How will O's resolve pitching logjam?

This story was excerpted from Jake Rill’s Orioles Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

BALTIMORE -- The Orioles optioned Tyler Wells to Double-A Bowie on July 30, hoping to get the 28-year-old right-hander closer to the first-half version of himself (a 3.18 ERA over 18 outings) than the version who started slow in the second half (an 11.00 ERA over three starts).

As it turns out, the O’s may instead get something closer to the 2021 version of Wells when he returns to the big leagues -- which could be soon.

Wells has been transferred to Triple-A Norfolk, where he’s scheduled to pitch in relief on Wednesday night. The new goal? Bring the righty back to Baltimore to boost the bullpen.

“We’re going to shorten his outings a little bit,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “Have him throw less pitches and less innings and see how that goes, but we’re really encouraged. By giving him some rest, giving him some time off, he’s thrown the ball much better here as of late.”

During his time in Bowie, Wells made three starts, each of which were planned short outings:

Aug. 5 vs. Portland: 3 1/3 innings, one run, 53 pitches (35 strikes)
Aug. 12 at Richmond: 3 1/3 innings, one run, 60 pitches (42 strikes)
Saturday vs. Altoona: Two innings, one run, 27 pitches (18 strikes)

The third outing appeared to be most indicative of how Wells may be used. Including his time in the Minors, the righty has already thrown 122 1/3 innings in 2023, exceeding his previous career high by three.

So it makes sense why the Orioles want to keep the long-term future in mind by not pushing Wells’ arm too far. Plus, he has experience pitching out of the bullpen. As a Rule 5 player in 2021, Wells posted a 4.11 ERA in 44 relief appearances in his first year in Baltimore. He even finished the season as the team’s closer, recording four saves that September.

The O’s had no trouble finding a spot in their bullpen for Wells that entire ‘21 season, when they were required to keep him on the active roster. Times have changed in Baltimore, though, and Wells’ impending return will further add to an imminent pitching logjam.

Entering Wednesday’s game vs. the Blue Jays, the Orioles had six pitchers in their rotation and seven in their bullpen:

Starters: Kyle Bradish, Jack Flaherty, Kyle Gibson, Dean Kremer, Cole Irvin, Grayson Rodriguez
Relievers: Félix Bautista, Yennier Cano, Shintaro Fujinami, Cionel Pérez, Nick Vespi, Austin Voth, Jacob Webb

Vespi is in the most jeopardy of being optioned. He’s shuttled between Triple-A and the Majors all year and has a 6.35 ERA over four outings in his current stint. But he’s likely to be replaced by a fellow left-hander: Danny Coulombe, the Orioles’ top southpaw reliever who should soon return from left biceps tendinitis after making his first rehab appearance for Norfolk on Tuesday.

At that point, Baltimore will still have to figure out how to get Wells onto its pitching staff.

And John Means, who has made three rehab starts amid his recovery from Tommy John surgery and could return by early September -- possibly as a reliever rather than a starter.

And maybe DL Hall, the club’s No. 10 prospect per MLB Pipeline who is thriving in a relief role at Triple-A this month (a 2.70 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings) and was a valuable addition to the Orioles’ bullpen last September.

“We’re gearing him up to, hopefully, help out of the bullpen,” general manager Mike Elias said of Hall during the MASN broadcast of Tuesday’s game vs. the Blue Jays. “I think it could be what the doctor ordered if he comes up and looks the way he’s capable.”

Rosters expand from 26 players to 28 on Sept. 1, but only one of those additional spots can go to a pitcher, capping the number of hurlers allowed at 14.

In terms of the bullpen picture, Bautista and Cano are locked in. Coulombe (when he returns) and Pérez likely aren’t going anywhere. Webb (7 2/3 scoreless innings in eight appearances since he was claimed from the Angels on Aug. 7) is making a strong case to stay. Voth (reinstated from the IL Wednesday) can bring value in long relief.

If the Orioles stick with a six-man rotation to preserve the arms of several of their young starters over the final month, that could leave only two spots in the bullpen available for the following group: Fujinami, Wells, Means, Hall and potentially Mike Baumann (who was optioned to Triple-A on Wednesday despite having a 3.82 ERA in 56 appearances for Baltimore this season).

Tough pitching decisions may be coming for Baltimore. But of course, having this much pitching depth is a good problem to sort through amid a pennant race.