Amid a 10-17 start, third-worst in MLB and behind only the Chicago White Sox (7-21) and Colorado Rockies (4-24), the Baltimore Orioles pitching staff has labored to find consistency. Their starting rotation 5.83 ERA ranks 28th in the majors, underscoring a crisis that traces back to the offseason loss of Corbin Burnes and subsequent misfires in free agency. On Tuesday, veteran Kyle Gibson takes the mound against Carlos Rodón and the New York Yankees; Gibson’s veteran presence and ability to eat innings represent Baltimore’s best hope to stabilize a faltering staff.
Opposite him, Rodón brings a 3–3 record, 3.50 ERA, and 45 strikeouts in 36 innings, posing a stiff challenge for a young Orioles lineup already chasing deficits.
Kyle Gibson Returns to the Fold
The Orioles signed Gibson a week before Opening Day, banking on his durability and experience to fortify the back end. In 2023, Gibson made 33 starts for Baltimore, logging a career-high 192 innings with a 15-9 record and 4.73 ERA. His performance gave the Orioles a stabilizing force in an otherwise shaky rotation. A 2021 All-Star, Gibson posted a 2.87 ERA and 94 strikeouts in 113 innings before the break, showcasing his capacity to sustain high-level performance deep into games.
In three spring rehab outings, Gibson notched a 3.75 ERA over 24 innings, flashing improved command and readiness for a full-season role under pressure.
Baltimore’s Early Season Pitching Crisis
The Orioles’ collective 5.83 ERA contributes to opponents outscoring Baltimore 96–61 in the first five innings. After losing Burnes, Orioles general manager Mike Elias signed mid-rotation arms Charlie Morton and Tomoyuki Sugano—neither of whom has solidified the back end. Morton has posted an 8.78 ERA through his first three starts, underscoring why the staff has lacked a reliable veteran presence.
Sugano, however, has been the lone bright spot, delivering a 3.00 ERA over six starts and anchoring the rotation amid the turmoil. In addition to the challenges of the rotation, Zach Eflin and Grayson Rodriguez remain on the injured list, further draining depth and forcing early-season shuffles. Sugano delivered his strongest start yet in Monday nights win over the Yankees, tossing five scoreless innings while recording a season-high eight strikeouts and generating 17 whiffs.
Can Gibson Spark a Turnaround?
Baltimore’s rotation has clearly been the club’s Achilles’ heel. But with Sugano setting the tone in Monday’s win over the Yankees and Gibson taking the mound tonight, the Orioles have a narrow window to build momentum. Another win wouldn’t just secure a series victory — it would match their longest winning streak of the season and inject much-needed belief into a rotation desperate for stability.
Gibson’s outing could prove pivotal. If he can deliver a steady performance against a high-powered Yankees lineup, it might mark the start of a slow but vital turnaround for Baltimore’s embattled staff.
Reinforcements are on the horizon. Zach Eflin and Grayson Rodriguez are expected back in the coming weeks, while Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells, both recovering from elbow surgery, could return later this season. If the Orioles can stay afloat until then, the rotation may finally find the footing it’s been searching for.
Main Photo: © Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
The post Orioles Aim to Regain Ground Behind Veteran Presence appeared first on Last Word On Baseball.