The Mountain's status still up in the air

SARASOTA, Fla. – Félix Bautista has become a mountainous riddle.

His fastball touches 98 mph, which it’s done multiple times. He says that his arm feels good and yes, of course, he’s going to be on the Opening Day roster. His last outing was scoreless and hitless with two strikeouts. He retired the side in order after twice running the count full.

The scoreboard radar readings had Bautista at 96 mph, 96, 95, 93 for the first out; 82, 88, 86, 96, 96, 96 for the second out; and 84, 98, 85, 97, 97, 88, 97 and 86 to end the inning. He threw some good splitters.

This isn’t 2023 All-Star Bautista, but he seems to be trending that way. It was supposed to be a gradual build.

The list of relievers last night behind Tomoyuki Sugano didn’t include Bautista, which raised some eyebrows because of the gap between appearances. The media was told that he threw on the back fields, like most of the starters. More innings can be squeezed outside the Grapefruit League.

Bautista seems convinced that he’s ready for March 27, but the Orioles aren’t ready to commit. Manager Brandon Hyde gave a quick “no” yesterday in the middle of a question about his confidence in Bautista being in Toronto.

“We’re still talking about our roster,” Hyde said. “We haven’t solidified anything there yet.”

The Orioles wanted six-to-seven appearances from Bautista and he’s at four. What happened on the back field can count as a fifth. The Orioles play at home tonight and in Bradenton and North Port this weekend before facing the Nationals Monday in D.C.

The expectation right now is that Albert Suárez makes the rotation. If that’s the outcome, relievers Bryan Baker and Matt Bowman probably would break camp with the team, passports in hand. Beginning the season with Bautista on the injured list would cause the bullpen to spring another leak.

Roansy Contreras is on the 40-man roster, but he’s allowed six runs and nine hits in his last three appearances covering 4 2/3 innings. He’s walked four batters and struck out seven in that span. You’ve heard that spring results don’t matter and how it’s silly to recite them, but they seem important in this case.

Of course, Bautista’s absence might be brief if he stays back, but someone would have to replace him. Those are mighty big spikes to fill.  

Andrew Kittredge was supposed to work in high-leverage situations and assist with closing duties, but he pitched once this spring and underwent surgery to repair cartilage in his left knee. Seranthony Domínguez had 10 saves last summer after the trade with the Phillies, but he allowed 12 runs and 14 hits with five walks in 4 2/3 exhibition innings before last night. He also surrendered four home runs.

Hyde brought in Domínguez last night to replace Tomoyuki Sugano with two outs in the fifth and no one on base. Domínguez got the final out on a ground ball, but Anthony Volpe homered off him in the sixth.

A misplayed ground ball, ruled an infield single, stuck Domínguez with three earned runs Saturday in Bradenton. But you can’t polish his body of work down here. Retiring four of his five batters last night lowered his ERA from 23.14 to 19.50, but there’s too much hard contact. Too many runs scored.

Too many fans getting nervous about the 'pen.

If you’re the Orioles, you just trust that he’s working on some things, and his velocity is good and he’s healthy and he’s going to be fine when the games count.

Yennier Cano has allowed only one run and three hits in five innings. Cionel Pérez’s last three outings have been scoreless. Keegan Akin tossed another shutout inning last night and has permitted only three runs in 8 2/3 innings with one walk and 12 strikeouts.

Never discount the possibility of a reliever arriving late in camp, like on the last day. We call it “pulling a Danny Coulombe.” Or I call it that and wait to see if it catches on.

Keeping Suárez in relief and Bautista away from the injured list would make it much easier to finalize the pitching side of the 26-man roster. Just pick between Baker and Bowman for the last spot if in-house is the solution and get on with it. But simple isn’t the deciding factor.