From The Banner · Andy Kostka · · 3m
Bradish hits a wall in Toronto
Kyle Bradish lasted three innings, the Orioles' bats went quiet, and a 7-3 loss in Toronto raised a question nobody wants to answer.
In brief
Kyle Bradish lasted three innings, the Orioles' bats went quiet, and a 7-3 loss in Toronto raised a question nobody wants to answer. Bradish says his arm feels great, but the numbers since late July say he is running on fumes in the heaviest workload season he has had since 2023. Originally reported by The Banner.
Three innings, five runs
Kyle Bradish got knocked out after three innings in Saturday's 7-3 loss to Toronto, giving up two homers among the five runs the Blue Jays scored off him.
The wall arrived early
Bradish has thrown more innings than any season since 2023, after past injuries. He looks like a pitcher who hit a wall, and Saturday is when it showed.
A 3.49 became a 5.83
Bradish finished his July 22 start with a 3.49 ERA. Over the nine starts since, including Saturday, he has a 5.83 ERA. The extension he earned came before the slide.
He called it terrible
Bradish did not soften his own review. Walks, hard contact, and an early hole for his team, again.
“Giving up way too much damage, walking guys, putting our team in a big hole to start the game more times than not.”
No, it isn't fatigue
Asked directly whether his innings load was catching up with him, Bradish said no. He has no explanation for the last six weeks either.
“It's been a tough six weeks. Don't really have answers for it.”
The bullpen pays the bill
It was the seventh time in nine starts Bradish failed to finish six innings. Relievers covered five innings and allowed only two runs, but Baltimore was already buried.
Albernaz won't pull back
Manager Craig Albernaz said shortening starts or skipping a turn is on the table, then made clear he isn't doing it.
“With K.B., he's such a competitor and he's been our guy all year, so we feel comfortable giving him the ball.”
Eight pitches, zero strikes
Joe Mantiply threw eight pitches in the third, none in the zone, and still escaped. Beavers, Alonso and Holliday all swung at balls and grounded out.
“It's a funky slot, and it comes in and looks like a strike, but it's not.”
Not a chase problem, usually
Baltimore came in with baseball's fourth best walk rate at 9.8% and a league average chase rate. Saturday was the exception, not the pattern.
Narvaez is stuck
The catcher Baltimore got for Adley Rutschman dropped to a .476 OPS. He is strong behind the plate and openly miserable about the bat.
“It's very frustrating, because I hate that version of me, that I've been hitting. I know that's not me.”
Alonso nears 300
A two-run shot off the left-field foul pole gave Alonso 299 career homers and 35 this year, 18 more than any Oriole hit last season. He returns to Citi Field Monday.
A ghost of 2012
Encarnacion-Strand faked to first, threw to third, and Gunnar Henderson tagged out Gimenez. Manny Machado made the same play 14 years ago to the day.
“Two standout defensive plays on the same date. Baseball has that way about it.”
The key point
Bradish says his arm feels great, but the numbers since late July say he is running on fumes in the heaviest workload season he has had since 2023.
