Drop in velocity, lack of control.
Words fans and teams alike don’t want to see.
Orioles starter Brian Matusz has been removed after only 1.1 innings of work today, throwing 58 pitches. Matusz labored through the one inning plus, allowing 4 runs on 5 hits while offering 4 free passes. At one point his fastball was clocked at 84 mph.
No injury announcements have been made, but today’s performance has to be concerning to the O’s. This is only Matusz’s third start on the year, as the lefty had been sideline by a strained left intercostal muscle.
Baltimore selected the 24 year old 4th overall in the 2008 MLB draft. In two seasons with the Birds, Matusz had maintained an ERA under 4.50 over 40 starts. He finished last season strong, holding earned run averages of 2.43 and 1.89 in August and September.
The Orioles hoped the addition of Matusz would add some much needed consistency to the team’s young rotation. In his first two starts, he only allowed 3 runs and 11 hits in 11 innings.
Hopefully today was just an off one for Matusz and there is nothing wrong with him injury-wise. The Orioles cannot afford a hit to their staff as they continue to tread water in the tough AL East.