Hyde on Flaherty, Voth, Baumann, Frazier, McCann and taking batting practice

The Orioles aren’t listing starters for Thursday night or the three-game weekend series against the Rockies. The rotation is fluid after the decision to push back Jack Flaherty.

Flaherty said he didn’t bounce back after his last start in San Diego. Specifics are scarce.

“It was decided yesterday pregame to just give him a little bit extra time,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “In his catch play yesterday, there’s a little bit of soreness, and so we just wanted to give him a little bit of a break, and we moved up Dean (Kremer) to today.”

Hyde described it as “general” soreness, which “normally goes away over the course of between starts, and we feel like we want to be a little bit precautionary with him and just let him not make his start today.”

Flaherty was acquired from the Cardinals at the trade deadline to provide a veteran presence and someone who could handle a heavier workload, and a six-man rotation was built to spare the younger arms and make it easier control innings. But Flaherty's return date after three starts with the Orioles isn’t determined.

“This is what’s going to happen,” Hyde said. “It’s late August and we have a lot of guys in there that are beat up and played a lot of baseball so far. These are things we’re just going to have to roll with and make adjustments, and the next guy steps up.”

Using Kremer tonight still puts the right-hander on extra rest due to the six-man setup and two off-days. Kyle Gibson could start Thursday rather than Friday night’s series opener against Colorado.

“It was a little bit of a scramble because we decided close to game time yesterday, and just got to make sure Dean’s good to go," Hyde said. "In between their starts, their side work has changed and their days have changed. So, just want to make sure it still lines up.”

Austin Voth returned to the clubhouse and active roster today after completing his injury rehab assignment. He hasn’t pitched for the Orioles in two months, but the elbow soreness has dissipated.

“Definitely took a little bit longer than I wanted to," Voth said, “but definitely glad to be back.”

"Austin was a starter for us last year and was doing multiple things, kind of, this year for us," Hyde said. "Hopefully, he can give us either some length or some good innings out of the bullpen."

The Orioles optioned reliever Mike Baumann to create a spot for Voth. Baumann allowed three runs last night in the 10th inning and lost for the only time in 10 decisions. He has a 3.82 ERA in 61 1/3 innings and 56 games, tied with Yennier Cano for most appearances on the team.

“First of all, Michael’s had an amazing season for us up until this point with what he’s done, new role that was handed to him late in spring training,” Hyde said. “I’ve been so impressed with him all year, the way he’s taken the ball, the way he’s stayed durable. I love his competitiveness. He’s just in innings territory where he’s never been before, and we just feel like right now is the time to give him a little bit of a breather.

“Send him down, kind of go on kind of a strict appearance throwing program, low-pressure situations, like we’ve done with some other guys. And hopefully we’ll see him back up here soon because he’s done an amazing job for us this season.”

The players who haven’t reached veteran status need to learn how to push through that wall, to tame the dog days of summer.

“It’s only going to benefit them and us,” Hyde said. “They’re so young in their careers. A lot of these guys have never done some of these things, so now they’re going to have experiences and they’re going to be able to look back at what they did last year, those types of things.

“Right now, it’s new for a lot of guys.”

Second baseman Adam Frazier wasn’t available last night due to a sore right thumb, but he could come off the bench tonight. The hand has been wrapped.

Backup catcher James McCann has a bruised left hand after being hit last night by a 98 mph fastball. He also developed a blood blister.

“It’s sore,” Hyde said. “It kind of pinched him, too, so it hit him and pinched him.”

Hyde took batting practice this afternoon with the entire team standing behind the cage. The purpose was to determine fantasy football draft orders.

Hyde's last BP session occurred in 2006 in Lake County, Ohio.

“Didn’t end up real well, with a pulled oblique as my team was stretching out in the outfield,” he said. “So, all I wanted to do today was not get hurt. That was the bottom line. So far, I’ve checked that box. But it was a lot of fun, and I feel pretty good right now.

“The older you get, the bat gets way heavier.”

Was there any pressure with everyone watching?

“With those guys?” he asked, laughing. “I couldn’t care less.”

For the Blue Jays
Whit Merrifield 2B
Bo Bichette SS
Brandon Belt DH
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 1B
George Springer RF
Daulton Varsho LF
Matt Chapman 3B
Alejandro Kirk C
Kevin Kiermaier CF

Kevin Gausman RHP