Notes and some thoughts on Hays and Phillips

If Austin Hays stays healthy - and it's been a challenge over the past few seasons - he's going to be the Orioles' opening day starter in 2020. Period. End of discussion.

OK, there's more.

Manager Brandon Hyde isn't prepared to make that declaration. He's just trying to navigate his team through the last road trip. He's busy conducting exit interviews with players and figuring out how to manipulate the bullpen in the middle and late innings.

The rotation no longer requires his attention. He knows who is pitching in Boston, with Dylan Bundy tabbed for Sunday afternoon's finale unless there's been a late change.

Whether Hays breaks camp with the team and is in the starting lineup on March 26 is a decision that's put on hold. If there's a burner behind the back burner, this is where it sits.

But Hays is going to play center field. No need for a spoiler alert. He's done everything necessary to prove that he's ready after being a surprise addition to the expanded roster instead of reporting to Surprise in the Arizona Fall League.

He's supposed to join the Saguaros next week while his teammates head home for the offseason.

"I'm not ready to say anything about next year, to be honest with you," Hyde said over the weekend. "We've got a week left to play here. But those are some things, that's what the winter is for, that's what spring training is for next year. But he has been impressive these last couple of weeks."

It's true at the plate and in center, where he's made every catch imaginable. In the gaps. Coming in and going back. Leaping and diving.

The outfield already could be set next season with Hays in center, Anthony Santander in left and Trey Mancini in right. Unless the Orioles find a way to put Mancini at first base, of course.

Mancini went 5-for-5 last night. He's going to produce no matter where he plays.

DJ Stewart, Dwight Smith Jr. and Cedric Mullins remain in the picture. The Orioles want Mullins to start hitting again so he can be an extra outfielder, at least, and provide speed off the bench.

Smith picked a really good time last night to go 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs.

Stewart picked a really good time to go 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs.

Mason Williams' audition has been interrupted by a bruised knee. He isn't limping as noticeably these days, but Hyde hasn't gotten him back in the lineup.

Yusniel Diaz and Ryan McKenna aren't likely to break camp with the team. Getting them regular at-bats at the Triple-A level would be an important next step.

Diaz is in the same situation as Hays in that he needs to stay healthy. Hamstring and quadriceps injuries interrupted his summer at Double-A Bowie. So did a stop on the paternity leave list, but he probably can avoid doing that again next year.

Hays was sensational again Monday night in Toronto with two home runs, five RBIs and a couple of plays in center to steal hits. But reliever Evan Phillips shouldn't go ignored.

Phillips followed starter Chandler Shepherd and tossed two scoreless and hitless innings. Because it happened in the fourth and fifth, it's largely forgotten in a game that stretched to the 15th.

Ineffective in previous stints with the club, Phillips hasn't allowed a run in six appearances this month. He's surrendered four hits and struck out 10 batters in seven innings.

Flip back to his last stretch of games, when he was scored upon in six straight games and nine of 10. The exception included a walk in one-third of an inning.

An 8.84 ERA on Aug. 12, his last appearance before getting on his current roll, has shrunk to 6.49.

"I finished up strong at Norfolk, and really not trying to do anything different," he said earlier this month. "Just want to carry those appearances down there into my appearances up here in September."

So what's different about Phillips?

Sounds more mental.

"Just trying to treat every pitch as an individual," he said. "Don't plan too far ahead in an at-bat or in an outing. Just take each pitch one pitch at a time and really focus on what I can do in my preparation before I throw each pitch, what pitch I'm going to throw and my attack plan versus a hitter. All that kind of stuff. But make it an individual pitch and just try to let my shoulders hang, relax and make a quality pitch."