After a special game last night, the Orioles will try to keep up momentum with another untested pitcher who’s looking to stake out his spot in a refreshed Orioles rotation next year, not to mention one hotly-expected prospect making his MLB debut.
We finally got the news this morning: Dylan Beavers got his call-up to the Majors. And much deserved: Beavers leaves Norfolk with a .304/.420/.515/.935 slashline and 18 home runs in 94 games. And you wonder we’re excited? Beavers is slotting in immediately to right field.
As for the pitching, I don’t know why Tony Mansolino likes openers so much, but I do believe the Orioles are employing them more under his tenure. This explains why, with Cade Povich’s turn up in the rotation, we find reliever Rico Garcia’s name listed as the starter, instead. The 31-year-old Garcia, interestingly born in Honolulu, has bounced around with several teams, including three this year, where he’s appeared in 11 games to the tune of a 3.71 ERA. The O’s acquired him off waivers from the Mets and he’s allowed a run in 1.2 innings over two games since.
Garcia is presumably setting the table for lefty Cade Povich, so let’s talk about him. In his second season, Povich has had his moments—and continues to show strikeout stuff—but still hasn’t shaken his inconsistency. Last week he looked great against the Athletics (6 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 3 BB, 5 K). But prior to that, the Phillies hit him hard (5.2 IP, 4 R), and he allowed five runs against Detroit two weeks before that (4.2 IP).
Countering him on the mound for Houston is Jason Alexander (man, I loved him in Rocky and Bullwinkle). The 32-year-old journeyman has scant MLB experience, having spent a long time in Milwaukee’s farm system before appearing in 18 games in 2022. After that, he toiled in the minors two years more before getting called up this season by the Athletics. After four appearances, Alexander was DFA’d in May, and a pitching-strapped Houston picked him up off waivers. Perhaps surprisingly, the late bloomer has been good in six games (five starts) with his new team, with a 2.56 ERA, 3.74 FIP, and 1.200 WHIP. In his last two starts against Miami and New York, Alexander tossed a full six innings and allowed zero earned runs.
I’m really not sure what this game is going to look like. But I AM really excited to see the much-anticipated MLB debut of Dylan Beavers, called up this morning and batting in the six hole tonight. Let’s go O’s!