Why the Orioles optioned Chayce McDermott despite rotation’s brutal numbers

The Baltimore Orioles' pitching staff is trapped in a dangerous cycle. Their team ERA has ballooned to 5.43 — second-worst in all of baseball as of May 6. Their 1.60 home runs allowed per nine innings is dead last. No matter how potent the lineup looks, pitching this poorly is unsustainable for any team with postseason aspirations.

Yet, the Orioles continue to stay the course. There have at least been some signs of action. Veteran Charlie Morton was finally demoted to the bullpen after a brutal start to his 2025 campaign. Grayson Rodriguez remains on the injured list, but Zach Eflin is expected to return after a month on the IL this weekend. Baltimore also appears hesitant to fully commit to young right-hander Brandon Young, who’s made a couple of spot starts for the O’s, but is otherwise still developing in the minors to prove he belongs in the rotation.

So, where does that leave them? At some point, a team this desperate for innings has to consider tapping into its pipeline. And perhaps they should take a closer look at Chayce McDermott.

Baltimore's pitching is collapsing — so why are they ignoring Chayce McDermott?

McDermott is Baltimore’s top pitching prospect, and, to the eye test, he looks ready. His 2025 season was interrupted by a right lat strain that sidelined him for nearly a month. Now healthy again, he’s made rehab appearances for Double-A Chesapeake and Triple-A Norfolk, and the results speak volumes.

In a recent outing against Charlotte, McDermott fired four scoreless innings, allowed just one hit, and struck out three — all while flashing the same sharp command that had the Orioles so high on him in the first place.

But despite being activated from the injured list on Sunday, McDermott wasn’t added to the major league roster. Instead, he was optioned back to Triple-A. Baltimore likely wants him fully stretched out before he’s inserted into a taxed and, quite honestly, flammable MLB rotation. It’s logical on paper, but are we sure this is the right call given the circumstances?

McDermott represents the type of internal solution most teams dream of. A strong righty with swing-and-miss stuff, already on the 40-man roster, and progressing on schedule after a minor setback. And somehow, while the Orioles’ rotation flounders — with ERAs piling up and confidence fading — McDermott will remain in the minors.

Does Baltimore need to see another dominant month in Norfolk before pulling the trigger? Or has McDermott done enough already to earn his shot? Honestly, at this point, the numbers and context both point to the same conclusion that the Orioles need help, and they need it now.

Every front office has its threshold. When to call up a prospect. When to admit a veteran’s best days are behind him. When to take a risk. But the longer Baltimore waits to fix a rotation that ranks near the bottom in nearly every meaningful metric, the higher the stakes get.

Baltimore’s offense is good enough to keep them afloat in the American League, but if the goal is anything beyond “respectable,” then the pitching staff can’t remain this broken. McDermott’s ceiling offers real upside. His presence could provide stability, if not a spark, to a rotation in crisis.

Whether the Orioles believe in McDermott enough to take that leap — or whether they wait too long and watch a once promising season unravel, remains to be seen.

More Orioles news from Birds Watcher