Bleier updates his shoulder and rehab outing

Orioles left-hander Richard Bleier threw 14 pitches last night at Single-A Frederick, earned the win and didn't experience any discomfort or weakness in his shoulder.

He didn't keep the ball, but it was an important game as Bleier started an injury rehab assignment that leads him Friday night to Double-A Bowie.

"I feel pretty good," he said. "Shoulder feels pretty good yesterday and today. Just trying to get back to competitive pitching."

Bleier allowed one run and two hits in the sixth inning. The results shouldn't really matter, at least compared to health, but Bleier isn't dismissing the significance of his numbers.

"Obviously, the health is the main issue, but I want results and I want to throw pitches that I think are going to work in the big leagues," he said. "I want to be activated with confidence that it's not going to be the same as last time."

Bleier can glean only so much from 14 pitches.

"I'll still have however many more outings to get a little bit better of a read on something like that, but I'm happy with the pitches I made," he said. "I definitely didn't make all of them because I gave up a run. At one point I almost got the loss, but I ended up getting the win. But it's just kind of build off what was good and bad as well. Just like any other thing."

The last win for Bleier at the high Single-A level? Go back to 2009 with Bakersfield in the Rangers system.

"I came out of the game and I was like, 'Man, it was 0-0, I'm going to get the loss and embarrass myself,' he said. "Then it was, 'Oh, you got the win. Nice.'"

The Baysox are home on Friday, which is why Bleier is moving up to the Eastern League.

"I'm looking forward to the next outing, he said, "and getting my work in in between then and keep progressing."

Manager Brandon Hyde indicated that the reports on Bleier were positive.

"It sounds like he threw the ball well and feels good today," Hyde said. "Just saw him in the clubhouse."

Alex Cobb no longer is in the clubhouse. He's headed back down to the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota while remaining on the injured list with a lumbar strain. He also is experiencing some discomfort in his hip and recently underwent an MRI.

Cobb will need to be placed on a throwing progression before the Orioles can consider sending him on a rehab assignment. Nothing is imminent.

For the Red Sox
Andrew Benintendi LF
Mookie Betts RF
J.D. Martinez DH
Mitch Moreland 1B
Xander Bogaerts SS
Rafael Devers 3B
Eduardo Núñez 2B
Jackie Bradley Jr. CF
Sandy León C

Chris Sale LHP