CLEARWATER, Florida-What’s happening? After a day off on Tuesday, the Orioles will play the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday at 1:05 p.m. at Ed Smith Stadium.
Bruce Zimmermann will start for the Orioles. He allowed three runs on two hits in two innings, striking out four and walking one against Boston on March 24th while dealing with stomach-bug symptoms that affected a number of Orioles.
Others scheduled to pitch are Chris Ellis, Joey Krehbiel, Dillon Tate and Jorge López.
The game will be televised on MASN.
The Orioles cut their roster to 44 after optioning right-hander Kyle Bradish, outfielder Yusniel Diaz and left-hander Alexander Wells to Triple-A Norfolk, and left-hander DL Hall to Double-A Bowie.
Outfielder DJ Stewart, who’s recovering from a bruised third finger on his left hand after getting hit by a pitch, has resumed swinging at bat.
“He did a little bit of tee work [Sunday],” Hyde said. “He’s doing more stuff today. He’ll get the off day tomorrow. Hopefully, he’ll be ready for some full batting practice, maybe some at-bats after the offday. So, we’ll see how it progresses.”
What’s happened?—Dean Kremer allowed three runs on five hits in three innings as the Orioles lost to the Philadelphia Phillies, 7-1, before an announced crowd of 4,663 at BayCare Ballpark on Monday.
Kremer, who was 0-7 with a 7.55 ERA in 13 starts with the Orioles in 2021, is trying to earn a spot in the Orioles’ rotation.
“I’m pretty content with the way it went,” he said. “I threw a lot of good pitches. Even the mistakes weren’t hit crazy hard. They might have left the yard, but I didn’t feel like they got all of it.”
Kremer allowed a two-run home run to Nick Castellanos, who was playing his second game with the Phillies after signing on March 22nd. Kyle Schwarber also homered.
“Dean just made a couple of mistakes, and they hurt him with homers, but besides that, I really liked his stuff,” Hyde said. “His mid-90s fastball. He landed breaking balls. I thought he threw some good changeups, just a couple of cutters that got too much of the plate against two great major league hitters.”
Kremer struck out five without walking a batter. The 26-year-old came to the Orioles from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the trade for third baseman Manny Machado in July 2018. He showed early promise in 2020 but struggled throughout 2021.
“I’m just going to keep my head down and try the best I can,” Kremer said. “Whatever happens, happens.”
Kremer walked 25 in 53 2/3 innings, an area that needs improvement.
“I don’t like giving out free bases,” Kremer said. “If I walked somebody, it’s because I missed, but the effort was there. It wasn’t like trying to guide it or just lay it in there so I don’t walk him. It’s going to be trying to execute.”
Bradish, who pitched two scoreless innings against the Yankees on March 23rd, threw two more. He gave up two hits, walked two and struck out three.
Cionel Pérez pitched his third scoreless inning of the spring, allowing a hit and striking out two.
Hall pitched a spotless seventh inning, striking out two in his first Grapefruit League outing. Some of the Orioles’ top prospects also played — first baseman Coby Mayo, second baseman Jordan Westburg, shortstop Joey Ortiz, third baseman Gunnar Henderson, centerfielder Colton Cowser and leftfielder John Rhodes.
“Just seeing guys like that out there behind me, it’s a great feeling,” Hall said. “Knowing that we have players of that talent level coming up it’s definitely exciting.’
Hyde was happy to get Hall in a game.
“Once he settled in after those first couple of pitches, obviously, he was really excited and amped up, he settled in and threw the ball extremely well,” Hyde said. “Happy that he gets his feet wet in a major league camp game and performs.”
Conner Greene allowed a pair of two-run home runs while recording only two outs in the eighth.
The Orioles had only one hit, a leadoff double by Chris Owings in the first six innings. Tyler Nevin homered in the eighth.
What’s up with Connor Greene? Greene, a 26-year-old right-hander, was 1-3 with a 7.71 ERA in 22 games with the Orioles last season and was signed to a minor league contract on March 16th.
“It was a combination of the opportunity here, part of the culture here that I see being built,” Greene said. “I may be able to contribute at the big league level and help add to this locker room in a way that I felt there was a good fit.”
The wait for a contract was difficult for Greene, who referred to the character in the television series, “Eastbound & Down.”
“It was a bit nerve-racking. Jokingly saying, I was a month away from being Kenny Powers and going down to Tijuana and bringing my jet skis and pitching a season.”
What’s what? Adding to an unusual spring after the lockout, Triple-A Norfolk’s season will begin on April 5th, three days before the Orioles’ season starts.
“It’s going to be really strange that when they break that we’re still here,” Hyde said. “That makes sending guys down a little bit different at that time, because the backup players maybe those last few days might be on the young side. That’s going to be very, very unusual. I’ve never had that. I’ve never seen a Triple-A and Double-A team gone and we’re still here. That will be a first for me, so we’ll see how that goes.”
What’s the word? “I’ve been itching ever since June of last year to get back out there. It was an unbelievable experience to scratch that itch.”-Hall on his first Grapefruit League outing after injuring his elbow last season.
What’s the number? 100. Hall’s fastball topped out at 100 mph in his impressive inning.
What’s the record? 5-5-1. The Orioles will play the Tampa Bay Rays at 1:05 p.m. on Wednesday.