MASN is actually bothering to televise this weekday spring training game! Let’s enjoy it.
This has already been an eventful Monday in Birdland with the announcement that the Orioles and Nationals are getting a MASN divorce. Today also happens to be one of the rare Orioles spring training games that will be aired on MASN. I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that there will not be a whole lot of discussion about the network’s future during the game broadcast.
The Red Sox are coming in to Sarasota to play the Orioles in this afternoon’s contest. Since they actually have a functioning network, NESN and Red Sox radio will carry the game.
In terms of injury updates, this is already a positive day for the Orioles. Manager Brandon Hyde had the following notes to reporters, with the good news first:
- Jordan Westburg (back) is doing full baseball activities today and could be back in the lineup on Wednesday
- Gunnar Henderson has “turned the corner” on his right side soreness, though there’s still not a timetable for return
- Chayce McDermott (lat/teres) has started up his throwing progression
- Andrew Kittredge (knee) has lingering soreness, to be re-assessed Wednesday
- Trevor Rogers (knee) is still a few weeks from throwing off the mound
Orioles lineup
- Cedric Mullins – CF
- Adley Rutschman – C
- Tyler O’Neill – LF
- Ryan O’Hearn – RF
- Ryan Mountcastle – 1B
- Heston Kjerstad – DH
- Ramón Urías – 3B
- Vimael Machín – 2B
- Luis Vasquez – SS
Charlie Morton is set to start the game for the Orioles. Also pitching behind him will be fellow starting pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano. This game will also be the first time that Félix Bautista gets into a spring training game to face some live hitters. Since it’s spring training, it’s irrelevant what happens as long as he gets through it healthy, but it will sure be more fun if he blows away three hitters.
Hyde’s remarks to reporters also included that he will be more cautious about Bautista over the first half of the season, unlikely to use Bautista for multi-inning appearances or on back-to-back days. This is not surprising and if anything is encouraging. The Orioles are going to have to improvise when Bautista is unavailable. They used him in those situations a lot in 2023.