Once the All-Star break is over, the Orioles hope their starting staff can get stronger. John Means, who has missed more than a month because of a strained left shoulder, is expected back in the fourth or fifth game after the break.
Bruce Zimmermann, who has been out because of left biceps tendinitis, is expected to rejoin the rotation by the end of the month.
Between now and then, the Orioles’ rotation full of question marks and inexperience.
“We’re definitely struggling in our rotation,” manager Brandon Hyde said after the Orioles lost to the Chicago White Sox, 8-3, on Saturday. “We’re out of games early. We’ve only had a handful of quality starts since the Means’ no-hitter, which tells you a lot, and our bullpen guys have pitched a lot of innings. It’s very challenging.”
Thomas Eshelman, who’s trying to prove he belongs in the rotation, had a difficult third inning in the loss to the White Sox before before an announced crowed 26,391 at Camden Yards, the largest of the season.
Eshelman (0-2) gave up Brian Goodwin’s fourth home run in the second. In the third, Jake Burger led off by lining a ball off Eshelman’s left shin. He ran after the ball in foul territory and rolled over trying to make the play.
Hyde and head athletic trainer Brian Ebel checked on Eshelman, and he stayed in the game. Eshelman walked Zack Collins, and then Tim Anderson hit a ball down the right field line that the ball boy mistakenly picked up and tried to toss into the crowd.
Anderson was awarded second base on interference and Burger scored. Yoán Moncada doubled to score Collins and Anderson and Chicago led, 4-0.
“I think it did affect him,” Hyde said of the injury. “After Moncada hit the ball down the line, just watching him back up, you could tell the leg was bothering him. I don’t know how hard the ball was hit, but it was hit hard. It hit him right on the bone.
“I give him credit for being a team guy and trying to stay in the game and trying to get through that inning. It didn’t look like it was going to happen.”
After Eshelman walked José Abreu, he was replaced by Keegan Akin.
“It swelled up on me,” Eshelman said of his shin. “I wanted to grind through the third and hopefully give the bullpen a break.”
Akin, who was supposed to follow Dillon Tate in Thursday’s postponed game, allowed two runs in the fifth on Goodwin’s RBI single and Leury Garcia’s run-scoring double.
In the seventh, Chicago (53-35) added two runs on a single by Goodwin, his fifth RBI in the series, and a run-scoring double by Garcia. Akin gave up four runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings.
“That was the best stuff I’d seen Keegan have in a while,” Hyde said. “I was impressed by that.”
Hyde rejected the idea that Akin’s future is in the bullpen
“We’re in dire need of rotation help,” Hyde said. “He’s always been a starter throughout his career. He’s still really young. His career is just starting in the big leagues. I’m pretty sure you’re going to see him back in the rotation just because we are going to need the innings and we need starters.”
The Orioles (28-60) did little against Lucas Giolito (7-6), who allowed two runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings, striking out nine and walking two. Domingo Leyba had RBI singles in the fourth and sixth.
In the eighth, the Orioles threatened, loading the bases against José Ruiz with two outs. Austin Hays walked, scoring Ryan Mountcastle, and pinch-hitter Ryan McKenna struck out against Liam Hendriks to end the inning. Hendriks then worked a perfect ninth, striking out two.
Notes: Hyde said that Means, who allowed two home runs in three innings at Bowie on Friday night, joked about his outing. “He said he has a tough time pitching at Bowie,” Hyde said. “He said he feels great … he said he threw the ball well, made a couple of mistakes that they hit for homers, but besides that, he’s healthy and ready to make his next start.” Means will start for Norfolk at Memphis next week before rejoining the Orioles … Hyde said that he’s gotten positive reports on second baseman Jahmai Jones at Norfolk. “I’ve been following,” Hyde said. “Sounds like he’s swinging the bat pretty well. They’re working hard with him defensively at second base to get reps every day because he’s so inexperienced at second. It’s important for him to get the defensive reps.”… Spenser Watkins (1-0, 1.50 ERA) will face Dylan Cease (7-4, 4.14) on Sunday.
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Writing these game summaries must feel like you're in a "Groundhog's Day" kind of spell Rich..
As the players say, you play them one at a time, Mike.
Ethelman has proven he's not an ML pitcher. There is a reason these scrubs like Wilkerson accept outrights rather than free ageny
NO OTHER ORGANIZATION WNTS THEM!!!
