Bassitt looks sharp in Orioles’ 10-2 loss to Cardinals; Suárez allows 7 runs

SARASOTA, Florida–What’s happening? Chris Bassitt breezed through his second start, pitching three spotless innings before he was removed two batters into the fourth in the Orioles’ 10-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals before 6,510 at Ed Smith Stadium on Friday.

Bassitt retired the first nine batters he faced, striking out two before he walked leadoff batter Nathan Church in the fourth. Iván Herrera reached on an infield single before Bassitt was replaced by Yennier Cano. Church later scored after an error by third baseman Coby Mayo. Bassitt threw 43 pitches.

The 37-year-old right-hander has earned praise wherever he goes. Manager Craig Albernaz is fine with him setting his own training program along with pitching coach Drew French.

“This is year 10 for him, and he’s had plenty of buildup in his career,” Albernaz said. “I trust whatever he feels is necessary.”

What happened? Bassitt was pleased with his effort.

“It was just feeling out mechanics,” he said. “Overall, I’d say mechanics were pretty good today. I’d say mindset and a couple of the pitches weren’t great. I was working with [catcher Adley Rutschman], getting my lanes right, getting comfortable in game with how we want to work.

“We didn’t deep dive with in-game preparation, but we did a little bit with some hitters, how we’re looking at the hitters, how we’re looking at attacking them.”

Bassitt has bonded with Rutschman, and he said he’s enjoyed working with all the catchers.

“They’re doing a great job,” he said. “They really care in the film room. They care about game preparation. I’m excited to work with them.”

“Bassitt looked really good,” Albernaz said. “He looked sharp out there. The curveball looked good, and he did a good job of using all his pitches today and throwing strikes.”

Cano pitched a scoreless inning. Albert Suárez allowed seven runs on nine hits in 2 2/3 innings.

Ryan Mountcastle was 3-for-3 with an RBI. He’s batting 389.

“Just getting some bat on ball, trying to swing at all the right pitches,” he said. “I feel like I’m picking up spin pretty well. That’s a positive sign.”

After last season, there was talk that the Orioles might not offer the 29-year-old Mountcastle a contract, but they did. There’s still a question about how much playing time he’ll get in 2026 because Pete Alonso is expected to be an everyday player at first base.

“I can’t speak to what Mounty is thinking, but in my conversations he’s been great,” Albernaz said. “He’s been putting a lot of quality work in, and he’s ready to go. The at-bats have been great. He’s been playing a good first base. He’s in a great spot.”

Vance Honeycutt, who homered in his previous four at-bats, singled to center in the eighth.

“That was a great piece of hitting today by Honey,” Albernaz said. “That was a really good slider. He did a good job of adjusting to it and still keeping his swing and posture through it. That was a very impressive swing.”

What’s up with Josh Walker? The Orioles claimed the 31-year-old left-hander off waivers from Philadelphia last August 21^st. On November 13^th, he was claimed by Atlanta and reclaimed by the Orioles on December 10^th. Walker was sent outright to Triple-A Norfolk on January 7^th.

“I think it reflects how last year went. It was a tougher year personally,” Walker said. “I hold myself to a high standard and I fell short in a lot of ways last year. I diagnosed the reasons for why things went that way.”

In three games with Toronto, Walker had a 7.20 ERA and had a 4.64 ERA for three Triple-A teams — Norfolk, Buffalo and Lehigh Valley in 40 games.

Walker is one of several pitchers on minor league contracts aiming to make the team.

“It’s stiff competition. They brought in a lot of talent, a lot of guys in this room that can help this team win,” he said.

He’s from Otisville, New York but now lives in Jupiter, Florida. Walker is used to playing in the cold. In middle school, he pitched in a game when the temperature was 34 degrees with rain.

“It was almost worse than snow,” he said. “I remember I couldn’t feel my hands or my body. Starting the year last year in Buffalo, we had a series with snow. It was chilly. That was up there in pro ball with one of the coldest days I’ve pitched in.”

Walker pitched his second scoreless inning of the spring, walking two on Friday. 

What’s what? While spring training statistics are considered meaningless, it’s hard to ignore Suárez’s rough outing. The 36-year-old right-hander labored through 51 pitches. With so many other relievers pitching well, his chances to make the club took a big hit on Friday.

What’s the word? “He looked like all his offspeed offerings were just a little flat today and out over the plate. Other than that, the fastball looked good. The breaking stuff wasn’t as sharp as it has been. It’s spring training. He’s still getting built up. Next outing will be better.”-Albernaz on Suárez’s outing.   

What’s the number? 10.80. Suárez had allowed one earned run in his first four innings, but his ERA soared to 10.80 with this performance.

What’s the record? 6-6-1. The Orioles will play split-squad games against the Minnesota Twins in Sarasota and at the Atlanta Braves at Cool Today Park in North Port. Cade Povich, who pitched two scoreless innings against the Braves on February 23^rd, will start against Mick Abel in Sarasota while Luis De Léon, who pitched a scoreless inning against Boston on Sunday, will start against Atlanta’s Grant Holmes in North Port. Both games will begin at 1:05 p.m.

Brett Hollander will call the Sarasota game on WBAL/98 Rock.

Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com