Coulombe goes on injured list (plus lineups and notes - updated)

Orioles reliever Danny Coulombe was placed on the 15-day injured list this morning with left biceps tendinitis. The move is retroactive to yesterday.

Reliever Joey Krehbiel, optioned on Monday, is recalled because he’s replacing an injured player. Krehbiel has a new locker set up at Camden Yards.

Coulombe is 3-1 with a 2.77 ERA and 1.103 WHIP in 47 games. He’s an important high-leverage reliever for a bullpen that’s slipped to seventh in ERA in the majors at 3.71 after allowing 10 runs the past two nights.

Coulombe, who’s averaging 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings, hasn’t allowed a run in his last five appearances. He pitched Saturday and surrendered two hits in the eighth.

Krehbiel has retired all five batters faced with the Orioles, striking out two.

The Orioles conclude their series against the Astros this afternoon, and the homestand, with Ramón Urías back in the lineup at third base.

Ryan O'Hearn is starting in left field. Gunnar Henderson is the shortstop, Austin Hays is in center field and James McCann is catching.

Adley Rutschman is leading off as the designated hitter.

Dean Kremer is 10-4 with a 4.61 ERA and 1.328 WHIP in 23 starts. He allowed two runs and two hits in 5 1/3 innings in his last start, but also walked four batters and was removed at 87 pitches. He hasn’t completed six innings in three of his last four outings.

Kremer is 2-0 with a 0.54 ERA and 0.600 WHIP in two career starts against the Astros, with one run and eight hits allowed in 16 2/3 innings. He tossed a four-hit shutout on Sept. 23 at Camden Yards.

Right-handers are batting .169 with a .239 slugging percentage against Kremer since the beginning of July. They hit .284 with a .486 slugging percentage in June.

The Orioles will try to avoid their first sweep in 75 multi-game series, going back to May 13-15.

Astros right-hander Hunter Brown is 8-7 with a 4.07 ERA and 1.287 WHIP in 21 starts. He’s struck out 130 batters, most among American League rookies, in 117 1/3 innings.

Left-handers are batting .259 with a .451 slugging percentage over his last three starts after they hit .467 with a .633 slugging in the three previous starts.

Brown tossed a scoreless relief inning against the Orioles on Sept. 24, 2022 in Baltimore, allowing three hits and striking out one batter.

For the Orioles
Adley Rutschman DH
Gunnar Henderson SS
Anthony Santander RF
Ryan O’Hearn LF
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
Adam Frazier 2B
Austin Hays CF
Ramón Urías 3B
James McCann C

Dean Kremer RHP

For the Astros
José Altuve 2B
Alex Bregman 3B
Yordan Álvarez DH
Kyle Tucker RF
Yainer Díaz C
Jon Singleton 1B
Mauricio Dubon LF
Jeremy Peña SS
Jake Meyers CF

Hunter Brown RHP

Update: Cole Irvin is starting Saturday in Seattle, with Kyle Bradish pushed back to Sunday.

Manager Brandon Hyde indicated that the club could go with a six-man rotation, with Irvin making more starts.

Hyde also said Coulombe noticed some discomfort in his arm while warming a few nights ago. The club is hoping that he's ready to return after the 15-day period.

Tyler Wells is starting Saturday for Double-A Bowie.