The Orioles recalled left-hander Cade Povich from Triple-A Norfolk to start Friday night’s series opener against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Reliever Cam Foster was optioned to make room for him.
Povich, who has a 2.19 ERA in two appearances with Baltimore, including one start, has allowed three runs in 12 1/3 innings this season. His assignment comes with Trevor Rogers on the 15-day injured list while battling the flu, leaving Baltimore to lean on a rotation that will be stretched again next week.
The Orioles are heading into a four-game road series in the Bronx after back-to-back home series against last-place clubs, and the task gets sharper immediately. The Yankees have won 10 of their last 12 games, sit at 20-11 and own a plus-47 run differential that leads the American League.
That lineup is not the kind a pitcher wants to see with a small sample and a short leash. Aaron Judge is tied for the major league home run lead with 12 and has tormented Baltimore for years, hitting.321/.456/.733 in 120 games against the Orioles with 20 doubles, 51 home runs and 109 RBIs. He is also 2-for-3 with two home runs against Povich.
Ben Rice has given the Yankees another hot bat, hitting.327/.443/.714 with eight doubles, 10 home runs and 23 RBIs in 30 games.
Povich’s broader numbers against New York are less encouraging than his early-season line for Baltimore. In four career starts against the Yankees, he has allowed 10 runs and 14 hits with 17 walks and 14 strikeouts in 19 2/3 innings.
The Orioles will need another starter for Monday, with Kyle Bradish and Shane Baz expected to start the next two games. Craig Albernaz is trying to become the fourth Orioles manager to win his first career series at Yankee Stadium, a test made steeper by the matchup and by last year’s results, when the Yankees went 9-4 against Baltimore and finished the regular season with a three-game sweep at home.
For Povich, Friday is both a chance and a warning. Baltimore needs innings, but New York has already shown it can turn those into trouble.