The Orioles’ bullpen has gone from merely dependable to flat-out nasty at the exact moment Baltimore needed it most.
On the season, the group has been solid enough, sitting 11th in baseball with a 3.90 ERA. That’s a respectable number on its own, but it gets more impressive when you remember the Orioles have done it without Felix Bautista, who is currently working rehab games in the minors with a return in mind for the stretch run. Ryan Helsley has been the replacement closer, though injuries have limited him to just 15 innings.
Lately, though, this relief corps has taken another step. In August, Baltimore’s bullpen posted a 3.65 ERA, good for 10th in baseball, and ranked fifth in fWAR at 1.9.
Since Aug. 21, it has been even better than that. Through Monday, Orioles relievers led the majors with a 0.81 ERA over 41 innings.
That run has been fueled by a long list of arms stepping up at the right time. Grant Wolfram, Alex Hoppe, Rico Garcia, Andrew Kittredge, Anthony Nunez, Josh Walker, Yennier Cano and Cam Sanders have all chipped in during this recent surge, helping lock down leads, keep games within reach and give the lineup a chance to claw back when it falls behind.
Cano has been steady all season with a 3.07 ERA. Wolfram’s underlying work has been even better than his surface numbers, with a 3.06 FIP outweighing a 4.81 ERA. Kittredge, Garcia and Sanders all have ERAs in the threes as well.
Hoppe has been one of the most notable turnaround stories in the group. He arrived after putting up a 5.79 ERA in 28 innings with the Seattle Mariners before the deadline, and since joining Baltimore he has thrown nine scoreless innings for a 0.00 ERA. He had been viewed as one of the possible winners from the Taylor Ward trade.
The Orioles also kept adding arms Tuesday. With rosters expanding, they promoted top pitching prospect Luis De Leon from Norfolk and brought in Albert Suarez, who was described by the team as durable, to the bullpen. To make room, Baltimore designated pitchers Nick Raquet and Cam Weston for assignment and optioned lefty starter Cade Povich back to Norfolk.
Even after trading franchise catcher Adley Rutschman and other key players before the deadline, Baltimore entered Tuesday night 15-11. Pete Alonso and the outfielders have helped spark the offense, but the bullpen has clearly been a major reason the Orioles have climbed in the Wild Card standings.
If this group keeps rolling, Baltimore can keep dreaming on a run that still feels unlikely. And if Bautista comes back close to the pitcher everyone knows he can be, the whole thing could get even scarier.
In Other News...
Orioles Just Set Up Another Tough Roster Decision
The Orioles roster expansion brought a familiar sort of September clutter to Camden Yards, with Heston Kjerstad and left-handed reliever Luis De Len promoted from Triple-A Norfolk as Baltimore opened up to 28 players. Cade Povich was sent back to Norfolk in the shuffle, a reminder that even as rosters grow, every addition still squeezes someone else out of the picture.
Luis Robert Jr. could also be activated for an upcoming game, which would force another move and sharpen the pressure on a group already being asked to sort out roles on the fly. For a club trying to balance late-season depth, left-handed pitching and an outfield that keeps getting more crowded, the next decision may be even trickier than the last. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Rotation Shuffle Just Raised A Bigger Stretch Run Question
The Orioles have already started to make August feel a little different on the mound, opening with Cade Povich last night and pushing Kyle Bradish to tonight before Trevor Rogers takes the ball Wednesday afternoon. Craig Albernaz said a six-man rotation is under consideration, and with rosters expanding, Baltimore is also planning to add another pitcher while Luis Robert Jr. is expected to come aboard as the new position player.
The timing matters because this is no longer just about getting through a series, it is about how the club wants to handle the final months of the season. Bradishs recent struggles have only sharpened the discussion, especially after some uneven first-inning work, and the Orioles now have to decide whether the shuffle is a short-term convenience or the start of a broader rotation plan for the stretch run. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Roster Crunch Is Putting Heston Kjerstad Back In Focus
Heston Kjerstad is on track to finally get back into the Orioles mix in September, a welcome development after the outfielder spent much of the season working his way back from health setbacks. His return would give Baltimore another left-handed bat to sort into a roster that is about to get even more crowded, especially with the club expecting another outfield addition in the same stretch.
Luis Robert Jr. is also anticipated to join the Orioles, creating a squeeze that could force the team into some difficult decisions on the fringe of the roster. Christian Franklin may be the one sent down once Robert arrives, while Flix Bautista remains on a slower path back and is not expected to return right away because he still needs more rehab outings, leaving Baltimore to manage both reinforcements and the timing of its bullpen help. [Read more 🡒]