Tossing out some Orioles questions

The Orioles begin their final homestand tonight before the All-Star break.

Sneaked up on you, didn’t it?

There was movement in the standings yesterday, with the Orioles idle and the Rays winning in Arizona to extend its division lead to 5 ½ games. The Yankees won in Oakland and crept within four of the Orioles.

Two straight losses to the Reds have left the Orioles 17 games above .500. They’re 6-7 since winning five in a row.

No team in the American League ranks higher than the Orioles in the wild card standings. The top three reside in their division.

The mathematical halfway point in the season arrives on Saturday. Some questions have been resolved, but others remain. New ones pop up.

I’ve got a few to share.

What’s going on with Mychal Givens and Dillon Tate?

Here’s what we know: They’re in Baltimore to undergo further evaluation and testing. The club removed them from injury rehab assignments with Triple-A Norfolk.

That’s it.

We’re waiting to learn more about Givens’ right shoulder and Tate’s right elbow. They’re in the clubhouse each day, but not eager to share updates with the media. So, we’re counting on manager Brandon Hyde, when he’s ready to do it.

Did they get second opinions? Again, we don’t know.

Givens has appeared in six games with the Orioles, none since May 31 – 10 days after he was reinstated from the injured list. Tate’s last major league outing was Oct. 2, 2022 in the second game of a doubleheader.

The Orioles’ bullpen ERA dropped to 10^th in the majors yesterday at 3.79.

Speaking of the bullpen …

Is it going to change today?

The off-day was timely, but the Orioles could seek a fresh arm or just shake it up a bit.

It wouldn’t surprise me.

Worth mentioning here that Nick Vespi has a 1.71 ERA and 0.987 WHIP in 23 games with Norfolk. His last appearance was Saturday.

Hyde got 4 2/3 innings out of starter Kyle Gibson Wednesday night. He used six relievers, with the game carrying into the 10^th. Bruce Zimmermann covered three innings Monday night and had to pitch again Wednesday with Keegan Akin retiring only two batters and allowing four runs.

Zimmermann can be the long man on this staff, when he’s able to catch his breath. Akin tossed a clean inning Tuesday, striking out two batters, but he’s been charged with 10 earned runs and 13 total with 12 hits in his last four appearances totaling four innings. His ERA has swelled to 6.85.

The Orioles optioned Akin on May 9 and recalled him three weeks later. He’s vulnerable again.

Does Cole Irvin stay in the rotation?

He’s been in it, optioned and used out of the bullpen.

Here’s what we know: Irvin is starting Sunday afternoon against the Twins.

The next off-day is July 10 for the non-participants of the Home Run Derby. Irvin’s next turn would be July 7 in Minnesota.

Have the Orioles already determined that he gets the ball at Target Field or is he a start-by start decision?

When does Grayson Rodriguez come back to the Orioles?

The Orioles wanted Rodriguez to rediscover his fastball command and his confidence with Norfolk. He’s made five starts this month and posted a 2.22 ERA with 12 walks and 39 strikeouts in 28 1/3 innings.

The assignment to Norfolk was more of a reset than an extended absence, as long as Rodriguez cut down on the walks and high pitch counts and worked deeper into games. Which brings us back to the fastball command.

If Rodriguez isn’t recalled in the first half, he seems poised to return after the break. But we’ll see.

How much longer before Ryan Mountcastle is reinstated from the injured list?

Mountcastle must be past his vertigo because he’s playing with Norfolk and smoking the ball the last few days.

Being out of Sunday’s lineup was a red flag for some folks, but it must have been rest related - along with the next two days when Triple-A teams were off.

Mountcastle was 0-for-14 on his rehab assignment before singling twice Wednesday, driving in two runs and registering a line drive at 112.4 mph.

He was hitting everything hard in that game.

Serving as the designated hitter yesterday, Mountcastle went 1-for-4 with a walk and run scored. Also a positive sign.

But how would the Orioles make room on the active roster? Ryan O’Hearn is doing everything at a high level. Josh Lester was already optioned – and kudos to him for reporting to Norfolk at lightning speed.

Anyway, I’m stumped.

To answer a colleague’s text question from earlier this week: Yes, Mountcastle has minor league options. Two of them. But I’m not suggesting anything here.

When does Kyle Stowers get back into Norfolk’s lineup?

Stowers is recovering from a shoulder injury that’s kept him out of the Tides’ lineup since May 21.

The 2023 season began with Stowers on the Orioles’ Opening Day roster and has tortured him since that date. But there’s good news.

Stowers began his injury rehab assignment yesterday in the Florida Complex League and singled in both at-bats before leaving for a pinch-hitter.

It won’t be long before Stowers rejoins the Tides. And then he can go about putting up the kind of numbers that might get him back to the majors.

There are complications out of his control, however.

The Orioles are set in the outfield with Cedric Mullins healthy and Aaron Hicks refusing to budge. And Colton Cowser had two more hits yesterday at Norfolk, including his 10^th homer, a three-run shot to aid a rally from an 8-0 deficit against Charlotte.

One lingering question was settled yesterday. Hyde won’t be on the American League’s coaching staff for the All-Star Game. Manager Dusty Baker chose the Mariners’ Scott Servais.