Orioles Ace 2023?

[now]

With some fairly jagged results so far in terms of consistency, our starters have still mostly fared well. Each has shone with outings of brilliance and promise. By season's end, with playoff tickets printed (!), who is YOUR ace (best on starting staff) going into October?

[Billy F-Face3]

If we are talking playoffs this season, I think Kyle Gibson has earned the trust to pitch first in the rotation unless somehow John Means shows him up. But I don't think it's fair to expect much from Means after he's been out of baseball for a year and recovering from a major surgery on his pitching arm.

[Billy F-Face3]

You know, the more I think about this the more I'm just gonna say that I don't know. You can't predict the future that fart down the road. For example, 2 months ago, how many of us would have guessed that the best relief pitcher in baseball was on the Norfolk Tides AAA roster and his name was Yennier Cano?

[now]

2 hours ago, Billy F-Face3 said:

You know, the more I think about this the more I'm just gonna say that I don't know. You can't predict the future that fart down the road. For example, 2 months ago, how many of us would have guessed that the best relief pitcher in baseball was on the Norfolk Tides AAA roster and his name was Yennier Cano?

Yes, it's the unknown and the mixed results so far that make this a tough one to call with any certainty. A pretty close race among the first five horses, so far! Which is why I'm curious what others predict.

[Moose Milligan]

Gibson, I guess. 
 

G-Rod will be shut down before October. 

[Jagwar]

1 hour ago, Moose Milligan said:

Gibson, I guess. 
 

G-Rod will be shut down before October. 

Or... if Means is effective when he returns, maybe GRod moves to the pen for the playoffs. 

[Moose Milligan]

2 hours ago, Jagwar said:

Or... if Means is effective when he returns, maybe GRod moves to the pen for the playoffs. 

Depends on the innings limit.  

[Mooreisbetter27]

3 hours ago, Moose Milligan said:

Gibson, I guess. 
 

G-Rod will be shut down before October. 

Yep.

I say Wells.  

[Frobby]

7 hours ago, Billy F-Face3 said:

You know, the more I think about this the more I'm just gonna say that I don't know. You can't predict the future that fart down the road. For example, 2 months ago, how many of us would have guessed that the best relief pitcher in baseball was on the Norfolk Tides AAA roster and his name was Yennier Cano?

This is an honest answer.  We have a lot of fairly inexperienced starters.  It’s possible one or more of them could break out and be outstanding by the end of the year.   Or, maybe it doesn’t happen.  And it’s anybody’s guess whether Elias will trade for someone to lead the rotation (though I’d say the odds are against it).   

[orioles22]

I like Rodriguez and Wells, but it's mismanagement if Elias doesn't package some of our prospects with some others for a young ace by July.

[Sports Guy]

It’s unlikely GRod will be starting by then.

Our ace is going to be the bullpen. 
 

If I had to guess on one starter, the answer is someone who isn’t here.

[Aristotelian]

I would say none of these guys are aces. Is the question who would we pick to start Game 1 of a playoff series? Right now, Gibson, but basically I would go with whoever is hot in September. Could also do a 2014 Royals type of approach where you hope for 5 decent innings from the starters and then hand it to the bullpen. 

[DirtyBird]

Shane Bieber

[Matt Bennett]

Tyler Wells is riding a .155 BABIP against at the moment. He looks like the guy we saw last year. Throws strikes. Gives up homers. Seems good enough for back of rotation but not expecting him to be our ace. 

[Just Regular]

A precise wish I have for 2023 Kyle Gibson is he gets an ALDS start but I don't think he would make a wildcard weekend roster unless burning the best guys in 160/161/162 forces it.

The relative weakness of '23 Orioles Arms vs. '22 Phillies Arms might be enough of a crack of daylight to let him try his craft on a big stage.     He may have to sweat out the John Means/DL Hall/Ranger Suarez threat even for that.