After All-Star Break, Baltimore Orioles Prepare for Second Half

Jun 15, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Dylan Bundy (37) delivers a pitch during the eighth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /

The Home Run Derby is over, although I think Giancarlo Stanton just hit another 450-foot shot.

The All-Star Game is over, with one of the best closers in the game, Zach Britton, putting an exclamation point on the American League’s win.

On Friday, the second half begins.

The Baltimore Orioles hold a two-game advantage over the Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays.

The team is hitting home runs at near record levels, and if they have a lead or are tied with their opponent in the 7th inning, well consider the game near finished.

But, the question that haunts the Baltimore Orioles, and any consideration as to whether this team can contend for a World Series title, revolves around the starting rotation.

So, let’s look at what they have, what options are within the organization, and what options they don’t have (or shouldn’t have). I’m not going to look at trade options, saving that for another time.

Current Rotation

Chris Tillman

Kevin Gausman

Yovani Gallardo

This is the Orioles’ rotation right now. Just these three. Tillman was a fringe All-Star, having a great year. Gausman has been inconsistent, but good of late. Gallardo has also been better since coming off the disabled list.

Current Options

With the All-Star break passed, everyone is rested and ready to go. I think Worley is most likely to start Sunday, following Gallardo and Tillman and preceding Gausman. Worley has performed decently in his two spot starts, And, decently means we the O’s really don’t have any options.

But, at least he will get you through around five innings and keep you in the game. That is more than we can say for some other guys.

Despaigne has not started a game yet this year but has starting experience from his time in San Diego. With few other options, he is my next man up.

Bundy is certainly intriguing. I have had conversations of pairing him with another pitcher (any of the other three on this list would do) to help limit his innings. It would be a tandem starter. For those who think Bundy will start coming out of the break and be in the rotation the rest of the way, well it isn’t possible. By the time the team gets to September, he would be out of innings, and I would much rather have Bundy in October.

Wilson has been pretty bad recently. But, I would like the tandem with Bundy, where Bundy starts and is on a pitch limit, then Wilson relieves him.

Non-Options

Jimenez and Wright are obvious. They both have been dismal in the rotation. Wright needs to start in AAA Norfolk. Jimenez needs to stay far away from the pitching mound.

What about the other guys? They are all former Oriole farmhands who have started for other teams this year.

Arietta, well enough said there. Davies has been pretty good for the Milwaukee Brewers: 6-4 with a 4.10 ERA in 15 starts for the Brewers, with a WHIP of 1.261.

Rodriguez has really struggled this year, going 1-3 with an 8.59 ERA and a WHIP of 1.739. It hasn’t been pretty. But, Eduardo also is coming off an injury, and is only 23 years old.

Brault was traded as a player to be named later, along with Stephen Tarpley, for Travis Snider. Brault has one start for the Pittsburgh Pirates, going four innings and allowing one earned run.

If this doesn’t make you feel real good about the team’s rotation, well it shouldn’t. The Orioles have 75 games remaining, and right now two members of the rotation are a black hole. To get to 95 wins, which would likely guarantee a playoff spot, the team would have to win 45 games. That would be practically every game started by Tillman, Gausman and Gallardo.