MINNEAPOLIS \u2013 The absence of an opposing left-handed starter in the Twins series could allow manager Brandon Hyde to do less juggling with his lineup. Jackson Holliday might stay at second base. Heston Kjerstad might stay in left or right field. Ryan O\u2019Hearn could keep getting starts as the designated hitter or at first base.<\/p>\n
Matchups don\u2019t factor much at third base. Hyde can play a hunch or the No. 2 prospect in the system<\/p>\n
Coby Mayo started last night over Emmanuel Rivera \u2013 both right-handed hitters with pop who provide options while Jordan Westburg and Ram\u00f3n Ur\u00edas are on the injured list. And that\u2019s the only time that \u201coptions\u201d is used with Rivera, who\u2019s out of them.<\/p>\n
Mayo is 0-for-8 since the Orioles recalled him over the weekend, including a called third strike last night on a ball out of the zone. He also struck out swinging twice to complete his 0-for-3 night. Rivera is 2-for-8 with a home run after slashing .313\/.370\/.578 last year in 27 games.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust going to kind of play it a little bit by ear and\u00a0give\u00a0Mayo a little bit of an opportunity,\u201d Hyde said after Sunday\u2019s loss to the Royals. \u201cHe came in late (Saturday) night, that\u2019s why he didn\u2019t play. But kind of pick my\u00a0matchup a little bit until we get Ur\u00edas and Westy back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rivera is more productive and the Orioles are trying to recover from a terrible start, but Mayo can\u2019t be buried as the No. 12 prospect in baseball in MLB Pipeline\u2019s rankings. He can\u2019t just sit if he\u2019s here. He\u2019s got to play consistently in the majors or at Triple-A.<\/p>\n
Mayo was pressing last summer and went 4-for-41 with 22 strikeouts over multiple stints with the club. He has to start in order to get a fresh one, but last night was rough, including a pair of fielding errors.<\/p>\n
Hyde didn\u2019t want to examine Mayo\u2019s performance and approach when asked to do so yesterday, citing a limited number of at-bats and saying, \u201cJust let him go play.\u201d<\/p>\n
For however long that he\u2019s in the majors.<\/p>\n
Westburg will have a few workout days with Triple-A Norfolk and get into their lineup later this week. He\u2019s ahead of Ur\u00edas, who\u2019s showing improvement since straining his right hamstring. Mayo and Rivera could be gone after Ur\u00edas is ready \u2013 one optioned, the other designated for assignment again. Who goes first if they\u2019re the only infielders at risk?<\/p>\n
The organization seemed to be encouraged by Mayo\u2019s progress at the infield corners, but he mishandled a bouncer behind the bag in the third inning and a ground ball to his left in the seventh. He made a few nice plays since his return, including a backhand stop and throw, and a clean pickup of a sharp grounder to start a double play. He also charged a ball and got the out.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s an area where there was a need to get better,\u201d Hyde said before the game, \u201cand he\u2019s put a lot of time and work in, and I saw some improvements this spring.\u201d<\/p>\n
There isn\u2019t an exact number of reps that young players need to find their footing in the majors. The Orioles can\u2019t flip to the perfect recipe.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s anybody,\u201d Hyde said. \u201cGuys show up in the big leagues and are ready at totally different times. Some guys are ready to go right out of the gate, some guys, it takes a few years.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hyde used the Tigers\u2019 Spencer Torkelson as an example – the first-overall pick in the 2020 draft, one spot ahead of Kjerstad, who was optioned in June 2024.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome swing adjustments he made over this offseason,\u201d Hyde said. \u201cHad to make the team. And we just saw he\u2019s made big-time swing adjustments and killing it right now for Detroit.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou never know when a guy gets here when it\u2019s gonna click for him. Sometimes, it takes guys longer than others.\u201d<\/p>\n
* Cade Povich had registered a 2.08 ERA in 34 2\/3 innings against the American League Central before last night. It jumped to 2.88 after the Twins scored five runs in six innings \u2013 all of them in the third.<\/p>\n
His ERA was the lowest by an Orioles starter against the division, created in 1994, in a minimum five starts, according to STATS. Now it\u2019s fifth.<\/p>\n
Kyle Bradish is first at 2.51 and he\u2019s expected to get back into the rotation later in the second half. Steve Trachsel is second at 2.68, Jimmy Key is third at 2.79, and Corbin Burnes is fourth at 2.83.<\/p>\n
Povich\u2019s next turn falls on Sunday in Anaheim. The Orioles are off the next day and host the Twins Tuesday night. Looks like he\u2019ll miss the Central.<\/p>\n
* The Orioles struck out 17 times, their 12th double-digit total this season.<\/p>\n
They hadn’t fanned that many times since May 14, 2023 against the Pirates.<\/p>\n
* Ryan Mountcastle has a 12-game hitting streak against the Twins after last night’s RBI double.<\/p>\n
Mountcastle is 20-for-45 (.444) with a 1.225 OPS during a streak that began May 4, 2022.<\/p>\n
Last night marked Mountcastle’s first road RBI since April 7 in Arizona.<\/p>\n
* Charlie Morton was going to start or be a bulk reliever tonight. Those were the two choices.<\/p>\n
Morton is starting, his sixth after going 0-5 in the rotation and losing his first relief appearance.<\/p>\n
Morton has a 4.50 ERA in four career starts against the Twins and a 4.50 ERA in two starts at Target Field. Christian V\u00e1zquez is 3-for-22 with two doubles, a home run and nine strikeouts.<\/p>\n
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