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The Orioles' rotation isn’t set for Minnesota and there isn’t a clear explanation for it.
Dean Kremer would have started Wednesday on normal rest but the most recent game notes had him listed for Thursday. The extra day could be attributed to the 103.2 mph line drive that bounced off his right thigh in the first inning of Friday night’s game, causing the leg to stiffen as he worked through the seventh.
I asked manager Brandon Hyde about the probables, and specifically Kremer, following Sunday’s 11-6 loss, and he replied, “We’re kind of still figuring things out right now. We’ve got an off-day tomorrow. We’ll let you guys know.”
My interpretation goes in a couple of directions.
1. The Orioles haven’t settled on a starter for Wednesday but they want Kremer on extra rest.
2. The Orioles settled on a starter for Wednesday but didn’t want to announce it, which is the most likely scenario.
3. It’s either one or two, but Hyde was so irritated after his team allowed seven home runs that he wasn’t in the mood for a rotation question.
I don’t blame him. The Orioles haven’t won back-to-back series since the end of the 2024 season and the light-hitting Royals went from throwing jabs to delivering vicious knockout punches. From death by a million paper cuts to Missouri Chainsaw Massacre.
Hyde knows – everyone knows – that the Orioles won’t go on a run until they stop surrendering them in large quantities. They went into the off-day with a 5.43 ERA that’s last in the American League and 29th in the majors, and the rotation was 9-16 with a 5.69 ERA that was last in the AL and 28th in the majors.
The Orioles tossed their first shutout on Friday but have surrendered eight, 24, seven, six, seven, 15 and 11 runs within their last 15 games. That’ll put anybody in a foul mood. And the strain on the bullpen is becoming evident with so many abbreviated starts.
The relievers are dragging a 5.08 ERA into Minnesota that’s also 28th in the majors. The Angels were last yesterday at 7.02 and the Orioles have a weekend series in Anaheim. Tighten those seatbelts.
“I felt like we’ve been playing pretty well here the last five days,” Kyle Gibson said Sunday, “and it’s a good road trip for us to go on the road and be tested in Minnesota and tested in L.A. and have a winning road trip and come home.”
Gibson was removed Sunday after four innings, and five relievers combined to surrender eight runs.
Yennier Cano permitted his first earned runs and had the first multi-homer appearance of his career. Seranthony Domínguez didn’t allow a run in his first nine appearances but has given up five in his last 2 1/3 innings, and the Royals homered twice on Saturday. Bryan Baker had 10 scoreless appearances out of 11 opportunities, but opponents have hit three homers in his last four and his ERA has grown from 0.90 to 2.57.
Gregory Soto began the season with six consecutive scoreless outings but he’s been charged with six runs in his last 5 1/3 innings for a 4.76 ERA. Cionel Pérez had an 11.32 ERA on April 20 after allowing three runs in two innings against the Reds, but he’s whittled it to 8.79 despite allowing one earned run and two total in his last four appearances over four innings. Matt Bowman has been scored upon in four of his last six appearances, with five runs and five hits in two innings in his last two outings.
Charlie Morton has pitched three times in relief after six brutal, losing starts, and he allowed three runs with five walks in 3 2/3 innings in Detroit, an unearned run in 2 1/3 innings against the Yankees, and two runs and three hits in the eighth inning Sunday. Luke Maile hit a solo homer.
Morton threw 24 pitches and probably would be fine to start Wednesday.
Who is the alternative? Or perhaps it's better to ask, what is the alternative?
A bullpen game, which this group does not need? Akin as the opener again, followed by Morton? A surprising call-up from Triple-A?
It can't be Chayce McDermott unless he's replacing an injured player on the roster. Zach Eflin started Sunday at High-A Aberdeen and the Orioles aren't pitching him on short rest. Trevor Rogers started Sunday for Norfolk and he isn't putting up the kind of numbers yet that get you promoted.
Left-hander Cade Povich gets the ball tonight against his former organization. He's gone six and 6 2/3 innings in two starts, and 4 1/3, 4 2/3, 3 1/3 and 4 2/3 in the others. He tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings with only two hits allowed last summer in his only career outing against the Twins on Sept. 27 in the final series of the regular season.
Which starter follows him could be revealed later today.
