Westburg went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Blue Jays.
Westburg made manager Brandon Hyde look smart -- this was Westburg's first big-league game at leadoff, and he hit a homer in his first at-bat. The infielder is 11-for-32 (.344) over his last eight games, adding six extra-base hits and seven RBI in that span. For the season, he's slashing .301/.354/.534 with seven homers, 28 RBI, 22 runs scored and five stolen bases through 159 plate appearances. Westburg may get more looks at leadoff versus southpaws, but he should be expected to bat lower in the lineup versus right-handers, as he has yet to above sixth in the order against same-handed pitchers this season.
... See More... See Less
Orioles' Danny Coulombe: Collects first win
Rotowire
Coulombe (1-0) allowed a hit in a scoreless inning and earned the win Wednesday over the Blue Jays. He did not issue a walk or strikeout a batter.
Coulombe did his part in the top of the ninth inning to keep the game within reach for the Orioles, and Adley Rutschman rewarded him by walking it off with a two-run home run. Coulombe has not allowed a run over his last seven appearances, covering 6.1 innings with a 3:0 K:BB in that span. He's at a 2.16 ERA, 0.54 WHIP and 17:2 K:BB through 16.2 innings while adding a save, eight holds and a blown save as a reliable high-leverage arm. With Craig Kimbrel's struggles jolting the Orioles into a closer committee, it appears Coulombe remains more of a setup man at this stage of the campaign.
... See More... See Less
Orioles' Adley Rutschman: Walks off Toronto
Rotowire
Rutschman went 2-for-4 with a walk and a two-run homer in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Blue Jays.
After Jordan Westburg led off the ninth with an infield hit, Rustchman launched a deep fly ball off Jordan Romano that just cleared the right-field fence, giving the Orioles a 3-2 walk-off victory. Rutschman's now homered in three straight games, totaling four long balls in that span. The 26-year-old backstop is slashing .314/.350/.509 with nine homers, 27 RBI and 24 runs scored through his first 40 games this season.
Orioles' Kyle Bradish: Goes four innings vs. Toronto
Rotowire
Bradish did not factor into the decision Wednesday against the Blue Jays, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out three.
Both runs against Bradish came on a Bo Bichette double in the third inning. The right-hander was pulled after throwing 85 pitches, as the Orioles continue to limit Bradish's pitch count after he missed the first month of the season with a strained UCL. The 27-year-old Bradish sports a 2.63 ERA with a 1.31 WHIP and 17:6 K:BB across his first three starts (13.2 innings) this season. He's currently lined up for a road matchup with the Cardinals early next week.
... See More... See Less
Orioles' Anthony Santander: Exits game with bruised knee
Rotowire
Santander was removed from Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Blue Jays due to a bruised knee, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports. He went 2-for-4 with a double.
Santander banged up his knee when he collided with the outfield wall and then aggravated it on a double and a slide in the eighth inning before being lifted in the ninth. The injury doesn't sound like a big concern, and it's possible the Orioles' scheduled off day Thursday will be enough rest for Santander. Consider him day-to-day heading into this weekend's series versus the Mariners.
... See More... See Less
Orioles' Austin Hays: Calf injury still lingering
Rotowire
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said after Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Blue Jays that Hays is still dealing with lingering effects from his left calf injury, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
Hays was just activated from the 10-day injured list Monday following a three-week absence and evidently is still not feeling 100 percent. He delivered a pinch-hit double off the bench Wednesday but was immediately lifted for a pinch hitter. Despite Hays seemingly not being 100 percent healthy, a return to the IL doesn't seem to be in the cards. According to Danielle Allentuck of TheBaltimoreBanner.com, Hyde is hopeful that Hays will be able to start Friday's game against the Mariners, though he could be deployed at designated hitter rather than in the outfield.
