we are still sorting all those things out.”

Hyde was asked if he could use pitchers like Wells and DL Hall, if and when he returns, in a piggy-back starter situation.

“Yeah, maybe. Kind of see where we are rotation-wise. Our rotation guys are throwing the ball so well right now,” he said. “But will be nice to see Tyler back as soon as possible. If we are going to stretch him out, it’s going to take a little while."

Today the Orioles face righty Justin Verlander (16-3, 1.87 ERA). He has recorded 10 straight quality starts with a 1.35 ERA in that span.

“He just keeps doing it," Hyde said. "Able to miss that much time and come back and have the year he’s having. I remember seeing him in Detroit. He was 98 to 101 (mph) with nasty breaking balls. It’s not quite that same velocity now, but it’s still as competitive and the command is really, really good."