The Orioles split their split-squad games with one excellent pitching performance
Happy Monday, Camden Chatters! I hope you had a lovely weekend and are ready to face the week ahead. If you live in Maryland, beautiful weather is headed your way.
We are now just 17 days from Opening Day and three weeks from the home opener in Baltimore. Real baseball is so close!
The Orioles are on the road against the Pirates in an evening game, start time is 6:05 pm. And the game is on TV! You can watch it on MASN or listen to the Pirates radio feed. The scheduled starting pitcher is Matt Bowman, and it may not a starter-heavy lineup for the road game, but it is baseball. On TV.
Yesterday the Orioles played two games, one at home vs the Twins and one on the road vs the Phillies. Tomoyuki Sugano started the home game and had an incredible outing. On 46 pitches, Sugano retired nine straight batters and struck out five. Given the uncertainty surrounding the rotation, if Sugano can carry his spring performance into the regular season it would be huge. He has not yet allowed a run over three spring appearances.
The Orioles defeated the Twins, 4-3. Adley Rutschman had a hit and a walk. Jackson Holliday had his third stolen base this spring. Colton Cowser picked up two hits. Cowser’s hand was stepped on in the game on Saturday, so it was great to see him back out there.
The road game against the Phillies didn’t go quite as well. The Orioles lost 12-2, but those 12 runs are less concerning once you see the rundown of pitchers. From Thaddeus Ward to Nathan Webb, none were pitchers you expect to help the Orioles this year.
On offense, Cedric Mullins and Ryan Mountcastle were both 0-for-3. Heston Kjerstad and Coby Mayo each had a double as their only hit. The team had just five hits, two from non-roster player Luis Vazquez.
Links
Adley Rutschman feels prepared for bounce back 2025 season – Orioles.com
It’s an Adley Rutschman hype article, and I sure hope it turns out to be true. The Orioles need the Adley they had before the second half of last year if they are going to succeed.
Notes on Sugano, small ball, Baker and more from Orioles-Twins and Orioles-Phillies (updated) – MASN Sports
Roch Kubatko has notes from yesterday’s two-game day in which the Orioles picked up one win and one loss.
With 2 key Orioles injuries, here are 5 options for camp competition still on the market – The Baltimore Banner
Andy Kostka looks at external options to fill the holes made by injuries to Grayson Rodriguez and Andrew Kittredge. As amusing as I find Joe Kelly, I’ll pass on these.
Birthdays and History
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You have two Orioles birthday buddies. Tike Redman (48) appeared in 40 games with the 2007 Orioles. Fun fact, he had a higher bWAR (0.8) in those 40 games than in 392 games with the Pirates from 2000-2005 (0.2).
And Mike Timlin (59) was an Oriole from 1999-2000. He was the team’s closer with 27 saves in ‘99 and 11 in 2000 before he was traded to the Cardinals at the deadline for Chris Richard.
On this day in 1966, the Orioles traded Lou Piniella to Cleveland for Camilo Carreón. Piniella had just one plate appearance across four games for the Orioles in 1964. He of course went on to have a long career with the Yankees.
In 2016, the Orioles signed free agent Pedro Álvarez. Álvarez had a solid 2016 season with the team but was less effective in 2017-18.