Akin recorded the final two outs of Wednesday's 9-7 win over the Yankees to record his first save of the season.
It's the third career save for the southpaw, with the prior two being of the three-inning variety and not traditional save situations. The Orioles didn't look like they would have one of those either Wednesday, heading into the ninth inning with a 9-3 lead, but Matt Bowman made a mess of things and Akin got the call to retire Austin Wells and Giancarlo Stanton, giving Baltimore's high-leverage options like Seranthony Dominguez and Yennier Cano an extra day of rest ahead of the playoffs. On the season, Akin sports a 3.13 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 96:19 K:BB through 77.2 innings, but those career-best ratios have led to only three wins and six holds in addition to Wednesday's save.
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Orioles' Keegan Akin: Stuck with first loss
Rotowire
Akin (3-1) allowed three runs (one earned) on one hit and struck out one over one-third of an inning to take the extra-inning loss and a blown save Wednesday versus the Red Sox.
Akin gave up a walk-off three-run home run to Tyler O'Neill in the 10th inning. Over his previous nine appearances, Akin had yielded just one run over 10.1 innings while posting a 16:1 K:BB. He's generally had success in a low-leverage role this year, posting a 3.44 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 87:17 K:BB while picking up five holds and three blown saves in 59 appearances.
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Orioles' Keegan Akin: Reinstated from paternity leave
Rotowire
The Orioles activated Akin from the paternity list Friday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
Akin missed the last three games while tending to more important family matters but will be available for the remainder of the Orioles' weekend series against the Astros. The left-hander has had an excellent season for Baltimore, collecting a 3.52 ERA and 78:16 K:BB over 64 innings.
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Orioles' Keegan Akin: Back with big club
Rotowire
The Orioles recalled Akin from Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday.
He'll make his return to the big club as a replacement on the 26-man active roster for right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (shoulder), who was placed on the 15-day injured list. Before he was sent back to Triple-A on Aug. 1, Akin had struck out 12 while allowing one earned run on four hits and two walks over 10 innings across his last nine relief appearances, so his demotion likely had more to do with the fact that he had a minor-league option remaining rather than the Orioles being dissatisfied with his performance.
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Orioles' Keegan Akin: Allows homer but grabs win
Rotowire
Akin (2-0) allowed two runs on two hits and struck out one over 1.1 innings, picking up a blown save but earning the win and over Atlanta on Wednesday.
Akin ended up squandering a two-run lead when he gave up a home run to Matt Olson in the top of the eighth inning. The Orioles got it right back on a Colton Cowser blast in their half of the frame, and Craig Kimbrel closed out the win. Akin has had a mild case of reverse splits this year -- lefties are hitting .245 off the southpaw, while right-handed batters have hit just .206. Overall, he's pitching better to all hitters this season, and he has a 4.13 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 35:12 K:BB over 32.2 innings in a low-leverage role. Akin may see slightly tougher matchups moving forward, as he is one of two southpaws left in the bullpen, along with Cionel Perez, to cover for the absence of Danny Coulombe (elbow), who is expected to have a relatively short stay on the injured list.
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Orioles' Keegan Akin: Nabs win Thursday
Rotowire
Akin (1-0) allowed a run on one hit and one walk over 1.1 innings, earning the win Thursday versus the Yankees. He did not record a strikeout.
Kyle Bradish went 4.2 innings in his return from an elbow injury, failing to qualify for the win. Akin was able to get the last out of the fifth inning, and while he gave up a solo home run to Gleyber Torres in the sixth, the Orioles' lead was never in danger. Akin has been scored on in just three of his 15 appearances this season, pitching to a solid 3.60 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 19:4 K:BB over 15 innings while adding four holds. Akin is serving more as a regular reliever than a multi-inning option in 2024, though the southpaw can handle longer assignments when necessary.
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Orioles' Keegan Akin: Sharp in spring
Rotowire
Akin has struck out four and walked one without allowing a hit or a run over four innings across three Grapefruit League games.
