Baltimore

Orioles

Basallo wound up being involved in a bizarre play where he flew out to deep center field with runners at the corners in the eighth inning and Blaze Alexander was tagged out at second base for an inning-ending double play before a run crossed the plate. Orioles manager Craig Albernaz told reporters earlier on Monday that Basallo has been playing through a lingering wrist issue that they’re optimistic won’t require surgery. He’s day-to-day moving forward.

Alexander made things interesting by socking a run-scoring single into left field off Mariners reliever Eduard Bazardo in the eighth inning. The 26-year-old utility specialist has put together an encouraging Orioles debut, hitting .286/.340/.400 with two homers, 18 RBI and seven steals through 56 games.

Gibson drew the starting assignment in place of an injured Chris Bassitt (back) and managed to keep Baltimore within striking distance into the middle innings. He failed to record a strikeout and issued one walk. He carried a shutout into the fifth inning before finally giving up a run and departing with a pair of runners on-base. Unfortunately, reliever Anthony Nunez walked Julio Rodríguez before coughing up a grand slam to Josh Naylor that ostensibly put this one away for good. Gibson is an interesting long-term prospect, but he holds a pedestrian 4.24 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 5/8 K/BB ratio across 17 innings this season. He’ll get the ball against the struggling Padres on Saturday if he stays in Baltimore’s rotation.

Gibson is one of the more intriguing young arms in the game but he’s posted a 3.65 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and 5/7 K/BB ratio across 12 1/3 innings at the highest level this season. The 24-year-old prospect is not a recommended streaming option against the Blue Jays in a challenging road matchup in Canada.

Bautista is facing a long road back from last year’s shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum and rotator cuff, but he’s on track to make it back to Baltimore’s bullpen at some point in the second half. He’ll likely split the closing duties with Ryan Helsley, in the event that both are healthy, and form one of the best late-inning tandem’s in the game.

It’s presumably the final checkmark before Helsley heads out on a minor league rehab assignment. The flame-throwing 31-year-old closer has been on the shelf recovering from elbow inflammation since late April. He’ll need a handful of tune-up outings in order to get back up to speed, especially given the lengthy layoff, but he’s trending towards a mid-June return. Rico Garcia will continue handling save situations for the Orioles in his absence.

Orioles manager Craig Albernaz told reporters Basallo is dealing with a left wrist issue that he’s been playing through for some time. He added that he doesn’t believe it will require surgery. There’s no indication he’ll require a trip to the injured list at this time. Basallo will receive some extra time off following his involvement in a home-plate collision during Sunday’s series finale against the Blue Jays that led to his early exit from the contest. The 21-year-old former top prospect also missed time earlier in the series with an abdominal issue. There’s a lot to unpack here. It’ll be Sam Huff handling the catching duties with Adley Rutschman also receiving a day off.

Gibson allowed five runs on 13 hits in 12 1/3 innings in his first three appearances with the Orioles this season. That came with a 5/7 K/BB ratio, which makes us a little hesitant to use him in most fantasy leagues right now.

Bassitt left his start on Wednesday after just 56 pitches, and there was some skepticism that he’d be able to make his next start. The Orioles seem to have given him every chance to be ready to start tonight, but it won’t happen. The 37-year-old will miss at least one more turn through the rotation and possibly more

Basallo was already dealing with abdominal discomfort coming into the game. Consider him questionable for Monday’s game against the Mariners.