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Baltimore Orioles: The Worst Pitching Staffs Of The Decade

By Nick Stevens

BALTIMORE, MD - APRIL 9: Fans look on as starting pitcher Dylan Bundy #37 of the Baltimore Orioles throws to a Toronto Blue Jays batter in the first inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 9, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - APRIL 9: Fans look on as starting pitcher Dylan Bundy #37 of the Baltimore Orioles throws to a Toronto Blue Jays batter in the first inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 9, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MD – JULY 20: Manager Buck Showalter #26 (L) talks with pitcher Jeremy Guthrie #46 of the Baltimore Orioles in the dugout against the Boston Red Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 20, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

The 2011 starting rotation produced a few really good pitchers, just not during their time with the Baltimore Orioles.

The 2011 Orioles finished with a record of 69-93, finishing in last place in the American League East, but at least we got to watch Vladimir Guerrero swing a bat in an Orioles uniform for 145 games, the final games of his major league Hall of Fame career.

As for the starting rotation, Orioles pitchers were worth a team-worst 3.6 fWAR in 2011, putting them atop the list of worst starting pitching performances this decade in Birdland.

A then 32-year-old Jeremy Guthrie led the way with 208 innings pitched, finishing with a 9-17 record and a 4.33 ERA. It was the second time he led the majors with 17 losses since joining the Orioles in 2007. Filling out that rotation was Jake Arrieta (10-8, 5.05 ERA, 22 starts), Zack Britton (11-11, 4.61 ERA, 28 starts), and Alfredo Simon (4-9, 4.90 ERA, 16 starts).

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A 23-year-old Chris Tillman and 24-year-old Brian Matusz also combined for 25 starts, going 4-14 with a 7.85 ERA.

Guthrie would go on to find some success with the Royals before calling it a career, while you already know what happened to Arrieta and Britton. At least in Britton’s case, he did produce some of the more dominant seasons out of the bullpen in Orioles history before being traded to the New York Yankees.

Starters went a combined 46-72 with a 5.39 ERA, racking up just 5.96 K/9IP while walking 3.36/9 IP. Their .284 average against and 1.52 WHIP are both the worst numbers from any Orioles starting unit last decade.

Next. Top 5 Orioles Pitchers Of The Decade. dark

Will the 2020 starting unit crack this list or will year two under Mike Elias and his staff produce better results with minimal talent? Stay tuned!

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