The Orioles faced a left-handed pitcher. Therefore, they lost.
Baltimore entered this weekend as MLB’s most inept offense against lefties. Somehow, they were even worse than usual Saturday night.
The Orioles were stymied by a pair of Kansas City southpaws in a 4-0 loss to the visiting Royals. The defeat stunts what was the best stretch of Baltimore baseball all season after consecutive wins Wednesday and Friday.
The Orioles’ listlessness against lefties is perhaps the No. 2 reason — behind the starting rotation, of course — that they’re in last place in the American League East with a 13-19 record. Baltimore is 2-9 versus left-handed starting pitchers and 11-10 against righties.
Saturday, it was Kris Bubic and Daniel Lynch IV who tormented Baltimore’s bats. Bubic and Lynch combined to twirl seven spotless innings, allowing only five hits (all singles) and two walks. The lineup’s lifeless performance with the lumber spoiled another quality start from Tomoyuki Sugano, who pitched six innings of two-run ball.
“We’ve had our problems with both those lefties,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “We’ve gotta do a better job against left-handed pitching. … It’s been a struggle so far against left-handed pitching.”
Sugano and Bubic each tossed scoreless frames to open the game, but the skies opened and began pouring down on Oriole Park. After a 57-minute delay, both starters remained in the game. Bubic completed four more frames for the win, his third of the season and second over Baltimore after he fired 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball against the Orioles in early April.
Veteran outfielder Ramón Laureano was as perplexed about Baltimore’s troubles against lefties as the fans who watch the ballclub. The Orioles signed Laureano for $4 million this offseason to be a platoon outfielder versus southpaws after he hit .305 with an .869 OPS off them last year. In a small sample this season, Laureano is hitting .154 with a .425 OPS against lefties.
“I have no idea,” Laureano said. “I don’t even know what I’m doing either. So, I’m hitting the ball harder against them, but at the end, that means nothing. So, this is a results-based sport and we’re just not having — but when you look at, when you go analytic, sabermetrics, you [expletive] go and we’re hitting the ball top five. They call it unlucky, the wOBA [Weighted On-Base Average] and all that stuff, unlucky, whatever.
“But hey, that’s baseball.”
Sugano, meanwhile, surprisingly completed six innings thanks to an efficient pitch count. Sugano said he never experienced a rain delay during his 12-year career in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. Most of his starts occurred in a dome, and NPB rarely has rain delays. Sugano didn’t throw during the 57-minute delay. Instead, he stayed loose by riding the exercise bike before going back into the bullpen to warm up again before the game resumed.
“I thought he handled it fantastic,” Hyde said. “Both starters got their outings cut short by probably an inning or so because of that hour delay, but Tomo’s got a lot of experience and he stayed ready. Went down to the bullpen when the tarp was pulled. I thought he had the same stuff as he had in the first inning, so I thought he threw the ball great.”
The lone runs he allowed were on a single by Maikel Garcia in the fourth — ending Sugano’s 14-inning scoreless streak that dated to April 23 versus the Washington Nationals — and a homer by Cavan Biggio in the fifth. Sugano has given up three or fewer runs in all seven of his starts to begin his MLB career. The 35-year-old Japanese superstar has a 3.00 ERA and 1.13 WHIP.
Seranthony Domínguez surrendered a pair of solo homers to Kyle Isbel and Vinnie Pasquantino in the eighth for the Royals’ final runs. After two scoreless frames from Lynch, righty relievers Lucas Erceg and John Schreiber slammed the door on the shutout. The Orioles have been held without a run five times this season (15% of the time) after doing so a combined 17 times over the past two seasons (5% of the time).
Orioles general manager Mike Elias on Friday addressed the ballclub’s “rough start” to the season, including the lineup’s floundering against lefties. Elias called it “very frustrating” considering improving in that area was one of his main goals this offseason and why he signed Laureano, Tyler O’Neill and Gary Sánchez. O’Neill and Sánchez both hit poorly off lefties before landing on the injured list.
“The numbers are significant. I don’t think it’s permanent,” Elias said. “We had these issues last year, and we brought in some players that, scouting-wise, we believed in against left-handed pitching. … I’m optimistic, I’m hopeful that they’re going to start producing against left-handed pitching like they normally do.”
After Saturday’s shutout, the Orioles are hitting .174 with a .490 OPS against lefties, ranking last in MLB in both categories. For reference, Bob Gibson in 1968 (considered the greatest season from a pitcher in MLB history) held opposing hitters to a .184 average and .469 OPS.
The Orioles would rather face Gibson. At least he’s right-handed.
Postgame analysis
Elias on Friday took “responsibility” for Baltimore’s rotation being one of the worst units in the major leagues. Entering the offseason, it was clear Elias needed to bolster his rotation given the assumption that ace Corbin Burnes was heading out West.
Elias felt as if he did so by signing Charlie Morton and Sugano to one-year contracts totaling $28 million. He’s been roundly (and fairly) criticized for the former’s struggles. He hasn’t been properly praised for the latter’s success.
Sugano was placed under challenging circumstances Saturday, and he once again pitched like the seasoned veteran that he is. Sugano has been Baltimore’s best and most reliable starter with a 3.00 ERA. He’s allowed three or fewer runs in all seven of his starts. This rotation would be in shambles without him.
“I do feel confident, but more than anything, I think I feel more comfortable,” Sugano said through team interpreter Yuto Sakurai. “I know how to prep in going into the game. I think those are more important for me, and yeah, I’ve been doing it so well.”
Sugano isn’t an ace. But he’s pitching like it. And Elias deserves at least some credit for that.
What they’re saying
Coby Mayo, who was recalled to replace the injured Ramón Urías, on helping the Orioles after making his season debut Saturday:
“I think that’s always for anyone coming up, seeing a new face. I know it wasn’t the best month for the team overall, and any guy who comes to this team, just a new guy can be a little spark. You hope to help a little bit. But it’s a really good team up here and I think that they had their struggles during the season … but it is what it is and the past behind us and you’ve just got to look forward.”
By the numbers
When they meet up at Camden Yards, the Orioles and Royals love to put on a pitcher’s duel.
Over their past seven matchups in Baltimore, including Kansas City’s AL wild-card series sweep, the Orioles and Royals have combined to score only 33 runs. On average, Kansas City has scored 2.6 runs per game to Baltimore’s 2.1.
On deck
The Orioles will look to win their second straight series Sunday. To do so, Kyle Gibson will have to pitch better than he did in his season debut Tuesday when he surrendered nine runs against the New York Yankees.
The good news for the Orioles? A right-hander is on the mound for the Royals. Michael Lorenzen will pitch opposite Gibson.
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