Does Baltimore Orioles Bullpen Still Reigns Supreme in AL East?

2. Baltimore Orioles

Relief pitchers: Zach Britton* (CL), Brad Brach (CL), Darren O’Day (SU), Mychal Givens (SU), Richard Bleier, Pedro Araujo, Miguel Castro, Nestor Cortes, Mike Wright

The Baltimore Orioles bullpen could have a chance at being first, but they are without closer Zach Britton until the end of May at the earliest, after he suffered an Achilles’ injury while working out over the winter.

While losing someone of that caliber hurts, the Orioles can withstand it, and there was some thought that Britton, or their current closer Brad Brach, may have been traded by this point in the season anyway.

Instead, Brach will close with Britton on the DL, and audition himself for either a job at the trade deadline or next year as this is the last year of his contract.

O’Day is an always reliable set up man. He struggled some to start 2017 but was fantastic down the stretch to end the season for the Birds.

Givens seems to get better every year, and he is likely the Orioles’ closer of the future. There will be at least one Rule 5 pick in the bullpen, and likely two when Alex Cobb is ready to go in Pedro Araujo and Nelson Cortes Jr.

Araujo was electric this spring, and Cortes has unorthodox pitching still.

Bleier and Cortes are both left-handed in the bullpen, and Miguel Castro, after battling for a starting job, could end up in a role similar to what Andrew Miller fills for the Cleveland Indians.

This Baltimore Orioles bullpen is good and is a healthy Britton away from being very good.