Predicting the Orioles' leaders in every key pitching statistic in 2024
By Justin Long
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Bullpen ERA: Dillon Tate
I'm going to get bold again. Dillon Tate missed all of 2023 due to injury, but he is healthy now and will almost certainly make the Opening Day roster. The Orioles bullpen will be without their best arm in Felix Bautista, so guys like Dillon Tate, Yennier Cano, and Cionel Perez will have to step up.
The last time we saw Tate pitch, he was fantastic. He posted a 3.05 ERA in 2022 with a sub-1.00 WHIP in over 70 innings. He has great stuff, and he had a very strong spring training. He pitched six innings, allowing zero runs, and had a WHIP of just 0.33. This prediction could very well backfire, but mark it down: Tate is going to have a career year in 2024.
Dillon Tate throwing an EASY 100 🔥
— The Birdland Beat - Nelson (@TheBirdlandBeat) February 11, 2024
People seem to forget that the Orioles have a healthy and determined Dillon Tate at their disposal this season.
In ‘22: 3.05 ERA, .99 WHIP, 73.2 IP and his 58.9 GB% was in the top 3% of qualified relievers!
He’s back, and he’s better than… pic.twitter.com/B1EggLpMeX
Saves: Craig Kimbrel
This is an easy one. Craig Kimbrel was signed this offseason to be the closer while Felix Bautista rehabs from Tommy John surgery. The Orioles clearly wanted a veteran presence with a lot of closing experience, and they got just that in Kimbrel.
Kimbrel has 417 saves in his 14 MLB seasons, which ranks him eighth on the all-time list. With his acquisition, the Orioles can put Yennier Cano back into his set-up role, which he excelled in last season.
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