Baltimore Orioles: Is Dylan Bundy Wearing Down?

Is Baltimore Orioles rookie pitcher Dylan Bundy beginning to wear down as the team’s playoff hopes are on the line? The numbers say yes.

The Baltimore Orioles were forced to throw Dylan Bundy into the rotation earlier than they wanted to. The starters were scuffling through July so Buck Showalter and Dan Duquette made the decision to let the phenom get to work.

It paid major dividends at first. In his first five stars, he had a 1.84 ERA while holding opponents to a .150 batting average. He struck out 32 batters and walked just five. It is everything the O’s wanted from the fourth pick in the 2011 draft.

What everyone’s concern was how long would it last? Bundy is coming off Tommy John surgery and while the Orioles never made it public, he has to be on some sort of innings limit. Much of the media around the O’s expected a number between 75-90 innings.

After today’s 7-6 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, Bundy is at 94 and 1/3 innings, and looking like he is starting to fade a bit. The right hander gave up five runs on seven hits and two walks in 3 and 2/3 innings against the Rays. Fortunately, the offense was able to bail him out of a loss, but it was another rough outing for Bundy.

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Much was made about how the Toronto Blue Jays have handled Aaron Sanchez. Eddie Matz of ESPN.com wrote a piece on now the Orioles are riding Bundy, while the Jays are easing Sanchez along. Could the Orioles be damaging Bundy’s future by having him out there every fifth day?

Bundy has failed to make it past the sixth inning since Aug. 2 and has never topped 100 pitches in a game. He has given up five runs in three of his last five starts and has walked 15 batters, compared to 24 strikeouts.

Not trying to squash everyone’s dreams, but we had to know he would slow down as the year progressed. The Orioles asked a kid who has barely played in the minors to become a starter in the Bigs. Eventually, we knew he would start to burn out.

The good news for the Orioles rotation is that Chris Tillman is expected back this Sunday against the Detroit Tigers. Whose spot he takes is uncertain, but it would not surprise anyone if Bundy was skipped a start to keep him fresh.

Next: Chris Davis Scares Orioles Fans With Early Exit

There was a stretch when Bundy was the Orioles best starter. That could be the case in the long haul, but they might have overdone it too soon. Hopefully it’s just a bad run of games and he becomes the star many people around baseball have expected.

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