MILWAUKEE — Andrew Kittredge made his Orioles debut on Wednesday.

The Orioles activated the 35- year-old right-handed reliever before the series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers. Pitcher Chayce McDermott, who allowed three runs in 4 2/3 innings in Baltimore’s 5-2 loss on Tuesday, was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk in a corresponding move.

Kittredge underwent surgery to remove cartilage in his left knee in March, two months after signing a one-year, $10 million deal with the Orioles that included a team option for 2026. He first felt an issue warming up in the bullpen for a spring training outing.

Now back in the clubhouse, Kittredge said he’s ready to go. “I shouldn’t have any limitations,” he said.

His first time taking the mound in orange and black lasted one sharp inning of relief in Wednesday’s 8-4 win, mixing his sinker and slider. Kittredge went three- up, three-down with one strikeout of Caleb Durbin, who was responsible for the game-tying RBI single in the ninth inning. That strikeout was sandwiched by a groundout and flyout.

He induced one whiff on four swings against his slider. And the sinker maxed out at 94.5 mph.

Kittredge made six appearances during his minor league rehabilitation assignment — one in High-A Aberdeen and five in Triple-A Norfolk. Over that span, he allowed one run with two walks and four strikeouts.

One of the league’s best setup men when healthy over the past four seasons, Kittredge hopes he can bring a consistent presence to Baltimore’s bullpen, a unit with the sixth-highest ERA in baseball.

“Just a steady guy that’s been through a lot of big games, lot of big innings for a long time,” interim manager Tony Mansolino said. “A lot of moments for a long time in the game. … We’re just excited to have him in the fold.”

Kittredge posted a 3.65 ERA with 15 saves for the Tampa Bay Rays between 2017 and 2023. Last summer, he had a 2.80 ERA and one save in 74 games with the St. Louis Cardinals and set a franchise record with 37 holds.

This rehab was less taxing than his last. Kittredge had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in 2022 while with the Rays. That experience in his back pocket and a shorter return timeline for his knee helped soften the frustration of an early-season setback.

“I think we’re ahead of schedule a little bit,” Kittredge said of his rehab. “I just kind of followed the program. I didn’t really have an expectation for a timeline. It was more just do the rehab and kind of follow doctor’s orders.”

McDermott struggled with his command in Tuesday night’s loss, the third outing of his MLB career. “It was bad,” he said. “I’m just gonna be honest.”

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