Leftovers for breakfast

Cionel Pérez has been so successful and dependable for the Orioles this season that any stumble feels like a hard fall.

Manager Brandon Hyde replaced starter Jordan Lyles with Pérez Thursday night after the veteran let the first three Mariners reach base in the sixth and allowed a run-scoring single to Eugenio Suarez. Hyde wanted Pérez to face the left-handed hitting Adam Frazier, and the inning never really matters.

It's all about the matchup.

Frazier lifted a sacrifice fly, Pérez walked the next two batters – including left-handed hitting Taylor Trammell - and Joey Krehbiel surrendered a two-run single to Luis Torrens.

Only the second earned run charged to Pérez this season in 20 games, his first since May 12 in St. Louis. His ERA skyrocketed to 1.08.

Pérez gave the Orioles 1 1/3 scoreless innings the previous night, beginning with J.P. Crawford’s popup that ended the fifth after Kyle Bradish surrendered a run and left with two men on base.

Hyde praised Pérez again for his “really good stuff.”

“It’s a 96 mph fastball with a really good slider,” he said. “I’ve used him kind of in that situation from the fifth to the eighth a lot this year, where I kind of pick my spot to put him against a tough left-hander in the middle of the order, like Crawford is, and he’s come through the majority of the time this year, and he’s just throwing the ball great.”

The only problem can be the walks. He’s issued nine and is averaging 4.9 per nine innings. And we saw Thursday how they can burn a club.

No good ever comes from two-out walks. Or leadoff walks. Walks in general unless intentional.

The organization’s decision to place infielder Jahmai Jones on unconditional release waivers shouldn’t be interpreted as a lack of interest and a desire to remove ties to him.

Any team can claim Jones, though the odds are lessened by his Tommy John surgery on Friday. Any team can sign him if he passes through waivers.

The Orioles are allowed to re-sign him to a new contract, and that door remains open. Don’t be too hasty with a final judgment on the Alex Cobb trade.

Jones’ value is compromised by his limited versatility. He’s a second baseman/outfielder, and he’s gone 10-for-67 (.149) with 26 strikeouts with the Orioles and 21-for-99 (.212) this year with Norfolk.

But Jones is only 24, he’s athletic, he has a great attitude, and he’s still in a developmental stage of his professional career. The Orioles could rehab him and try again.

Tyler Wells starts tonight against the Guardians, but who’s pitching Sunday?

The spot is listed as TBA, a familiar designation with the club.

The turn technically belongs to Bryan Baker, who faced the Mariners Tuesday night and lasted 1 2/3 innings before Zac Lowther covered the next 5 1/3. The Orioles could go that route again or a similar one with their relievers.

Denyi Reyes rejoined the club on Wednesday and appeared to be a favorite to handle the assignment, but he worked two innings last night.

Dean Kremer hasn’t allowed a run in nine rehab innings, and he threw 60 pitches on Sunday. He didn’t start last night for Norfolk and isn’t listed through the weekend. Cody Sedlock is scheduled to start Saturday and DL Hall Sunday.

Maybe it’s time to put him in the rotation and, like with Jones, try again.

He can always revert to a bulk relief role if it fills a greater need. Right now, the Orioles need a starter to close out their series.

Austin Hays made a throw Thursday night that Hyde said was the best he’s seen since becoming manager. Chasing down a ball that caromed past Cedric Mullins, who slipped and fell, and rolled toward center (the ball, not Mullins). Turning and throwing a perfect strike to third base to nab Seattle’s Jesse Winker trying for the triple.

Everything about it was perfection. The retrieval, the 95 mph strike.

Hays knew he had Winker before cocking his arm.

Hays gathered Oscar Gonzalez’s two-out single in the seventh inning last night, fired to the plate and held Josh Naylor at third base. Catcher Adley Rutschman had to back up and reach for the throw, which was clocked at 106 mph.

Can this guy close in an emergency?