O’s continue ’pen shuffle
Wilson to Norfolk, Despaigne brought up
In optioning right-hander Tyler Wilson out of the bullpen to Triple-A Norfolk, summoning Odrisamer Despaigne in his place and optioning Despaigne to Norfolk after Saturday’s game to open up a roster spot for a reliever, the Orioles continued an inconvenient shuffle of managing long relief while still trying to keep their bullpen strong on the back end.
Manager Buck Showalter had to use Ubaldo Jimenez, Wilson and Vance Worley in Friday’s 15-8 loss, and said in the case of Jimenez, the difficulty lies in finding the right time and game situation to use long relief.
“You always hope there’s not a need for a long reliever,” Showalter said. “You hope guys may start out that way, but you hope they evolve into more — what do you call them — higher leverage situations. Last night, that was a high-leverage situation, he and Tyler. The pecking order is tough because I know I’ve only got one optionable guy with Tyler, and I don’t want to get through that game and not use him and need a pitcher, and I knew I was trying to hold a guy for [Saturday]. And you have people you’ve got to back up if he can’t get anybody out or has trouble, what are you going to do? Trying to pick spots for him? The more they pitch well, the more spots you have. It’s hard to do.”
Since losing his rotation spot, Jimenez has pitched three times. He earned his first career save sealing a blowout win with three scoreless innings Aug. 7 at the Chicago White Sox, but has allowed five runs on six hits with six walks in five innings over his past two appearances.
He entered Friday with the Orioles trailing 6-5, and took the loss after allowing three runs in three innings. Since the All-Star break, Jimenez has made one start and four relief appearances over the team’s 35 games — an incredibly light workload — but he hangs on to a roster spot because the team will owe him $13.5 million next season regardless.
All three long relievers had their problems following starter Wade Miley on Friday night, but Worley told Showalter he was available Saturday and Wilson was optioned for Despaigne.
Despaigne spent nearly two months with the Orioles this season, posting a 4.81 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP in 241⁄3 innings (15 appearances) in his first stint with the Orioles, and going 1-7 with a 3.45 ERA in 15 starts for Norfolk. He allowed four runs in three innings Saturday before being sent back down.
“We have to be prepared. We don’t expect it, but you have to be ready for it if Chris [Tillman] warms up tonight and there’s an issue,” Showalter said. Wieters on paternity list: Catcher Matt Wieters went on the paternity list Saturday, spending all day with his wife, Maria, while she was in labor with their second child. Caleb Joseph started in his place Saturday, with catcher Francisco Pena added to the roster from Norfolk to back him up.
“He will miss tonight’s game and be on paternity leave at least tonight, and I would say tomorrow probably for sure, too, if you go by the last addition to the Wieters family,” Showalter said Saturday. “It might take a while, but I’ve been told that doesn’t mean the next one will. I wish them well. A big day in their lives.”
Saturday marks Pena’s second call-up this season. He filled in for Joseph for much of June and hit a home run in his first game as an Oriole. In nine games, he batted .219 and threw out three of the six runners who attempted to steal against him.
Pena said Saturday that the time spent with the club in spring training and the month in the big leagues had a positive effect on him.
“During spring training, I caught all these guys, but doing it here at the major league level has boosted my confidence a little bit more,” Pena said. “I think it’ll help me a lot.” Around the horn: The Orioles signed outfielder Chris Dickerson to a minor league deal and assigned him to Double-A Bowie, the Baysox announced. … Showalter said left-hander Brian Duensing (left elbow surgery) has his rehabilitation schedule mapped out for a return around the roster expansion date of Sept. 1, with one-inning stints in the Gulf Coast League on Monday and Wednesday, then two-inning appearances scheduled for Saturday and Aug. 30 at Bowie. … A decision on whether to activate left-hander T.J. McFarland (left knee) off the major league disabled list and add him to the roster or option him to the minors could be made after his next appearance, Showalter said. Baltimore Sun reporter Peter Schmuck contributed to this article.