The Baltimore Orioles dropped their series opener to the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday night, but the biggest takeaway came after the game when manager Craig Albernaz delivered a clear message of support for right-hander Shane Baz.
The 26-year-old made his fourth start of the season and once again battled through traffic, yet Albernaz made sure to highlight the positives.
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“Baz was great tonight. He got us through 6, kept us in the game. I think the only pitch he would want back is the first pitch to Ramirez. But other than that, I thought he looked great,” Albernaz said (h/t Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun).
It was a big endorsement for a pitcher still trying to settle into his first season with Baltimore. Baz arrived this past winter in the trade with the Tampa Bay Rays and later signed a five-year, $68 million extension that runs through the 2030 season.
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The Orioles made a long-term commitment to him, and while the early results have been disappointing, the organization remains confident he will become a key piece of their rotation.
So far, Baz has not fully found his groove. He is now 0-2 with a 4.91 ERA and 19 strikeouts across 22 innings. The stuff is there, but the consistency has not followed yet. Even so, the Orioles are encouraged by the fact that Baz is healthy and taking the ball at his usual turn in the starting rotation.
That alone is meaningful for a pitcher who has dealt with injuries throughout his career. In five MLB seasons, he has logged more than 15 starts only once, that coming last year. He is hoping to continue that trend this year as well and the Orioles need him to, considering they lost Zach Eflin to season-ending surgery earlier this April.
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Baltimore believes the best version of Baz is still ahead. A former first-round pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates, he has long been viewed as one of the most talented young arms in the sport.
Baz was brought in to become a reliable starting pitcher and potential ace of the staff. Even if the early numbers are not there, the belief remains strong inside the clubhouse. Baz still has time to figure it out in Baltimore, and the support from his manager shows the Orioles are committed to helping him get there. The Orioles will look to get back on track on Friday in another matchup with Cleveland.