Givens giving Orioles more reasons to consider bigger role

If you've paid close attention to the rundown of available Orioles at the non-waiver trade deadline, you've noticed how reliever Mychal Givens is nowhere to be found. He doesn't enter the conversation. The door to that room seems to be locked and bolted.

It would take a special offer to pry away Givens, who may be the closer-in-waiting as the Orioles remain open to moving Zach Britton, Brad Brach and Darren O'Day. Britton and Brach can become free agents following the 2018 season.

Someone would have to grossly overpay in prospects to acquire Givens, and that's not happening.

Givens has allowed only two earned runs in 27 2/3 innings over his last 23 appearances since May 26, including two-thirds of a scoreless inning last night in an 8-2 loss to the Rangers. His .067 ERA in that span before last night ranked as the third-lowest among major league relievers with a minimum of 10 games.

Givens leads all Orioles relievers with 54 strikeouts. He's also a good luck charm of sorts with a 17-2 record in the majors. Put him in a game and wait for good things to happen.

There's no defined role for Givens, who's worked the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, 10th and 11th innings this season. But that may change in the coming years.

While the Orioles traded last night for Jeremy Hellickson, they continue to rely heavily on their own pitchers. They won't budge in the playoff race without the holdovers in the rotation improving their performances. It's a roll of the dice, but they don't have any other choice.

They can't trade for three starters.

Kevin Gausman is offering encouragement, and reminders of his second half last season, by allowing one run and striking out 16 batters in 12 innings in his last two starts. The Rangers were his first victim, held to one run and four hits in six innings.

The only run came on Joey Gallo's solo shot in the fifth.

Gausman is 2-2 with a 3.58 ERA and 1.347 WHIP in six career games (five starts) against the Rangers, and 0-2 with a 6.17 ERA and 1.714 WHIP in two starts in Arlington. He's allowed eight runs and 18 hits in 11 2/3 innings at Globe Life Park.

Elvis Andrus is 5-for-15 against Gausman. Rougned Odor is 4-for-11 with three doubles.

Mike Napoli is 1-for-10 with a double and six strikeouts.

The question now is how do the Orioles create a rotation spot for Hellickson? And which position player replaces outfielder Hyun Soo Kim, who was sent to the Phillies?

Make that two questions.

I'm actually happy for Kim, who barely got off the bench here and never pouted, complained or became a disruption. His work ethic was impressive. He just didn't fit any longer, and I'm glad that he's got a chance to go someplace where he may find more at-bats.

Kim handled the booing on opening day 2016 and the reduction in playing time with class and dignity. And no one can doubt his loyalty to the Orioles after he declined an invitation to play in the World Baseball Classic so he'd have a full spring training.

Because we can't function without at least one Hunter Harvey update per week, he's tossed three scoreless innings in two starts with the Gulf Coast League Orioles. He's allowed three hits, walked none and struck out two.

Harvey will make another start in the GCL before moving up to short-season Single-A Aberdeen.

The Orioles aren't banking on Harvey to enter their rotation in 2018, but they'll keep an open mind. He's only 22, has been limited to 30 starts - not counting two this summer in the GCL - and hasn't pitched above the low Single-A level.

The plan calls for Harvey to make it through the summer without any setbacks, enjoy a "normal" off-season, which includes placement on the 40-man roster to protect him in the Rule 5 draft, and report to spring training ready to pitch for a full-season affiliate.

What happens from there is largely up to Harvey.