Orioles recall Nick Vespi (plus notes)

The Orioles began the 2022 season by being swept in a three-game series at Tropicana Field. The Rays came to Baltimore in May and lost two of three, returned in June and again dropped two of three. The unofficial first half ended with the Orioles losing two of three in St. Petersburg.

Guess who’s back for more?

A four-game series begins tonight at Camden Yards, with rain in the forecast and a new reliever in the bullpen.

The Orioles optioned Rico Garcia following yesterday’s 6-0 loss to the Yankees and recalled left-hander Nick Vespi from Triple-A Norfolk this morning.

Vespi still hasn’t allowed an earned run in 21 2/3 innings with Norfolk, and he’s struck out 28 batters. He’s made 12 appearances with the Orioles and allowed eight runs in 13 1/3 innings.

Six of those runs came in one-third of an inning in a June 29 game in Seattle, which raised his ERA from 0.79 to 5.40. Vespi hasn’t pitched for the Orioles since July 5.

Vespi worked one inning Friday night in Durham and is a fresh arm for manager Brandon Hyde.

Garcia allowed a run yesterday over two innings in his first appearance in exactly two weeks.

Austin Voth makes his first start since July 10 and first appearance since throwing 2 1/3 scoreless relief innings against the Rays on July 16. His ERA is 3.42 and WHIP is 1.225 in 23 2/3 innings since the Orioles claimed him off waivers from the Nationals.

Adley Rutschman will be catching tonight after serving yesterday as the designated hitter. His 24 extra-base hits are the most by an Orioles player in the first 49 career games in franchise history.

Rutschman is 8-for-15 with four doubles, a home run, four RBIs and three multi-hit games dating back to July 16.

Shortstop Jorge Mateo extended his hitting streak to six games yesterday and is batting .333 (8-for-24) with two doubles and a triple during that stretch.

Corey Kluber is making his fifth start against the Orioles this season. He’s allowed eight runs and 20 hits in 19 2/3 innings.

Anthony Santander homered on June 19 and Rougned Odor homered on July 17.

The teams will meet again in August at The Trop.

The Rays are coming off a series loss in Kansas City. They no longer hold the top spot in the wild card race.

The Orioles are 3 1/3 games back. They trail the fourth-place Red Sox by half a game.

Tampa Bay is 31-18 at home and 21-25 on the road. The Orioles are 26-19 at Camden Yards.

Kyle Bradish made a rehab start with Norfolk yesterday and allowed two runs and four hits with one walk and six strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.

Kyle Stowers hit his 17^th home run, Robert Neustrom his 11^th and Gunnar Henderson his sixth.