Akin was called up from Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday.
Akin will return to the big leagues after being sent down May 9, having produced a 1.29 ERA and 0.14 WHIP with 13 strikeouts over seven innings in four appearances with Norfolk. It's unclear what role he'll be with the Orioles, but he will replace Grayson Rodriguez on the major-league roster after Rodriguez was optioned to Triple-A on Saturday. Akin has only made one start in the majors since 2021, so it's most likely that he'll be deployed as a multi-inning reliever now that he's back with Baltimore.
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Orioles' Keegan Akin: Moved to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Orioles optioned Akin to Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday.
Akin claimed a spot in the Baltimore bullpen out of camp this spring, but he'll head down to the farm after struggling to a 5.91 ERA and 1.78 WHIP through 13 appearances covering 10.2 innings. The 28-year-old lefty posted a sharp 3.20 ERA across 81.2 frames with the O's in 2022.
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Orioles' Keegan Akin: Snags extra-inning win
Rotowire
Akin (1-1) issued two intentional walks and struck out one in a scoreless and hitless inning to earn the extra-inning win over the Tigers on Sunday.
Akin issued intentional walks to right-handed hitters in Eric Haase and Spencer Torkelson, and the strategy paid off. The Orioles southpaw was able to get lefty hitters Zach McKinstry and Nick Maton out to end a bases-loaded threat before Baltimore won with Adam Frazier darting home on a wild pitch in the bottom of the 10th inning. Akin has had his struggles in a low-leverage role, pitching to a 6.75 ERA, 1.88 WHIP and 5:2 K:BB across 5.1 innings. He also has one hold.
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Orioles' Keegan Akin: Returns from paternity leave
Rotowire
Akin was activated from the paternity leave list by the Orioles on Monday
The O's are off Monday, but Akin will be back in their bullpen for Tuesday's game against the Nationals. Spenser Watkins was sent down in a corresponding move.
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Orioles' Keegan Akin: Expected back Tuesday
Rotowire
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde told reporters before Sunday's game against the White Sox that Akin (personal) is expected to come off the paternity list Tuesday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Akin will miss a total of three games while being away from the team. The left-hander will return to a middle-innings role in the Baltimore bullpen, and the team will need to send down a pitcher before the series against the Nationals begins.
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Orioles' Keegan Akin: Charged with loss
Rotowire
Akin (0-1) allowed two runs on three hits and struck out two in two-thirds of an inning, taking the loss Wednesday versus the Athletics.
Akin was able to work around a one-out single to get the last two outs in the seventh inning, but he put two runners on base in the eighth. Cionel Perez struggled to get through that frame, and Akin was charged with the loss, his first decision in six appearances. He's allowed four runs over 4.1 innings while adding four strikeouts and no walks through six appearances. The southpaw has typically filled a multi-inning role over the last two years, but he's recorded more than three outs in just one outing so far this season.
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Orioles' Keegan Akin: Impressing in spring
Rotowire
Manager Brandon Hyde has been impressed with Akin in spring training, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports.
The numbers back up Hyde's feelings -- Akin has allowed two hits and a walk while striking out two over three innings across two Grapefruit League games. Hyde added that he wants to have several multi-inning relievers break camp with the Orioles, which indicates Akin has a good chance of being in that group. He covered 81.2 innings over 45 appearances (one start) in 2022, pitching to an excellent 3.20 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 77:20 K:BB.
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Orioles' Keegan Akin: Makes return to big leagues
Rotowire
The Orioles recalled Akin from Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday.
Akin and Beau Sulser were summoned from Norfolk to provide the Orioles with a pair of fresh relief arms after the bullpen covered 12.2 innings the past two days in the first two contests of a four-game set in Boston. Before being demoted to Triple-A on Monday, Akin had logged a 3.40 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 71:20 K:BB in 76.2 innings for Baltimore on the season.
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Orioles' Keegan Akin: Takes loss Sunday
Rotowire
Akin (3-3) took the loss in extra innings Sunday versus the Astros, allowing four runs (three earned) on a hit and two walks in one-third of an inning.
Akin couldn't control things in the 11th inning as the Astros pulled ahead by four runs. Two of the runs came with Akin on the mound, while Joey Krehbiel allowed a pair of inherited runners to score. Down the stretch, Akin has faded pretty badly, allowing 16 runs (10 earned) across 11.2 innings in his last nine appearances. He has a 3.40 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 71:20 K:BB with two saves and three holds in 76.2 innings overall.
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Orioles' Keegan Akin: Starting Monday's nightcap
Rotowire
Akin is starting the second game of Monday's doubleheader against the Blue Jays, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Although manager Brandon Hyde said after the first game of Monday's twin bill that Jordan Lyles (illness) would start, Akin warmed up with starting catcher Robinson Chirinos ahead of the nightcap and will ultimately take the mound for Game 2. Akin hasn't lasted longer than 3.2 innings in any of his appearances this season, so it's possible that he's used as an opener Monday.
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Orioles' Keegan Akin: Snares third win
Rotowire
Akin (3-1) pitched two perfect innings and struck out one to earn the win Saturday over the Athletics.
