Orioles manager Brandon Hyde has had to scramble because of injuries with his starting rotation.
First, John Means went on the injured list on May 23 with a left forearm strain, which made room for Cole Irvin to rejoin the rotation. Irvin is 5-0 with a 0.59 ERA in his last five starts and threw five scoreless innings against the Red Sox on May 27 after shifting back to the rotation.
“He’s got the great mindset. … He’s a team-first guy,” Hyde said of Irvin.
Then, Dean Kremer went on the injured list on May 24 with a right triceps strain. Albert Suárez is now filling his role in the back of the rotation. Another option is Triple-A Norfolk left-hander Cade Povich, who is 5-1 with a 2.35 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and .195 batting average against in 10 appearances with the Tides.
Despite the adversity, the Orioles have a 2.90 ERA (76 earned runs in 236 innings) in their last 26 games since April 29 — the third-best mark in MLB behind the Yankees (2.48) and Phillies (2.85). The Orioles have surrendered an MLB-low 169 hits while holding opponents to an MLB-low .199 batting average (169-for-849) during that span.
Suárez (2-0, 1.53 ERA) will pitch the series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays on May 31. Kyle Bradish (1-0, 1.75 ERA) will start on June 1. Irvin will throw in the finale.
Stowers Pushes For More Playing Time
Orioles rookie outfielder Kyle Stowers appears to have staying power.
Hyde has found ways to get Stowers at-bats, and the young player has delivered key hits since being promoted from Norfolk on May 13. On May 27, Stowers had three hits, including two doubles and a career-high four RBIs, in an 11-3 victory against the Red Sox.
Stowers is batting .389/.368/.556 with five RBIs in 10 games (18 at-bats) this season. He could get more opportunities with both Cedric Mullins (.188/.233/.331) and Austin Hays (.164/.225/.205) struggling at the plate.
“I’m a lot more comfortable,” Stowers said. “I think I told you guys when I first got here that I knew what to expect coming into things now. Playing with a lot of confidence, a lot of gratitude and honestly, just playing. I’m just playing the game.”
Stowers batted .240/.315/.541 with 11 doubles, 11 home runs, 32 RBIs, 13 walks and 44 strikeouts in 165 plate appearances with Norfolk. He hit .207 in 48 games with the Orioles in 2022 and 2023, but he is a different, improved player.
“Kyle got off to a great start in Triple-A, we’re excited about that,” Hyde said after Stowers was promoted to the big leagues. “He’s got huge power potential. We’ve seen the power when he’s been up here before.”
June’s Challenging Schedule
The Orioles are bracing for one off day in the month of June, which could put stress on a pitching staff that is already hampered by injuries.
Nonetheless, the Orioles enter the month as one of the hottest teams in Major League Baseball. They have won six of their last seven games after dropping four of their previous five. With a series win against Boston, the Orioles moved to 16 games over .500, tying a season high.
With three games against the Rays on tap this weekend, the Orioles have not dropped a series against an AL East opponent in 18 consecutive sets (13-0-5), the longest such streak in team history since divisions were introduced in 1969, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
After this weekend’s series against the Rays, the Orioles have four games with another AL East opponent in the Blue Jays.
The Orioles’ only off day in the month is on Monday, June 17, following a weekend series against the red-hot Phillies.
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