Orioles' Andrew Kittredge: Set for rehab assignment
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Kittredge (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
The right-hander developed inflammation in his right shoulder earlier this month, but it sounds like his stay on the 15-day injured list will be short if he avoids setbacks while out on assignment. Once healthy, Kittredge figures to occupy a top spot in the bullpen as a setup man ahead of closer Ryan Helsley.
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Orioles' Andrew Kittredge: Out with shoulder inflammation
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The Orioles placed Kittredge (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
Kittredge developed right shoulder inflammation in early March. He will be eligible for activation April 6, and at last check the Orioles were expecting him to be ready to go on that date. Once healthy, Kittredge will fill a setup role.
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Orioles' Andrew Kittredge: Minimum IL stay expected
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Kittredge (shoulder) said Saturday that he expects to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Norfolk once the regular season starts, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
Kittredge has been working his way back from right shoulder inflammation since early March, and the Orioles have already confirmed that he will begin the year on the injured list. However, the right-hander has been encouraged by how his shoulder has responded to treatment and seems confident that he will only have to miss the first 15 days of the new season.
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Orioles' Andrew Kittredge: Headed for IL with shoulder issue
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Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said Wednesday that Kittredge is battling right shoulder inflammation and is "a low probability" to be ready for Opening Day, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
Kittredge struggled in his lone Grapefruit League appearance last week and now it's clear why he hasn't pitched since. While he appears to have avoided structural damage in his shoulder, it's unclear at this point how long the setup man might be shelved.
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Orioles' Andrew Kittredge: Option for 2026 exercised
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The Orioles exercised Kittredge's $9 million option for 2026 on Thursday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
The Orioles reacquired Kittredge from the Cubs earlier this week after dealing him to Chicago at the deadline, so it was a foregone conclusion that the reliever's option would be picked up. Kittredge posted a 3.40 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 64:11 K:BB over 53 regular-season innings between the Orioles and Cubs in 2025. He'll be a high-leverage reliever for Baltimore in 2026 and could even serve as closer, depending on what else the Orioles do with their bullpen this offseason.
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Orioles' Andrew Kittredge: Traded back to Orioles
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The Orioles acquired Kittredge from the Cubs on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations.
Kittredge was dealt from the Orioles to the Cubs at the trade deadline and is now headed back to Baltimore. The Orioles have a $9 million option on Kittredge for 2026, which they will now presumably exercise. Kittredge posted a 3.40 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 64:11 K:BB over 53 regular-season innings between the Orioles and Cubs in 2025. Baltimore has an opening at closer for 2026 and Kittredge could be the current favorite to fill it, though the team is likely to add additional relievers this offseason.
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Cubs' Andrew Kittredge: Records save in postseason win
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Kittredge recorded the final two outs to earn the save in Thursday's win over the Padres in Game 3 of the National League Wild Card Series.
Kittredge played a versatile role for the Cubs during their series against the Padres, as he served as the opener in Game 2. One day later, he relieved Brad Keller in the ninth inning with the game-tying run at second base. Kittredge has allowed one earned run across 2.2 innings this postseason.
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Cubs' Andrew Kittredge: Opening Game 2
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Kittredge will serve as the opening pitcher in Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Padres on Wednesday, Jared Wyllys of AllCHGO.com reports.
Kittredge turned in a 3.32 ERA and 0.83 WHIP across 21.2 innings in the regular season with the Cubs while serving primarily as a high-leverage reliever. The 35-year-old righty will now be tasked with securing the first few outs of Wednesday's contest before presumably handing the game over to Shota Imanaga for bulk-relief work.
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Cubs' Andrew Kittredge: Grabs fifth save
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Kittredge earned the save in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Rays, striking out three and walking one in a scoreless ninth inning.
Kittredge was brought in to protect a one-run lead and worked around a two-out walk to Yandy Diaz by fanning Junior Caminero to shut the door against his former team. It marked the right-hander's third straight outing with a save and extended his scoreless streak to eight appearances. The veteran reliever now owns five saves on the year while continuing to provide the Cubs with steady late-inning work.
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Cubs' Andrew Kittredge: Secures another save
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Kittredge picked up the save Friday against the Rays, recording one strikeout while retiring all three batters he faced.
It's the second straight outing with a save for Kittredge, who appears to be manager Craig Counsell's top choice at closer with Daniel Palencia (shoulder) on the shelf. Brad Keller also seemed to be in the closer mix but has worked the eighth inning ahead of Kittredge in those two games.
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Cubs' Andrew Kittredge: Closes out Atlanta for save
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Kittredge picked up the save Wednesday against Atlanta, striking out one in a clean ninth inning.
It's notable that Kittredge saw Chicago's first save opportunity since closer Daniel Palencia (shoulder) landed on the injured list. That usage would appear to put him first in line for future save chances, though it's certainly still possible that manager Craig Counsell has a committee approach in mind for his closer position for the time being. Kittredge is worth a speculative add in most fantasy formats as this situation unfolds -- the veteran right-hander owns a 3.45 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 52:10 K:BB through 47 innings on the season.
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Cubs' Andrew Kittredge: Could see ninth-inning work
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With Daniel Palencia (shoulder) landing on the injured list Monday, Kittredge is an option to see more high-leverage work at the end of games, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.
