McDermott could start Wednesday night for the Orioles

MIAMI – The signs seem to be pointing toward right-hander Chayce McDermott making his major league debut on Wednesday night and getting a start for the Orioles against Miami.

But it’s not official yet.

McDermott was added to the taxi squad today and could be activated to start tomorrow.

“Not yet,” manager Brandon Hyde said pregame when asked about Wednesday’s starter. “Chayce is here and we’ll see how tonight goes and make a determination after tonight’s game.”

Hyde has said that Corbin Burnes will start Thursday and he would be on normal rest tomorrow, but he's going to get the extra day. He's not starting tomorrow and it is too soon to recall Cade Povich. So again, signs point to a rookie debut in that game. 

McDermott would be pitching on regular rest tomorrow. He went just one inning – perhaps shortened up by design last Friday at Triple-A Norfolk – allowing four hits and four runs. But in the start before that, he pitched 6 2/3 scoreless.

He is 3-5 with a 3.96 ERA for the year with a 5.34 walks-per-nine-innings rate and 12.76 strikeouts-per-nine-innings rate that is among the best in all of the minors.

Why was this the time for McDermott to join the team?

“We saw in spring, he’s a guy with great stuff," said Hyde. "He ended the year in Triple-A and I think he was hurt at the end of the year but showed really good stuff last year. He’s had some really good moments in Triple-A this year.

“The stuff is there, it’s all about the strikethrowing ability and he’s going to get his chance sometime soon."

So we don't know yet know if McDermott will pitch in this series. But whenever the O's officially add him to the active roster, would the club consider him out of the bullpen after he has started all year on the farm?

"I think when you are going down the stretch, I think anything is possible and it's going to all hands on deck. But we're not there yet," said Hyde.

Tanner Scott faces former team: If the Marlins have a late lead in this series, the Orioles could face their closer and a former teammate in lefty Tanner Scott.

Scott made the All-Star team and pitched 2/3 of a scoreless inning in the game Tuesday night. One of the players he got out was former O’s teammate Anthony Santander.

“I saw him actually before the game," Scott told me today in the Marlins clubhouse. "I wanted to see what the Rangers (and AL’s) clubhouse looked like. So I saw him before the game. He came up and kind of smirked at me. I was like, ‘Yeah I know.’ He’s a good guy and it was kind of a full circle moment to face him that situation."

On April 3, 2022, Scott was dealt to the Marlins from the Orioles in a five-player deal.

Scott had a 4.31 ERA in his first year with Miami and a 2.31 in 2023. This year, he is 6-5 with 16 saves and a 1.27 ERA.

Since June 17, he is 8-for-8 in save situations while throwing 14 2/3 scoreless innings with five walks to 17 strikeouts.  

“It means a lot (to be pitching so well),” he said. “I’m trying to put my team in the best spot to win whenever I pitch and put zeros up out there. The success I am having I’m going to keep rolling with it.”

Now 30, the O’s sixth-round draft pick in 2014 has lowered his walk rate a bit on the Marlins' watch. Tuesday represented his first All-Star experience.

“There were definitely some frustrating times back then (with the Orioles),” said Scott, who cited a higher confidence level now for some of his recent success. “I knew I had really good stuff and just couldn’t command it. It’s good to have it going well and will try to keep it going."