Wild Card roster will have much different look than last year's Division Series

MINNEAPOLIS – Another Wild Card roster meeting will be held when the Orioles return home. They must decide whether to carry 12 pitchers again, as they did in last year’s Division Series.

“I think everything’s on the table right now,” said manager Brandon Hyde.

The Orioles will host the Tigers or Royals. The seedings will be set later today. And they finally can begin clearing the table.

By optioning reliever Bryan Baker yesterday to the spring complex, the Orioles won’t have him available unless they reach the Championship Series. That’s one of the differences from last fall’s ALDS roster.

Baker was added to it after finishing his season with Triple-A Norfolk. Among the omitted were Cole Irvin, Shintaro Fujinami and Mike Baumann. Baker made one appearance against the Rangers, walked the bases loaded in the third inning of Game 2 and was charged with three runs when Mitch Garver homered off Jacob Webb.

Six other pitchers from last year’s playoff roster aren’t healthy or in the organization. Jack Flaherty, Kyle Gibson and DL Hall are gone. Kyle Bradish, Grayson Rodriguez and Tyler Wells are on the injured list. Rodriguez ran out of time while rehabbing his sore right lat/teres, making it as far as throwing bullpen sessions.

Dump Baker to that mix and it’s seven out of 12. That isn’t a magic number except for the pitchers disappearing.

Dean Kremer is the only returning starter on the roster. Corbin Burnes and Zach Eflin arrived in trades. Albert Suárez and Cade Povich are options to crack the rotation if the Orioles advance.

Relievers Webb, Yennier Cano, Danny Coulombe and Cionel Pérez will make their second consecutive playoff roster. Suárez, Seranthony Domínguez, Keegan Akin and Gregory Soto also seem like locks. Suárez is starting today and could be shortened to increase his availability in the Wild Card.

Colin Selby joined the team last night and officially will be recalled this morning and consume some innings.

A 12-man staff has room for Povich or Matt Bowman. They can both make it on a 13-man staff.

Bowman was the opener last night. Povich was outstanding Friday in his start and I'm hearing that he's on the Wild Card roster. We'll see.

Releasing Craig Kimbrel earlier this month took care of that issue. He wasn’t going to pitch in October.

Asked last night about some players making it harder to set the roster, Hyde said, “I think it’s more pitching decisions with kind of how we’re gonna line up bullpen-wise. Still waiting to see who we play. We’ve played really well on this road trip. I’m encouraged how we’re playing going into the postseason.”

Last year’s ALDS roster had the same two catchers, but the infielders included Adam Frazier and Jorge Mateo. Frazier signed with the Royals as a free agent. Mateo is on the Orioles’ 60-day injured list after undergoing reconstructive elbow surgery.

Outfielders Austin Hays and Aaron Hicks are gone. The Orioles traded Hays to the Phillies at the deadline. Hicks signed with the Angels and was released in May.

Heston Kjerstad didn’t bat in last year’s playoffs, reaching the on-deck circle a couple of times. Carrying 14 position players leaves room for Kjerstad and corner infielder Emmanuel Rivera, who set career highs last night with four hits, four RBIs and five times reaching base. His bat is hot again, going 16-for-44 (.364) in his last 17 games.

“We’re here to do the work,” he said via interpreter Brandon Quinones, “and any opportunity I have to be here with the team and help the team win, I’m always looking forward to it.”

Jackson Holliday’s spot should be secured. I’ve mentioned his pinch-running capabilities and he can back up at shortstop, where he started last night and reached base five times. Starts might be scarce with Jordan Westburg and Ramón Urías healthy again.

“I’m extremely excited,” he said. “Obviously, this is the goal, to be able to play in the playoffs, to play for a really good team, and just blessed to be here.”

However it all shakes out, the Orioles will try to break an eight-game losing streak in the postseason.