Summary of progression by injured Orioles and other pregame notes

The Orioles are pushing to regain a significant chunk of their health before October.

Let’s start with reliever Danny Coulombe, who faced hitters today for the first time since undergoing surgery in June to remove bone chips from his left elbow.

Coulombe has thrown off a mound, but today represented a significant step in his progression toward a rehab assignment and reinstatement from the injured list.

“Definitely encouraged,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “We’ll see how he feels tomorrow. He’s in the weight room kind of getting his post-throw lift in. He felt pretty good, so hopefully it feels good tomorrow, too.”

Reliever Jacob Webb tossed a scoreless inning with Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday and he’s pitching again for the Tides on Wednesday. The Orioles will decide after the outing whether he’s ready to get back into their bullpen.

Asked if he’s feeling good, Webb said, “As of right now, yeah.”

“I’m happy with how my pitches were moving, how my body was moving,” he added. “Just trying to get it in the right spot.”

Webb is on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation. He’s eager to jump back into a pennant race.

“I’m looking forward to it a lot,” he said. “No one likes being injured. It’s not really a fun place to be. Just looking forward to getting healthy and getting back out there.”

Infielder Jordan Westburg played catch today, removing the cast on his fractured right hand. He's been taking ground balls with the hand behind his back, and he's also is trying to return to the roster later this month.

Dean Kremer has avoided the injured list after being nailed above the right wrist by Jordan Beck’s 103.1 mph line drive in the fourth inning of Saturday night’s game at Coors Field. Kremer threw in the outfield this afternoon with a wrap on his arm.

The Orioles are off Thursday, which lines up Kremer for the following night if he remains active and on turn. But they aren’t ready to commit.

Kremer’s desire to play catch today “is incredible, honestly,” Hyde said.

“It was still swollen yesterday. I know he’d love to make that start, but today, him throwing out there was gonna to be a big test, and then kind of seeing how he feels tomorrow. But there’s some swelling in his hand still and he’s being incredibly tough right now, and the team appreciates him. Taking (103.1) off the wrist and try to make your start four days later. Doing everything he can to try to make that start.”

The race is on to bolster the 28-man roster with players lost to the injured list, including starter Grayson Rodriguez, who’s sidelined by right lat/teres discomfort.

“I do know all the dates of possible (returns) with a lot of these guys, but I’ve been around long enough to know that sometimes things don’t work out and there’s setbacks,” Hyde said. “A guy doesn’t feel good after throwing or whatever it may be. So I’m hopeful but I’m also realistic in that we’re running out of time, too, a little bit. This isn’t the first half where if it’s another week or two, that’s the way it goes. The regular season’s gonna be over.

“I’m just staying hopeful that we have a lot of options in that third week of September, and we’ll see who’s available and who’s healthy at that point.”

Austin Slater started in right field yesterday and went 3-for-4 with a walk and three RBIs. He’s on the bench tonight with Anthony Santander returning to right.

Slater batted .200/.330/.244 in 43 games with the Giants earlier this season and was 2-for-18 with the Reds. He’s 13-for-44 (.295) with three doubles, a home run and an .836 OPS in 19 games with the Orioles, who got him at the trade deadline for cash considerations.

“I really like Austin,” Hyde said. “I like his game. His numbers don’t show really how good a player he is. He’s had some bad luck. In Denver he got robbed a couple times, he got rung up a couple times on pitches outside the strike zone. He’s a very, very mature player. Knows the strike zone extremely well. Takes a good path to the baseball when it is in the strike zone, and also a really smart baserunner, can play three spots in the outfield extremely well. So there’s a lot to like when he’s out there.

“You trust him, trust he’s always going to make the right play. At least the intent is going to be right, and he’s a really, really good teammate. He’s been a pleasure to have since we got him.”

Coby Mayo singled, was hit by a pitch and scored Sunday at Coors Field after the Orioles recalled him, but he didn’t crack the lineup in the next two games. Emmanuel Rivera is starting at third base tonight.

Asked about Mayo’s role, Hyde said, “I think it can be a little bit of third, possibly a little bit of first, too, if we face a left-hander.”

“He’s played a little bit of first in Triple-A, also,” Hyde said. “He’ll get some work out there today, too, just in case he goes in for (Ryan) O’Hearn, maybe late in the game. But we’re facing quite a few right-handers. Rivera’s played really, really well and he’s an excellent defensive third baseman. He had a nice game yesterday. I like the way he swung the bat.

“I’m gonna pick my spots with Coby a little bit.”

The Orioles can clinch a playoff berth as early as Sept. 11. Hyde checks the scores but isn’t crunching the numbers.

“I’m looking at the standings and looking to see what other people do,” he said. “I watched the Yankees game last night. The teams that are leading or in the wild card contention in the American League, I’m following what they’re doing. I’m not doing the math yet on anything but definitely interested in what’s happening, just generally around baseball but specifically with us.”

For the White Sox

Corey Julks RF
Luis Robert Jr. CF
Andrew Benintendi LF
Andrew Vaughn 1B
Gavin Sheets DH
Korey Lee C
Lenyn Sosa 2B
Miguel Vargas 3B
Jacob Amaya SS

Nick Nastrini RHP