Johan Santana throws four innings in extended spring training - MLB

Johan Santana’s comeback with the Orioles continues chugging along, as the rehabbing left-hander tossed four innings in an extended spring training game Thursday.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter declined to tell Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com exactly how fast Santana was throwing after previous reports had him in the high-80s last week, but he did say that the two-time Cy Young winner “threw the ball well” and the velocity was the “highest he’s been.”

According to Ghiroli he’ll likely make one more extended spring training appearance and then begin a minor-league rehab assignment, which would start a 30-day clock on his ETA in Baltimore (barring a setback). Santana hasn’t pitched in the majors since August of 2012, so he’s hardly assured of making an impact for the Orioles, but he could be an option as a starter or a reliever.

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CINCINNATI — The Los Angeles Dodgers placed pitcher Noah Syndergaard on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a blister on the index finger of his right throwing hand.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the timetable for Syndergaard’s return is unknown despite the 15-day designation.

“The physical, the mental, the emotional part, as he’s talked about, has taken a toll on him,” Roberts said. “So, the ability to get him away from this. He left today to go back to Los Angeles to kind of get back to normalcy.”

Syndergaard allowed six runs and seven hits in three innings against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night, raising his ERA to 7.16.

Syndergaard (1-4) has surrendered at least five runs in three straight starts.

Syndergaard has been trying to return to the player he was before Tommy John surgery sidelined him for the better part of the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

Roberts said Syndergaard will need at least “a few weeks” to both heal and get away from baseball and “reset.”

“I think searching and not being comfortable with where he was at in the moment is certainly evident in performance,” Roberts said. “So hopefully this time away will provide more clarity on who he is right now as a pitcher.

“Trying to perform when you’re searching at this level is extremely difficult. I applaud him from not running from it, but it’s still very difficult. Hopefully it can be a tale of two stories, two halves when he does come back.”