Orioles pregame notes on Kremer, Hays, Wells, Mullins and more

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Orioles starter Dean Kremer was eligible to be reinstated from the 15-day injured list on Wednesday but his status hasn’t changed. He remains with the club and off the active roster.

Kremer is sidelined with a strained right triceps muscle. He could go on a brief rehab assignment with an affiliate. The plan remains in the formative stages.

“Not really sure,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “We’re going to throw another side with him here in the next few days and kind of take it from there. You just don’t want any setbacks.

“Right now everything is kind of trending in the right direction. He’s going to throw a side here in the next few days and hopefully he’s back with us sometime soon.”

The rotation could use him.

Kyle Bradish starts today on six days’ rest, and Grayson Rodriguez and Corbin Burnes close out the series against the Rays before the Orioles return home to face the Braves and Phillies.

Austin Hays worked out on the field again today and is getting closer to making his return to the lineup in certain matchups.

Hays has received treatment for bruised ribs after being hit by a pitch Thursday in Toronto. The swelling has gone down.

“Haysie’s much better today,” Hyde said. “He was able to pinch-hit last night but we were going to stay away from him defensively. Tonight he’s able to go in the game.

“It’s a bruise. It’s 97 (mph) off your ribs. That doesn’t feel good and it’s going to bruise and be swollen, so that’s what it is right now. He swung a lot during the game yesterday and said he felt OK.”

Hays can’t catch a break. He’s already battled two illnesses and went on the injured list with a strained calf that flared up on the same day that the club activated him.

Hays missed 27 games in 2020 with a fractured rib.

“Crash test dummy. I don’t know,” Hyde said.

“There’s nothing he could do about the one the other day. That was just getting drilled. It practically folded him up. But he plays hard. He plays like he’s got nothing to lose and he plays with his hair on fire, and sometimes those things happen.”

Tyler Wells is visiting with teammates in St. Petersburg. He hasn’t undergone surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.

“It’s to be determined at this point, the date, so I think we’ll let you guys know when the day is set on that,” Hyde said.

“I was just with him in the weight room, talking to him a little bit. It’s really unfortunate. I feel bad for him. Whether he was going to be a starter for us or in the bullpen or swing or whatever, he was really looking forward to being a part of this club this year. Hopefully, he’ll be the same guy when he comes back next year. But big blow for us and for him to have to go through surgery.”

Colton Cowser had his calf wrapped this afternoon and isn’t in the lineup, but Hyde said it’s just “maintenance.”

Cedric Mullins is batting ninth and playing center field today while unable to shake his slump. He’s hitless in his last 21 at-bats since his two-run triple on May 27, and the average has fallen to .173 with a .220 on-base percentage and .306 slugging.

“He’s working so hard and he’s hitting early every day,” Hyde said. “He’s putting everything into it and he’s trying to find it, and I thought he took good at-bats in Toronto. He lined out to center field twice. It’s frustrating. I thought he held his frustration better last night and not getting the results he wants and not taking the at-bats that he wanted to.

“I wanted to throw him back out there today, honestly, to try to show him some confidence and try to get him going. I’ve done a little bit of both, where I’ve sat him for a couple days and let him kind of clear his head for a few days and then get back in there. I’m just trying to help him.

“We’re all pulling for him because if he can get going offensively for us it totally changes things. I’m hoping he has a good game today.”