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3 Pitching Prospects Baltimore Orioles Should Consider to Help Rotation

By Christopher Church

BALTIMORE, MD - MAY 10: Starting pitcher Chris Tillman #30 of the Baltimore Orioles talks with catcher Chance Sisco #15 and pitching coach Roger McDowell #40 in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 10, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - MAY 10: Starting pitcher Chris Tillman #30 of the Baltimore Orioles talks with catcher Chance Sisco #15 and pitching coach Roger McDowell #40 in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 10, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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The Baltimore Orioles pitching has been dismal as of late. We deliver three pitching prospects from the Orioles farm system that could make an immediate impact in the majors.

The Baltimore Orioles rank near the bottom of almost every statistical pitching category in MLB including their 5.17 ERA (No. 28), 10 wins (No. 29), .281 opponent batting average (No. 30), 370 hits allowed (2nd most), 54 home runs allowed (2nd most), among others.

Their starting rotation is even worse. The Orioles rotation has produced a 5.84 ERA, which is last in MLB and has produced just five wins in 37 starts.

Andrew Cashner, Dylan Bundy, Alex Cobb, and Chris Tillman all have ERA’s over 4.80. The one bright spot in the Orioles rotation has been right-handed pitcher Kevin Gausman, who has a respectable 3.30 ERA while the rest of the rotation sputters out of control.

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Gausman even threw nine shutout innings in his last start in Oakland, only for the Orioles offense to be shutout, spoiling a start by Gausman.

Gausman should be a point of inspiration for the Orioles pitching prospects who hope to reach the major leagues sooner than later.  In 2016, Gausman worked his way through Single-A, Double-A and Triple-A, all in the span of one month and hasn’t looked back since.

With the rotation in dire need of help, here are three pitching prospects the Baltimore Orioles should consider promoting.

Baltimore Orioles Pitching Prospect
CHICAGO, IL – AUGUST 21: Tim Melville #58 of the Minnesota Twins pitches against the Chicago White Sox during the fourth inning in game one of a doubleheader on August 21, 2017 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images) /

3. Tim Melville, RHP

The 28-year-old starting pitcher Tim Melville is riding a four-game win streak and is coming off an outing where he tossed six innings, allowing just an earned run in the Norfolk Tides’ victory over Triple-A Louisville.

Melville made his MLB debut on April 10, 2016, with the Cincinnati Reds as he tossed four innings and allowed just an earned run with five strikeouts. He later went on to give up 11 earned runs through nine innings with the Reds before taking another trip to the minors.

Melville also pitched for the Minnesota Twins but allowed five earned runs in 3.1 innings pitched. Later, the right-handed pitcher received another opportunity at the MLB level with the San Diego Padres where he pitched 2.1 innings of relief and yielding two earned runs.

The Alexandria, Va. native hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in six-of-seven starts in Triple-A Norfolk as he continues to prove himself with each start.

With a 4-0 record down in Triple-A, Melville deserves an opportunity in the majors as the struggling Tillman has yet to show he can return to form.

After starting the season with a 4.50 ERA, Melville’s ERA has dipped to 2.86 as the Orioles review options form their farm system.

If Melville can lower his walks and the home run ball, he could become a valuable fifth starter in the Orioles starting rotation.

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