*Note: all information was sourced before publication date
The Orioles are 9 games under .500, sitting at a win-loss record of 13-22. So the question is, what is going wrong? With many fans losing faith in Manager Brandon Hyde and General Manager Mike Elias, Orioles supporters believe something needs to change.
Starting pitching –
The Orioles starting pitching has been their biggest struggle in 2025. Baltimore’s starting pitching fWAR(fangraphs wins above replacement) leaders are Dean Kremer(0.1) and Cade Povich(0.1). It is also worth noting that the Orioles have the second worst ERA(earned run average) in all of Major League Baseball, only behind the Miami Marlins. Their ERA is even worse than the Colorado Rockies, who are notorious for allowing home runs and having a bad pitching staff, due to their ballpark, which according to Baseball Savant, has the highest elevation and highest total Variable Extra Distance in Major League Baseball.
Injury issues –
The Orioles have also had terrible injury problems. Baltimore has 13 players on the injured list, those being Catcher Gary Sanchez (10-day), Infielders Ramon Urias & Jordan Westburg (both 10-day), and Outfielders Tyler O’Neill (10-day) & Colton Cowser (60-day). On the pitching side it gets even worse. Starting with the Starting Pitchers, Kyle Bradish, Grayson Rodriguez, Albert Suarez (listed as a relief pitcher on fangraphs), & Tyler Wells are all on the 60-day IL, and Zach Eflin & Trevor Rogers are both on the 15-day IL. Two relievers, Andrew Kittredge & Cody Poteet, are both on the 15-day IL. It is very safe to say that the Orioles have struggled with injuries and that is a big reason as to why they have such a bad record, that is the worst in the AL East. The injury impact on Baltimore is very evident on the field, especially as their starting pitching has no clear ace, or even a top of the rotation starting pitcher. Povich does have a lot of potential, and Sugano has had some very solid games in 2025, but so far, they have not filled the void of Kyle Bradish, Grayson Rodriguez, Zach Eflin
Offseason subtractions –
Danny Coulombe has been exceptional in 2025, as he has not allowed a single run for the Minnesota Twins, and his WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched) is 0.56, which is absolutely incredible. He has been a quality middle reliever and setup man for Baltimore, particularly in 2024, when he recorded a 2.12 ERA, a 2.83 FIP, and a 0.67 WHIP. He also had a 2.81 ERA in 2023 in 61 games for the Orioles. The loss of Corbin Burnes to the Diamondbacks was their biggest loss of the offseason, as he was the certified ace that they needed going into the 2025 season. Burnes was an all-star every year from 2021-2024, even winning NL Cy Young in that time period. Sure, 2024 was not his best season, but it was still worthy of being an ace. He was their game 1 playoff starter, where he pitched 8 innings of one-run baseball in a 1-0 loss to the Kansas City Royals. Anthony Santander was their biggest loss on the hitting side, as he was an elite level power bat from 2022-2024, finishing T-5th in the AL in home runs in 2022 with 33, and finished 2nd in the AL in home runs with 44 in 2024. He also had 28 home runs in 2023. Jacob Webb was another loss, as he recorded a 3.02 ERA in 60 games in 2024. Webb was acquired in 2023 off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels, and was a decent middle reliever for Baltimore in his time there, before being non-tendered by the Orioles in 2024. He was picked up by the Texas Rangers, and even though he has not had the greatest start
