BALTIMORE — Orioles manager Brandon Hyde called Wednesday’s 4-1 win over Washington a “clean” and “normal” game.
Those haven’t been as frequent for nearly two months now.
Still, the maligned Dean Kremer provided one of his best starts of the season with six innings of one-run ball. The defense was solid. Gunnar Henderson homered for just the second time since the All-Star break, and the bats tacked on two more runs in the seventh inning to give Baltimore some much-needed breathing room.
But on a night when the Orioles received a quality start from a pitcher not named Corbin Burnes or Zach Eflin, the task of covering three innings with a narrow lead still felt daunting for a club ranking 25th in bullpen ERA (5.32) since July 1.
Yes, that Orioles bullpen that’s remained a source of concern since All-Star closer Felix Bautista injured his elbow a year ago and underwent Tommy John surgery.
Which relievers do you currently trust?
Though right-hander Yennier Cano hasn’t been elite since surprisingly making last year’s All-Star Game and has been hurt by walks and the long ball this season, he’s still been more reliable than not with a 2.87 ERA.
8
It’s apparent that right-hander Seranthony Dominguez has moved into the closer role — at least for now — with Hyde bluntly citing his “99 [mph] with a slider” as the reason for using him in the ninth inning on Wednesday night. But even with the excellent start with his new club and his impressive postseason track record, you remember Philadelphia — who has been dealing with its own bullpen woes — was willing to trade Dominguez for outfielder Austin Hays last month. Any Phillies fan will tell you inconsistency defined Dominguez’s tenure with his old club.
That said, these two are easily the best the Orioles have at the moment. The problem is they can’t pitch every night.
Though a rested Cano and Dominguez predictably covered two of the three frames on Wednesday, Hyde still had to turn to Cionel Perez for the eighth inning. To his credit, the lefty was perfect against the top of the Nationals’ lineup, but a 6.00 ERA since the All-Star break doesn’t exactly scream high-leverage confidence down the stretch.
The struggles of Craig Kimbrel and Gregory Soto — two former All-Star closers — are both well documented and very concerning, especially considering the investment made in each. Though Hyde was correct in saying earlier this week that the Orioles are going to need these veteran relievers to help them get where they want to go in September and October, that doesn’t mean Kimbrel and Soto belong in high-leverage spots until they show more evidence of reversing their woes.
Right-hander Burch Smith has been a pleasant surprise with a 2.84 ERA and impressive strikeout rate (10.7 per nine innings) since arriving last month, but is the 34-year-old journeyman ready to graduate to the late innings?
Bryan Baker and Keegan Akin are what they are filling out a bullpen depleted by injuries.
Of course, the Orioles are hoping for reinforcements before the conclusion of the regular season.
8The elbow inflammation that landed right-hander Jacob Webb — arguably Baltimore’s most consistent reliever this season — on the injured list last week didn’t include any structural concerns. Hyde said Webb is expected to play catch by the weekend and will complete a throwing progression from there, meaning his return could come much sooner than later.
Sidelined since undergoing surgery to have bone chips removed from his pitching elbow in June, lefty Danny Coulombe — one of the unsung heroes of the 2023 club — has begun “entry-level” throwing and is projected to return at some point in September. The Orioles being without one of their best relievers for roughly half the season has only exacerbated the challenge of navigating 2024 without Bautista, who won’t return until next spring.
Webb and Coulombe returning to the bullpen mix for October would be a major plus, but that’s assuming both look like themselves upon returning. That’s hardly a guarantee when you’re talking about pitching elbows.
Recent Octobers suggest the Orioles will need at least four relievers they feel really good about using at any point in a postseason game. Right now, they have two who fit that mold in Cano and Dominguez.
Whether we’re talking about Kimbrel and Soto straightening themselves out in the coming weeks or Webb and Coulombe returning from the IL at full strength, there are candidates with upside to join that group in the coming weeks. Until we see that happen, however, the late-inning angst is sure to continue.
Even on those nights when the other phases of the game are going to plan.
