BALTIMORE—Despite just three rehab starts, manager Brandon Hyde said on Saturday that right-hander Kyle Bradish, who’s on the 15-day injured list because of a sprained right ulnar collateral ligament, is likely to make his next start with the Orioles.
Bradish began his rehab assignment with Double-A Bowie on April 16th, throwing 44 pitches in three innings. He did have a previous rehab start scheduled for April 11th at High-A Aberdeen postponed by an unfavorable weather forecast. He threw live batting practice instead.
He’s pitched twice for Triple-A Norfolk. On Friday night, he went five innings and threw 77 pitches.
Although the Orioles could have continued the rehab assignment until mid-May, it appears the 27-year-old right-hander will get a major league start instead.
“He threw the ball really well last night,” Hyde said before Saturday’s game against the Oakland A’s. “Our medical team talked to him last night, the pitching guys as well. He feels great. We’re just looking right now when to slot him in, but he’s going to be with us soon.”
Left-handed starter John Means is scheduled to throw his final rehab assignment on Sunday for Norfolk. In his case, the Orioles will use the full 30 days allotted to pitchers for rehab assignments.
“It’s part of his progression. He got to an innings spot and a pitch spot, the amount of pitches he threw where we feel like he’s ready,” Hyde said. “Kyle was one of the best pitchers in the league last year, and we’re excited to have him back … He’s probably going to go back into the rotation.”
Bradish was 12-7 with a 2.83 earned-run average in 30 starts in 2023 and finished fourth in the American League Cy Young Award voting.
Right-hander Tyler Wells, who started the season in the rotation and who’s on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation, hasn’t resumed throwing.
“We’re just kind of slow playing him,” Hyde said. “We’re making sure there’s no soreness in there. We’re just going to give him a little bit of time off.”
If both Bradish and Means return to the rotation next week, there are decisions to be made.
“We’re keeping everything open right now,” Hyde said. “We’re day-to-day with everything right now. We cannot have enough pitching.”
Hyde didn’t rule out using a six-man rotation.
“No, everything’s up on the table right now,” he said. “The way pitching is right now, we’re so day-to-day. We’re waiting to see what happens.”