The Orioles could make multiple roster moves today before beginning their four-game series against the Blue Jays.
A source confirmed that second baseman Connor Norby and left-hander Nick Vespi are joining the club in Toronto. They boarded the same flight out of D.C. as three beat writers who first laid eyes on them.
The 40-man roster has an opening for Norby if the Orioles select his contract from Triple-A Norfolk, and they can create two more spots later by transferring pitchers John Means and Tyler Wells to the 60-day injured list.
Norby has appeared in 51 games, missing a week with a left wrist injury, and is batting .286/.374/.510 with 17 doubles, a triple, nine home runs and 36 RBIs in 238 plate appearances. He’s made 18 starts in left field and 15 in right, as well as 12 at second base.
The Orioles selected Norby in the second round of the 2021 draft out of East Carolina. He’d give the Orioles a right-handed bat and some versatility, the movement necessary with Jackson Holliday making most of the starts at second base.
MLB Pipeline ranks Norby as the No. 6 prospect in the system.
Jorge Mateo is in concussion protocol and undergoing further testing. Norby could replace him on the active roster or just be with the team in case he’s needed.
Ramón Urías was limping yesterday after being hit on the foot but he stayed in the game.
Vespi would be recalled for the fourth time this season. He’s made only one appearance and tossed a scoreless inning.
Vespi has posted a 2.91 ERA in 13 games with Norfolk.
Because he hasn’t been down the minimum 15 days, Vespi can only replace an injured player. The Orioles could swap Vespi for Mateo if the infielder goes on the seven-day concussion IL, and substitute Norby for an optioned reliever.
The bullpen could use a fresh arm. Dillon Tate has worked back-to-back days and was stretched yesterday to 1 1/3 innings and 28 pitches.
Meanwhile, Ryan Mountcastle is a career .322/.384/.600 hitter against the Blue Jays with 12 doubles, 15 home runs and 43 RBIs in 54 games. He’s slashing .333/.404/.642 with seven doubles, six home runs and 21 RBIs in 22 games at Rogers Centre.
Adley Rutschman is slashing .347/.429/.614 with 10 doubles, eight home runs and 24 RBIs in 32 games against the Blue Jays and .297/.395/.500 with four doubles, three home runs and 13 RBIs in 16 games at Rogers Centre.
Grayson Rodriguez is making his 10th start after going 5-2 with a 3.53 ERA and 1.333 WHIP in 51 innings. He’s made three starts against the Blue Jays as a rookie and allowed eight runs in 16 2/3 innings.
George Springer is 2-for-7 with a home run against him.
The Orioles are 14-0-5 in their last 19 division series. They went 6-1 in Toronto last summer but have never swept a four-game set at Rogers Centre.
The Blue Jays are 28-30 and tied with the Rays for last place in the division. They split two games with the Orioles last month at Camden Yards, with a rainout in between. They swept the Orioles in a four-game series in Toronto in 2018.
Former Orioles first-round draft pick Kevin Gausman is 4-3 with a 4.14 ERA and 1.362 WHIP this season in 11 starts. He’s surrendered only five home runs in 54 1/3 innings.
Gausman has registered three quality starts in a row since allowing six earned runs (seven total) and 10 hits in three innings versus the Twins. He’s allowed two runs and seven hits with 13 strikeouts in his last two starts, in Detroit and Chicago, totaling 12 innings.
In five career starts against the Orioles, Gausman has gone 1-3 with a 4.61 ERA and 1.427 WHIP over 27 1/3 innings. Mountcastle is 6-for-14 with a double, Austin Hays is 5-for-11 with a double and Cedric Mullins is 5-for-12 with a double.
Anthony Santander is 2-for-12 with two home runs and five strikeouts.
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