Britton on Brach: "He's been doing that for a while now"

Orioles right-hander Brad Brach has basically pitched a one-hitter this season. After recording three saves on a total of 33 pitches over the last three games, he has now pitched nine innings for the season. He has not allowed a run and given up one hit with three walks and 12 strikeouts.

American League hitters are batting .037 (1-for-27) versus Brach. You don't have to be a player, manager, reporter or scout to know that is pretty good. Lefty batters are 1-for-10 against him and right-handed batters are 0-for-17 with eight strikeouts.

Lowest batting average against by AL reliever (min. 0.5 IP/team games)

.037 - Brad Brach, Orioles
.080 - Zach Putnam, Chicago
.086 - Adam Warren, New York
.129 - Craig Kimbrel, Boston
.138 - Dominic Leone, Toronto

Brach recorded three saves in the last three games and retired nine batters in a row, not allowing a single batter to reach base. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Brach is only the fourth pitcher in Orioles history with perfect saves on three consecutive days. He joins Zach Britton (2016), Jorge Julio (2003), Jim Johnson (2011) and Darren O'Day (2015).

Brach has been dominant. If anyone can relate to dominance in the ninth inning, it's Britton, who has saved 54 straight games.

Britton threw some praise Brach's way this afternoon, but also reminded us he has seen this before.

"I wouldn't say necessarily for what he's done the last three nights. He's been doing that for a while now," Britton said. "He was an All-Star last year. You don't get to that level for no reason. I knew he would step in and fill in. He's done it in the past and for guys that have been injured - taken over a role and flourished with it.

"If anything, it kind of helps me relax and not rush back. And not doing anything kind of stupid where I hurt myself again. So I'm happy for him. He deserves an opportunity to do it and he's doing a great job."

Britton went on the disabled list on April 16 with a left forearm strain. He is eligible to come off the disabled list April 26 and has not yet ruled out returning as soon as that date. Britton told reporters today he feels like he could resume some light tossing now, but he's not yet been cleared to do that. Britton revealed he will see a hand specialist Monday, but indicated that is more about strengthening the area than any problem there. He could resume light throwing Monday.

He confirmed that the MRI results were "great" on both his elbow and forearm. He feels what he is doing now is more about further injury prevention rather than fixing anything currently of concern.

"That's really all we are kind of worried about. Not really treatment, but what we can do for this to not come back," he said.

Britton said the MRI did show some inflammation. He said the fact he has not been cleared yet to play catch and will now see a hand specialist is not a sign this will take longer than the 10-day DL period.

"Not necessarily," he said. "I mean, I can throw without seeing a hand doctor. This is more about a strengthening thing. It's not getting permission to play catch from the doctor. It is just to see if there is another way that we can strengthen it so we don't have the issue again.

"I feel really good today. I could have played catch the last few days. We're just trying to gather the information from the doctors and sometimes it's hard to get them here over the weekend. But feeling good so far, so it could be any day now."

Britton does realize he will likely need at least one minor league rehab inning before he returns to the major league roster.

"Probably, so that I'm not throwing for the first time in a game in a tight situation and then all the sudden something happens. And now you've put other guys in the bullpen in harm's way," he said.

Before going on the DL, Britton pitched seven innings allowing 10 hits and one run was 5-for-5 in save chances.