Pregame notes on Flaherty's return to rotation and Hall's return to roster

As the Orioles look to sweep the Colorado Rockies today, right-hander Jack Flaherty will return to the mound for the first time since he gave up seven runs in three innings Aug. 15 at San Diego. He is pitching the series finale today on 11 days' rest.

Flaherty is 8-8 with a 4.73 ERA in 23 starts this season and is 1-2 with a 7.07 ERA in three starts and 14 innings as an Oriole.

“I think his command in San Diego was just off, so I don’t think you can put a whole lot of stock into that start. I think the start in Toronto (one run in six innings) is more of who he is. Just couldn’t get anything going in San Diego,” manager Brandon Hyde said before today’s game.

“Jack has a really good pitch, was up to 97 (mph) in Toronto. I like his breaking ball, also. He’s been a starter with a four-pitch mix for a while now. Maybe a little bit of rest will help him and he’ll be pounding the strike zone today.”

This outing has been pushed back by the Orioles as Flaherty said he didn’t “bounce back” well from that San Diego game without getting too much into specifics.

So is this a normal start for Flaherty, or will Hyde be careful with him?

“It’s a normal start, but I’m going to, you know, probably be a little more cautious than I would be. If he’s not feeling great, I’m not going to push him past what I think is appropriate.

“But he’s felt really good the last couple of days. He’s ready. He feels ready,” Hyde said. “I could tell a couple of days ago there is a lot more confidence in how his arm is feeling and how he is feeling.”

Flaherty will try to keep it going for a rotation that has an ERA of 2.72 the past seven games and one that has seen the starters allow three earned runs or less 23 times the past 27 games.

Hall’s return outing: Orioles bullpen lefty DL Hall waited almost four months for a second MLB appearance this season. It came last night when he got three outs in the eighth inning, allowing one inherited runner to score, in the Orioles’ 5-4 win over Colorado.

For the 24-year-old Hall, who dealt with a back injury earlier in the year, his velocity is now fully back and he’s pretty thrilled to be back in the big leagues. He spent several weeks in Florida building back strength and getting his velocity back.

“Unreal feeling to be back up here and be with this awesome team,” he said of last night’s outing. “Great group of guys. It’s been a long year for me, just happy to be here and trying to help this team.

“I wouldn’t say it was butterflies, it was more excitement. So, I was just honestly trying to take it all in, it was unbelievable to be out there in front of that crowd.”

And Hall, who pitched three innings, allowing two runs April 29 at Detroit in his other game this year for the Orioles, threw 10 pitches, seven for strikes, Saturday night. His fastball averaged 97.8 mph and topped at 98.9.

“Think that is about where I am at right now. That was something I’ve been trying to get back all year. Trying to get healthy and stronger again and finally getting to where I want to be," he said. 

Being away so long from both Triple-A and the Orioles was a challenge, but the work put in down in Florida is paying off now for Hall.

“It was probably one of the tougher things I’ve ever dealt with," he said. "I’ve always been a guy that throws hard and not to have that was a totally different style of pitching. Definitely made it a little tougher on me.

“I think it was a blessing in disguise. My offspeed has doubled this year, you know, compared to year’s past. I was kind of forced to (do that) without having the velo so it was great for me,” he said.

The Orioles are scheduled to start Grayson Rodriguez, Dean Kremer and Kyle Gibson in that order Monday through Wednesday against the Chicago White Sox.