BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Orioles are facing some potentially difficult decisions with their roster as a pair of key pitchers are almost ready to rejoin the club.
The Orioles rotation could get a boost with the return of right-hander Kevin Gausman (right shoulder tendinitis), who will likely join the team Monday for a three-game series in Tampa Bay after another effective rehab start.
“He’s got a chance to pitch for us in his next outing,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said.
Brian Matusz (left intercostal strain) could be activated even sooner, possibly Saturday in Kansas City. This would add another left-handed option out of the bullpen.
As a result, Baltimore will have to create room by sending two other pitchers to the minors. While the most likely candidates could be relievers Tyler Wilson, T.J. McFarland or Mychal Givens because they each have minor league options, the Orioles could go a different route.
“Those aren’t fun conversations,” Showalter said. “They know what’s coming. They know. But you don’t want to send somebody out just because they have an option. Sometimes, that’s the tie-breaker if it’s 50-50. I understand that. I think everybody does.”
Even though the starters for the Orioles have been effective with keeping opponents from having a huge inning, they have struggled to go deep into games. On Thursday against Toronto, Chris Tillman overcame a 38-pitch first inning and went six innings, allowing two runs on four hits with four strikeouts and three walks.
“We’re going to keep making depth a priority,” Showalter said.
Ubaldo Jimenez is the only starter to have pitched at least seven innings so far this season. Yovani Gallardo and Mike Wright are scheduled to pitch in the next series against Kansas City. Showalter has not named a third starter for that series. Gallardo has gone six innings and five five innings twice in his three starts. Wright went five and six innings in his pair of outings.
So far, though, Baltimore’s bullpen has picked up the starters. The Orioles entered series finale against Toronto ranked second in the American League and third in the majors with a 2.06 ERA (11 earned runs over 48 innings pitched). Those relievers are holding batters to a .220 average.
“There are so many times guys lose concentration when they give up a run and it turns into two, three four runs,” Showalter said. “Those are sometimes the most challenging outs to get after you may have give up one to tie the game up. But can you keep us from going to get another reliever or another guy up. When a guy comes in, he does his job that one inning. It makes everybody better.”
The Orioles just need to make sure they can maintain that success as the roster changes loom. It would help if the rotation can start eating more innings.