Orioles agree to extension with Yennier Cano

Kittredge blew a save against his former team in the bottom of the ninth but then got a win after Rays closer Bryan Baker allowed the automatic runner to score in the 10th, resulting in a loss to his former team. Cam Sanders worked the bottom of the 10th and ended up with his second save in two days for the Orioles, though he’s still probably behind at least Yennier Cano and Kittredge on Baltimore’s closing depth chart. Cano had this one off after throwing 24 pitches last night.

Cano was the choice to close over Andrew Kittredge with Tyler Wells gone to Tampa Bay, and he pitched the better of the two, as Kittredge gave up the Angels’ lone run of the game in the eighth. It looks like Cano, who just signed a two-year extensin on Friday, will be the better pickup in mixed leagues.

Andrew Kittredge had the save chance in a 3-0 game tonight with Ryan Helsley unavailable, but he gave up a homer and a walk while recording one out. Cano took over with Mookie Betts up and immediately generated a double play ball, only for third baseman Coby Mayo to botch the play and wind up with no outs. Mayo next retired Alex Freeland, but then Leody Taveras had a game-ending fly to right bounce off his glove for an error, making the score 3-2. Still undaunted, Cano struck out Kyle Tucker to end the contest afterwards. It was his first save of the year, but we’d give him two, just for how much the defense let him down. Helsley will likely be back in the closer’s role on Sunday.

Cano loaded the bases in the eighth inning before coming out of the contest. It certainly sounds like a potential injured list situation.

We’re wishing Helsley and his family the best. It’s unclear how long the Orioles will be without their closer, but he will certainly miss Wednesday’s game. Rico Garcia has also pitched in each of the last two games, so it might be Yennier Cano who gets called on if there is a save opportunity on Wednesday.

This could be a change to help unlock more strikeout upside for Cano. In his 208 2/3 MLB innings, he has just a 23.2 percent strikeout rate, which is well below average for a late-inning reliever. The splitter adds more depth and drop, which could be useful for Cano, whose changeup ran in on right-handed hitters similarly to his sinker. The splitter could play well off the four-seam fastball and give him more swing-and-miss.

Cano struggled to a 5.12 ERA in 58 innings last year, but he’s still a strong groundball pitcher with a decent strikeout rate and his .335 BABIP last year wasn’t all his fault. He’ll contend for a setup role in the Baltimore pen, but since he does have two option years left, he’s not promised anything.

Keegan Akin had recorded the final out in the eighth and started the ninth with a two-run lead over the Blue Jays. He recorded one out and was replaced by Cano with a runner on. Cano surrendered three straight hits that would tie the game before Alejandro Kirk knocked in the walk-off run with a sacrifice fly, charging Cano with a blown save and his seventh loss.

Pham’s homer started the ninth. Cano rebounded to retire the next two batters, but he was then replaced by Keegan Akin with lefty Oneil Cruz coming up. Akin went on to walk two before finishing the inning, and the Orioles eventually won in 11. Akin still seems like the favorite for saves in Baltimore, but no one is a great bet there right now.

Cano fanned Will Wagner and Fernando Tatis Jr. before getting a routine grounder from Luis Arraez to end it. This was Cano’s first real save chance since Félix Bautista went down and the Orioles made their deadline deals. He has a 5.07 ERA and a 47/24 K/BB for the year, and he’ll probably continue to take a backseat to Keegan Akin for the most part.