Orioles skillfully maneuver 40-man roster

The Orioles demonstrated yesterday how they're able to do the 40-man roster dance without tripping over their own feet.

It was an impressive feat.

They had one open spot and a lengthy list of non-roster players competing for jobs, though Stevie Wilkerson dropped out due to a broken finger on his left hand. That's a lot of traffic and the potential for a massive pileup. But utility player Pat Valaika was the lone addition, pretty much winning a job in spring training prior to the shutdown.

He didn't have much to prove beyond the ability to stay healthy.

To stay on his feet.

The taxi squad is holding catcher Bryan Holaday, utility player Dilson Herrera and pitcher Thomas Eshelman. They aren't required to go on the 40-man unless active. In the meantime, they're nice insurance policies with no roster complications.

The Orioles don't need a third catcher while carrying one on the taxi squad for road games. In case you're wondering why they held at two.

Dwight Smith Jr. came off the injured list, one of the bigger surprises of the day, and the Orioles recalled outfielder Cedric Mullins from the Bowie camp. Again, two players already on the 40-man.

Smith didn't play in any intrasquads or exhibitions, but he must have gotten a butt-load of at-bats in simulated games and live batting practice.

Mason Williams, a non-roster outfielder, didn't make it.

César Valdez was impressive in spring training and summer camp and could have been an option for the rotation with John Means on the injured list or the bullpen as a long reliever. However, the Orioles decided to break camp with David Hess, who's on the 40-man and brings experience in both roles.

The Orioles also kept relievers Cody Carroll, Evan Phillips and Travis Lakins Sr. - each one on the 40-man.

The bubble didn't burst beneath them.

Hunter Harvey's trip to the injured list with a right forearm strain created a spot and the Orioles stuck to their roster.

They did the same with Kohl Stewart, who could join the rotation in Means' absence. The only confirmed starters are Tommy Milone, Alex Cobb and Wade LeBlanc for the Red Sox series.

Asher Wojciechowski is expected to start Monday night against the Marlins in Miami.

Mychal Givens apparently will go back to closing with Harvey on the injured list rather than handling setup duties. He was going to be used in high-leverage situations, but perhaps not as often with a lead in the ninth inning.

Anyone who's disappointed or surprised that Ryan Mountcastle didn't break camp with the team hasn't been following along. He's always been destined for the Bowie site. The only question is how long he stays before making his major league debut later this summer.

If you're wondering why Wilkerson wasn't placed on the injured list, his status as a non-roster player doesn't require it. The same goes for pitcher Ty Blach.

Meanwhile, Brandon Bailey has made the Astros opening day roster after the Orioles offered him back in spring training as a Rule 5 selection.

Would the Orioles have kept him if they knew that rosters could hold 30 players on opening day following the shutdown? The world may never know.

Now what about tonight's lineup?

Filling the positions is the easy part. DJ Stewart in left field, Austin Hays in center, Anthony Santander in right, Rio Ruiz at third base, José Iglesias at shortstop, Hanser Alberto at second base, Chris Davis at first base, Pedro Severino behind the plate and Renato Núñez serving as the designated hitter. It should be safe to write them down in ink.

The lineup is more complicated beyond Hays in the leadoff spot. Alberto batted second in D.C. against a left-hander and sixth the previous night versus a right-hander, with Iglesias elevated to second. The Red Sox are sending right-hander Nathan Eovaldi to the mound tonight.

Santander is likely to bat third, as he did in those two games, with Núñez fourth and Davis fifth.

The bottom third can be arranged in any order.

Ruiz swung a hot bat in spring training and didn't worry that the shutdown would cool it.

"I understand that the body of work that I did in the off time was very similar to what I did prior to spring training," he said. "Obviously the long layoff of not seeing pitching consistently, that was the toughest part and there were going to be some adjustments. Some guys had resources and saw pitching almost three or four times a week, others didn't, but you've kind of got to make do with what you've got."

An adjusted stance that's more open and includes a leg kick as a timing mechanism seems to be working for Ruiz. No need to change it.

"It's definitely different from last year," he said. "I don't think I was intentionally trying to do it. It's just kind of a comfort thing that I felt allowed me to be in position more consistently. And it has.

"The positional thing was kind of a point of emphasis throughout the course of the season last year, definitely. Obviously everything that I feel got me in that position, I did, whether it was to open my stance or get a little leg kick. That's what I did, whatever I felt was going to put me in the best position more consistently. That was the emphasis on it. How can I get in a better position?"