Notes on taxi squad, Saturday starters, Watkins, Jones and Mateo

BOSTON – The Orioles brought a small taxi squad to Boston for the five-game series, and it could provide a clue to the identity of Saturday’s starter.

Right-handers Denyi Reyes and Cody Sedlock reported to Fenway Park, along with catcher Cody Roberts.

Reyes is on the 40-man roster and could start one of the doubleheader games. Sedlock is a non-roster pitcher who became a candidate simply by making the trip.

Sedlock was supposed to start Thursday at Triple-A Norfolk until a rainout the previous day pushed DL Hall into a doubleheader with Zac Lowther. Grayson Rodriguez is pitching tonight for the Tides.

The Orioles selected Sedlock with the 27^th overall pick in the 2016 draft out of the University of Illinois, and he’s waiting to make his major league debut. He has a 5.83 ERA and 1.466 WHIP in eight games (four starts) this season, with 35 strikeouts in 29 1/3 innings.

Reyes threw two innings Tuesday night and has completed five innings in four of his appearances. His major league debut lasted two scoreless relief innings in Detroit before the Orioles optioned him.

A start Saturday would pit Reyes against the organization that first signed him. He spent seven years in the Red Sox’s system before agreeing to a minor league deal with the Orioles in November.

Manager Brandon Hyde only confirmed that Jordan Lyles is starting one of the doubleheader games, and as the veteran is allowed to choose day or night. Lyles probably will want Game 1.

Asked whether the other starter is coming from the taxi squad, Hyde said, “Possibly, possibly.”

With pitchers now assigned 15 days for the IL rather than 10, there's an outside chance that Watkins could be ready when eligible to return.

Watkins went on the IL Monday with a right elbow contusion.

“He’s going to have to do a little bit of a throwing progression and things like that,” Hyde said.

The club announced today that second baseman Jahmai Jones underwent successful Tommy John surgery in Cincinnati.

“I haven’t discussed with our medical people the full timeline,” Hyde said. “I’m assuming that with Tommy John with a position player that it might be a little bit shorter just because you don’t have to ramp up as much. He’s still in his early 20s. Fortunately, he’s still a young guy, has a long career ahead of him. Too bad that it takes the rest of this season and probably some of next year out from a development standpoint, but hopefully he can bounce back.

“He’s an extremely hard worker, so I would expect him to get back maybe earlier than normal. Who knows?”

Shortstop Jorge Mateo enters tonight’s game in a 2-for-32 slump. Hyde doesn’t think it’s a physical issue.

“Just talking to him today a little bit, I think that he’s going through a period that everybody’s going to go through,” Hyde said. “He’s not swinging the bat as well as he wants to and he’s not getting the results. There’s a couple things mechanically he’s working on, but I just see him trying a little too hard at the plate. He’s come up in some big spots and wants to come through so badly.

“The work has been awesome, his preparation is great, the process is good. It’s just, he’s just trying a little too hard in the games right now.”

The Orioles have turned 55 double plays this year, the most in the majors. The 33 DPs this month also lead the majors.

For the Red Sox
Enrique Hernández CF
Rafael Devers 3B
J.D. Martinez DH
Xander Bogaerts SS
Alex Verdugo LF
Trevor Story 2B
Franchy Cordero 1B
Christian Vazquez C
Jackie Bradley Jr. RF

Garrett Whitlock RHP