Orioles keep bullpen fresh for game 162, recall right handed depth reliever

With just one game left in the 2024 season, the Orioles have made one final roster move to keep the bullpen fresh ahead of the start of Tuesday's AL Wild Card series. Baltimore has recalled right handed reliever Colin Selby, who will almost certainly see time on the mound in Sunday's matchup against the Twins.

Selby was a bit of a reclamation project after pitching poorly and getting designated for assignment by the Royals earlier this year. The Orioles acquired him for cash considerations back in early July, after the DFA, and he pitched well enough in a small sample in Baltimore.

Things didn't go quite as smoothly during his time in Triple-A Norfolk, but Selby does have the ability to run high strikeout rates and keep runs off the board. Despite getting a bit unlucky with the Tides, Selby posted a 2.69 FIP across 18 outings, so there are definitely positive signs here.

Whether Selby will have success this afternoon is unknown, and it's pretty unlikely that he'll see time with the Orioles in the postseason. Because he's so untested at the major league level, is not likely that Brandon Hyde would want to turn to Selby in a high leverage spot in the Wild Card round, though stranger things have obviously happened.

Orioles shuffle bullpen arms around prior to game 162

In the corresponding move for Selby, the Orioles have optioned lefty Tucker Davidson back down to the minors. Davidson was recalled ahead of Saturday's matchup with the Twins and he was called on to pitch in the early going.

Davidson performed admirably, throwing 4.2 innings of scoreless ball while allowing 4 hits, 2 walks, ang getting 1 strikeout. The lefty was credited with the win in what will be his lone MLB appearance on the year.

It's unclear what the future holds for Davidson, at least in terms of his future with the Orioles organization. He pitched well enough in a hybrid role at Triple-A this year but he hasn't had much success in the majors across parts of 5 seasons.

If the Orioles do choose to retain him, it'll almost certainly be in a minor league capacity. He could theoretically stick around on the O's 40-man roster for a little while but it would be surprising to see him on the 40-man come Opening Day 2025.