Sharma notes that Chicago manager Craig Counsell is likely to deploy a committee approach to the ninth inning with Palencia out, rather than settle on a single closer. Kittredge is in that mix, though fellow righty Brad Keller might be a bit ahead of him in the bullpen pecking order and is probably the favorite for saves at the moment. The Cubs also have Caleb Thielbar and Drew Pomeranz as options from the left side. Kittredge probably will get a bump in fantasy value with Palencia out, but it remains to be seen exactly what the former's role will be.
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Cubs' Andrew Kittredge: Picks up first save
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Kittredge turned in a perfect ninth inning to earn the save in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Pirates.
With Daniel Palencia seemingly unavailable, it was Kittredge who was tasked with protecting a one-run lead in the ninth. The veteran right-hander, who was appearing in a third straight game, retired the side on 10 pitches to pick up his first save this season. Since joining the Cubs at the trade deadline, Kittredge has held opponents scoreless in six of his seven appearances to work his way into a high-leverage role. Overall, his ERA sits at 3.76 with a 1.07 WHIP and 42 strikeouts across 38.1 innings between Chicago and Baltimore.
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Cubs' Andrew Kittredge: Ugly performance in loss
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Kittredge (2-3) allowed four runs on four hits and a walk while retiring only one batter in relief to take the loss Tuesday against the Reds.
After Chicago starter Shota Imanaga dazzled across 6.1 innings, Kittredge was brought in to record the final two outs of the seventh with the bases empty. Things quickly unraveled for the righty, with the Reds breaking up a 1-1 game with four runs in the frame. The key blast was a three-run home run by Spencer Steer off Kittredge. The veteran reliever snapped a streak of five straight scoreless appearances and saw his ERA climb from 3.24 to 4.28 after the rough outing.
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Cubs' Andrew Kittredge: Sharp in team debut
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Kittredge tossed a scoreless inning of relief with two strikeouts to earn a hold in Friday's 1-0 win over the Orioles.
Kittredge was traded from the Orioles to the Cubs on Wednesday, and he was sharp in his Chicago debut facing his former team. The righty now has eight holds this season to go along with a strong 3.34 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 34 strikeouts across 32.1 innings. Kittredge won't be closing games for the Cubs, as Daniel Palencia has emerged in that role, but the former will slot in as a valuable setup man along with Caleb Thielbar, Brad Keller, Drew Pomeranz and Taylor Rogers in a revamped Chicago bullpen.
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Orioles' Andrew Kittredge: Another clean outing Saturday
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Kittredge threw a spotless seventh inning with no strikeouts in Saturday's 9-6 extra-inning win over Atlanta.
Saturday marked a fourth consecutive perfect outing by the 35-year-old right-hander, who has posted a clean appearance in six of his last eight outings. Kittredge has turned in a scoreless outing in 15 of his 20 appearances this season, and he should continue serving as one of Baltimore's setup men for closer Felix Bautista. Through his first 20.2 innings, Kittredge owns a solid 3.92 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 20:6 K:BB with five holds.
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Orioles' Andrew Kittredge: Nearing return
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Kittredge (knee) threw a scoreless inning while allowing one walk and striking out two Saturday in a rehab appearance for Triple-A Norfolk.
Kittredge made appearances on consecutive days for the first time since beginning his rehab assignment May 4. He's now made six appearances between Norfolk and High-A Aberdeen, striking out six batters while allowing one run on six hits and two walks over six innings. Kittredge looks on track to return from the 15-day injured list during the upcoming week.
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Orioles' Andrew Kittredge: Makes another rehab appearance
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Kittredge (knee) tossed one scoreless inning, allowing two hits while striking out a batter in Triple-A Norfolk's loss against Nashville on Sunday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Kittredge threw all nine of his pitches for strikes in the inning, completing his second appearance out of the bullpen with Norfolk on his rehab assignment. The relief pitcher has missed the entirety of the 2025 campaign while on the 15-day injured list after he underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in early March. Kittredge appears to be on the cusp of an activation and may require just one more outing in Triple-A before potentially joining the Orioles' roster.
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Orioles' Andrew Kittredge: Makes first appearance since spring
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Kittredge (knee) started a minor-league rehab assignment with High-A Aberdeen on Sunday, allowing one run on two hits and no walks with two strikeouts in one inning, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Kittredge threw 14 pitches, and he wasn't sharp in his first rehab appearance. Left knee surgery limited the veteran right-hander to a lone outing during spring training, but he's now tracking toward making his season debut for the Orioles at some point in late May following several outings in the minors. Once he's reinstated from the injured list, Kittredge figures to be eased in as a middle reliever initially before eventually working alongside Yennier Cano and Seranthony Dominguez as one of Baltimore's right-handed setup men behind closer Felix Bautista.
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Orioles' Andrew Kittredge: Facing hitters Wednesday
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Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Monday that Kittredge (knee) will throw a live batting practice session Wednesday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
Kittredge will face hitters for the first time since he underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee during spring training. The veteran reliever's rehab has some along more quickly than anticipated and he could be ready to return from the 15-day injured list before the end of May.