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This was weird.
Baltimore Orioles right-hander Chris Bassitt lasted just three innings in Wednesday's 8-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, and when reporters pressed him about what went wrong afterward, he shut things down quickly.
The 37-year-old was pulled after giving up three earned runs in the third, including a two-run home run to Wilyer Abreu that blew the frame open.
He threw 36 pitches in that inning alone, and it was clear on the mound that something beyond poor execution was going on.
"I felt fine. I just couldn't really execute," Bassitt said. "I'm not going to get into [the back issue] right now. I understand you guys have a job to do and want answers, but I'm just not willing to talk about it."
Manager Craig Albernaz confirmed after the game that Bassitt was dealing with lower back tightness, which is worrying given the veteran dealt with a similar issue in April 2023 while pitching for the Toronto Blue Jays.
That time, right lower back tightness forced him out of a start against the White Sox and cost him time on the shelf.
The setback comes at the worst possible time for Baltimore.
The Orioles' rotation had been on a real roll heading into Wednesday, posting a 2.40 ERA over the previous 13 games for the second-lowest mark in the majors during that stretch.
Bassitt was a big part of that improvement after an ugly start to the year that saw his ERA climb above 9.00 through his first two outings.
He had allowed one earned run or fewer in four of his last seven starts, and the six-inning, one-run gem he threw against the Blue Jays on May 28 had Albernaz calling him "dialed."
Including Wednesday's short outing, Bassitt now sits at 4-4 with a 5.27 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP through 12 appearances this season.
Those numbers are not great by his standards, but he was trending in the right direction before the back flared up after the Orioles tried different strategies to get him going earlier this season, including using Keegan Akin as an opener on multiple occasions.
The Orioles sit at 30-33 after Thursday's series finale in Boston, placing them fourth in the AL East and 8 games back of the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays.
Baltimore has already dealt with a wave of pitching injuries this season, and the rotation was just starting to find its footing when Bassitt went down.
Losing him for any stretch would be a real problem because he leads the team in wins and eats innings the way few other arms on the staff can, which is exactly why the club handed him a one-year, $18.5 million deal back in February.
Whether this is something Bassitt can pitch through or whether it turns into a trip to the injured list remains unclear.
For now, he is not saying much, and the Orioles are left hoping his silence is a choice and not a sign of something worse.
Continue reading...
Baltimore Orioles right-hander Chris Bassitt lasted just three innings in Wednesday's 8-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, and when reporters pressed him about what went wrong afterward, he shut things down quickly.
The 37-year-old was pulled after giving up three earned runs in the third, including a two-run home run to Wilyer Abreu that blew the frame open.
He threw 36 pitches in that inning alone, and it was clear on the mound that something beyond poor execution was going on.
"I felt fine. I just couldn't really execute," Bassitt said. "I'm not going to get into [the back issue] right now. I understand you guys have a job to do and want answers, but I'm just not willing to talk about it."
Manager Craig Albernaz confirmed after the game that Bassitt was dealing with lower back tightness, which is worrying given the veteran dealt with a similar issue in April 2023 while pitching for the Toronto Blue Jays.
That time, right lower back tightness forced him out of a start against the White Sox and cost him time on the shelf.
The Worst Possible Timing
The setback comes at the worst possible time for Baltimore.
The Orioles' rotation had been on a real roll heading into Wednesday, posting a 2.40 ERA over the previous 13 games for the second-lowest mark in the majors during that stretch.
Bassitt was a big part of that improvement after an ugly start to the year that saw his ERA climb above 9.00 through his first two outings.
He had allowed one earned run or fewer in four of his last seven starts, and the six-inning, one-run gem he threw against the Blue Jays on May 28 had Albernaz calling him "dialed."
Including Wednesday's short outing, Bassitt now sits at 4-4 with a 5.27 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP through 12 appearances this season.
Those numbers are not great by his standards, but he was trending in the right direction before the back flared up after the Orioles tried different strategies to get him going earlier this season, including using Keegan Akin as an opener on multiple occasions.
What It Means for Baltimore
The Orioles sit at 30-33 after Thursday's series finale in Boston, placing them fourth in the AL East and 8 games back of the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays.
Baltimore has already dealt with a wave of pitching injuries this season, and the rotation was just starting to find its footing when Bassitt went down.
Losing him for any stretch would be a real problem because he leads the team in wins and eats innings the way few other arms on the staff can, which is exactly why the club handed him a one-year, $18.5 million deal back in February.
Whether this is something Bassitt can pitch through or whether it turns into a trip to the injured list remains unclear.
For now, he is not saying much, and the Orioles are left hoping his silence is a choice and not a sign of something worse.
Continue reading...
