The Orioles will not get back to full strength ahead of the postseason, considering how many players are out for the year, but they are receiving an additional reinforcement for the final stretch of the season.
Baltimore is activating left-hander Danny Coulombe from the 60-day injured list, manager Brandon Hyde announced Friday. The move gives the Orioles one of their most reliable bullpen options again.
Coulombe underwent elbow surgery in mid-June to repair bone spurs. Before that injury, Coulombe had a 2.42 ERA with a 0.62 WHIP.
“Danny was a huge part of our success in the first half and great to have him back,” manager Brandon Hyde said.
There’s no guarantee he will return immediately to that form, given the time he missed, but it’s a positive development nonetheless.
“We’re in a sprint right now, so the best I can,” Hyde said when asked how he can incorporate Coulombe after a long absence. “We’ll see how the game plays out, but it’s nice to have him back.”
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Coulombe had completed three rehab outings before this activation. In 2 2/3 innings for Triple-A Norfolk recently, Coulombe allowed two hits and struck out two batters.
Right-hander Burch Smith will be placed on the injured list with a groin strain. Hyde said Smith began feeling discomfort in his adductor muscle after he pitched two scoreless innings Tuesday. The injured list placement is retroactive to Sept. 18.
Hyde also said right-hander Grayson Rodriguez will throw a side session Friday; Rodriguez has yet to throw to hitters. There’s limited time for Rodriguez to face hitters in a rehab outing, if that is still in the cards. Norfolk’s season ends this weekend.
In addition, first baseman Ryan Mountcastle (sprained left wrist) will begin a rehab assignment with Norfolk on Friday. Mountcastle has been absent since late August and his injury has left a gap in the lineup, along with injuries to infielders Ramón Urías and Jordan Westburg. Urías and Westburg are also on rehab assignments with the Tides, so their returns could happen soon.
Still, with nine games remaining in the regular season, there will be limited time for those players to get their timing back.
“They’re going to go back in there,” Hyde said. “Trying to win every game and they’re all getting at-bats. Mounty’s getting at-bats; he’s starting tonight in Norfolk. Ramón and Westy got them yesterday. We’re evaluating those guys every day, but those two guys took good at-bats yesterday, and we’ll see how it goes.”
