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The suddenly pitching rich Baltimore Orioles?

By David Hill

Mar 24, 2022; Sarasota, Florida, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Bruce Zimmerman (50) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox during spring training at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 24, 2022; Sarasota, Florida, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Bruce Zimmerman (50) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox during spring training at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Typically, one would expect the best teams in the majors to rank amongst the leaders in team pitching WAR. That is the case for the most part on Fangraphs, where two division leaders and the team with the third best record in the majors comprise part of the top five in pitching fWAR heading into Sunday. The major surprise is the team atop the rankings – the Baltimore Orioles.

No one is confusing the Orioles with a team bound for the postseason. Even after their victory on Sunday, they are sitting at 7-9 and are tied with the Red Sox in the AL East basement. Their ace is set to undergo Tommy John surgery and his replacement allowed five runs without recording an out in his start on Sunday.

Baltimore Orioles quietly getting quality pitching

It is impossible to say that one could see this coming. The Orioles’ biggest pitching move in the offseason was to sign Jordan Lyles to a one year deal. Yes, they moved the fence back in left, but no one could foresee how much of a difference that could make, especially when the Orioles pitching staff remained questionable at best.

As it turned out, that may have been exactly what the Orioles needed. Lyles has been surprisingly competent. Jorge Lopez has gone from a talented but inconsistent arm to emerge as one of the top closers in the game in the early going. Bruce Zimmerman and Spencer Watkins have been revelations.

That is showing up on the stat sheet. Heading into Sunday, the Orioles were second in the AL with a 2.89 ERA and had the nine homers they had allowed were the fewest in the league. With a pair of top pitching prospects on the way, it is easy to imagine that the Orioles could actually have the pitching they have been searching for.

And yet, that hot start could be an illusion. The Orioles rank 11th in the AL with 116 strikeouts and are 12th with 115 hits allowed. Lyles has been one of the worst pitchers in baseball during his career. While it is entirely possible that a few of these players are taking a major step forward, the Orioles’ pitching is far more likely to revert to form than to continue at this pace.

Next. The impact of losing John Means. dark

The Baltimore Orioles have the most valuable pitching staff in baseball according to fWAR. That will not be the case at the end of the year.

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