"Groundhog Day" is the perfect description of this. Repetition at it's worse. How is it even possible that a pitching staff can be this bad? Now Mountcastle,Hays,and Mullins have little to offer. Don't know what help an all-star break can give but we'll/they'll take it. Tomorrow's draft is the season highlight(sorry Trey that HR Derby is losing it's luster). After the draft it's down hill all the way right out the back door. Maybe come August we can start chatting up Hyde's future. Oh and Mr. Holt answer us one thing---"what the hell happened?"
And yet somehow Arizona is still 3 games or so worse than his dumpster fire. It almost like the starters are throwing slow pitch softball, how did some of these guys even make it this far. Until we get some starting pitching this disaster will never start to turn around.
The O's are going to have to learn how to draft and develop their own pitching. We're not going to obtain our pitching thru trades.
Saw the Diamondbacks lost by three TD’s to the Dodgers, yikes...go O’s...
Oh, yeah. Chris Davis... Without that ball and chain the rebuild might have a better chance. I do have love and compassion for the guy but I'd sure like to see him throw in the towel and release the O's from his contract.
Is there really nothing that can be done?
I’m sure if you signed a multi year multi million dollar contract you would willingly throw in the towel and give all the money back to your employer too if you underperformed Ben.
Agree with both of you, the bad part is contracts (athletic) generally expect to be honored (as they should be) when athletes underperform, as soon as they start outperforming their contract athletes expect to have it restructured, can’t have it both ways, but they typically get it both ways...go O’s...
Respectfully disagree Ben. Even if the O's were without Davis' financial ball n chain I doubt they would spend a penny more than they presently are. They are what they are at the present moment.
Agree that management/ownership would not have spent--or will spend--big money if free of CD's contract. Their strategy is to build from within, no matter how under-performing the product on the field is and for how long. Fans will just have to suck it up and buy into the fallacy that spending money on interim, proven players would inexorably undermine reliance on developing draft choices and free agent first year players.
Hader the hater with a loss today always great to see!
I remember when they came out with the “quality start” stat. 6 innings, 3 earned runs or fewer. Might have been late 80s? Early 90s? Any way, At the time I thought it was madness. A 4.50 era was not “quality” in those days (and not now either) nor was leaving your bullpen with 3 innings to get through.
Fast forward a few decades and I must humbly admit: whoever invented that stat was some kind of prophet.
Hyde says Akin threw some of his best stuff? Four runs in 4 1/3??? Give me a frickin’ break. That tells you all you need to know about this staff: pathetic.
Yep.
“That was the best stuff I’d seen Keegan have in a while,” Hyde said. “I was impressed by that.”
Oh my.
Hope they draft a pitcher today. Can't go two years without drafting quality pitching prospects. I know we needed middle infielders, but always need more pitchers than you think.
Leiter or Rocker will be there at # 5. The only question.......will the O's pull the trigger on 1 of the 2 best pitchers in the draft. Or will they stick to their guns and say that drafting pitchers early and high in the draft is too RISKY
I hesitate with Rocker, but WTH, we NEED pitching...go O’s...
Well your not developing anyone this year because at the first sign of trouble out comes the quick hook.
Kramer and Akin both suffer the same problem marginal control of the fast ball and poor control of their breaking pitches . I don’t know why this organization continues their mistakes of rushing guys that have marginal control at best .
For my part the only pitcher I’d take is Leiter I’ve seen several starts of his and he can throw strikes has a tendency to pull his breaking stuff . But this is where he differs from guys like Akin and Kramer he has a mental approach . He has a plan and can execute it rarely will he throw what the batter is sitting on . Unlike our guys that seem to go 3-2 on every batter and throw a fastball even behind he won’t give in that separates him from Rocker . Rocker is what the Orioles have to much of marginal control coupled with marginal stuff . Rocker velocity was up and down particularly in the tournament . When he couldn’t generate velocity he got into problems.
I believe the smart play is to draft Davis and if he is not there go with one of the two college outfielders at under slot and go over slot in the latter rounds. I think we can all attest to the fact that this organization needs another major infusion of talent not just one premium piece but 4-6 above average pieces . Please don’t draft a 18 year old shortstop that’s a recipe for disaster . There is just to much stuff on and off the field to go wrong unless he has the commitment of a Jeter .