wildcard

I am not talking about the world ending. More likely other injuries or non performance happens.

We are weeks away from Means being ready. Anything can happen in the mean time.

Wells will continue to get starts in trying to pursue that goal. But he needs to improve. Means and Bradish aren't ready yet. Akin could be stretched out in the mean time. Its not effecting any of the other starters until Akin is ready to go 5 innings.

I can't tell about that just yet. Elias does acquire players to see if he can pass them through waivers and get them to Norfolk.

And Akin is not stretched out to be a starter.......yet. Just thinking of the possibilities.

Irvin and/or Wells would shift to the pen so not really robbing Peter to pay Paul. Both could be more effective in the pen.

Just looking for alternatives. Burnes, GRod and Kremer look solid as starters. Wells and Irvin are searching for their effectiveness. Maybe they will find it and maybe they will not. Means and Bradish are rehabbing. One or both may be helpful in the rotation at some point. But what if one or both are not. Povich is doing well at AAA but Elias would probably want him to master AAA before he is called up. Maybe another 10-12 starts of continuous good performance. So I am thinking about Akin. In 2022 he had a 3rd pitch. A change up. Its was not a great pitch but did give batters something else to think about. Akin is pitching well. The last outing he went 2 innings. Could the O's stretch him to 3 innings in relief? Then 4 innings? Then starting? I know there are trade possibilities but this is just something else to think about. Just questioning the possibilities. What do you think?

I think there is a decent chance that Cowser and Hays start all three games vs the Brewers with Mullins, O'Hearn and Santander getting one game off each.

I will be surprised if Tony sits tonight. He is the only current Oriole with a homer vs Whitlock.

Urias and Westburg hit in ST so they made the team. After 10 games Elias was tired of Urias, Westburg and Kemp not hitting while Holliday hit for over a 1.000 OPS at AAA. That is all it took to make the move. History repeats its self. Elias optioned Irvin on April 14th last year because he was pitching poorly.

Irvin

Kind of interesting that some think the 721 OPS is a good performance for a CFer but you think that a 775 OPS might be something you buy into for Cowser as a CFer.

For a team trying to win the World Series?

The O's may be able to offer Santander a Quality Offer and get a draft choice for him. I don't see that as possible for Mullins. Elias is going to have to decide this off season to extend Mullins or keep him and let him go FA with no compensation.

Mullins is interesting. His defense is his best feature. His offense shows back to back 721 OPS season. Well below what is desirable for a starter. His leg injuries are concerning for a guy who makes his living with his legs. Hyde has lowered Mullins to the bottom half of the lineup. That seems to be because his OBP was 318 and 305 in 2022 and 2023. Then there is his contract status. He is fine this year but next year he will be in his walk year. Do the O's extend a player with a 3 or 4 year contract who is having trouble staying healthy? Having players in their 20's rather than their 30's has been why the O's have risen in the standings. Do they trade Mullins over the offseason so they don't have to make a long term commitment to him? A lot depends on whether the O's have a replacement is center. Is Cowser capable of doing that. That is one of the questions the O's will try to answer this season IMO. EBJ is still in A+.