The Baltimore Orioles have activated left-handed reliever Danny Coulombe from the 60-day injured list. To make room in the bullpen, they have placed Burch Smith on the 15-day IL, retroactive to September 18, due to a right adductor (groin) strain diagnosis. With Coulombe’s return, the 40-man roster now stands at 38.
Coulombe’s comeback is a welcome addition to Brandon Hyde’s bullpen as the postseason approaches. He had been sidelined since June with an elbow injury that required surgery to remove bone chips. Prior to his injury, the 34-year-old had been a reliable reliever for Hyde, posting a 2.42 ERA over 26 innings with a 30.4% strikeout rate and a 3.3% walk rate.
This season was shaping up to be another strong one for Coulombe, who joined the Orioles in Spring Training 2023 after being with the Twins on a minor league deal. Baltimore acquired him for cash considerations and he impressed with a 2.81 ERA over 51 1/3 innings, showcasing solid strikeout (27.6%) and walk (5.7%) numbers. In his Orioles tenure, Coulombe has a 2.68 ERA over 77 1/3 innings.
The Orioles have struggled in the second half of the season, falling four games behind the Yankees. The bullpen has been a contributing factor, ranking 24th in the majors with a 4.69 ERA since the All-Star Break. While the relievers have shown good strikeout and walk numbers, they have been prone to allowing home runs. Coulombe has been successful in limiting home runs throughout his career, making him a valuable addition alongside Keegan Akin, Cionel Pérez, and Gregory Soto as left-handed late-inning options.
