BALTIMORE — Already playing with a 24-man roster in the midst of Manny Machado’s suspension, the Orioles couldn’t afford to be a man short in the bullpen with lefty Brian Duensing dealing with an elbow problem.
As a result, Baltimore recalled right-handed relief pitcher Oliver Drake from Triple-A Norfolk prior to Tuesday’s series opener with the San Diego Padres. To make room on the active roster, veteran infielder Paul Janish was outrighted to Norfolk and will decide over the next few days whether to accept the assignment or to refuse and become a free agent.
The move opens a spot on the 40-man roster, an interesting development with manager Buck Showalter and the Orioles still weighing their options for Wednesday’s start.
Showalter said Duensing was having his elbow examined Tuesday afternoon after the Orioles were made aware of the issue early in Monday night’s makeup game against Texas. His absence would leave the Orioles without a left-hander beyond closer Zach Britton in the bullpen, but Showalter noted that both Drake and right-hander Brad Brach are effective against lefty bats.
Named the International League Pitcher of the Week on Monday, Drake has performed very well for the Tides, posting a 2.02 ERA with 10 saves over 27 games this season. The 29-year-old hadn’t surrendered an earned run over his last 14 innings, totaling 25 strikeouts over that stretch.
Thanks in large part to his effective splitter, left-handed hitters were batting just .133 against Drake this season.
Drake made his major league debut for Baltimore last May and posted a 2.87 ERA in 13 appearances as a rookie. Right-handers posted a .324 average against him while lefty bats sported a .167 clip in 29 plate appearances.
The 33-year-old Janish went 6-for-31 with a double and three runs scored in 14 games with the Orioles this season. Norfolk infielder Sharlon Schoop, the older brother of Jonathan Schoop, remains on the “taxi squad” in case the Orioles need an infielder for Wednesday’s game.
NOTES: In the latest American League All-Star game voting update, Machado continues to lead the way among third basemen. Mark Trumbo is fourth among outfielders, Matt Wieters second among catchers, and Chris Davis third among first basemen. Adam Jones is 13th in the AL outfielder voting. … Showalter said there are as many as five candidates in play to make Wednesday’s start. The in-house options would presumably be relievers Odrisamer Despaigne and Ubaldo Jimenez, but their availability was dependent on how Tuesday’s game played out. … The Baltimore bullpen entered Tuesday ranked second in the majors with a 3.00 ERA and is tied for 10th in the majors in innings pitched.
