Dean Kremer understands the pressure surrounding the Orioles’ starting rotation.
With five starters — Kyle Bradish, Zach Eflin, John Means, Grayson Rodriguez and Tyler Wells — on the injured list, the team faces a challenge to maintain one of the best records in the majors and a spot in the postseason.
Kremer completed his third consecutive quality start in a 6-3 loss to the Houston Astros on Aug. 25. He allowed five runs in 18 innings for a 2.50 ERA across those three outings.
Like his counterpart Albert Suárez, Kremer is doing his best to keep the team afloat until the team gets healthier.
“I would hope so once everybody kind of gets back and into their shoes and everybody feels comfortable in their skin,” Kremer told reporters after Sunday’s game. “Once that kind of happens, I think we’re going to be in a good spot.”
The Orioles (76-56) are two games behind the New York Yankees in the American League East.
Overall, Kremer is 6-9 with a 4.31 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 96-to-43 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 102.1 innings.
Kremer was inconsistent in the early part of the season and missed six weeks with a triceps strain, but he tends to pitch better deeper into the summer. Last year, he managed a 3.25 ERA after the All-Star break, fifth among regular American League starters.
However, Kremer is not worried about last year.
“I’m thinking about the starts ahead of me,” Kremer said. “If I’m thinking about last year and what I did last year, then I’m probably not in the right headspace. So it’s just about moving forward and kind of stacking one after another. I would like to think I learned from my mistakes and learned the guys in the box and learned how to navigate with what I’ve got.”
Injuries Continue To Mount(castle)
Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle became the latest player to get hit by the injury bug, landing on the 10-day IL with a left wrist sprain. The move is retroactive to Aug. 23.
Mountcastle was injured against the Houston Astros on Aug. 22 after diving headfirst into second base. He is batting .265/.305/.425 with 13 home runs and 61 RBIs in 118 games this season. However, Mountcastle has not homered since July 29.
In a corresponding move, the Orioles recalled infielder Liván Soto from Triple-A Norfolk. The 24-year-old appeared in one game for the Cincinnati Reds earlier this after being traded to the Orioles in July. He has batted .325 with one home run and five RBIs in 12 games at Triple-Norfolk.
Cedric Mullins is also regarded as day-to-day with tightness in his left quad.
In addition to Mountcastle and the starters on the IL, relievers Danny Coulombe, Jacob Webb and Félix Bautista, infielders Jordan Westburg and Jorge Mateo and outfielder Heston Kjerstad are sidelined with various ailments.
Key Road Trip
The Orioles begin a six-game road trip beginning Aug. 27 against the Los Angeles Dodgers (78-53), who are in first place in the National League West.
In the opener against the Dodgers, Cole Irvin (6-5, 4.82 ERA) will face his former teammate Jack Flaherty (10-5, 3.00 ERA). Flaherty has been a boost to the Dodgers’ rotation after an underwhelming performance for Baltimore when he was acquired at the trade deadline.
In the second game, Orioles ace Corbin Burnes (12-6, 3.28 ERA) will look to get back on track against left-hander Walker Buehler (1-4, 6.09 ERA). Burnes has struggled mightily this month. In a 12-10 loss to the Red Sox on Aug. 16, Burnes set career highs in runs (eight) and hits (10) allowed over four innings — his shortest appearance of the season. In a 6-0 loss to Houston on Aug. 22, Burnes allowed six runs (five earned) on eight hits and two walks while recording only two strikeouts in 5.2 innings.
Cade Povich (1-6, 6.10 ERA) pitches the finale against the Dodgers, who have yet to name their starter.
Following the series against Los Angeles, the Orioles travel to Colorado for a three-game series against the last-place Rockies (49-83). The Orioles then return to Camden Yards for a five-game homestand against the Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays.
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