The Orioles shook up their roster again before today’s game, and Dean Kremer is back in the mix.
Baltimore reinstated Kremer from the 60-day injured list this morning, a move that forced the club to make two corresponding adjustments. Trey Gibson was sent to Triple-A Norfolk after last night’s start, and catcher Dom Keegan was designated for assignment to clear a spot on the 40-man roster.
Kremer had been sidelined after straining his right quadriceps muscle while working out following his April 18 start, his second with the Orioles. He had been optioned at the end of spring training before the injury hit.
The right-hander draws a favorable recent history against Chicago. In four career starts against the White Sox, Kremer is 3-0 with a 1.54 ERA. Andrew Benintendi is 1-for-10 against him, while Kyle Teels is 2-for-3 with a homer.
There’s also been a noticeable change in Kremer’s pitch mix. His splitter usage has jumped from 20.9 percent last season to 42.3, though the sample is still small.
Gibson’s night against the White Sox went sideways fast. He allowed eight runs in 2 2/3 innings, and now he can slide back into Norfolk’s rotation. Left-hander Josh Walker was also optioned after pitching in the first two games of the series, with Cameron Weston brought back up in his place.
Weston already has one big-league appearance under his belt. He made his major league debut on May 28 against the Blue Jays and worked a scoreless inning with a walk and a strikeout.
Keegan’s stay in the organization took another turn over the weekend. The Orioles claimed him on waivers from the Rays and initially optioned him to Double-A Chesapeake before this latest roster move.
Baltimore enters the day nine games under .500 and five games out of the Wild Card picture, while still sitting a half-game ahead of last-place Boston.
Chicago also made a change on the mound. Rookie left-hander Noah Schultz, a first-round pick in 2022, was reinstated from the injured list this morning after missing about five weeks with right knee patellar tendinitis.
Schultz has struggled in eight starts, putting up a 5.82 ERA while walking 22 batters in 38 2/3 innings. Left-handers have hit .148/.303/.185 against him, and right-handers have produced .232/.346/.446.
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