Kyle Bradish Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Orioles injury news puts rotation in precarious situation

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 2/15/24

Baltimore Orioles fans were dealt some rough injury news on starting pitchers Kyle Bradish and John Means on Thursday, putting the rotation in a precarious situation.

Bradish got a PRP injection, will begin throwing program tomorrow #Orioles https://t.co/v4MPxxBC8Y
— Jake Rill (@JakeDRill) February 15, 2024

John Means is a month behind other #Orioles starters after his left elbow flare-up last postseason. GM Mike Elias wouldn’t say Means will open on IL, but he is a month behind other starters.
— Jake Rill (@JakeDRill) February 15, 2024

#Orioles manager Brandon Hyde is assuming John Means is unlikely to be in Opening Day rotation due to his delayed start.

Hyde sees a competition for the final rotation spots with Bradish on IL and Means possibly on IL as well.
— Jake Rill (@JakeDRill) February 15, 2024

#Orioles' Elias on Bradish: "I’m not at a point where I want to start putting a timeline on when we’re going to see him in Major League action. ... We’re prepping him for a lot of action in 2024, and we’re getting him ready for that as expeditiously and responsibly as possible."
— Jake Rill (@JakeDRill) February 15, 2024

The Orioles have a new ace after landing former NL Cy Young award winner Corbin Burnes in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers at the beginning of February, but after that, there are some question marks in the starting five.

#Orioles' possible Opening Day rotation:

1. Corbin Burnes
2. Grayson Rodriguez
3. Dean Kremer
4. ?
5. ?

Tyler Wells, Cole Irvin likely front-runners for final 2 spots. Prospects Chayce McDermott, Cade Povich and Justin Armbruester all in camp. Bruce Zimmermann another option.
— Jake Rill (@JakeDRill) February 15, 2024

Bradish was arguably Baltimore's best starter last season, going 12-7 with the top ERA (2.83) of the unit and recording the most strikeouts on the team (168).

Bradish also posted a 1.04 WHIP across 168 2/3 innings pitched (30 starts) and per ESPN's Jeff Passan, had the best second-half ERA among AL starters (2.34). He finished fourth in the league's Cy Young voting in what was only his second season.

Means was limited to just four starts at the end of the 2023 regular season as the team's former ace made his long-awaited return to action in September after not having pitched since April 2022.

The southpaw suffered an elbow strain early in the 2022 campaign and subsequently underwent Tommy John surgery. Means went 1-2 with a 2.66 ERA, 0.71 WHIP and registered 10 strikeouts over 23 2/3 innings pitched in 2023.

The former 46th-round draft pick of the Atlanta Braves was stellar in his 2019 rookie season, going 12-11 with a 3.60 ERA and 1.13 WHIP while striking out 121 batters across 155 innings pitched. Means made his lone All-Star team that year and finished second in the AL Rookie of the Year voting.

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