Orioles recall Anderson from Triple-A Norfolk (game postponed)

The Orioles have optioned left-hander Zac Lowther to Triple-A Norfolk this afternoon and recalled pitcher Shaun Anderson from the Tides.

Anderson can become the 47th player used by the Orioles this season. He was on the field earlier today to do some throwing while a light rain fell at Camden Yards.

Lowther worked two innings last night, escaped a bases-loaded jam in the seventh and surrendered a run in the eighth. He can return to Norfolk's rotation.

The Orioles claimed Anderson, 26, off waivers from the Rangers on Saturday. He was a third-round draft pick of the Red Sox in 2016 out of the University of Florida who pitched for the Giants in 2019-20 and the Twins this summer.

The Rangers selected him off waivers June 18, but he didn't appear in a game.

Anderson allowed nine earned runs and 12 total with the Twins in four relief appearances over 8 2/3 innings. He has a 5.48 ERA and 1.575 WHIP in 50 career games, including 16 starts in 2019.

"Right now, short relief. He hasn't pitched in a while," manager Brandon Hyde said on a Zoom call.

"He'll be in the bullpen and we'll try to get him some appearances here just because it's been a while since he's been on the mound."

Anderson went 3 2/3 innings in relief on June 4 in Kansas City. He's wearing No. 81 with the Orioles to round out their group of tight ends.

Hyde explained that Dillon Tate will pitch an inning or two tonight as the opener and left-hander Keegan Akin likely will follow him.

"See how he does against a really tough right-handed lineup and probably bring in Keegan after," Hyde said. "But it's just to try to maybe shorten the game a little bit for Keegan. We're having a tough time having our starters go deep into games and we're just trying this out."

The forecast calls for periods of rain throughout the night, but Hyde said weather wasn't a factor in Tate making his first major league start.

"Dillon didn't pitch last night, and if Dillon didn't pitch, it was going to be a possibility," Hyde said. "We just discussed after the game, this team is so right-handed and they're so good right-handed. It's something we kind of played with here and there, but we think that Dillon is a good option and allows Keegan to possibly not have to face their middle of the order three times or whatnot. We'll see. We're giving it a try."

Right-handers are slashing .231/.297/.385 against Tate this season and left-handers are slashing .220/.319/.341.

Left-hander John Means will work three or four innings Friday night at Double-A Bowie, as long as his pitch count allows it and the shoulder responds favorably, and report to Triple-A Norfolk for one start. Hyde expects Means to join the team in Kansas City after the break and pitch in the Rays series that follows at Tropicana Field.

"Probably the fourth or fifth game after the break," Hyde said.

Trey Mancini enters tonight's game at first base and batting .255/.332/.452. He's 9-for-53 with two doubles, a home run and 20 strikeouts since homering twice on June 20.

"He hit the nice double last night," Hyde said. "Nice to see him get the barrel on that double to center field. I think he's getting pitched tough. I think he's fine. Maybe just a little bit off, maybe chasing a little bit. You kind of see him working the count, getting into some 3-2 counts, and then that full count pitch he's been a little too aggressive on. But I'm not worried about Trey. Trey's going to be fine."

DJ Stewart is in left field and Anthony Santander in right, with Austin Hays on the bench. Domingo Leyba gets another start at third base.

For the Orioles
Cedric Mullins CF
Trey Mancini 1B
Anthony Santander RF
Ryan Mountcastle DH
DJ Stewart LF
Ramón Urías SS
Domingo Leyba 3B
Pedro Severino C
Pat Valaika 2B

Keegan Akin LHP

For the Blue Jays
Marcus Semien 2B
Bo Bichette SS
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 1B
George Springer CF
Teoscar Hernández LF
Randal Grichuk RF
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. DH
Cavan Biggio 3B
Reese McGuire C

Alek Manoah RHP

Update: Tonight's game has been postponed due to inclement weather and will be made up Sept. 11 as part of a traditional single-admission doubleheader. The first game will begin at 4:35 p.m. followed by the nightcap approximately 45 minutes after the opener concludes.

Fans holding tickets for the originally scheduled 7:05 p.m. game on Saturday, Sept. 11, should use those tickets for both games of the doubleheader.

The rotation doesn't change. The Orioles are starting Jorge López, Thomas Eshelman and Spenser Watkins in the White Sox series.