Right knee subluxation delayed Trevor Rogers’ start to the year, and a trio of free agent rotation signings created a logjam for Baltimore’s starting pitching. Rogers began this season in the minors as a result.
An injury to Cade Povich aided Rogers’ recall to the big leagues June 18. Rogers pitched an outing June 23 that gave reason why he should stay for the foreseeable future.
Rogers threw the best start of his career against the Rangers, firing eight shutout innings in a masterful display on the mound that ended with a standing ovation in front of the home faithful and guided the Orioles to a 6-0 win, snapping Baltimore’s (34-44) two-game skid.
“Really just simplified my approach,” Rogers said. “Even when it came to two strikes, really just focus on executing the pitch, nothing else.”
Rogers’ average fastball velocity was a season-high (93.9 mph), and he even reached 95 miles per hour in his final inning of work. Rogers credited his increased velocity to staying closed with his chest until his foot landed.
“The way the fastball jumped through the zone tonight, that was impressive,” interim manager Tony Mansolino said after the game. “To carry that velocity … super impressive.”
An inability to get quick outs and too much traffic on the bases doomed Rogers his last time out against the Rays in Tampa June 18. While he only gave up three runs, he allowed five hits and three walks and failed to record a single out with fewer than three pitches. He threw 71 pitches and recorded just seven outs.
Rogers didn’t have those same issues against the Rangers.
Rogers was extremely efficient, getting ahead of hitters early with first pitch strikes 66 percent of the time. He threw six one-two-three innings, and the three hits he allowed were all singles. There was just one barrel against him.
The outing was eerily similar to Rogers’ first of the season, when he pitched 6.1 scoreless innings against the Red Sox May 24. He allowed only three baserunners both times.
Rogers became the first Baltimore starter to complete eight innings in a regular season game since Kyle Bradish did so Sept. 26, 2023.
The 2021 All-Star leaned more heavily on his changeup than in his previous two MLB starts this year, throwing it more often than his fastball. The pitch ended an at-bat eight times — one single, one fly out, one strikeout and five groundouts.
Mansolino said a successful changeup was a prerequisite against an all-right-handed lineup. Rogers noted he did a very good job executing the plan.
After pitching to a 4.92 ERA last season, including a 7.11 mark in his four games with the Orioles, Rogers’ performance against the Rangers lowered his ERA this season to 1.62.
“Probably the most frustrating thing for me last year is I knew deep down what I could do for this organization, and I just wasn’t doing it and put too much pressure on myself,” Rogers said. “Really had to take a hard look in the mirror and figure some things out and just get better.”
Rogers received offensive help from his batterymate for the Orioles’ first run.
Chadwick Tromp, who had his contract selected June 23 due to a pair of catcher injuries, got his first hit of the season with a two-out double in the bottom of the third. Jackson Holliday followed with a roped RBI double for a 1-0 lead.
The damage from Holliday continued in the fifth inning, when he slugged an opposite-field three-run homer. The blast was only Holliday’s second this season against lefty pitching.
Holliday’s knocks continued a team-wide improvement in hitting with runners in scoring position. After hitting just .208 through May, the offense’s clip in June is over .260.
The inconsistencies with runners in scoring position did still show up. With the bases loaded and no outs in the sixth inning, Baltimore scored only one run on a Coby Mayo softly hit grounder. With the bases loaded and one out in the seventh inning, the Orioles again scored only one run, this time on a Ramón Urías sacrifice fly.
But with the start Rogers had, that was more than enough help.
Injury Updates
The Orioles have been one of the most injured teams in all of baseball this season. They received more blows during their recent seven-game road trip.
Povich was placed on the 15-day injured list with left hip inflammation June 16. Mansolino said the plan for him is a rehab stint soon.
Adley Rutschman hit the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain June 21, retroactive to June 20. Maverick Handley, recalled for catching depth in Rutschman’s absence, suffered a concussion in the Orioles’ loss to the Yankees on Sunday. Tromp joined the big-league club for the second time this season in replacement.
Jordan Westburg left Saturday’s game after jamming his finger sliding into second base. He is going through physical therapy and is day-to-day. Another infielder, Jorge Mateo, said through a team translator he feels a lot better after colliding with Heston Kjerstad at the end of May and landing on the injured list with left elbow inflammation. Mansolino said Mateo will be going to Triple-A Norfolk for a rehab assignment starting June 24.
Outfielder Tyler O’Neill, who has been out with left shoulder impingement since May 16, said he’s feeling better and will head to Double-A Chesapeake to continue his rehab assignment. He played for Class-A Aberdeen June 22.