BOSTON—Needing a fresh arm for the bullpen, the Orioles optioned left-hander Keegan Akin to Triple-A Norfolk and recalled right-hander Logan Gillaspie from Norfolk,
The Orioles say that the move was made because they’re planning for certain matchups coming up, and is a tactical move, and doesn’t have anything to do with Akin’s performance.
Akin’s season is effectively finished unless another pitcher is placed on the 15-day injured list because pitchers optioned must stay off the major league roster for 15 days.
Akin was 3-3 with a 3.60 ERA and two saves, but in September is 1-2 with an 8.31 ERA.
Gillaspie has a 3.75 ERA in 13 games in prior stints with the Orioles and was originally brought to the Orioles on the taxi squad along with another right-hander Beau Sulser and catcher Cam Gallagher.
Sulser has a 3.97 ERA in five games.
Gallagher rooted for Orioles growing up: Gallagher was acquired on waivers from the San Diego Padres on September 11th after the Kansas City Royals traded for him on August 2nd.
He hit .240 in 171 games with the Royals over the past six seasons. He played for San Diego’s Triple-A Reno team before the Padres waived him.
“It’s been a little hectic to say the least,” Gallagher said. “It’s been a learning experience, for sure, but at the end of the day, it’s still the same game. Looking to contribute any way I can. I know I’m here for the taxi squad right now. I’m going to keep working. If my name gets called, I’ll be ready. If not, I’ll still be ready.”
Gallagher grew up not far from Baltimore in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and said he rooted for both the Orioles and Phillies. As a young man, he caught bullpens in the offseason for former Orioles left-hander Mark Hendrickson.
“I grew up watching Cal Ripken play,” Gallagher said. “It’s cool to be back in the East Coast. My family is close by, so that’s good.”
Gallagher was a second-round pick of the Royals in 2011, and had been with the organization until last month.
“You get used to the same guys,” he said. “You learn something about yourself. You learn new relationships. You form relationships.
“Being here so far, everybody’s been open, welcoming me in. It’s been an easy transition so far.”
Gallagher briefly met Adley Rutschman when Oregon State trained in Surprise, Arizona, where the Royals hold spring training.
“We were hitting on the field, and he was around the cage, and he was around just talking with some of our coaches,” Gallagher said. “I got to talk to him a little bit, and he seems like a good guy. Looking forward to gaining a relationship with some of these guys, and him in particular.”
“I’ve seen him play with Kansas City,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “He does a nice job behind the plate. We usually bring [an extra] catcher on a road trip. We decided to take Cam with us. Anything can happen down the stretch, so anything can happen.”
Urias sits: For the third time in four games, infielder Ramón Urías is out with neck spasms. He was scratched from Friday’s lineup and left Saturday’s game after seven innings, and didn’t play on Sunday, and isn’t in the lineup for Monday’s game.
“It’s feeling better, Still have a little tenderness,” Urías said. “I think I’m available tonight off the bench.”
Urías said he felt the spasms when he was in the shower and reached for a towel and on Saturday felt pain after he singled.
“As soon as I made contact, it grabbed me,” he said.
Hyde hopes to have him back as soon as possible.
“He is feeling better today than he was yesterday,” he said.
Terrin Vavra, who’s dealing with hamstring soreness is also out of the lineup. Vavra left Sunday’s game after six innings.
Henderson slumping: Gunnar Henderson is in an 0-for-16 slump. After his hot start, Henderson is batting .276 with three home runs and 15 RBIs.
“He’s done a great job so far,” Hyde said. “He faced an outstanding pitching staff with Houston and it doesn’t get much easier here with Boston. Every young player, every player is going to have tough games and I think he’s going to bounce back. He’s a tough kid. He’s going to deal with adversity fine, and I expect him to have a good series this series.”