Latest ranking of pitchers’ stuff shows why Kyle Bradish beat Orioles in arbitration

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Kyle Bradish just won his arbitration hearing and is set to earn the $3.55 million pay day he presented for the 2026 season rather than the discounted $2.875 million the organization submitted.

Bradish had a phenomenal season in 2023, but he has made just 14 big league starts over the last two years due to injuries. When healthy, Bradish can be absolutely elite. Eno Sarris of The Athletic (subscription required) recently ranked MLB pitchers by Stuff+, an advanced metric meant to measure a pitcher's raw stuff independent of ERA, and Bradish was in the mix.

Kyle Bradish's Stuff+ ranking explains arbitration win over Orioles

Bradish was coming off Tommy John surgery in 2025, but his strikeout numbers were still top-notch. He struck out 47 batters in 32 innings pitched and in 2024 recorded 53 punch out in just 39 innings of work. That sort of dominance is impressive and explains why he was deserving of the extra money he just received during arbitration.

If Bradish is able to channel his 2023 self and remain healthy throughout the 2026 season, that $3.55 salary could prove to be an absolute steal for Baltimore. He started 30 games that season and posted a 2.83 ERA over 169 innings pitched with 168 strikeouts.

Bradish made just six starts in 2025 — a small sample size to be sure — but had a 2.53 ERA and looked like his old self it is not unreasonable to think that he could be due for a bounce back season. The Orioles are still reportedly exploring additions to the starting rotation, but having Bradish may give the front office some belief that they have a secret weapon.

The big question for Bradish in 2026 will be whether or not he can stay on the mound for a full season. If he can, his raw stuff suggests he could be the type of frontline starter the O's desperately need.