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Baltimore Orioles: Early Assessment Of The Starting Rotation

By Nick Stevens

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 27: Gabriel Ynoa #64 of the Baltimore Orioles delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox during the Grapefruit League spring training game at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on February 27, 2019 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 27: Gabriel Ynoa #64 of the Baltimore Orioles delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox during the Grapefruit League spring training game at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on February 27, 2019 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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Baltimore Orioles
BALTIMORE, MD – AUGUST 29: Starting pitcher Alex Cobb #17 of the Baltimore Orioles throws to a Toronto Blue Jays batter in the first inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 29, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Baltimore Orioles starting rotation- The Locks

I wish there was more to say about these three guys, but the combination of Dylan Bundy, Alex Cobb, and Andrew Cashner have totaled just 2.2 innings through the first nine games, with Andrew Cashner making his spring debut on Sunday afternoon against the Detroit Tigers.

Bundy didn’t have the strongest first start on the team, giving up one earned run on four hits in two innings. His fastball (90-92 mph) was barreled often, didn’t have much movement on it, and wasn’t located very well, at times. On the other hand, his slider was already producing swings and misses, something it did a lot of in 2018.

Cobb’s start isn’t going to change my mind about him having a big year, even if he did allow four runs on three hits in 2/3 of an inning. This game wasn’t televised, so we can’t discuss any live observations, but luckily Orioles fans have a pretty solid group of beat writers to rely on.

Cobb was removed after 23 pitches in his first outing but finished his work in the bullpen. Per Roch Kubatko, there wasn’t an injury or any discomfort. “We went over a couple of the plays that were going on after I got back on the bench, but there was nothing physical or anything going on like that,” said Cobb after the outing. Other than the two-run home run, it appears there just a bit of bad luck, tight calls, and first outing miscues.

Cashner will climb the hill on Sunday afternoon against the Detroit Tigers, live on MASN. Unless a disaster happens over the next three-plus weeks, Bundy, Cobb, and Cashner’s spots are secure.

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