What’s happening? –Jorge López will make his third start for the Orioles against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa at 6:35 p.m. on Friday. López has allowed 10 runs, six earned, in 14 2/3 innings. He’ll be opposed by Gerrit Cole.
Félix Hernández, who pitched one inning on March 16th because of discomfort in his right elbow, threw a bullpen session on Wednesday. Manager Brandon Hyde said it went well.
“He came out feeling good,” Hyde said. “He felt very positive about how it went. I thought he was relieved after, feeling that it can progress from there. All signs were positive.”
Hernández will play catch on Friday and be re-evaluated, Hyde said. “Not sure where we are with him being on the mound from a game standpoint right now,” he said.
Matt Harvey was added to the 40-man roster on Thursday. “Whenever you can give people good news in this business, it’s the best feeling in the world,” Hyde said. “He’s a guy who worked so hard and had a really good camp. He’s done everything right.”
The news wasn’t good for left-hander Wade LeBlanc, who requested and received his release. Hyde said he talked with LeBlanc on Wednesday, but he didn’t disclose what was said.
Harvey, Hernández and LeBlanc signed minor league contracts last month.
It looks as if the Orioles will keep one or both of their Rule 5 picks, Mac Sceroler and Tyler Wells. “Maybe, it’s one less guy,” Hyde said. “They’re still in our camp and they’re competing for a job.”
Time is running out on outfielder DJ Stewart, who hasn’t played since March 5 because of a strained right hamstring. It seems seems likely he’ll begin the season on the 10-day injured list.
“He’s progressing. He’s about 90 percent right now,” Hyde said. “He’s doing well. He’s doing all the stuff on the back field. He’s just not 100 percent and with a hamstring, you want to be 100 percent before you put him in live game action.”
What happened? Austin Hays continued his hot spring with a three-run home run, a triple, double and two outfield assists as the Orioles outlasted the Pittsburgh Pirates, 10-9, on Thursday night at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Florida.
Hays is batting .409 with a .1197 OPS this spring.
“I feel healthy,” Hays said. “I feel comfortable at the plate. I feel good at all three outfield spots right now. I’m comfortable on the bases. I just feel like I’m ready and firing on all cylinders and ready to get rolling.”
Hays enjoys collecting assists because they’re rarer than home runs.
“When I do throw someone out, I get more excited than when I hit a home run,” Hays said. “That’s one thing I love, to be able to throw out a runner, especially at the plate.”
Hyde is enjoying what he’s watching.
“He’s doing all of it proper now, offensively and defensively,” Hyde mentioned. “I really like the way in which he’s driving the ball to all fields. He’s an thrilling participant. I feel there’s an enormous upside to Austin’s sport simply because he’s so gifted bodily and we’ve obtained to maintain him wholesome. He’s obtained an opportunity to be participant.”
Ryan Mountcastle had a three-run residence run in a six-run second for the Orioles. Pedro Severino had two hits and two RBIs.
Starter Keegan Akin had a troublesome evening, permitting six runs on eight hits in 2 1/3 innings. He allowed two walks and struck out three.
”I felt it was a kind of days the place, it doesn’t matter what you threw and the place you threw it, it obtained put in play,” Akin mentioned. “You’re going to have these days. You’ve simply obtained to battle by way of them and attempt to put your self in the very best place, regardless that you already know it’s not likely going the way in which you need it to go.”
His spring ERA is 10.00.
“I suppose the optimistic I take away from it’s I’m throwing strikes,” Akin mentioned. “I’m not strolling a bunch of fellows. I’m not behind within the rely as a lot. It’s a piece in progress. It nonetheless must get higher. It feels good.”
Akin hasn’t been assured a spot within the beginning rotation and wouldn’t say he deserves one.
“That’s a troublesome query,” he mentioned. “I can solely achieve this a lot to place myself in place. I really feel like my final couple of outings, my again discipline outing the opposite day, went fairly properly.
“I gave up some hits. I used to be forward within the rely. I used to be throwing strikes. I’m comfy on the mound now … the primary couple of outings, I felt uncomfortable, I used to be out of sync. This has been the principle focus now to get that again and get it going.”
Except for Means, who will begin on Opening Day, Hyde hasn’t named his starters.
“He battled into the third inning,” Hyde mentioned. “He was throwing strikes, simply gave up some hits. I assumed he had some dangerous luck within the first. I assumed he had a strikeout that wasn’t referred to as a strikeout. It was referred to as a foul tip or one thing. It extended an inning, probably would have put up a zero there within the first inning, form of steamrolled from there.
“I really feel like he’s making strides. He’s throwing the ball higher than he was early. Noticed some respectable changeups tonight. I feel his work on the again fields has been actually good and tonight it was some unlucky luck.”
Sceroler helped his case with 2 2/3 scoreless innings in aid of Akin. He allowed two hits, walked one and struck out one.
What’s up with? Paul Fry had his first spotless outing of the spring, retiring all three batters he confronted within the ninth. His spring coaching ERA is 11.88.
“I’d like for Paul to be just a little extra constant in opposition to left-handed hitters,” Hyde mentioned. “He has proven actually great things this spring, like regular. I feel he’s had a few spring coaching outings the place he’s thrown a ton of strikes and gotten ambushed. That occurs in spring coaching with good pitchers which might be throwing strikes. I’d moderately see that than walks.
“I need Paul to assault left-handed hitters and get them out inside three pitches. He’s obtained such great things, such slider that if he can get forward and keep forward, he can get some dangerous swings.”
What’s the phrase? “Being tremendous aggressive with all pitches that I’ve as a substitute of feeling tremendous assured with the fastball or the changeup, actually letting every little thing rip and being tremendous aggressive. That’s the subsequent half. That’s the way in which I used to be after I was at my greatest.”-Matt Harvey on what he nonetheless must work on.
What’s what? With LeBlanc out of the image, it could be a shock if no less than one of many Rule 5 pitchers isn’t on the 26-man roster, and it’s attainable each will make it.
What’s the quantity? .263, .785 That’s Adley Rutschman’s batting common and OPS this spring after he went 1-for-4 because the designated hitter. Rutschman is 5-for-19 this spring with an RBI.
What’s the file? 9-14-1. The Orioles play the New York Yankees in Tampa at 6:35 p.m. The sport can be broadcast on 105.7 The Fan and the Orioles Radio Community.
