Workhorse Brach rested for Blue Jays
O’s sign RHP Ondrusek to tackle lefties, designate Roe for assignment
TORONTO — Reliever Brad Brach, the Orioles’ most durable late-inning arm this season, pitched in Friday night’s series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays for his first appearance since Sunday. He wasn’t used in three home games against the Colorado Rockies and didn’t pitch in Thursday night’s 6-2 loss to the Twins in Minnesota, in which the bullpen allowed five runs in three innings.
One of manager Buck Showalter’s top priorities is keeping his bullpen fresh, and Brach has carried a heavy load this season, especially when filling in for setup man Darren O’Day during an extended stint on the disabled list. Brach has been one of the leaders in innings pitched among relievers (55), entering Friday ranked second in the American League behind Erasmo Ramirez of the Tampa Bay Rays.
“I think it’s just the waythe games have played out and I was able to get some rest,” Brach said. “Everybody knows my innings are getting up there.”
On Thursday, Showalter steered away from Brach, O’Day and closer Zach Britton. Righthander Ubaldo Jimenez left the game with a 2-1 lead before right-hander Odrisamer Despaigne allowed four runs in 11⁄ innings and right-hander Chaz Roe also struggled.
“We knew we wanted to give [Brach] two or three days off, and it worked out to get that fourth day yesterday, so he’s fine and ready to go,” Showalter said.
Brach has a 1.15 ERA, has held opponents without an earned run 40 times in 46 outings and stranded 18 of 19 inherited runners. But he allowed runs in each of his twooutings before pitching a scoreless eighth Friday. Showalter said he wasn’t saving Brach for the Toronto series. “It has nothing to do with who we’re playing,” Showalter said. “We felt Brad could use a couple of days [off ] and we gave them to him. I think we’ll get the benefit of that. It’s very hard to do what he’s been doing, especially at the rate he was doing it at.” Brad Brach O’s sign Ondrusek, designate Roe: The Orioles’ search for bullpen help against left-handed hitters took them to Japan as the team signed right-hander Logan Ondrusek to a major league contract Friday.
Ondrusek hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2014 and most recently played for the Yakult Swallows of the Japanese Central League.
To make room for him on the 25- and 40-man rosters, the Orioles designated Roe for assignment.
Ondrusek, 31, went 8-3 with a 2.17 ERA in 102 relief appearances with the Swallows over the past two seasons, including a 3-1 record and 2.45 ERA in 30 games this season. In 281 career major league relief appearances, all with the Cincinnati Reds, Ondrusek is 21-11 with a 3.89 ERA and 214 strikeouts. He was 3-3 with a 5.49 ERA in 41 innings with the Reds in 2014.
“He’s working out and ready to go,” Showalter said. “Pitched real well over there. Has a lot of experience over here in the States, too, and he’s been one of the better pitchers over there in relief.”
Ondrusek hasn’t pitched in a game in nearly a month but has been working out locally. Showalter said the club had been discussing signing Ondrusek for two to three weeks. He was in uniform for the series opener in Toronto.
“Ondrusek is a proven major league pitcher with good stuff, and we believe he can help our major league club now,” executive vice president Dan Duquette said in a statement.
Over his major league career, Ondrusek has been more effective against left-handed hitters. He’s held lefties to a .236 average, compared with a .257 average by right-handed hitters.
Since left-hander Brian Matusz was traded, the Orioles have been searching for bullpen help against left-handed hitters.
Roe, 29, went 1-0 with a 3.72 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 92⁄ innings in nine games for the Orioles this season. The team has 10 days to trade, release or place him on waivers. If he clears waivers, Roe can become a free agent because he has been outrighted previously. Around the horn: First baseman Chris Davis, who hit .138 over his 18 games before this series, batted .340 with 15 doubles, 17 home runs and 40 RBIs in 44 career games at Rogers Centre before going 0-for-4 Friday. … Showalter said several players are still dealing with a flu bug that has lingered in the clubhouse since the All-Star break. “About half our team’s still got that stuff,” Showalter said.