This, that and the other

Hidden within the madness of the July 30 trade deadline, with its aggressive roster churn that resembled a tidal wave, was the Orioles' decision to recall Triple-A Norfolk catcher Blake Hunt. He made the trip from Charlotte to Baltimore in case backup James McCann went on the 10-day injured list. And the news barely created a ripple.

However, it was a wise move considering that McCann suffered multiple nasal fractures from a fastball to his face, a horrific scene that usually takes a player off the active roster and dumps him into a hospital bed.

McCann isn’t your typical player. He wears a protective mask when he bats. He gets his starts behind the plate. And Hunt, optioned the following day, gets to stick around on the taxi squad – the role usually occupied by David Bañuelos this season.

The team boarded its charter to Toronto after Sunday’s game at Progressive Field, but McCann hopped on a Southwest flight back to Baltimore to receive more medical attention on his nose. He prefers the exit row, according to industry sources with direct knowledge of his seating.

Major league field coordinator Tim Cossins also works as the Orioles' catching instructor. He played the position at the University of Oklahoma, in the minors with three organizations and in independent ball. He can relate to the abuse that the body takes, including the foul ball Sunday that nailed Adley Rutschman in the groin area, causing an entire ballpark to grimace.

What McCann did after being hit, staying in the game with cotton gauze stuffed in both nostrils and his left eye blackened and almost completely shut, still amazes Cossins.

“He went right to the top of the list of things that I’ve seen,” Cossins said. “I’ve had some guys that have gotten banged up, but to have him go through that in the moment, get beat up, blood everywhere, be selfless and know that he wants to stay in the game, and to be able to do that …

“And on top of that, I don’t think people realize, this is catching nerd talk, but he was a plus-five that night, which is a high score receiving wise. It was impressive.”

Cossins is assisting Rutschman and McCann in building relationship with the pitchers obtained at or near the deadline – starters Zach Eflin and Trevor Rogers and relievers Seranthony Domínguez and Gregory Soto.  It’s a process that usually plays out in spring training, and the number seems unique to a team with one of the best records in baseball.

“I think it’s gone really well,” Cossins said. “We were just looking at video with Adley just now before I came out here, and working with new guys is very difficult, especially when the first time you catch them is in a game, and especially when it’s big stuff. And to try to get in a groove with a pitcher and handle the stuff and receive well and block well and try to navigate through the innings, that’s a tough task.

“These guys are doing that. They’re good with it. They’re doing a good job.”

Rutschman had a few hours to bond with Rogers before the left-hander made his Orioles debut Thursday in Cleveland. Rogers will face the Blue Jays Wednesday at Rogers Centre.

“I think what offsets that is your ability to go look at video and pull video and watch successful starts and starts that maybe have not gone as well,” Cossins said of the rushed initial encounter. “Try to find things that are working for him, things that you think will work for him in this game and so forth. I think that shortens it. But then, of course, the equalizer is conversations.”

* The Blue Jays didn’t list their starters when the game notes came out Sunday. Right-hander Chris Bassitt is listed for tonight.

The Orioles counter with Grayson Rodriguez.

Bassitt’s most recent start came against the Orioles last Tuesday and he allowed five runs and nine hits in four innings. Ramón Urías hit a home run.

Bassitt owns a 5.45 ERA and 1.462 WHIP in seven career starts against the Orioles.

Eloy Jiménez is 5-for-11 against Bassitt and 5-for-9 with a double since joining the Orioles. Does he stay in the lineup, and who’d leave it?

Ryan O’Hearn is 5-for-9 with a home run versus Bassitt. Gunnar Henderson is 4-for-7 with two homers and five RBIs. Rutschman is 3-for-9 with two doubles, and Anthony Santander is 3-for-10 with two doubles.

Rodriguez's 13 wins are tied with Seth Lugo and Chris Sale for most in the majors, if you care about such things. Mike Boddicker is the last Orioles 20-game winner in 1984.

Rodriguez is 2-0 with a 2.84 ERA in two starts against the Jays this season. He pitched in Toronto on June 3 and allowed one earned run (two total) in 6 2/3 innings.

George Springer is 6-for-14 with a double and home run against Rodriguez, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is 5-for-14 with a double and homer. Addison Barger has two hits in two at-bats, a double and homer.

* O’Hearn had a pinch-hit, run-scoring double Saturday in Cleveland and an RBI double in the first inning the next day.

If it seems like O’Hearn hasn’t hit a home run in a while, that’s because the last one was July 20 and he’s got two since June 26. But he keeps finding ways to contribute to the offense.

I bring up O’Hearn’s home runs mainly to share via STATS that he’s hit 12 this season on four fastballs, four breaking balls and four off-speed pitches. You must appreciate the symmetry.

* Ryan Mountcastle loves facing the Blue Jays but he’s slashing only .220/.273/.488 (9-for-41) in 10 games this season. However, he has a triple, three home runs and nine RBIs.

Two of those home runs were hit at Rogers Centre.

Mountcastle is a career .311/.374/.597 hitter against the Jays, with 12 doubles, a triple, 18 home runs and 52 RBIs in 62 games. He’s slashed .303/.366/.616 (30-for-99) with seven doubles, eight home runs and 26 RBIs in 26 games at Rogers Centre.

Remember when the Jays played their home games at Sahlen Field in Buffalo during the pandemic due to the travel restrictions into Toronto? Mountcastle went 14-for-41 (.342) with three homers and six RBIs in 11 games.

* That's it for me. I'm joining the team in St. Petersburg, Fla., which I'm sure comes as no surprise.