Orioles put reliever Mychal Givens back on IL, call Baltimore-area native Bruce Zimmermann – The Denver Post

The Orioles brought back Mychal Givens to provide a veteran presence to their bullpen. His availability in her continues to be limited.

After the 33-year-old right-hander spent most of the first two months of the season on the injured list with inflammation in his left knee, inflammation in his right shoulder sent him back to the IL for 15 days.

In four innings this season since his May 21 activation, Givens, who signed a one-year contract this winter after pitching for Baltimore from 2015-2020, has walked six and allowed six runs (five earned). His average fastball speed, according to Baseball Savant, was 91.7 mph, down 3 mph from two seasons ago.

Manager Brandon Hyde said Friday before the Orioles begin a three-game road series with the San Francisco Giants that Givens had not had an MRI and the team’s hope was that it would be healthy enough to activate in the minimum number of days.

“I think he just felt it a bit after his last outing; I don’t know if it’s been a recurring thing,” Hyde said. “But hopefully he can rest and have time to heal and help us when he gets out of IL.”

Left-hander Bruce Zimmermann, from Ellicott City, will take Givens’ place on the roster. The 28-year-old has had stints with the Orioles the past three seasons — with a 5.65 ERA in 31 games, including 27 starts — and has a 4.05 ERA in nine starts this year with Triple- In Norfolk. Baltimore’s rotation lacks a fifth starter, but Hyde said Zimmermann will come out of the bullpen, offering length after the Orioles relievers were taxed in a 12-8 loss to the Cleveland Guardians Wednesday. Hyde also said another southpaw would come in handy against San Francisco’s “balanced” offense.

With a day off Monday, the Orioles could theoretically use their four starters — Dean Kremer, Kyle Bradish, Tyler Wells and Kyle Gibson — on regular rest without a fifth starter until June 11 against the Kansas City Royals.

“To be able to have someone who can give us some length out of the bullpen, I think is important,” Hyde said. “Bruce threw the ball well there [in Triple-A] and knows the big leagues, has been here with us for the past two years.

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