Baltimore Orioles: Yovani Gallardo and Rookie Starters

Apr 24, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Mike Wright (59) delivers a pitch against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports /

The Baltimore Orioles starting rotation is a work in progress, as it may well be throughout the 2016 season.

The big question mark in anticipation of this season surrounded starting pitching, and it continues to be the most uncertain element for this team. Miguel Gonzalez is gone and Kevin Gausman is yet to make his first start. Chris Tillman and Ubaldo Jimenez have been on schedule, but beyond that it has been a rotating rotation. Six different names have started already through the first 17 games.

And now the late free agent acquisition, Yovani Gallardo, has been put on the disabled list for 15 days with tendinitis. At the time of his signing, there were a number of question marks both about his health and his declining metrics, particularly velocity.

There is quite a chorus among O’s fans and writers of “I told you so” comments and reflections on the Gallardo situation. Looking back to the winter signing and my own comments, I can be added to that list. I wrote on February 21 …

I would not have done this deal. As written previously, I fear that this contributes negatively to the overall need for the Orioles to “grow the arms.” Since Gallardo and Ubaldo are too expensive to not use, and Kevin Gausman is going to pitch regularly no matter what, for players like Mike Wright and Tyler Wilson to develop, some terrible things have to happen to Miguel Gonzalez or Chris Tillman.

Well, getting released is something terrible, so Gonzo in gonzo. And now Tyler Wilson and Mike Wright have had opportunities to start, including the past two games in Kansas City. This is a good thing. As we’ve written here multiple times, there is nothing more for these two players to prove at AAA. They need to now show they can do it for the Orioles, and having experiences like this past weekend is what will either affirm or deny their prospective talent.

Were they great starts? Not really, but they were not bad at all. Though Wilson gave up three runs in five innings, he gave the Orioles the chance to win, and they did. Wright’s start was actually a quality start, giving up two runs in six innings, before being sent out in the seventh where the game unraveled.

It seemed odd that Buck sent Wright out for the seventh inning, having thrown 87 pitches. Presumably it was to save the bullpen. Showalter said ..

“That’s a quality start for us. We had four guys we weren’t going to use in the bullpen today. We needed that from Mike. We just didn’t do much offensively.”

The Orioles entered the game with the second-most innings pitched by the bullpen amongst American League teams, although the differences are not exceedingly great. As well, the O’s had the second-best ERA at 1.62, just behind the White Sox at 1.60. The third-best is over a run higher at 2.72 by the Mariners.