The Baltimore Orioles face the serious possibility of losing a third starting pitcher for an extended period due to injury.
Kyle Bradish exited Friday’s game with elbow discomfort, a concerning issue for a pitcher who has already spent time on the injured list this season for the same reason. Alarmingly, the Orioles placed Bradish back on the injured list Saturday, diagnosing him with a right UCL sprain.
UCL sprains often precede more severe injuries, including Tommy John surgery. Ken Rosenthal mentioned on FOX Sports that there is a genuine fear Bradish could be out for a significant period. Rosenthal even suggested the Orioles might need to seek another starter before the trade deadline.
The Orioles placed starting pitcher Kyle Bradish on the 15-day IL with a right UCL sprain.@Ken_Rosenthal has more on the impact this has on Baltimore's starting rotation ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/aKO2aFMWme
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 15, 2024
The Orioles have had terrible luck with pitching injuries this season, and Bradish’s potential loss could be the most significant blow. He finished fourth in AL Cy Young voting in 2023 with a 2.83 ERA and has a 2.75 ERA through eight starts in 2024, establishing himself alongside Corbin Burnes as Baltimore’s best pitcher.
Despite these setbacks, the Orioles are still 45-24 and on track for the playoffs, possibly as a wild card due to the New York Yankees’ dominance. However, the injuries are severely depleting their pitching depth, becoming a significant concern.
