Mound work puts spring in Britton’s step
Closer making progress; makeup to be part of May 12 doubleheader
Orioles closer Zach Britton threw off a full mound Tuesday for the first time in his rehabilitation from surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon, a step that essentially starts the baseball part of his rehabilitation in earnest.
“He had the half-mound [Friday], he had the [pitcher fielding practice], so that was the next step,” manager Buck Showalter said. “That went well today. That slope is a big step for guys with injuries. ... If you think in terms of spring training, it’s like the first day of spring training today.”
Showalter, asked whether Britton’s quick progress is making the team rue placing him on the 60-day disabled list and thus make him ineligible to return until at least May 28, said there is no regret. The team is targeting a return around June 1 assuming no setbacks.
“I think you make a real mistake of trying to take that at a different pace than a lot of examples have shown the pace should be,” Showalter said. “We would have signed up in blood for somewhere after May 28, or shortly thereafter — especially if you look at all the history of other guys, and especially after the doctors told us when they went in there.” Zach Britton Postponement details: Tuesday night’s series opener between the Orioles and the visiting Tampa Bay Rays was postponed because of a bad weather forecast, with the game rescheduled as part of a Saturday, May 12, doubleheader.
That day will feature a single-admission doubleheader at 3:05 p.m., with the second game starting 30 minutes after the first ends. Tickets for Tuesday’s game will not be honored for that game and must be exchanged for another 2018 home date. Existing tickets for the previously scheduled 7:05 p.m. game May 12 will be good for entry to the 3:05 p.m. game that day. Ballpark gates will open at 2 p.m., and parking lots will open at 1:30 p.m.
Fans who purchased tickets on StubHub for Tuesday’s game will need to contact StubHub regarding its policy for postponed events.
The Rays and Orioles have two more games on the books this week, Wednesday and Thursday nights, though the rain that’s set to begin Tuesday night is expected to continue all through Wednesday. Each team pushed back its respective starting pitchers one day, meaning the Orioles’ Alex Cobb will face Jacob Faria on Wednesday and Dylan Bundy will pitch opposite Chris Archer on Thursday.
If the Orioles choose, they can skip struggling right-hander Chris Tillman on Friday and start Andrew Cashner on regular rest against the visiting Detroit Tigers. Trumbo stays out of rain: Orioles outfielder-designated hitter Mark Trumbo went 1-for-3 with a walk Monday on his rehab assignment at Double-A Bowie, but didn’t drive south Tuesday because of the weather. Bowie’s game was ultimately postponed, but not before Trumbo got in early batting practice at Camden Yards.
“There’s just too many factors, the field conditions and the possibility of playing in the rain — I think we felt like and he felt like we could get closer to being active by doing his work here today, even though it will count as a day of the rehab,” Showalter said. “But we think we have enough time there.”
Showalter added that Trumbo felt upbeat about the game Monday, making the team optimistic that his return is imminent. He’s scheduled to play in Bowie’s morning game Wednesday, weather permitting, before joining Triple-A Norfolk in Charlotte on Friday. It’s unclear whether Trumbo will travel west with the Orioles as they begin a six-game swing against the Los Angeles Angels and Oakland Athletics on Tuesday. Bullpen is fresh: The Orioles will come out of Tuesday’s impromptu day off with their bullpen in good shape.
Mike Wright Jr. and Pedro Araujo each last pitched Thursday with Darren O’Day last on the mound Friday. Left-hander Tanner Scott and right-hander Mychal Givens each most recently pitched Saturday, while Brad Brach and Miguel Castro last pitched Sunday. The Orioles needed one inning of relief Monday, from Richard Bleier, thanks to Kevin Gausman’s eight innings.
Each start in the Cleveland series went at least six innings.