... See More... See Less
Orioles' Braylin Tavera: Goes on minor-league IL
Rotowire
Single-A Delmarva placed Tavera on its 7-day injured list Wednesday with a right shoulder sprain, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Tavera hadn't played since Friday due to the injury. The 19-year-old outfielder has looked overmatched thus far across his 110 plate appearances in the Carolina League, slashing .173/.264/.214 with a 20.9 percent strikeout rate.
... See More... See Less
Orioles' Max Wagner: Makes 2024 debut for Double-A club
Rotowire
Double-A Bowie reinstated Wagner (hand) from the 7-day injured list Tuesday.
Making his 2024 debut for Bowie, Wagner started at second base Tuesday in Bowie's 2-0 loss to Binghamton and went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts. Wagner, who missed the first month and a half of the season while recovering from offseason surgery to repair a fractured hamate bone in his left hand, was activated after completing a six-game rehab assignment between High-A Aberdeen and the rookie-level Florida Complex League.
... See More... See Less
Orioles' Ryan O'Hearn: Resting against lefty
Rotowire
O'Hearn is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays.
The lefty-hitting O'Hearn will take a seat for the series finale while southpaw Yusei Kikuchi takes the hill for Toronto. Adley Rutschman will get a day off behind the plate and will replace O'Hearn as Baltimore's designated hitter.
... See More... See Less
Orioles' Gunnar Henderson: Batting cleanup Wednesday
Rotowire
Henderson will start at shortstop and bat cleanup in Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays.
It's the first time this season that Henderson has batted anywhere other than leadoff. The 22-year-old's production has slowed in May (.649 OPS), so Orioles manager Brandon Hyde is electing to shake things up a bit. Toronto is starting left-hander Yusei Kikuchi on Wednesday and the left-handed-hitting Henderson has actually been much better versus southpaws (1.008 OPS) this season.
... See More... See Less
Orioles' Jordan Westburg: Moves up to leadoff spot
Rotowire
Westburg will start at third base and bat leadoff in Wednesday's game versus the Blue Jays.
Westburg will occupy the top spot in the batting order for the first time in his big-league career. Normal leadoff man Gunnar Henderson will shift down to the cleanup spot while Toronto brings in left-hander Yusei Kikuchi.
Bradish and the Orioles won't play against the Blue Jays on Tuesday since the game was postponed due to inclement weather.
The contest will be made up via a traditional doubleheader July 29. Bradish will simply have his start pushed back a day and will pitch in Wednesday's series finale versus Toronto, per Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com.
Webb (0-2) allowed an unearned run on one hit over 1.1 innings to take the extra-inning loss versus the Blue Jays on Monday. He did not strike out or walk a batter.
Webb was charged with an unearned run when Keegan Akin allowed the initial runner to score in the 10th inning after he relieved Webb. The 30-year-old Webb hasn't given up an earned run in 6.2 innings, posting an 8:3 K:BB while allowing two unearned runs in that span. He's at a 1.47 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 20:6 K:BB through 18.1 innings overall while adding two saves and three holds this season.
Rutschman went 2-for-4 with two solo home runs Monday against the Blue Jays.
Rutschman hit both blasts off Blue Jays starter Jose Berrios, giving him eight on the season and three over the last two games. The third-year star is now slashing .309/.343/.491 with 25 RBI and 23 runs to go along with the eight home runs.
... See More... See Less
Orioles' Corbin Burnes: Continues to receive little support
Rotowire
Burnes did not factor into the decision Monday against the Blue Jays, allowing one run on six hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out two.
Burnes did not allow an extra-base hit as a walk and two singles in the sixth led to the lone run he allowed. The two strikeouts are the fewest Burnes has recorded in a start during his career and represent the eighth consecutive start in which he's recorded six or fewer K's after opening the season with an 11-strikeout effort. While he's not been as dominant in Baltimore as he was in Milwaukee, Burnes has still been plenty effective, allowing three or fewer runs in every start this season. His next outing is tentatively slated to take place this weekend when the Blue Jays come to Camden Yards for a three-game set.
