Hyde on Tate, Mateo, Watkins and more

Orioles reliever Dillon Tate inherited a runner from Mike Baumann in yesterday’s home opener, gave up a groundball single to bring the go-ahead run to the plate and retired the next two batters. He was credited with a hold, and the bullpen kept Milwaukee scoreless over the last five frames.

But something didn’t look right.

Tate’s velocity was down, with his sinker clocked at 90-91 mph instead of climbing into the mid-90s. The MASN broadcasters and other media

noticed it. Fans noticed it and wondered via social media if there was a physical issue.

Manager Brandon Hyde said Tate, who retired Andrew McCutchen on a long fly ball to center and Willy Adames on a line drive to shortstop Jorge Mateo, needed to correct a flaw in his mechanics.

They discussed the situation after the game and again today.

“He’s aware,” Hyde said. “They’re going to work on some things mechanically and try to get him back in line to get the velo back up.”

The bullpen’s 2.45 ERA is fifth in the American League and ninth in the majors. Four of the five earned runs scored Sunday against the Rays.

Mateo is out of the lineup for the first time, but it’s only a rest day.

“I’m going to be rotating guys around a six-month season,” Hyde said.

Hyde chose Spenser Watkins to start tonight instead of left-handers Alexander Wells or Keegan Akin. Watkins emerged as the favorite before the Orioles arrived in Baltimore from their opening series in St. Petersburg.

“It lined up well for us with him,” Hyde said. “He threw the ball well in spring training. You guys didn’t see a lot of it because it was mostly on the back field, but he had a good last outing in spring training. He’s built up to be a starter. He’s in that category where he’s probably not going to be able to go too long, but hopefully he’ll go four-plus if everything works out.

“He threw the ball well when he first got to us last year. Didn’t end the season great, but he gave us some quality starts early on and hopefully he can do that again tonight.”

Watkins increased his velocity through workouts at Driveline Baseball in Seattle, with lots of emphasis on weighted ball exercises, motion capture and biomechanical analysis.

“Early in spring, the fastball was back a little bit,” Hyde said. “For me, he got tired toward the end of the year. But when he first got here, the fastball was 92-94, he had really good movement with it. The cutter was good. And that kind of went away a little bit toward the end. But that’s what we saw in spring training is what he looked like when he first got to us last year with his command and the velocity with his fastball.”

Watkins could be one and done in the rotation or remain in the fifth spot. It’s available to anyone who seizes the opportunity.

“Hopefully, he takes advantage of it like Zim (Bruce Zimmermann) did,” Hyde said. “We’re looking for starters who can give us innings. We have a lot of guys down there who are kind of in a similar category. Taking a look at a lot of guys in length roles and see who can do it.”

John Means starts Wednesday opposite 2021 National League Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes.

Anthony Santander’s single yesterday in the seventh inning had an exit velocity of 111.2 mph, the hardest-hit ball by an Orioles player this season. His career high is 113.2 mph off Tampa Bay’s Yonny Chirinos on Aug. 2, 2020.

Kyle Bradish is starting tonight for Triple-A Norfolk.

For the Brewers

Kolten Wong 2B
Willy Adames SS
Christian Yelich LF
Andrew McCutchen DH
Rowdy Tellez 1B
Hunter Renfroe RF
Omar Narváez C
Lorenzo Cain CF
Jace Peterson 3B

Eric Lauer LHP