Perez struck out the only batter he faced to earn the save in Tuesday's 9-5 win over the Astros.
Yennier Cano put two runners on, but Perez was able to escape the jam for his second save of the season. Over his last 23 appearances spanning 17.2 innings, Perez has allowed two unearned runs, 12 hits and two walks while striking out 17, though he has just one save, two holds and a win in that span. The southpaw had a rough start to the season, but he's now at a respectable 3.16 ERA despite a 1.48 WHIP and 43:23 K:BB through 51.1 innings overall. Perez has added 10 holds and a 4-1 record, and he's had more high-leverage chances since Felix Bautista (elbow) has been out.
Perez (4-1) walked one but didn't allow a hit or a run over 1.1 innings to earn the win Sunday over the Mets.
Perez has steadied himself since the All-Star break, allowing three runs over 7.1 innings while picking up a save and two wins. The southpaw still has mediocre ratios for the year with a 4.30 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 29:22 K:BB while picking up eight holds over 37.2 innings. Perez will likely continue to serve as more of a middle reliever for an Orioles bullpen that sports a 3.55 ERA collectively, fourth-best in the majors.
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Orioles' Cionel Perez: Grabs first save
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Perez picked up the save Monday against the Phillies, working around a hit and a walk in a scoreless ninth inning.
Perez got the call in the ninth with Felix Bautista having pitched in Baltimore's previous two games. After retiring the first two Phillies in the inning, Perez surrendered a base hit and a walk before coaxing a groundout from Johan Rojas to strand the tying and winning runs. While Perez isn't likely to see much closing work going forward, he's been solid lately, pitching to a 1.93 ERA over his last nine appearances (9.1 innings). Overall, the southpaw sports a 4.54 ERA with a 1.78 WHIP and 26:20 K:BB through 33.2 innings this season.
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Orioles' Cionel Perez: Collects third win
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Perez (3-1) struck out the only batter he faced to earn the win in Saturday's 6-5 victory over the Rays.
Perez got the last out of the eighth inning after newcomer Shintaro Fujinami allowed the tying run to score. The Orioles then retook the lead in the ninth inning, and Felix Bautista slammed the door to get Perez the win in his third appearance since returning from forearm soreness. Perez has allowed multiple runs in five of his last 14 outings, but he's kept runs off the board in the other nine appearances in that span. Overall, he's at a 4.68 ERA, 1.78 WHIP and 26:19 K:BB with eight holds through 32.2 innings. The southpaw remains part of the Orioles' high-leverage mix, but Yennier Cano sees most of the setup work and Danny Coulombe is likely considered the top southpaw in this bullpen.
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Orioles' Cionel Perez: Returns from injured list
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Perez (forearm) was activated from the 15-day injured list Tuesday, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
Perez wound up missing just the minimum 15 days with left forearm soreness. Nick Vespi was sent down in a corresponding move.
Perez (forearm) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Bowie on Saturday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
It's unclear whether Perez will move to Triple-A Norfolk after pitching for Bowie, but the 27-year-old lefty seems to be trending toward a quick return either way. Perez landed on the injured list July 4 with left forearm soreness, and there was never a high level of concern surrounding his injury. He's eligible to return Tuesday.
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Orioles' Cionel Perez: Lands on IL with sore forearm
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Perez was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with left forearm soreness, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Perez felt soreness while playing catch Monday. The Orioles' level of concern with the reliever is considered low, so it sounds like he has a shot to be back when first eligible on July 18.
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Orioles' Cionel Perez: Snags win Sunday
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Perez (2-1) earned the win Sunday over the Twins, striking out one in a perfect inning.
Perez had allowed at least one baserunner in each of his last 13 appearances, giving up 10 runs (eight earned) on 16 hits and seven walks over 12.2 innings in that span. He was an effective setup man last season, but Perez's regression with walks (4.7 BB/9) has made it a difficult first half of 2023 for the southpaw. He has a 4.45 ERA, 1.78 WHIP and 22:16 K:BB over 30.1 innings while adding eight holds through 33 appearances. Perez will still get some late-inning work, but he's no threat to Felix Bautista's closer role, whiel Danny Coulombe has surpassed Perez as the Orioles' top lefty reliever.
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Orioles' Cionel Perez: Takes loss Sunday
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Perez (1-1) allowed an unearned run on a hit and a walk while recording one strikeout in one-third of an inning to take the extra-innings loss versus Atlanta on Sunday.
