Pregame notes on Urías, Kremer and Mateo on his offense

WASHINGTON – Orioles infielder Ramón Urías, who was hit in the left side of his head Saturday by a 96.2 mph pitch, is no longer in concussion protocol. He is not starting tonight, but could play in the series opener against the Washington Nationals.

“He’s cleared everything and that’s unbelievable,” said manager Brandon Hyde before today’s game. “From what that looked like and how that sounded. Such a scary moment. Passed all the tests, wants to be in there and is ready to go. I just want to make sure he feels right and he says he does. I won’t hesitate to use him off the bench, in a pinch-hitting moment or for defense late.”

The Orioles have still not announced a starter for Wednesday’s game. Right-hander Kyle Bradish is eligible to come off the injured list tomorrow and still seems likely to get that start.

“We need a starter tomorrow and we’re going to see what our options are after the game today,” said Hyde.

Hyde said "no" when asked if the Orioles would use a current starter out of the bullpen. 

Meanwhile, right-hander Yennier Cano remains in the bullpen, even after Keegan Akin returned from the paternity list after throwing 2 2/3 scoreless with three strikeouts in Chicago.

“Cano was outstanding in Chicago," said Hyde. "Kind of gave us a little hold that we have right now in our bullpen with kind of the right-on-right tough matchup. And Cano filled that in Chicago. I had no idea what to expect but great to see that sinker getting the swing and miss it did. And (Spenser) Watkins (who was optioned back to Norfolk) we want to keep in a stretched out role. Want to get him back in the rotation down there and make sure he’s a rotation candidate for us going forward.”

The Orioles send right-hander Dean Kremer (0-0, 9.49 ERA) to the mound tonight as he tries to find the form that led to a 3.23 ERA in 125 1/3 innings last season.

“Love to see him get back to the way he was second-half of last year where he is piling up innings and getting through games. Getting to the sixth and seventh type of mentality. That is really about aggressiveness, which we talk about all the time with him. Making good pitches. Getting early contact, early outs and keeping the ball in the ballpark,” the skipper said.

“Think at times he gives some damage upon the cutter. But he’s got four good pitches and now he’s got some starts under his belt. Now it’s time to use them effectively. Get outs when you need them early and be able to put guys away and not make mistakes with two strikes.”

Hyde said he enjoys the games pitting Baltimore against Washington.

“I think we all really enjoy it. Last year our fans came and they were coming here in numbers, it was a lot of fun. It is always fun to play a team close to him. Lot of friends over there. We’ve had a great crowd showing of Orioles fans the past few years and we are looking forward to that tonight," he said.

Mateo’s offense is rolling right now: O’s shortstop Jorge Mateo is a player who had a real hot streak rolling after the All-Star break last year, but it did not hold up for him and he struggled again very late in the year.

His final OPS number for 2022 of .646 ranked 19 percent below league average. Beginning play tonight, Mateo’s OPS of 1.083 is second-best in the American League, behind only Toronto’s Matt Chapman at 1.208. Other than that he tops them all right now, including teammates Adley Rutschman, fourth in the AL at 1.054 and outfielder Austin Hays, who is sixth at 1.024.

“Just (have been) focusing on a lot less movement (in the box) and trying to keep it simple at the plate. Focus on finding ways to barrel more baseballs and keeping it simple,” Mateo said in the visiting clubhouse this afternoon through team translator Brandon Quinones.

His pitch recognition is so much better right now and he said fewer movements pre-pitch is part of that too. His K rate has dropped from 27.6 last year to 17.0 now with MLB average at 22.9.

“When there is less movement you have a better opportunity to recognize pitches and it’s easier to identify them. So, putting in the work on that," he stated.

As for increased exit velocity, which is up from 85.6 mph in 2022 to 88.5 now, Mateo sees a reason for that improvement also.

“I think it is something where we try to lock in on that one pitch and try to barrel that one pitch. When we focus on doing that the results have been there and thank God it’s been working really well for me,” he said.