Baltimore Orioles, KC Royals to face off in crucial post-deadline series
By Nate Wardle
The bullpen needs to continue to stand up.
Recently, parts of the bullpen have shown some cracks. There were Zach Britton’s struggles being used outside of save situations.
Darren O’Day has left up runs in several recent appearances.
A lot of this probably stems from overuse due to the starters.
Some of it can likely be attributed to all the rumors over who is staying, who is going, etc.
Well, by now all of that is settled.
The Orioles have been able to use the bullpen they had hoped to have for much of the season during the month of July.
Britton is now back at closer. Brach and O’Day and Givens all serving as set up men who can be used at any point, with Buck Showalter not limiting them to the seventh and eighth innings.
Donnie Hart is employed against left-handers. Miguel Castro and Richard Bleier have been great surprises.
This bullpen is just the way the team wants it, which is good.
The three losses to KC occurred right after Brad Brach blew a save in Washington, and the Orioles were 22-11 at the time and the best team in the American League.
Those losses went to Vidal Nuno, who left up a double in the eighth to lose in game one, Alec Asher, who left up a home run in the sixth in game two, and Richard Bleier, who lost the game in the ninth in game three. None of these three were the starters.