Ortiz recalled, gets start at shortstop

The Orioles have reduced their pitching staff to 12 this morning by optioning left-handed reliever Nick Vespi and recalling infielder Joey Ortiz from Triple-A Norfolk.

Ortiz arrived yesterday and joined the 24-hour taxi squad because outfielder Ryan McKenna is receiving treatment for a sore back. McKenna has avoided the injured list, but Ortiz maintains a healthy four-man bench.

Jorge Mateo is one of the reserves today, with Ortiz starting at shortstop and batting ninth. Adley Rutschman also is on the bench.

Vespi was the second Orioles pitcher to be recalled last week and fail to appear in a game. Drew Rom spent a couple of days in the bullpen without making his major league debut.

It also happened to Spenser Watkins while the Orioles were in Chicago.

Ortiz went 2-for-8 with four RBIs in Detroit while making three starts at second base. He’s batting .320/.371/.524 in 26 games with Norfolk.

The Orioles don’t need as much pitching depth with the rotation producing five quality starts in the last eight games.

Fredi González, who filled in last night for manager Brandon Hyde, received seven innings from Tyler Wells and needed only Yennier Cano and Félix Bautista to complete a 2-0 victory over the Pirates that moved the Orioles 13 games above .500 for the first time since the end of the 2016 season.

The team ERA has improved to 4.07. The rotation ERA is 1.74 in the last eight games.

Kyle Gibson has four quality starts. He’s made three career starts against the Pirates and gone 2-0 with a 2.75 ERA and 0.966 WHIP in 19 2/3 innings.

Gunnar Henderson has moved up to third in the order. Kyle Stowers is in right field and Anthony Santander is the designated hitter.

The Orioles are trying for their fourth sweep. They’ve won four games in a row, 17 of 23, 20 of 27 and 22 of 30.

Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller is 4-1 with a 2.72 ERA and 1.087 WHIP in eight starts. He tossed a complete-game, four-hit shutout against the Rockies in his last outing, the team’s only win in its last 12 games.

In Keller’s only career start against the Orioles, he held them to one run in six innings last August.

For the Orioles
Cedric Mullins CF
Anthony Santander DH
Gunnar Henderson 3B
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
Adam Frazier 2B
Austin Hays LF
Kyle Stowers RF
James McCann C
Joey Ortiz SS

Kyle Gibson RHP