Orioles option O'Hearn to make room for Torrens

ATLANTA – Catcher Luis Torrens has joined the Orioles in Atlanta and is added to the 26-man roster for tonight’s series opener against the Braves.

In a corresponding move, first baseman Ryan O’Hearn was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.

O’Hearn appeared in nine games and went 5-for-19 (.263) with a .634 OPS, one double and six RBIs.

Torrens, who’s wearing No. 13, gives the Orioles a third catcher and reduces the risk of putting Adley Rutschman and James McCann in the same lineup. He’s also a right-handed bat for the bench.

Rutschman and McCann could pair up again tonight with Atlanta starting left-hander Max Fried.

The Orioles acquired Torrens from the Cubs on Wednesday for cash considerations. He was batting .250/.318/.300 (5-for-20) with one double and three RBIs in 13 games after signing with the Cubs in January as a minor league free agent.

Torrens has appeared in 264 major league games and batted .227/.289/.352 with 19 home runs and 78 RBIs in 799 plate appearances. He played in 108 games with Seattle in 2021 and finished with 16 doubles, two triples, 15 home runs and 47 RBIs.

Torrens is out of minor league options.

Dean Kremer is starting tonight for the Orioles. He’s posted a 6.67 ERA and 1.584 WHIP in six starts, with 22 runs and 38 hits in 29 2/3 innings. He’s never faced the Braves, who have the second-best record in baseball at 22-10.

The Orioles have won seven consecutive series and 13 of their last 16 games and are 5-2 on the road trip. They have 11 comeback wins this season.

Fried has allowed only one run in 20 innings. Opponents are scoreless in his last three starts over 16 2/3 innings.

The left-hander hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in any of his last 14 starts, putting him two behind Greg Maddux for the Braves’ record.

Fried’s only career start against the Orioles resulted in a four-hit shutout, with no walks, on Aug. 20, 2021 at Camden Yards.

The Braves are averaging 5.65 runs per game in interleague play since the beginning of 2022, tied with the Dodgers for second-most behind the Yankees’ 6.08, according to STATS. The Orioles, meanwhile, are allowing only 2.95 to rank second behind the Dodgers 2.70.

The Orioles’ 35 steals are the most in club history through 31 games. The 2004 team stole 34 and the 1976 team had 32.