Facing slumping team won't cause Orioles' focus to pass the Bucs (updated)

The Orioles begin another series tonight against another team that’s above .500. And this is where the similarities slam into a closure.

The Pirates arrive having lost nine of their last 10 games, but they remain atop the National League Central.

Try doing that in the American League East. Go ahead.

Letdown games and series aren’t permissible, and the rebuilt Orioles are in no way inclined to feel the urge.

True that they just got done with the Braves and Rays, going 3-3 against teams with the two best records in baseball and suffering a pair of late one-run losses at Truist Park, but they aren’t judging the Pirates based on a recent streak of ugliness.

They remain laser focused on each opponent and determined to prove wrong the critics who preach that the tallest ladder won’t let them reach the last wild card, with MLB Network Radio’s Steve Phillips saying on the air yesterday morning that the Orioles have “won games that they don’t deserve to win.”

“They’re going to slide, they’re going to slide down,” he said, pointing to the rotation’s 5.08 ERA and challenging listeners to name the last playoff team at 5.00 or above.

“They’ve gotten fortunate to get nine games over .500 when they don’t deserve to do it. I get it, good timing has played to their favor, but I want to be realistic about who they are.”

Outside noise is tuned out by the Orioles to a point. The heat is blocked to a certain degree. They know what’s being said. They just don’t let it get to them.

The shrugs still come with smiles.

The soft schedule argument amused rather than annoyed.  The harder schedule stories aren’t circulating through the clubhouse. Just play ‘em one at a time, live the cliché.

The exposure to a string of top-tier starters stopped Wednesday with the Rays using an opener. But Jalen Beeks tossed two scoreless innings and Yonny Chirinos held the Orioles to two runs in five frames in bulk relief. Basically how it's drawn up, except for the lack of offense.

Tampa Bay began last night leading the majors in rotation ERA at 2.90. No worries over Phillips’ approval rating.

The Pirates are 11^th at 4.01.

Right-hander Johan Oviedo, who faces the Orioles tonight, has made seven starts and posted a 5.59 ERA and 1.622 WHIP in 37 innings. Seems like a bit of a decline from the Braves and Rays. But no letdowns.

Oviedo had a three-game stretch last month when he allowed a combined two runs with four walks and 21 strikeouts in 19 2/3 innings. Over his next three starts leading into tonight, he’s surrendered 17 earned runs and 19 total with 25 hits, seven walks and eight strikeouts in 12 2/3 innings.

The Orioles have never faced him.

They won’t do anything on the field until they straighten out their roster. It’s missing a pitcher.

Left-hander Drew Rom was optioned yesterday to Triple-A Norfolk before getting a chance to make his major league debut. At least he made it inside a major league clubhouse, worked out, sat in the bullpen, ate, showered, dressed. All of that.

Cole Irvin started again last night for Norfolk and allowed one run in seven innings, so he isn’t joining the team. He's surrendered four runs in 20 innings in his last three outings.

DL Hall started Wednesday, so he isn’t joining the team, though it’s important to note how executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias sounded open Tuesday to the young left-hander returning to the bullpen if he’s needed.

Maybe the Orioles plop Mychal Givens or Dillon Tate in the 'pen. Logan Gillaspie worked an inning on Wednesday and hasn’t allowed a run in five innings with Norfolk since the Orioles optioned him.

They could seek more length and go with a starter who transitions easily into relief, but Rom fit that description.

Bruce Zimmermann is scheduled to start Saturday for Norfolk with an extra day of rest.

Spenser Watkins, on Norfolk’s injured list with a laceration on the fourth finger of his right hand, is throwing in Sarasota this weekend and headed back to the Tides next week if he’s ready.

Update: Left-hander Nick Vespi has been recalled to replace Rom.