The Orioles are getting healthier, Sugano has been a revelation, and Cano battles.
Good Morning Birdland!
The Orioles did the unthinkable on Friday night in Anaheim. They won a game. I swear! They beat the Angels 4-1 on the backs of 7.1 impressive innings from Tomoyuki Sugano and a nice offensive night for Gunnar Henderson. Was I awake to watch the whole thing? Of course not. But the highlights were a nice thing to wake up to.
Tyler O’Neill, fresh off the IL, went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. That felt like a significant and symbolic performance. Injuries have been such an issue for the Orioles this season. O’Neill was their big free agent signing this past offseason, and they need him to be productive in order for their offense to rebound and carry this team. Friday was a good step in that direction.
But the player we really need to talk about is Sugano. He was brilliant once again, turning in the longest start of the season for an Orioles pitcher. His season ERA is down to 2.72 and his peripherals are improving. The supposed smoke and mirrors to his numbers is dissipating just a bit.
Sugano was expected to be a veteran innings-eater type. If that’s what he had been to this point, the Orioles would be pleased. We know the rotation needs more of those. Instead, he has been far, far better. While some of the strikeout numbers aren’t huge, Sugano has pitched like an ace. He’s even been better than Corbin Burnes (3.58 ERA) has been for the Diamondbacks. Mike Elias might deserve some flack for how he built this team, but the Sugano addition has been a great one.
Links
Orioles hoping to keep getting healthier | Roch Kubatko
Aren’t we all? O’Neill is already back. Zach Eflin will be back on Sunday. Ramón Urías should be ready midweek. Andrew Kittredge and Trevor Rogers are both playing rehab games. The only one lagging at this point is Jordan Westburg. His hamstring is still hurting a bit, so his rehab is delayed while that heals.
Jon Meoli: The Orioles’ injury clouds are clearing. The damage is done. | The Baltimore Banner
The potential that many saw in the Orioles coming into the season does still exist. But because they were so poor in April, they have to have one heck of a turnaround to make a postseason run. At least they have 4.5 months to make a go at it.
Yennier Cano wins 13-pitch battle as O’s hold on to beat Halos | Orioles.com
Cano has wobbled a little bit recently after a really good start to the season. It was good to see him record that one hard-earned out on Friday night.
Orioles Outright Walter Pennington | MLB Trade Rumors
Pennington was DFA’d earlier in the week when the Orioles added Luis F. Castillo from the Mariners. But the left-handed pitcher will stick in the organization, working away at Triple-A Norfolk.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
- Kam Mickolio turns 41 today. The 6-foot-9 hurler spent parts of three seasons in the Orioles bullpen from 2008-10. He came to the organization as part of the Érik Bédard-Adam Jones trade in 2008, and then left the organization in 2010 as part of the deal that landed Mark Reynolds in Baltimore.
This day in history
1960 – Orioles catcher Joe Ginsberg ties a record with three passed balls in one inning while trying to catch Hoyt Wilhelm’s knuckleball.
1972 – Dave McNally throws his fourth shutout of the season as the O’s beat the Rangers 1-0.
2012 – The Orioles become the first team in AL history to lead off a game with back-to-back-to-back home runs. Ryan Flaherty, J.J. Hardy, and Nick Markakis each go deep to open the game.
2015 – It’s a record-setting day for the Orioles. They strike out 18 times against the Yankees, 16 of which came against Michael Pineda. Those are team records for number of total strikeouts in one game and number of strikeouts against one pitcher in a game.