Left-Handed pitcher Keegan Akin (1-0, 2.89 ERA) is slated to start the Orioles’ rubber game against the Tigers tonight at Camden Yards. The move comes as a surprise given Kremer’s status as the scheduled starter. Kremer has presumably been moved to the bulk reliever role. The Orioles face Tarik Skubal (6-2, 2.16 ERA) at 6:35 pm EST tonight in Baltimore.
The use of an opener has gradually spread across the MLB over the past few years and will likely continue to spread. Three of the four Tigers’ batters at the top of the lineup are left-handed hitters, so the Orioles likely hope that Akin can get them a scoreless first inning against the best due to the matchup before allowing Kremer to come in for the second inning against the middle of their lineup.
The utilization of an opener could be the key to allowing pitchers to go longer into games. Starting pitchers usually see the top of the order for a third time late in the 4th or early in the 5th inning, but putting the starter in for the 2nd inning against the middle of the lineup could allow him to go 5-6 innings before facing the opposing team’s best hitters a third time.
The Tigers pulled the opener move for game 1 in the series by starting lefty Blake Hurter. Hurter pitched 2.2 innings and surrendered 1 run. Chase Lee got the third out in the 3rd inning before Sawyer Gipson-Long pitched 4.2 innings and giving up only 1 run. Gipson-Long only had one previous start and had given up 3 runs in just 3.2 innings, so the strategy proved effective to allow him to go longer in the game and give up less.
An important aspect of this strategy is to mix left-handed and right-handed starters. If a lineup’s best hitters are predominantly left-handed, then using a left-handed opener helps to not only increase the chances of getting an out, but also not giving the best hitters a look at the bulk reliever in the first inning.
The Orioles could employ this strategy with a few of their starters who have struggled the third time through the order. Cade Povich and Brandon Young have also struggled later in the game when the lineup turns over a third time.
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