These pitches are helping the Orioles bullpen navigate through modern lineups

The three-batter minimum changed the way bullpen arms are implemented. Savvy lineup construction, more often than not, won't feature stretches of three batters stepping into the same side of the batter's box. That's due, in large part, to the three-batter minimum, implemented at the beginning of the 2020 season. Three left-handed batters in a row, for example, gives the opposing manager a golden opportunity to insert a left-handed reliever into the game.

Bullpen arms often have pretty drastic splits against lefties and righties, and modern lineup construction makes it difficult to find good places for them to enter a game. That is, of course, unless that bullpen arm has a counter punch against the opposite-handed batter.

That's exactly what pitchers like Seranthony Domínguez, Bryan Baker, Yennier Cano and Keegan Akin have brought to the Orioles bullpen this year.

Domínguez presents the best example with his splitter. The right-hander's primary arsenal, featuring a fastball and sweeper, have not played well against left-handed hitters in his career. But the splitter, a pitch that he has thrown 54 times, 45 of which have been to lefties, has been his most effective offering, with an opposing batting average of just .056. That pitch allows interim manager Tony Mansolino to use Domínguez more confidently in pockets of the lineup that may include a lefty or two.

Bryan Baker among Orioles relievers wielding a unique weapon against the three-batter minimum

Baker, a right-hander, has used his changeup much more frequently and effectively in 2025, to the tune of a .171 batting average against. The offering is used primarily against left-handed hitters. Cano uses his changeup the same way, instead opting for a slider against right-handers, a pitch he has only thrown once to a lefty this year. It's the same story for Akin, a lefty, who breaks out the changeup against right-handed hitters but barely throws it against right-handers.

These pitches haven't completely fixed these relievers' numbers against opposite-handed batters, but they give these arms effective offerings to counter pinch-hitters. Mansolino, with confidence, can insert any of these arms against whatever batters necessary.

Gone are the days of being able to use your bullpen arms against just one kind of hitter. The 'pen has needed to adapt, and the Orioles are staying ahead of the curve.

It's a big reason why they've been one of the best bullpens in the game over the last few weeks.