Akin escaped a one-out, bases-loaded jam he inherited from Austin Voth in the fourth inning. He stayed in for the fifth and got the first out of the sixth before giving way to Joey Krehbiel. Akin was solid in long relief early in the year, but he had a rough August, giving up 11 runs (six earned) across 11.2 innings, good for a 4.63 ERA and 1.46 WHIP. He's off to a better start in September, and he now has a 2.70 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 62:16 K:BB through 70 innings overall while adding two saves and three holds.
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Orioles' Keegan Akin: Snags second win
Rotowire
Akin (2-1) retired the only batter he faced via strikeout to earn the win in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Rays.
Akin got the last out of the top of the eighth inning, and the Orioles' offense rallied for the lead with three runs in the bottom half of the frame. The southpaw began the year as a long reliever, but three of his seven outings in July have been one inning or shorter. He owns a 2.44 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 46:13 K:BB through 55.1 innings in 26 outings this season, and he's added a save and two holds. Akin has yet to see much high-leverage work, though the recent usage pattern suggests that could change if he continues to pitch well.
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Orioles' Keegan Akin: Clean inning Saturday
Rotowire
Akin pitched a perfect inning in Saturday's 6-4 extra-innings win over the Rays.
Akin began the year with 19 straight appearances of two innings or longer, but three of his four outings in July have been shorter than two frames. He started to falter a bit in June, but he's managed to give up just one run in 5.2 innings in July. For the season, the southpaw has a 2.26 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 42:13 K:BB with a save, two holds and a 1-1 record through 51.2 innings in a long-relief role.
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Orioles' Keegan Akin: Notches save in long relief
Rotowire
Akin earned a save against the Mariners on Monday, pitching 3.1 scoreless innings during which he allowed one hit and two walks while striking out three.
Akin entered the game in the sixth inning with Baltimore up by seven runs. He walked the first batter he faced before surrendering a double to Eugenio Suarez that allowed an inherited runner to score. Akin was much better after that, retiring 10 of the final 11 hitters he faced to notch his first career save. All 19 of Akin's outings this season have been at least two innings in length, and he has put together an impressive 2.35 ERA and 0.83 WHIP along with a 39:12 K:BB over 46 frames.
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Orioles' Keegan Akin: Reinstated from restricted list
Rotowire
Akin (not injury related) was reinstated from the restricted list Friday.
Akin is presumably unvaccinated since he was unavailable for the Orioles' four-game series in Toronto, but he'll rejoin Baltimore's bullpen ahead of this weekend's home series against the Rays. The southpaw has been effective while serving mainly as a middle reliever this year, posting a 2.61 ERA and 0.87 WHIP in 38 innings over 16 appearances.
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Orioles' Keegan Akin: Placed on restricted list
Rotowire
Akin was placed on the restricted list Monday ahead of the Orioles' four-game series in Toronto.
The timing of the move implies that Akin failed to meet the requirements to cross the Canadian border by declining to vaccinate himself against COVID-19. Rico Garcia was called up as a replacement player to take his place in the bullpen. Akin should be back in action when the Orioles return stateside to take on the Rays on Friday.
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Orioles' Keegan Akin: Yields season-high three runs
Rotowire
Akin surrendered three runs on three hits in 2.1 innings in Sunday's 10-7 win over the Royals.
Dean Kremer went five-plus innings as the starter, while Akin provided some length out of the bullpen. All three hits Akin allowed were home runs -- a two-run shot to Hunter Dozier in the sixth inning and solo shots by Michael Taylor and Bobby Witt in the seventh. This was Akin's first outing since June 4, and he's allowed seven runs across his last 8.2 innings while recording just two strikeouts in that span. He's posted a 2.61 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 30:10 K:BB in 38 innings overall, but it appears his luck has started to even out after a remarkable first two months of the season. Prior to Sunday's appearance, he had given up just two homers all year.
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Orioles' Keegan Akin: Handed first loss Saturday
Rotowire
Akin (1-1) took the loss in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader versus the Red Sox. He allowed two runs on two hits and a walk with one strikeout in 2.1 innings.
Akin provided some length after a 4.1-inning start from Jordan Lyles. The Red Sox were able to get to Akin, with Bobby Dalbec hammering a sixth-inning solo home run while Christian Arroyo added an RBI single in the seventh. This was just the third time in 13 outings Akin's allowed runs, though he's given up a pair in each of those appearances. He's at a solid 1.71 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 29:9 K:BB in 31.2 innings overall, working exclusively in a multi-inning bullpen role.
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Orioles' Keegan Akin: Continues to thrive in long relief
Rotowire
Akin threw 2.1 hitless innings Tuesday versus the Yankees. He struck out six and walked three.
Akin has typically had better control, but the six strikeouts marked a season high for the southpaw. He's been excellent since making the move full-time to the bullpen this year, posting a 1.23 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 28:8 K:BB across 29.1 innings. The southpaw is also carrying a 13-inning scoreless streak across his last five appearances.
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Orioles' Keegan Akin: Likely to work behind opener
Rotowire
Akin is expected to be used in an extended relief appearance behind opener Bryan Baker in Thursday's game in St. Louis, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.
The Orioles are treating their series finale with the Cardinals as a bullpen day, with Baker likely to work 1-to-2 innings before bowing out of the contest. Akin is the most obvious candidate to eat innings behind Baker, given that the 27-year-old lefty is a former starter who has covered between two and three frames in all eight of his relief appearances on the season. However, since Akin will be pitching on three days' rest, the Orioles likely won't ask him to cover much more than three innings.
