With the American League East nonetheless unsecured, the Orioles can’t fairly flip their consideration to the playoffs simply but. But with one week left within the common season, selections loom for Baltimore.
Regardless of whether or not the Orioles win the division for the primary time since 2014 or collapse to disappointingly accept a wild-card spot, their roster will scale back from 28 gamers again to 26 come the postseason, although they’ll make modifications between every spherical. Those two reductions might are available in any variety of methods, with Baltimore’s last six video games and the momentum numerous gamers take into the playoffs more likely to issue into these selections.
As the ultimate week of the common season begins, listed below are three questions the Orioles face in relation to their preliminary playoff roster.
1. Who makes the playoff rotation?
The end result right here considerably relies on whether or not the Orioles maintain off the Tampa Bay Rays to win the AL East and bypass the wild-card spherical, given they would wish three starters most within the best-of-three wild-card sequence in comparison with 4 within the best-of-five AL Division Series.
Either approach, right-handers Kyle Bradish and Grayson Rodriguez, of their second and first main league seasons, respectively, have seemingly already locked up playoff rotation spots earlier than beginning in Baltimore’s two-game sequence with the Washington Nationals. Who joins them amongst right-hander Dean Kremer, left-hander John Means and veteran Kyle Gibson might be decided by how they pitch of their begins towards the Boston Red Sox within the last sequence of the yr.
Kremer seemed to be a assure not way back, however in 4 September begins, he has completed the fifth inning solely as soon as and has allowed 31 base runners in 17 1/3 innings. Means, in the meantime, has matched that workload with one fewer begin since getting back from Tommy John elbow reconstruction, together with taking a no-hitter into the seventh on Saturday to probably assure a beginning function in October. A day after Means pitched into the eighth inning, Gibson did the identical, with seven-plus innings of one-run ball giving him his third high quality begin in 4 September outings.
At most, two of these three can be lined as much as begin within the Orioles’ first playoff sequence.
2. Who fills out the bullpen?
It’s probably whichever starters fall out of the rotation wind up within the bullpen; Gibson was used that approach final yr because the Philadelphia Phillies reached the World Series, and each he and Means have been within the bullpen in case of an emergency in latest days. But that’s not the one choice to make right here.
The days off as a part of the ALDS schedule, plus the lengthy aid capabilities of the aforementioned starters, might immediate Baltimore to hold solely 12 pitchers, which means each reductions would come from that facet of the roster. One alternative can be easy, with right-hander Jorge López ineligible for the postseason after being claimed on waivers after Aug. 31. This week might be vital in figuring out the doable different.
Jack Flaherty, acquired from St. Louis on the commerce deadline for 3 prospects Baseball America ranked amongst Baltimore’s prime 20, was pulled from the Orioles’ six-man rotation final week after struggling mightily. He pitched effectively in his first aid look, and supervisor Brandon Hyde had him warming for a possible save alternative Saturday, however the crew would possibly must see extra earlier than formally together with him. Shintaro Fujinami, Baltimore’s solely different reinforcement forward of the deadline, has been mercurial, showcasing a tough-to-hit repertoire however having hassle persistently throwing it within the strike zone. The Orioles’ prime starter within the first half, Tyler Wells retired all six batters he confronted upon his return to the majors after coping with fatigue, however he has but to pitch back-to-back days since shifting to aid, although that wouldn’t be as crucial within the postseason.
The Orioles have a number of different eligible pitchers who they’ve optioned in latest weeks, with Mike Baumann the one one who wouldn’t be obtainable for the wild-card spherical primarily based on when he was despatched down. There’s additionally the chance that All-Star nearer Félix Bautista, who suffered {a partially} torn ulnar collateral ligament in his proper elbow final month, returns. He’s been throwing bullpen classes however has but to face reside hitters, although the hole between the tip of the common season and the ALDS might enable alternative for that.
3. Which hitter will get disregarded?
Even if the Orioles elect to function with an imbalanced roster and carry 14 place gamers, there are nonetheless selections to be made.
They largely rely upon the well being of first baseman Ryan Mountcastle, who has handled left shoulder irritation since Sept. 13 and is on the injured checklist. Mountcastle, who was hitting .324 with a .900 OPS in 50 second-half video games, stood within the field monitoring pitches throughout bullpen classes with Bautista and Bradish over the weekend and has achieved some fielding work. Although Mountcastle has but to swing a bat since happening the injured checklist, Hyde is hopeful he’ll be activated as soon as eligible Wednesday.
A corresponding transfer for Mountcastle’s hypothetical return might forecast the Orioles’ considering in relation to their playoff roster. No. 5 prospect Heston Kjerstad’s call-up got here in response to Mountcastle’s harm. Outfielder Ryan McKenna was optioned for Kjerstad then recalled when Mountcastle formally landed on the IL, so if Mountcastle returns or if the Orioles characteristic a balanced playoff roster, a type of two figures to be the odd man out.
