The Baltimore Orioles appear to be in real danger of losing a third starting pitcher for an extended period of time due to injury.
Kyle Bradish left Friday’s start after complaining of elbow discomfort, a worrying sign for a pitcher who already spent time on the injured list this season for the same issue. Ominously, the Orioles placed Bradish back on the injured list Saturday, citing his injury as a right UCL sprain.
UCL sprains are often a precursor to something more serious, including Tommy John surgery. Ken Rosenthal suggested as much on FOX Sports Saturday, suggesting there is a real fear that Bradish could be shelved for a long time. Rosenthal even suggested the Orioles might be pushed into needing to look for another starter at the trade deadline.
The Orioles placed starting pitcher Kyle Bradish on the 15-day IL with a right UCL sprain.@Ken_Rosenthal has more on the impact this has on Baltimore's starting rotation ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/aKO2aFMWme
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 15, 2024
The Orioles have had awful luck with pitching injuries so far this season. Bradish, however, might represent the biggest loss of all. He finished fourth in AL Cy Young voting in 2023 with a 2.83 ERA, and boasts a 2.75 ERA through eight starts in 2024. He has clearly slotted in alongside Corbin Burnes as Baltimore’s best pitcher.
Despite the injuries they have dealt with, the Orioles are still 45-24 and look like they are on the way to the playoffs, albeit possibly as a wild card team due to the New York Yankees’ dominance. Injuries are really thinning out their pitching depth, though, and it is becoming a serious problem.
