Notes on Harvey, Valdez, playing in Buffalo and more

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde has been saying that reliever Hunter Harvey should be activated from the injured list during the current road trip.

There are four games left before the club returns home.

Harvey is still expected to be activated.

"There's a really good chance you'll see him toward the end of the series," Hyde said during today's Zoom conference call with the media.

The latest Harvey update remains positive, and they come in almost daily increments. He was facing hitters at the alternate camp site in Bowie before joining the team. There are no restrictions on him.

Harvey is going to move into a bullpen that now includes César Valdez, whose contract was selected yesterday. Valdez was on the taxi squad before the Orioles optioned left-hander Keegan Akin.

Valdez has been stretched out and could start for the Orioles, but he's also able to work in long relief with Thomas Eshelman and Jorge López.

"What I like about Valdez is, I've seen him very, very briefly in summer camp and a small sample in spring training, but it was just a different look with a guy that can pitch multiple innings for us," Hyde said.

The Orioles signed Valdez, 35, to a minor league deal in January after he spent the last two years pitching in Mexico. He's back in Buffalo, where he made 11 appearances with the Triple-A Bison in 2017.

Valdez broke into the majors with the Diamondbacks in 2010 and didn't get back until 2017 with the Athletics and Blue Jays.

"The story is fantastic," Hyde said. "It's a lot of years in professional baseball. He's worked super hard to get back to the big leagues. He has a lot of minor league experiences that are interesting, as well.

"He's a different style of pitcher in that he throws from different arm angles with all different pitches, and I just like the look that he gives - and it's not like anybody else we have in our bullpen or on our club. So I'm looking forward to watching him pitch, whenever that is."

The Orioles are playing 30 games in 31 days as they trudge through the second half of the season. They'll need the fresh arms.

"It's definitely a difficult task," Hyde said. "Keeping guys healthy is going to be a big part. The 28-man roster does help with that. We added Valdez, we have Eshelman, so we have guys who can pitch out of the 'pen as well, with some length. But, yeah, it's never easy to play 30 in 31."

Two doubleheaders are creating a heavier workload.

"I'm going to really have to really make sure that guys get rest days and be smart about playing time and still try to win," Hyde said.

Hyde ran on the warning track earlier today at Sahlen Field in Buffalo, checked out the facilities and seemed to be impressed with the ballpark's renovations.

The Blue Jays were denied permission to play in Toronto this summer and their search for a new home led them to their Triple-A affiliate.

"This is my first time in Buffalo," Hyde said. "I think when I was in the International League (with Charlotte in 2000) it was very, very brief and I got sent out, I think, on the road trip here. I remember getting sent down before the trip.

"It's a nice ballpark. They've done a nice job in here. We have a makeshift clubhouse. There's a lot of partitions, but there's a lot of space, and they did job in the clubhouse here. Coaches office is nice, the training room is spacious, there's a makeshift weight room. Kind of an outdoor, Venice Beach-style weight room. And the ballpark looks nice. It looks like it's a good place to hit.

"I did walk the grounds and took a little jog on the field earlier today and the field's in good shape, so I think they've done a great job here."

Major League Baseball is celebrating Jackie Robinson Day, which provides another opportunity to educate people in the game.

What has Hyde learned during this turbulent year, and especially over the last few days?

"I just think listening to the African Americans on our club, (first base coach) Anthony Sanders as well, some others in the traveling party that are with us and our players, I just learn from listening to their experiences and their stories and it's very, very impactful," Hyde said.

"Everyone has a different story and a different way that they were brought up. And their life experiences, listening to that, and that's why it's emotional, because the beauty of sports and the beauty of a clubhouse is there's 50 people here and everybody's from a different area and we get to experience that. We get to live with people that are from everywhere, all walks of life, different countries, different backgrounds, and you become close with them. And even if you're not from a certain area, you're able to ...

"I've spent the last 20 years in professional baseball, so being with different people from all over the world. And so I feel really privileged and lucky to have these experiences."

For the Blue Jays
Cavan Biggio 2B
Randal Grichuk CF
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 1B
Teoscar Hernández RF
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. LF
Rowdy Tellez DH
Travis Shaw 3B
Danny Jansen C
Joe Panik SS

Hyun Jin Ryu LHP