Which participant stays might come right down to who the Orioles are enjoying and the way they wish to use that roster spot. A left-handed slugger, Kjerstad has carried out effectively, swatting two dwelling runs with 9 of his 14 balls in play hit not less than 95 mph, however Hyde has hesitated to make use of him within the discipline, towards left-handed pitchers and sometimes on the bottom paths. McKenna has the alternative utilization, along with his worth coming as a pinch-runner and defensive substitute.
The alternative is whether or not the Orioles desire a highly effective bench bat when trailing in Kjerstad or improved outfield protection when forward in McKenna.
In all of those instances, there’s lots to be sorted out within the last week of the common season.
What’s to come back?
First, a much-needed time without work, then an opportunity to clinch the AL East with video games towards two groups out of the playoff race.
The Orioles enter Monday, their first day and not using a sport since Sept. 7, with a magic variety of three, which means any mixture of their wins and Tampa Bay losses of not less than that worth would end in them claiming the division for the primary time since 2014. The Rays are additionally off on Monday, so the earliest Baltimore might clinch is Wednesday.
Picking up three victories themselves amongst their two video games with the Nationals — who Hyde mentioned characteristic “a lot of good, young, hungry players” — and their 4 video games with the Red Sox would give the Orioles their first 100-win season since 1980.
What was good?
Over his two begins final week, Means allowed two runs over 12 1/3 innings. Adding to that efficiency was that it got here as he continued to seek for his two breaking balls.
After Monday’s begin towards Houston, he mentioned his changeup was the one offspeed pitch he had working. He then used his curveball and slider occasionally in Saturday’s no-hit bid at Cleveland, with that pair accounting for 17 of his 96 choices. But he feels these pitches are bettering, boding effectively for the potential for continued robust performances.
“I think it starts with throwing strikes [with them] and then working off that,” Means mentioned. “I like what my fastball-changeup’s doing, and that’s kind of my MO anyway, so just to add in the breaking balls just helps that much more.”’
What wasn’t?
The Orioles’ now-completed stretch of 17 video games throughout 17 straight days understandably thrashed their bullpen, with the results most evident on this highway journey.
Baltimore relievers, considered one of whom was given the loss in every of final week’s three defeats, collectively posted a 6.04 ERA. The Orioles ranked in the course of the league in aid innings, however Hyde’s 30 pitching modifications had been essentially the most of any supervisor, with workload issues typically prompting him to shorten appearances.
Notably, the bullpen struck out 13.5% of opposing batters, rating close to the underside of the league, and throughout the 17-game stretch, it was 14.5%, comfortably the bottom of any crew’s aid unit. Through Aug. 25 — when Bautista suffered his UCL tear — the Orioles’ bullpen ranked third within the majors with a 26.5% strikeout price, largely due to Bautista’s league-best 46.4%. With a price practically 10% decrease since, Baltimore entered Sunday ranked final in that measure throughout its month with out Bautista.
It’s honest to wonder if Hyde has a go-to strikeout choice obtainable in his bullpen if Bautista’s not obtainable. Yennier Cano, a fellow All-Star who has been Bautista’s major substitute, has struck out two of 33 batters confronted over his previous 10 appearances, with a 7.04 ERA in that point. Overall, Cano has a 7.5% strikeout price because the Orioles misplaced Bautista, and López is Baltimore’s solely reliever in that point with a price even half of the All-Star nearer’s.
In discussing the dearth of reliever strikeouts, Hyde pointed to the offenses they’ve performed of late, going through a “pesky” Cleveland crew after matchups with playoff contenders in Tampa and Houston. He acknowledged, “We just haven’t executed with two strikes very well,” whereas additionally criticizing the actual fact his crew was tasked with 17 straight video games at the moment of yr.
“This stretch that we’ve been in, the schedule-maker needs to take a look at it because it’s really, really unfair and unhealthy, honestly, to do this to a team in September,” Hyde mentioned. “I’m really, really proud of our guys for hanging in there.”
On the farm
Triple-A Norfolk wrapped up its common season Sunday, ending with the most effective file within the International League.
The Tides start postseason play Tuesday towards Durham, the Rays’ Triple-A affiliate. Despite the variety of well-regarded minor leaguers the Orioles have delivered to the majors this season, Norfolk’s roster nonetheless options 9 of Baltimore’s prime 15 prospects, in keeping with Baseball America. That, after all, contains center infielder Jackson Holliday, the game’s prime total prospect.
Nationals at Orioles
Tuesday, 6:35 p.m.
TV: MASN
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
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Source: www.bostonherald.com