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The Baltimore Orioles snapped their three-game losing streak on Friday in their series opener against the Detroit Tigers. They improved to 22-29, but there is still plenty of work ahead if they want to climb back into the playoff picture.
It has been a rough month of May, especially for the starting rotation, which has struggled to keep the team in games.
On Friday, Baltimore used an opener in Keegan Akin, but the bulk of the innings were handled by right-hander Chris Bassitt, who entered after the first.
Bassitt did not have his sharpest outing, going 4 1/3 innings and allowing three runs on six hits. However, the Orioles offense finally showed up, scoring seven runs, which allowed Bassitt to earn his fourth win of the season.
After the game, Bassitt spoke with reporters and acknowledged the hole Baltimore is trying to climb out of. “It’s not a big hole. How many games back of the wild card are we? (Three games.) Yeah, that's nothing. … I don't think there's like a fear of a deficit, because there really isn't,” Bassitt said (h/t Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun).
Bassitt is not necessarily wrong. The American League has been weaker than expected this year, and if Baltimore can put together a strong stretch, they can get themselves back into the mix.
Still, they need to start stacking wins soon. It is unlikely they will remain in the race if they carry a losing record into August.
Bassitt is also hoping better days are ahead for himself. This is his first season with the Orioles after signing a one-year, $18.5 million contract in the offseason. The 37-year-old veteran previously pitched for the Chicago White Sox, Athletics, New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays during his 12-year career.
His first season in Baltimore has been disappointing. His ERA dropped to 5.51 after Friday’s outing, but he has not missed many bats, striking out just 34 hitters in 47 1/3 innings while allowing four home runs to opposing hitters.
He will continue to get opportunities because the Orioles are dealing with so many injuries. Cade Povich and Dean Kremer are both on the 15-day injured list, while Zach Eflin is out for the season after undergoing right elbow surgery.
Bassitt’s next start will likely come next week against his former team, the Blue Jays. For now, the Orioles will hope his presence can help lead a young team facing adversity out of their early hole.
Continue reading...
It has been a rough month of May, especially for the starting rotation, which has struggled to keep the team in games.
On Friday, Baltimore used an opener in Keegan Akin, but the bulk of the innings were handled by right-hander Chris Bassitt, who entered after the first.
Bassitt did not have his sharpest outing, going 4 1/3 innings and allowing three runs on six hits. However, the Orioles offense finally showed up, scoring seven runs, which allowed Bassitt to earn his fourth win of the season.
After the game, Bassitt spoke with reporters and acknowledged the hole Baltimore is trying to climb out of. “It’s not a big hole. How many games back of the wild card are we? (Three games.) Yeah, that's nothing. … I don't think there's like a fear of a deficit, because there really isn't,” Bassitt said (h/t Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun).
Bassitt is not necessarily wrong. The American League has been weaker than expected this year, and if Baltimore can put together a strong stretch, they can get themselves back into the mix.
Still, they need to start stacking wins soon. It is unlikely they will remain in the race if they carry a losing record into August.
Bassitt is also hoping better days are ahead for himself. This is his first season with the Orioles after signing a one-year, $18.5 million contract in the offseason. The 37-year-old veteran previously pitched for the Chicago White Sox, Athletics, New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays during his 12-year career.
His first season in Baltimore has been disappointing. His ERA dropped to 5.51 after Friday’s outing, but he has not missed many bats, striking out just 34 hitters in 47 1/3 innings while allowing four home runs to opposing hitters.
He will continue to get opportunities because the Orioles are dealing with so many injuries. Cade Povich and Dean Kremer are both on the 15-day injured list, while Zach Eflin is out for the season after undergoing right elbow surgery.
Bassitt’s next start will likely come next week against his former team, the Blue Jays. For now, the Orioles will hope his presence can help lead a young team facing adversity out of their early hole.
Continue reading...
