Before playing a game for the 15th straight day, the Orioles supplied a fresh arm to their bullpen — a pitcher who was their best starter in the first half.
Ahead of Friday’s game with the Cleveland Guardians, Baltimore recalled right-hander Tyler Wells and optioned right-hander Mike Baumann. Through the All-Star break, Wells allowed the fewest base runners per inning of any American League starter, but signs of fatigue showed in three second-half starts, prompting the Orioles to option Wells to the minors. The team soon decided to convert him to a short-relief role for the rest of the season, a position in which he thrived as a rookie in 2021 before becoming a starter the next year.
Speaking with reporters for the first time since he was sent down in July, Wells said he wasn’t surprised the Orioles decided to option him, saying, “They did what’s best for the team.” He’s also embraced a return to relief, a role as he battled for a rotation spot.
“I think just pitching in a game is always exhilarating,” Wells said. “Coming into those high-leverage roles again is always enjoyable.
“I think it’s always just about perspective, how you continue to handle different situations. I think that, given the situation that we’re in right now, where we’re chasing a division title, it’s one of those things where you continue to just focus on that.”
The Orioles hope Wells has moved past his fatigue and can boost a bullpen now experiencing it. Baltimore hasn’t had a day off since Sept. 7 and has three games left before its next break. In the past four games, Orioles relievers have allowed 12 earned runs in 13 2/3 innings, including three in .
To get through this difficult stretch, the Orioles have cycled through pitchers in the final spot of their bullpen. Since Sept. 12, they have optioned Joey Krehbiel, Cole Irvin, Nick Vespi, Bryan Baker and now Baumann. Unless they serve as a corresponding move for a player going on the injured list, pitchers must spend 15 days in the minors after being optioned, leaving Baltimore limited should it need more bullpen help in the coming days. Those 15 days extend into the postseason, meaning barring an injury, Baumann wouldn’t be eligible for a wild-card round matchup should the Orioles fail to win the division, though the others would be available for all postseason play as of now.
“It’s just part of it right now,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “Just the games that we played the last — schedule maker wasn’t real kind when it comes to the offenses we’re facing, against Tampa, at Houston. That took a lot out of our guys, and that’s part of the game, and that’s part of this grind, and so sometimes you’ve got to reshuffle the bullpen a little bit and bring guys that can cover for you.”
Perhaps Wells will provide the innings the Orioles are looking for. The 29-year-old had a 3.18 ERA and 0.927 WHIP in 18 first-half outings, seemingly just falling short of an All-Star selection. After going at least five innings in each of those appearances, Wells failed to work that deeply in three second-half starts, giving up 11 runs and 22 base runners in nine innings.
At the time, Wells had already pitched his most innings since 2018 while in the Minnesota Twins’ minor league system, having missed 2019 after undergoing Tommy John elbow reconstruction and losing the 2020 minor league season to the coronavirus pandemic. After the Orioles took him in the Rule 5 draft, he briefly served as their closer and pitched 57 innings out of their bullpen, then nearly doubled that total the next year out of Baltimore’s rotation, though only five of his 23 starts came in the second half as he was slowed by injuries.
Wells’ early success this year prompted Hyde to say Friday he “might have been our best starter in the first half,” with the manager adding that the right-hander will likely get to return to the rotation next spring.
“He just ran out of gas, and it’s easy to see why,” Hyde said. “He just wasn’t built up to be a six-month starter. We felt like it was the right thing to do at that time was to shut him down a little bit, put him in the bullpen.”
After three spaced-out and shortened starts with Double-A Bowie, Wells moved into relief for Triple-A Norfolk. He allowed six runs in six innings over seven games, but Hyde said Thursday the organization was pleased with Wells’ progress and felt he could make an impact for them down the stretch. One day later, he’ll get the chance.
“We’re hoping that he can help us in kind of that back half of the game,” Hyde said. “We’re looking for guys to get outs right now. Pretty fatigued in the bullpen, and hopefully, he can give us a lift.”
Orioles sending nine minor leaguers, one coach to AFL
Last year, Orioles prospect Heston Kjerstad was the Arizona Fall League Most Valuable Player. Now, he’s making an impact in Baltimore down the stretch.
Although the organization isn’t sending a prospect of the same stature as Kjerstad — the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 draft — to the AFL this year, Baltimore will have 10 representatives, including one coach, in the league meant to give minor leaguers extended playing time.
Based on Baseball America’s rankings, outfielder John Rhodes, at No. 29, is the Orioles’ only ranked prospect who will participate in the AFL, though right-handers Carter Baumler and Carlos Tavera have been ranked in the past. Joining them on the Mesa Solar Sox are catcher Connor Pavolony, infielders TT Bowens and Billy Cook, and pitchers Trey McGough, Zach Peek and Peter Van Loon. Bowie pitching coach Forrest Herrmann is on the coaching staff for Mesa, which also will feature players from the Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics and Houston Astros’ systems on its roster.
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