Bundy works simulated game
Starter refines his pitch repertoire; Cashner set to make debut Sunday
Sarasota, Fla. — Orioles right-hander Dylan Bundy pitched four innings in a simulated game Wednesday instead of showing his pitch repertoire to a division rival, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t take it as seriously as he would a real start.
“I don’t know what other guys do, but for me it’s a chance to get a certain pitch count that we want and we can control how many pitches per inning,” he said before taking the mound. “It’s at game speed for me, trying to get our hitters out, obviously. But if I see something I need to work on, it allows me to work on it here on the back fields. It’s a little easier to work on it instead of out there trying to get outs in a real game.”
He said afterward that everything went well during the 63-pitch effort.
Bundy gave up five runs in each of his first two Grapefruit League starts, but said that it’s too early to worry about results, and he’s right. He gave up five runs in his third and fifth exhibition starts last year and went on to be the most consistent pitcher in the Orioles rotation.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a concern right now, because I’ve only had two outings,” Bundy said. “Fastball command, in the first outing I was off the plate and in the second one I was too far on the plate. I’m not concerned about it. I’ve just got to work on some mechanical things in the bullpen so I can hit those spots a little easier.”
Reliever Brad Brach also participated in the simulated game, throwing 21 pitches in an inning of work.
“[Chance] Sisco caught and made 10 throws to second,” manager Buck Showalter said. “We made base runners come over and steal bases on him — or try to. We had Bundy holding runners. We simmed the heck out of that game.”
Cashner to debut this weekend: Right-hander Andrew Cashner was happy with the results of his simulated game Tuesday and is getting ready to enter the exhibition rotation. He’ll debut in the Grapefruit League against the Philadelphia Phillies at Ed Smith Stadium on Sunday at 6:05 p.m.
“I think it went really good,” he said. “I’m working on some stuff right now. I’m really working on a cutter. I think my sinker’s been really good so far. The fastball command has been good. Just trying to work up and down, work all over, try to get comfortable with the catchers and just moving forward.”
Mancini stays hot: Left fielder Trey Mancini is batting .368 this spring, picking up pretty much where he left off during his terrific rookie season. Obviously, opposing pitchers are going to try to find the right adjustments to cool him off, but that hasn’t happened yet.
“I’m trying not to be too aggressive early if it’s not a pitch I’m looking for, and not afraid to get two strikes on me and hit from there,” Mancini said.
Around the horn: The Orioles made another cut Wednesday, optioning right-hander Jesus Liranzo to Double-A Bowie, reducing the number of players in camp to 52. ... Closer Zach Britton (Achilles) is progressing well, Showalter said: “I got the old ‘Doctor thinks he’s X weeks ahead of schedule’ yesterday, which I’m not repeating. He’s doing well. The biggest thing is, talking to the doctors and talking to [head athletic trainer Brian Ebel], the setbacks for this are not a two- or three-day setback. That’s what we can’t have. He’s still throwing with the boot on just to be safe.” … Showalter said Chris Davis (elbow) will not be back until at least the weekend. “It’ll be a little longer,” Showalter said. “I asked Brian about the Toronto series [today and Friday], that little two-game series. We’ve got [Aaron] Sanchez and [Marco] Estrada pitching against us.”
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