The Orioles continue to seek fresh arms and palatable answers in the American League’s worst bullpen.
After optioning relievers Paul Fry and Evan Phillips to Triple-A Norfolk early Friday morning, Baltimore recalled left-hander Tanner Scott from the Tides and right-hander pitcher Branden Kline from Double-A Bowie for the second contest of a four-game set in Seattle. With starting pitcher John Means going to the 10-day injured list with a left shoulder strain a day earlier, manager Brandon Hyde was forced into a bullpen game for the second time in three days with lefty Sean Gilmartin opening Friday’s tilt against the Mariners.
The hard-throwing Scott had gotten on a role for the Tides in recent weeks, pitching to a 1.96 ERA and striking out 22 batters over his last 18 1/3 innings. The 24-year-old has struck out a very impressive 13.1 batters per nine innings over 61 2/3 frames in the majors, but control problems and extreme inconsistency prompted demotions both at the end of spring training and after a 2 1/2-week stint with Baltimore in April.
Scott had a 3.57 ERA with 27 strikeouts and 10 walks in 22 2/3 innings with Norfolk this season, but he will need to improve upon his career 5.69 mark in the majors to stick with the Orioles this time around.
Kline, 27, making his major league debut two months ago was an uplifting story after his well-chronicled injury history in the minors, but his initial success in the majors was fleeting as he had been scored upon in five straight appearances with the Orioles before being optioned to the Baysox earlier this month. The right-hander has a 5.89 ERA in 18 1/3 innings with Baltimore this season.
Fry had been one of Hyde’s few trusted relievers all season until he’d surrendered six earned runs in his last five appearances covering 2 1/3 innings. The 26-year-old lefty owns a 4.75 ERA in 30 1/3 innings this season and wouldn’t figure to be in the minors for long.
Phillips had been recalled for his fifth stint with the Orioles Thursday before once again being sent out. He has a 7.79 ERA in 17 1/3 innings for Baltimore in 2019.
