The Orioles' one-game road trip to Texas was a challenge for all involved, but the biggest obstacle might come today, when the Orioles open a two-game home interleague series against the San Diego Padres.
The team’s 20-player travel squad -- plus coaches and staff -- returned to Baltimore in the middle of the morning Tuesday. Remember, Monday was scheduled to be an off day.
I don’t expect Buck Showalter to name a starter for Wednesday today. He thought he might need right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez in long relief Monday in Texas. He didn’t, in part because of Dylan Bundy’s scoreless three-inning outing. But he could need him tonight against the Padres.
Without long relievers Vance Worley (DL) and T.J. McFarland, who was optioned to make room for this past weekend’s DL returns, the Orioles bullpen is short on length. Ordisamer Depaigne worked one-plus innings Sunday, but threw just 27 pitches. And since Bundy tossed three innings Monday, Jimenez would be the most likely internal candidate to start Wednesday.
As I wrote yesterday, Double-A Bowie right-hander Jason Garcia is scheduled to start Wednesday and is a consideration. The former Rule 5 pick, now starting after working in relief in the major league bullpen last season, has struggled but he’s pitched well his last three starts. But there is some question as to whether the Orioles should let him build on that in Bowie instead of throwing him into the fire for what would be his first major league start.
McFarland, who pitched Tuesday for Norfolk, and Mike Wright, pitching Wednesday, aren’t options. Conceivably, Wright could come up to make the start, but he’d have to be a part of a corresponding DL move.
Mychal Givens hasn’t pitched since Saturday, and he threw just 20 pitches over two scoreless outings then, so you’d think he’d be available today. Brad Brach should be back as well after a day off Monday.
Still, it’s very obvious this team misses set-up man Darren O’Day. Even with Brach and Givens picking up an extra load, they’re minus a valuable right-handed arm.
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It appears that Showalter really likes the idea of pitching Dylan Bundy on four days rest. He’s given Bundy at least four days before each of his last three outings, and he’s done well with that extra rest, throwing 6 ¿ scoreless innings and allowing a .143 opponents batting average. Bundy has allowed just three hits over that span, striking out six and walking just one.
Showalter also likes the idea of getting Bundy -- who the team is priming to join the starting rotation next year -- on that starting pitcher routine again. It’s unconventional to give a reliever that much time off -- obviously it’s party based on need -- but it’s worked out so far.
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It’s so bizarre that right-hander Kevin Gausman (0-5) is still winless this season after 12 starts. He hasn’t been given the best run support this season, and even though the Orioles went out to an early three-run lead that Gausman couldn’t hold, the fact that the Orioles had 15 hits and 12 men left on base says he probably should have had more.
On Monday, Gausman was really hurt by one pitch, a 2-1 curveball he hung that Shin-Soo Choo hit to right field for a two-run single to give the Rangers a 4-3 lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Gausman relied on his fastball as usual, but threw his curveball 21.6 percent of the time on Monday, his the most he’s used it since throwing it 28.5 percent in his first start of the year on April 25 in Tampa Bay.
“He was carrying good stuff again,” Showalter said. “He was just in one of those situations where he just makes those one or two mistakes. It’s not pitch selection, it’s location, getting burned with some breaking balls, the you normally won’t make. You have to remind yourself he’s in the process of a young pitcher, much like what a lot of guys go through, a lot of whom are here now. You try to keep in mind, he’s going to be a good one. It’s frustrating for him.”
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The Orioles summoned Triple-A Norfolk infielder Sharlon Schoop from Triple-A Norfolk to meet the team back in Baltimore on Tuesday, but that doesn’t mean the team will select his contract.
The move is a peculiar one. The team is covered for the remaining two days of Manny Machado’s suspension with Ryan Flaherty and Paul Janish. Janish started at third base on Monday against a left-handed starter, but expect Flaherty to start the next two days.
But with Janish in the fold, it’s strange to see the Orioles needed another right-handed utility infielder.
Pedro Alvarez would also be another option at third base from the left side, and Showalter has has given Alvarez six starts at third this season when Machado shifted to shortstop. Alvarez is also swinging a hot bat, hitting .310/.348/.619 in June.
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