Krehbiel keeps impressing since joining Orioles

Reliever Joey Krehbiel is looking at a postseason race from both sides now.

With the Rays, winners of the American League East. With the Orioles, who claimed him off waivers and are cast as spoilers, beginning last night with the second-worst record in the majors.

Only one team valued him down the stretch.

Krehbiel, 28, was designated for assignment after tossing a scoreless inning and striking out two batters for the Rays on Sept. 18. He's made three appearances with the Orioles and registered 4 1/3 scoreless innings with only one hit allowed.

"Whatever the record is, winning or losing, no one is going out there and pitching like we're in a rebuild, by any means," he said yesterday after shagging fly balls in the outfield and heading back inside. "We're trying to give it our all at all times. So, maybe off the field that can be talked about, but during the game, just like the way we played (Tuesday), I felt like I was trying to get the team in the playoffs. And so did (Ryan) Mountcastle hitting the home run. So, it's the same feeling if we were losing and 20 games out or not. We can't think of it that way.

"It's fun. It's a good energy group. I like it."

Manager Brandon Hyde planned on giving Krehbiel one inning Tuesday night, but he retired the side in order and earned the eighth, as well.

Six batters came to the plate and six were retired.

"I love the aggressiveness," Hyde said, "love the way he comes in and pounds the strike zone with really good stuff."

The other appearances came on back-to-back days against the Rangers, when Krehbiel went two-thirds of an inning and 1 2/3 without a runner crossing the plate. He struck out two.

Gaining trust in tight games doesn't take long here.

"Obviously, I can't complain," he said. "I've been lucky enough to have a couple of good outings and put us in some good situations to win and finish the ballgames.

"I didn't know what kind of role I'd be in. Obviously, whenever they call my name I pitch according to that. And I'm glad I'm in those situations. I like being in them. Getting claimed this late in the season, it's a small sample size, so I've got to make every inning count, every out count, going into the offseason and seeing the future here."

The Rays will keep peeling pitchers off their 40-man roster over the winter, and the Orioles should stand below with a net.

Cole Sulser, selected off waivers Oct. 1, 2019, has registered a 2.74 ERA and 1.123 WHIP with eight saves in 59 appearances and is averaging 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings as a high-leverage reliever. Chris Ellis posted a 2.49 ERA in six starts before going on the injured list.

Krehbiel also has brought value, his major league ERA staying at 0.00 after he debuted with the Diamondbacks in 2018, appeared in two games and tossed three scoreless innings with one hit allowed.

The Orioles claimed Krehbiel on Sept. 21 after the Rays selected his contract from Triple-A Durham, used him once and designated him for assignment. The former 12th-round pick of the Angels in 2012 struck out 589 batters in 492 innings in 10 minor league seasons.

"I love the Rays, they're a great organization, but we had to go our separate ways, obviously. That's how the game works," he said.

"When I got claimed here, I couldn't be happier. We played Norfolk a bunch in Triple-A, so I'm kind of familiar with the Orioles. I know a couple guys. (Jahmai) Jones, and I played with Ellis all year. So, I really like it so far."

Players who are familiar with Krehbiel got a head start in learning how to pronounce his name. It sounds like "cray-bull."

He's used to having it butchered.

"Oh yeah," he said. "I say it wrong sometimes, too."