Perez intentionally walked Marcell Ozuna with one out in the 12th inning, but Michael Harris knocked a walkoff double to win the game. It's been tough for Perez to find consistency this season -- he's yet to go more than three appearances without surrendering a run. He remains in a setup role for the Orioles, but he has a 4.61 ERA, 2.27 WHIP and 12:9 K:BB through 13.2 innings. He's added six holds, and he could be in danger of losing his current role once Mychal Givens (knee) and Dillon Tate (forearm) are ready to return.
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Orioles' Cionel Perez: Nabs win Friday
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Perez (1-0) allowed a run on three hits and struck out one over one inning to earn the win Friday over the Yankees.
Perez has had some mixed results through 4.1 innings across four appearances this season. He's struck out five without walking a batter, but he's been tagged for two runs and seven hits. Perez has worked in a high-leverage role as expected, though he's unlikely to challenge Felix Bautista for ninth-inning work.
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Orioles' Cionel Perez: Solid so far in spring
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Perez has allowed one earned run on six hits and two walks over five innings in five Grapefruit League appearances.
Perez was initially viewed as an option for saves, but with Felix Bautista recovered from his shoulder and knee issues, it looks like that won't be necessary to start the year. What holds true is Perez's status as the Orioles' top lefty reliever, with strong results in spring games coming off of last year's 1.40 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 55:21 K:BB over 57.2 innings. He had 24 holds a year ago, so he should have every opportunity to remain in a setup role to begin 2023.
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Orioles' Cionel Perez: Option for saves
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Perez and Bryan Baker might see save chances if Felix Bautista (shoulder/knee) has to miss time, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Bautista is being worked into things slowly in camp and Dillon Tate (elbow) is slated to miss at least the first month of the season, which could open up some late-inning opportunities in the Orioles' bullpen. Perez certainly deserves to be under consideration after holding a 1.40 ERA and 55:21 K:BB over 57.2 innings for the O's last season.
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Orioles' Cionel Perez: Strikes out three Wednesday
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Perez allowed an unearned run on one hit and struck out three in one inning during Wednesday's 5-1 loss to the Blue Jays in the second game of a doubleheader.
Perez put together a 15-inning scoreless streak between Aug. 19 and Sept. 27, but he allowed two runs (one earned) over his last two appearances of the season. It was still a breakout year for the 26-year-old lefty, who took on a high-leverage role for the first time in his major-league career. He finished with a 1.40 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 55:21 K:BB while adding a 7-1 record, one save and 24 holds in 57.2 innings. He wasn't charged with a blown save, though his 2.80 FIP suggests he benefited from a little luck to keep his ERA at such an impressive level throughout the year.
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Orioles' Cionel Perez: Snares seventh win
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Perez (7-1) pitched a perfect inning and struck out one, earning the win Sunday over the Red Sox.
Perez entered the game after Franchy Cordero took Dillon Tate deep for a game-tying solo home run in the eighth inning. Perez was much sharper, and he became the pitcher of record as the Orioles pulled ahead in their half of the frame. Since the All-Star break, he's given up three runs in 12 innings, all of which came in an Aug. 17 appearance versus the Blue Jays. The southpaw has a 1.67 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 42:17 K:BB through 43 innings while adding one save and 17 holds in a setup role.
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Orioles' Cionel Perez: Remains in setup role
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Perez continues to operate as a setup man and has a win and two holds over 4.1 scoreless innings since Baltimore sent closer Jorge Lopez to Minnesota at the trade deadline.
Manager Brandon Hyde initially indicated Perez, Felix Bautista and Dillon Tate would be in the mix for save opportunities after Lopez's departure, but it's Bautista who has received and successfully converted all three of the team's save chances since the trade. Overall Perez has one save and 17 holds with a 1.12 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 40:15 K:BB across 40.1 innings this year, and he should continue to work in a setup role while Bautista remains effective and healthy.
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Orioles' Cionel Perez: Earns sixth win
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Perez (6-1) struck out one without allowing a baserunner in 1.1 innings to earn the win Wednesday over the Rangers.
Perez got the last out of the seventh inning and also pitched the eighth without trouble. He was in the game as the Orioles rallied ahead, to the point that a save situation didn't arise. The southpaw is on a seven-inning scoreless streak with an 8:4 K:BB in his last seven appearances, and he'll likely have some closing opportunities since Jorge Lopez was traded to the Twins on Tuesday. Perez owns a sharp 1.21 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 35:15 K:BB with one save and 15 holds through 37.1 innings this season. Felix Bautista and Dillon Tate are also in the mix in what's likely to be a matchup-based closing committee for the last two months of the season.
