Wondering about possible roster moves, Mountcastle's streak ends, Santander's streak stretches, Baker's streak ends

ATLANTA – Mychal Givens hasn’t allowed a run or hit in three innings on his injury rehab assignment at Double-A Bowie. He’s walked one batter and struck out five.

Dillon Tate has appeared in one game with High-A Aberdeen and four with Bowie, and he’s allowed a combined eight earned runs (10 total) and nine hits in four innings.

Givens figured to be ahead of Tate, since he pitched in spring training. He got into four games, allowing only an unearned run and striking out seven batters, before the Orioles shut him down with left knee inflammation.

Tate was experiencing discomfort in his right elbow/forearm area in November, eliminating him from the Opening Day roster. He didn’t progress beyond bullpen sessions, though he mixed in a changeup.

The logical assumption is that Givens beats Tate back to Baltimore. He doesn’t necessarily need to be built up for multiple innings. The last box checked is probably pitching on back-to-back days.

Except, that’s what Tate did last night.

Tate stated at Camden Yards that he’d probably need five or six appearances on his assignment, with the last task going back-to-back. Tate retired only one batter Friday night and was charged with three runs. He faced three batters last night and walked two, one of them intentionally, and Kade Strowd let two inherited runners score.

The results aren’t there, but he’s doing the other stuff.

Asked about the duo yesterday, manager Brandon Hyde said, “They’re still some appearances away.”

“I think their timetable is a little unsure right now,” Hyde said, “but they’re both going to need some more appearances.”

Cole Irvin lasted only three starts with the Orioles before they optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk with a 10.66 ERA and 1.974 WHIP in 12 2/3 innings. Irvin has gone six and seven innings in his past two starts and allowed a combined three runs with only one walk and nine strikeouts.

Any member of the Orioles rotation who struggles must resist the temptation to peek over his shoulder. It won’t help. But Irvin could be lurkin’.

Hyde didn’t have much information to share about Irvin.

“Looks like he was throwing the ball better yesterday,” Hyde said.

Roster moves can be made when least expected. The Orioles traded for a third catcher, Luis Torrens, and had two on the bench last night, along with outfielder Austin Hays, who isn’t cleared to swing the bat while the gash heals on his right middle finger.

I’ve seen more flexible benches in my day.

Hays pinch-ran for James McCann Friday night, but Adam Frazier replaced him as the designated hitter when his turn came up.

The Orioles obviously don’t think Hays needs to go on the injured list or they would have withheld him from another game for backdating purposes.

“Austin is getting better,” Hyde said. “If this (were) a playoff-type game, Austin would be in there. We’re trying to get this wound to heal and it’s just taking a little bit of time. … It’s allowing (Kyle) Stowers to get some more at-bats.”

We still haven’t seen Torrens in a game and don’t know whether he hangs for an extended period or the Orioles try to get him through waivers.

Ryan O’Hearn must stay down for 10 days unless he’s replacing an injured player. Terrin Vavra started in left field last night in Norfolk and went 0-for-4 with an RBI to leave him with a .250 average and .641 OPS in eight games.

He began the night with a .281 average and .343 on-base percentage.

Vavra has caught four innings in two games with Norfolk, making him an option in an emergency if the Orioles recall him. They really like to get McCann and Adley Rutschman in the same lineup.

* Ryan Mountcastle singled in the fourth and sixth innings last night to end a streak in which his last eight hits were for extra bases.

The game wasn’t stopped and no ceremony was arranged on enemy turf.

Chris Davis and Brady Anderson share the team record with 10 consecutive hits going for extra bases, according to STATS. Miguel Tejada (2006 and 2005), Cal Ripken Jr. (1987) and Frank Robinson (1966) are next with nine.

Mountcastle knew nothing about his streak. Wasn’t something that he tracked.

That’s why I’m here.

“I’m just hitting the ball in the air, hitting it hard, and it feels like a couple weeks before I wasn’t really hitting much hard in the air,” he said. “Swing feels good right now, and I think when it feels good I hit for extra-base hits.”

The on-base streak lives on, reaching 15 games in a row.

* Anthony Santander has produced five straight multi-hit games.

I remember when he was in a prolonged slump.

Santander is tied with three other players for the longest multi-hit streak in the majors: Tampa Bay’s Harold Ramírez, Philadelphia’s Bryson Stott and Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

In four career games against the Braves, Santander is 7-for-16 with two doubles, four home runs, eight RBIs and six runs scored.

* Bryan Baker’s streak of scoreless innings has expired at 15 2/3.

Baker left an inherited runner for Danny Coulombe last night in the eighth inning and Kevin Pillar hit a two-run homer. Pillar has 100 career homers and 15 are against the Orioles. His next-highest total is nine against the Phillies.

The guy has hit 15 interleague home runs. He’s also hit 15 against the Orioles. One team.

Just when you think they’re rid of him …