Brad Brach bringing his best to bullpen

SARASOTA, Fla. - Reliever Brad Brach hasn't been told that he's made the Orioles' opening day roster. It's an assumption based on his performance last season and this spring, and the words of his manager following yesterday's outing.

Brach tossed two scoreless innings against the Rays to lower his ERA to 1.74 in 10 1/3 innings. He's walked three batters and struck out 10.

"Brach's going to be a key part of our bullpen," Buck Showalter said. "If he pitches well, it would mean a lot to us."

A key part of the bullpen beginning on April 6.

It's crowded in there and a trade is expected, especially with the Orioles wanting to keep at least one of their Rule 5 pitchers, but Brach is safe. He's out of options and recording outs each time he enters a game.

"I haven't heard anything," he said. "I've still been treating spring training like it's the regular season. Just trying to get outs and get ready for the season. It's good that he said that, though. It's good to hear that."

Brach has allowed one run in his last four appearances covering six innings, with one walk and seven strikeouts.

"I feel great physically and more than anything, I think last year I took a huge step mentally, that part of the game," he said. "The last few outings, I've really began to lock in and try to do what I want to do during the season."

The Orioles gladly would take a repeat of 2014, when Brach went 7-1 with a 3.18 ERA in 46 appearances and allowed 48 hits in 62 1/3 innings. He's never been given a defined role. Just take the ball when it's handed to him.

"They've been stretching me out a little bit, so I'm assuming I'll be a long-inning guy or if we need a couple innings to get to the set-up man. Whatever they need, I'm ready to do it," he said.

"You always need one or two of those guys in a bullpen, and if that's what they need me for, then that's good, and if my role changes during the year, then it changes. But at this point I just want to go out there and get outs."

Showalter also endorses Brach's splits. Right-handers bat .226 against him and left-handers bat .245.

"He's a right-hander who gets left-handed hitters out," Showalter said.

"That's one thing," Brach said. "I've been throwing my changeup a bunch just to get a feel for that, because it's been real effective against lefties and that's always a positive. Whenever you can get the opposite you're facing out, that can definitely help your value.

"I definitely was working on my fastball here. I wanted to work on my sinker, too, a little bit just to get comfortable with it. I didn't really come into camp trying to work on my changeup, but every day I've just been feeling more and more comfortable throwing it."