Pregame notes on Givens' DFA, Mountcastle still raking and more

SEATTLE – The Orioles today reinstated reliever Mychal Givens from the 60-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation and then designated him for assignment.

Signed as a free agent on Dec. 21, Givens pitched in just four games this year for Orioles. He gave up five earned runs over four innings for an ERA of 11.25. He has not pitched for the Orioles since May 31.

“Well, it’s this time of year," manager Brandon Hyde said of Givens' designation. "We’re trying to win every game we can and we are coming down the stretch and we need guys that are durable, and able to win some games down the stretch. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out for Mike, but we have some other guys here that have thrown the ball extremely well and just want to finish the season strong."

Givens had a 6.60 ERA in 15 minor league games, and just last night allowed three runs while getting just one out for Triple-A Norfolk.

More on the six-man rotation: The Orioles have embarked, at least for now, on a six-man rotation, with Cole Irvin entering the mix last night. Kyle Gibson and Irvin pitched in this series, and Kyle Bradish goes today.

The O’s project to throw Grayson Rodriguez, Jack Flaherty and Dean Kremer in the San Diego series that begins Monday night.

Hyde has pointed out that, by doing this, the O’s take one pitcher from their bullpen and the pitchers have to make some adjustments.

“You have to change your in-between-start routine a little bit to have that extra day," he said. "They are used to the extra day. It’s the two extra days. So like, we have a couple of off-days coming up and some guys will have six days' rest, which is just going to be a little bit different. And our pitching guys will help navigate them through that."

Mounty on a mission ... to hit: Ryan Mountcastle’s hot hitting has continued this weekend in Seattle. His hitting streak ended at 12 games on Friday night, but he walked twice that night and had two hits last night.

His second hit was the big one. It scored placed runner Cedric Mullins from third base with the game’s only run in the 1-0 win. Right-hander Andrés Muñoz threw a 0-1 fastball up in the zone at 100.7 mph and Mountcastle ripped it to center field with an exit velocity of 109.5.

What was the approach that at-bat?

“Just staying in the middle of the field,” Mountcastle said. “Just get a good pitch to hit and try to get one elevated and drive it to the outfield. I hit it on the ground, but hard enough to get it through and got that run home.”

That would allow the Orioles to win Saturday and end a great pitcher’s duel in which the teams combined for just eight hits. Seattle starter George Kirby pitched nine scoreless innings on 103 pitches. Irvin threw five scoreless for Baltimore, and the bullpen added five more scoreless, with Félix Bautista getting four strikeouts among the last six outs.

“It was insane. Cole, the whole staff, Félix, obviously, at the end was unbelievable," Mountcastle said. "For them, Kirby was dominating and did really well. Just seemed like whoever scored first was going to win.”

Bautista improved to 7-2 with a 1.60 ERA, throwing 28 pitches. He got misses on eight of 15 Seattle swings, including going 5-for-5 with whiffs on his splitter.

“He’s unbelievable and has been our rock the whole year. He’s been great,” said Mountcastle.

And by winning, the Orioles have now gone 77 straight series without being swept since May 13-15, 2022.

“It is crazy. I guess, I don’t know, we’re a good team and that can happen when you are good,” Mountcastle said.

Outfielder Aaron Hicks has gone 1-for-8 on rehab the past two games for Norfolk, and Hyde said he could rejoin the team in San Diego. Mullins is just getting today off as the Orioles attempt to keep him healthy for the rest of the season.