Akin and Jonathan Heasley appear to be in contention for a multi-inning spot in the Orioles' bullpen. Both players will likely feature at times this season, though neither is set for a fantasy-friendly role. Akin struggled with a 6.85 ERA over 23.2 innings last season and ended the year with a back injury, which doesn't appear to be a concern in 2024. His 2.95 FIP and .434 BABIP in 2023 suggest he was vastly unlucky, which could lead to a bounce-back campaign ahead.
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Orioles' Keegan Akin: Avoids arb with one-year pact
Rotowire
Akin (back) avoided arbitration with the Orioles on Friday, signing a one-year, $825,000 contract, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Akin missed the second half of the 2023 season due to a lingering back injury and posted an ugly 6.85 ERA in 23.2 innings when healthy, but the O's clearly believe he'll be able to return to form next year. The left-hander delivered a 3.20 ERA and 77:20 K:BB over 81.2 innings as a bullpen workhorse for Baltimore in 2022.
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Orioles' Keegan Akin: Rehab shifts to Triple-A
Rotowire
Akin (back) joined up with Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday to continue his minor-league rehab assignment, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Akin surrendered three earned runs in just one inning of work Monday in his rehab debut in the Florida Complex League, but he is discomfort-free following a month-long absence from live competition to heal a lower-back injury. The 28-year-old left-hander could return to Baltimore's bullpen mix by early next week.
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Orioles' Keegan Akin: Beginning rehab assignment
Rotowire
Akin (back) reported to the Orioles' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate Monday to begin a rehab assignment.
Akin has been on the IL since June 30 due to lower-back discomfort but has now advanced to the final stage of his rehab program. He'll likely make an appearance in the FCL on Monday before advancing to a higher-level affiliate later in the week. Once the Orioles deem Akin ready to return from the IL, he'll presumably be ticketed for a lower-leverage role out of the bullpen.
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Orioles' Keegan Akin: Resumes throwing
Rotowire
Akin (back) played catch Friday, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.
Friday marks the first time Akin has thrown since landing on the injured list June 30 with lower back discomfort. There's no clear timeline for his return, though he could make it back before the end of July.
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Orioles' Keegan Akin: Takes loss Wednesday
Rotowire
Akin (2-2) allowed four runs (two earned) on three hits and a walk while striking out two in two-thirds of an inning, taking the extra-inning loss versus the Reds on Wednesday.
Akin was brought in for the top of the 10th inning and couldn't complete the frame. His performance has taken a drastic downturn over the last week -- he's allowed 13 runs (10 earned) over four innings across his last four appearances. The slump has him at a 6.85 ERA, 1.77 WHIP and 27:7 K:BB through 23.2 innings on the year. If Akin can't get back on track soon, he could find himself optioned out to Triple-A Norfolk.
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Orioles' Keegan Akin: Grabs second win
Rotowire
Akin (2-1) allowed a hit and struck out one over 1.1 scoreless innings to earn the win Thursday over the Brewers.
The Orioles rallied ahead in the eighth inning with Akin in the game, giving him his first win since April 23. The southpaw has been alright as a middle reliever, allowing a run on seven hits with a 5:1 K:BB over his last 5.1 inning since he was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk in late May. He's at a 4.50 ERA, 1.69 WHIP and 15:5 K:BB with three holds through 16 innings this season.
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Orioles' Keegan Akin: Opening Wednesday's game
Rotowire
Akin will serve as the Orioles' opening pitcher for Wednesday's game against the Guardians, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
Akin had made just one start for the Orioles since the beginning of the 2022 season, but he'll serve as the team's lead pitcher Wednesday after he made a pair of scoreless relief appearances upon returning from Triple-A Norfolk over the weekend. Since Akin hasn't covered more than three innings in any of his appearances in the majors or minors this season, he's unlikely to work more than once through the batting order before turning the game over to Austin Voth, who is slated to work in bulk relief.
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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.
