Baltimore GM takes the heat for starting rotation breakdown

MLB

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Charlie Morton walks back to the dugout after he was pulled in the third inning against the Cincinnati Reds on April 20 in Baltimore. NICK WASS — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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By Noah Trister

The Associated Press

BALTIMORE >> If the second half of 2024 was a reality check for the Baltimore Orioles — their first real stretch of mediocrity since they became contenders again — the start of this season is a near-crisis.

This young Baltimore team experienced very little failure while winning 101 games in 2023, but now the Orioles are well aware of what baseball’s more humbling side feels like.

“I think we’re getting a little more familiar (with adversity) than we wanted to be,” general manager Mike Elias said before Friday night’s game against Kansas City.

Elias met with reporters to address his team’s 12-18 record in April. The Orioles aren’t just in last place in the AL East, they also have the worst run differential in the American League.

The young core of hitters that was so fearsome early last year has struggled mightily in 2025. Elias has reason to view that as a temporary blip, but the other main culprit this year — the collapse of the starting rotation — might be harder to fix.

Zach Eflin, Grayson Rodriguez and Albert Suarez are on the injured list and Dean Kremer took a 7.04 ERA into Friday’s start. Tomoyuki Sugano has been fine, but Charlie Morton is 0-6 with a 9.45 ERA and will work out of the bullpen for now. Kyle Gibson allowed homers to four of the first five batters Tuesday in his first big league start of the season.

“It is difficult to contend with that level of injuries, but even that aside, they’ve had a poor start, and that’s my responsibility. I’m in charge of baseball operations,” Elias said. “When we have a bad record to start the year, that’s my responsibility.”

Baltimore’s 5.47 ERA entering Friday ranked 29th among the 30 teams, lower than only Miami’s 5.89.

Rangers send Burger down to Triple-A

ARLINGTON, Texas >> The Texas Rangers optioned slumping slugger Jake Burger to Triple-A Round Rock on Friday, a move that comes when the entire team is struggling to score runs.

Burger, a first baseman and one of the Rangers’ key offseason acquisitions, hit .190 with three home runs, 12 RBIs and a team-high 32 strikeouts in 100 at-bats his first 30 games.

The move was made before the start of a three-game series against AL West-leading Seattle.

Texas selected the contract of first baseman Blaine Crim from Round Rock. Infielder Jonathan Ornelas was recalled from the Triple-A squad and infielder Nick Ahmed was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Crim.

Chisholm expected to miss 4-to-6 weeks

NEW YORK >> Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. is expected to miss four-to-six weeks because of a strained right oblique.

Chisholm was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday, three days after getting hurt during a swing in a game at the Baltimore Orioles.

Manager Aaron Boone said Chisholm has a high-grade strain.

Chisholm grabbed at his side after fouling off a first pitch from Kyle Gibson during the first inning, took a ball and then stepped out of the batter’s box to stretch the side, prompting Boone and an athletic trainer to come out and speak with him.

Chisholm remained in the game, doubled into the right-field corner on the next pitch and when the ball was bobbled headed to third and slid in headfirst. He appeared in discomfort and immediately left the game for a pinch runner.

Trout confident injury won’t sideline him for extended period

ANAHEIM, Calif. >> Mike Trout says he is convinced the bone bruise in his left knee won’t sideline him for an extended period.

“Well, there’s no structural damage,” the Los Angeles Angels star said Friday. “Yesterday, I was in some pain.

Today, I can walk normally. The doctor said just stay off it for a couple of days, then get back into it slowly and go.”

A three-time AL MVP, Trout was removed from Wednesday’s game in Seattle when he he got hurt lunging for the first-base bag on a groundout. The Angels placed the 33-year-old on the 10-day injured list Friday, a move retroactive to Thursday.

Last year, Trout tore the meniscus in his left knee and thought he’d return in six-to-eight weeks. He aggravated the injury in his first minor league rehabilitation game in July and sat out the rest of the season.