The Orioles’ search for reliable arms has lasted all year, with some success stories and several misses along the way. They might have found one in Chris Ellis.

The club is preparing to give Ellis an extended look in their rotation after the right-hander was sharp against the Blue Jays on Monday, keeping them in the game for the first half of their 7-3 loss in Toronto. It was the Orioles’ third impressive look at Ellis this month, after he blanked them in a four-inning relief appearance as a member of the Rays. Acquired on waivers days later, Ellis then held opponents to four runs in 7 2/3 innings across two abbreviated starts in Baltimore’s rotation.

“He did everything we could’ve asked him to do tonight,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “He went through the lineup twice. We were thinking about the 75-pitch range if everything worked out great, and it did.”

The latest example came Monday, when Ellis retired his first eight batters before finding himself in a two-on, two-out jam in the third. He wiggled free by retiring Marcus Semien, then set down five of his final six hitters after allowing Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s solo homer to lead off the fourth. All told, the 4 2/3 innings were a second serviceable outing in Ellis’ second career start, one that figures to keep him in the mix down the stretch. Toronto rallied for six runs later off Baltimore’s 'pen; all of the Orioles’ runs involved Ryan Mountcastle, who socked his 25th homer in the first, singled home a run in the sixth and scored in the ninth.

“It’s been a weird year for me. I’m just trying to make quality pitches for as long as they’ll let me,” Ellis said. “I’m kind of just going out there and trying to let it rip in the zone.”

The Orioles have an additional rotation hole to fill after optioning right-hander Spenser Watkins over the weekend, with Jorge López now in the bullpen and Bruce Zimmermann’s return questionable due to a sprained right ankle. Their depth includes rookie left-hander Alexander Wells and No. 10 prospect Michael Baumann, who is pitching to a 2.14 ERA at Triple-A Norfolk. They also have swingmen Thomas Eshelman, Ryan Hartman and Dean Kremer at Triple-A; Major League rosters expand to 28 on Wednesday.

Ellis, who turns 29 next month, fits more the swingman mold and is far from the first the Orioles have claimed off waivers and given a shot during their rebuild. But his early returns have been better than most. This after Ellis, a third-round Draft pick of the Angels in 2014, bounced between six organizations and made 179 appearances in the Minors.

“I’m extremely blessed to be in this situation,” Ellis said. “I’ve bounced around a lot, had some good years, had some bad years. Now that I’m here, I’m extremely grateful Hyde has given me the opportunity to take the ball every fifth day so far. I’m extremely fortunate, and I’m just trying to make the best of my opportunity here.”

Musical (OF) chairs
Speaking of Norfolk, the Orioles recalled outfielder Ryan McKenna in one of two moves Monday that brings a new element to their outfield group. Baltimore has been treating left field as a quasi-platoon between Austin Hays and DJ Stewart in recent weeks; there should be room for McKenna to get playing time as a defensive replacement/pinch-runner late in games and an additional right-handed option off the bench, with Anthony Santander still playing through nagging ankle issues. McKenna started in center field for Cedric Mullins (off-day) Monday, striking out in all three plate appearances.

“An extra bench player is important right now,” Hyde said. “We’re going to be facing quite a few left-handers here shortly. … To be able to give guys a break will be important.”

This is the seventh stint into the Majors this year for McKenna, who has made the biggest difference on the bases and in the field while hitting .202 with a homer in 64 games. His return crowds the Orioles' outfield at the doorstep of September. With rosters set to expand to 28, it’s hard to imagine Baltimore calling up an outfielder with McKenna and four others already in the fold, which probably means former top prospect Yusniel Diaz spends the rest of the season at Triple-A Norfolk. McKenna was outplaying Diaz at Norfolk, hitting .333 there this month. Diaz entered Monday hitting .164 in 33 games at the level.