MLB: The Biggest X-Factors for the Postseason Push
Baltimore has many strengths the make them viable World Series contenders. They have one of the most explosive offenses in the MLB, which includes an MVP candidate in Manny Machado. They have a deep bullpen that ranks as one of the best in the game, while also having a closer who’s perfect in save attempts this season in Zach Britton. Stating the obvious, the starting pitching remains the clear weakness of this ballclub. In the beginning of the year, it looked like eventually the starting pitching would hold back the Orioles back from being a true contender, but as of today, the team is right there for first place in the AL East.
However, Baltimore is facing stiff competition from Toronto and Boston, both of whom have superior starting rotations. Trading for Wade Miley was kind of a letdown for O’s fans who were wanting more, but Dylan Bundy has been like a midseason trade acquisition with the way he has pitched over his past couple starts.
Bundy was a reliever to start the year and was expected to stay in that role as he built up innings coming off an injury. Desperate for starting pitching, Buck Showalter decided to give the former number four overall pick a shot in the starting rotation, and it has clearly looks like the correct decision. After a rough first outing against Tampa Bay, the 23 year-old has lowered his ERA from 3.70 to 3.05, allowing just five runs in 28.2 innings of work. He has been striking hitters out at a high clip, showing a mid-90s fastball and flashing great control of his breaking ball. If he continues to pitch the way that he has over his past couple of starts, the O’s will be even more dangerous than they already are.
Kevin Gausman is the other young pitcher on the Orioles staff. Unlike Bundy, the Orioles 2012 first round pick has had much more time as a starting pitcher. He became an everyday starter for the team in 2014, but has only had success in spurts throughout his time in the bigs. Gausman has all the makings of a number one. He can throw the ball in the high-90s, he’s athletic and has a repeatable delivery. However, his pure stuff has not yielded elite results quite yet.
He’s done much better this season than last, as he has pitched to an ERA around 4.00. While that’s far from bad, his stuff projects much better numbers than the ones that he has been putting through his first couple seasons. We’ll see if Gausman can turn his exceptional pitching arsenal into actual results during the stretch run. If at least one of the two starting pitchers can find/contnue their quality form in the coming months, it would drastically shift the outlook of the American League and perhaps the MLB in general.
Next: Blue Jays Decision Makers