The Baltimore Orioles have some holes to fill as they give the impression of being to copy their 2023 success.
One of many greatest of those is of their rotation. The Orioles have a stable starting to their rotation on paper – Kyle Bradish emerged as a doable front-of-the-rotation starter, Grayson Rodriguez took a major step ahead within the second half, and John Means ought to be wholesome and able to contribute. Dean Kremer is a stable fourth or fifth starter. Nonetheless, every of these arms has query marks as properly. The Orioles want somebody who can take the ball each fifth day.
They could add that pitcher quickly. Based on Jon Morosi of MLB Community, the Orioles are nonetheless energetic within the free-agent pitching market. Morosi particularly talked about Michael Lorenzen as one of many pitchers that the Orioles are taking a look at.
Lorenzen may very well be an important decide for the Orioles. His general numbers aren’t overly spectacular as he posted a 4.15 ERA and a 1.209 WHiP over his 153 innings between the Tigers and Phillies, hanging out 111 batters with 47 walks. Nonetheless, Lorenzen’s 153 innings weren’t solely a profession excessive, however marked the primary time he surpassed 100 innings since 2015.
He clearly wore down over the ultimate weeks of the season. Lorenzen had a 3.22 ERA and a 1.035 WHiP over his first 122.2 innings, hanging out 93 batters with 32 walks. That 20-start run culminated with a no-hitter in his first house begin for the Phillies, an outing the place he fired 124 pitches. He was not the identical afterward, permitting 26 runs in his subsequent 26 innings earlier than being despatched to the bullpen.
His struggles down the stretch might make Lorenzen a cut price. He primarily has a full season as a starter underneath his belt and will be capable to stand up to the trials of the season higher in 2024. Whereas Lorenzen is extra of a fourth or fifth starter in his personal proper, he displayed the potential to be rather more. For an Orioles group that’s nonetheless not fairly able to spend, he may very well be an ideal match.
