Orioles midseason report card 2022: Part Four the Starting Pitchers
The Baltimore Orioles are back at .500 after a win against the Tampa Bay Rays last night. In this five part series I have graded the outfielders, catchers and first baseman, and middle infielders so far. In part four I will grade the starting pitchers. Some pitchers have been up and down for the Orioles but they have overall pitched much better than the last year.
Starting Pitchers:
Jordan Lyles: Lyles has by no means been good, and no means been bad. Lyles was brought into the Orioles to “eat innings” and for the most part he has done that. Lyles has pitched 112.2 innings with a 4.79 era. Lyles gets hit hard and it always seems like the dam is about to break. Lyles does his part to keep the Orioles in the game and get the bullpen some rest. Grade C-
Tyler Wells: Probably the biggest surprise out of the bunch, Wells has been the Orioles most consistently good starter. Minus a couple of tough outings Wells has been dominate. The only negative side to Wells is the Orioles are super careful with his pitchout and innings count so when he goes deep into games he has to have super low pitch count innings. Wells is a strike thrower with four good pitches. A 3.69 era with seven wins is solid. Grade B+
Bruce Zimmerman: Zimmerman was the Orioles opening day starter and for the first month or two looked like he was going to have a very solid year. Zimmerman stopped throwing quality strikes and started getting hit around and is now back down at AAA Norfolk. Zimmerman was sent down with a 5.85 era. Hopefully Zimmerman can find the form he had earlier in the season. Grade D
Kyle Bradish: Bradish was one of the Orioles top ten prospects when the Orioles recalled him and pitched very well in his debut. It was all downhill from there as Bradish got knocked around for a 7.38 era. Out of all the Orioles starters Bradish has the best “stuff” next to Wells. Bradish hit 97 to 98 often but had trouble locating before finding himself on the IL. Grade E
Dean Kremer: Another surprise has been Kremer, who in besides being hit a bit in his last couple starts, has been outstanding. Kremer joined the rotation late, coming off the IL after a relatively short rehab assignment. Kremer has three wins and a 3.06 era. Hopefully Kremer can keep his earlier form up because he has really given the Orioles quality starts. Grade B+
Austin Voth: A waiver claim from the Washington Nationals, Voth has pitched in the bullpen and started. Voth’s pitch count has been limited, since joining the Orioles he has a 3.41 era. I am not sure that Voth is in the Orioles long term plans as a starter with DL Hall and Grayson Rodriguez gunning for a spot but he has been surprisingly solid. Grade C
Spenser Watkins: Watkins seems to be another stopgap guy but has pitched very well as of late. Watkins got off to a tough start and was injured on a comebacker to home plate. Since coming back from injury Watkins has been lights out. Watkins has three wins and a 3.93 era that has massively shrunk since coming back. Grade C+
