Kyle Bradish and Dean Kremer are a couple of young pitchers who have already experienced some ups and downs as major leaguers for the Orioles.
Both are trying to stake their claim as long-term members of the starting rotation and have shown potential.
Bradish has been mostly effective, but he’s only pitched into the sixth inning in three of his seven starts. His goal is to go deeper into games.
“I’ve got to find a way to get into the sixth, seventh inning,” he said.
Bradish allowed two runs and six hits, with two walks and six strikeouts in 4.2 innings in his last outing against Seattle June 1. The 25-year-old bounced back from his previous outing against Boston when he lasted just 1.2 innings — his shortest start in the majors — and allowed six runs and six hits.
Overall, Bradish is 1-3 with a 6.82 ERA. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound right-hander has struck out 35 and walked 11 in 33 innings. His fastball has topped out at 98 mph. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde has been encouraged by his development.
“He was throwing 98 miles per hour in the first inning,” Hyde said after Bradish’s last start. “There was some intent there with every pitch. I thought his command was much better than his last start. I thought his stuff was really good. Kyle’s going to be a really good starting pitcher in this league, and he’s a tough at-bat. He did a really good job. Walked a couple of guys and punched out six.”
Kremer has also flashed potential despite his recent results.
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound right-hander went 0-7 with a 7.55 ERA and 1.64 WHIP in 13 starts last season. Nonetheless, Kremer was poised to earn a spot in the bottom of the rotation out of spring training, but he suffered a left oblique strain while warming up in the bullpen during the team’s third game of the season at Tampa Bay April 10.
The rehab process was a challenge both physically and mentally.
“Being sidelined without even throwing is not great,” Kremer said. “Not only do I feel like I put the team in a bad spot, but I’ve done the oblique before and I know what it takes to get back. I’m just happy to be back.”
Kremer, 26, began the season in the minors and dominated, throwing nine scoreless innings with two hits, two walks and 18 strikeouts in three starts.
Kremer made his season debut with the Orioles on June 5 in a 3-2 loss against the Cleveland Guardians. He allowed a three-run homer to Andrés Giménez in the first inning but then got into a groove, retiring 10 of his final 12 batters.
Kremer’s final line was three runs on five hits with three strikeouts and walk in 4.1 innings and 67 pitches. He took another loss and fell to 1-9 on his career.
“If you throw out that first inning he was great,” Hyde said. “I thought he threw the ball extremely well. I’m really encouraged. I thought I saw a lot of improvement from last year.”
Kremer earned his only career win on September 6, 2020, against the Yankees after allowing one run on one hit, walking three and striking out seven.
However, he’ll get a chance to nab another victory in the next week because he certainly earned another start. Bradish will also look to keep the positive momentum going, beginning with his June 6 start against the Cubs.
Their young careers might depend on it.
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