Little relief
In March and April, Baltimore’s bullpen posted a serviceable 3.95 ERA -- 52 earned runs through 118 1/3 innings -- and had a +4 pitching run value, tying it for sixth best in the Majors.
Those numbers have changed drastically in May, and the Orioles’ recent six-game road trip exacerbated matters. This month, the ‘pen has the second-worst ERA in the big leagues (6.28) after allowing nearly as many earned runs as during those previous months (50) in just 71 2/3 frames. The relief corps has a -7 run value, tied for the third lowest in MLB. During its two three-game road series vs. the Nationals and the Rays, Baltimore’s bullpen gave up 24 earned runs over 18 1/3 innings, which was crucial in the team’s 1-5 trip.
Closer Ryan Helsley has been sidelined for the entire month because of right elbow inflammation. Anthony Nunez’s ERA has gone from 2.35 to 5.16 after eight May appearances. Rico Garcia, who allowed just one hit to the first 65 batters he faced this season and was 12-for-12 in stranding inherited runners heading into the Tampa Bay series, surrendered a couple of pivotal knocks against the Rays and saw all three runners he inherited come in to score. He’s starting to run into the regression monster.
Those developments help explain why the Orioles’ bullpen, which was good enough to get by in April, has fallen on hard times in May.
Despite those ugly numbers -- as well as the team’s equally unpretty 21-29 record -- Baltimore enters Friday’s series opener against the Tigers just 3 1/2 games out of a Wild Card spot. So as frustrating as these past few weeks have been, those in the clubhouse are aware that, once again, a couple of good weeks can still change everything.
“Thankfully, other [teams] haven't played up to their potential, just like we have, so I think it's still wide open for us,” first baseman Pete Alonso said after Wednesday’s loss. “We expect better from ourselves, and we’ve got to do it. We’ve got to do it on the field.”
