Chris Tillman looks to win his seventh game of the season as the Orioles begin a three-game series against the Houston Astros. The Astros are one of the, if not the, most disappointing teams this season as they currently sit in last place in the American League West after earning a trip to the playoffs in 2015.
Houston is currently riding a four-game losing streak so the O’s need to take advantage and with Tillman, Tyler Wilson and Kevin Gausman scheduled to pitch this series, the opportunity will be there for them to do just that.
MATUSZ TRADED TO BRAVES
Brian Matusz hasn’t been right since injuring his back in spring training and with June right around the corner, the O’s couldn’t continue to wait for the left-hander to figure it out. There was a lot of speculation the team would non-tender Matusz in the offseason, but with the former first-round draft pick carving out an important role in the bullpen, the raise Matusz would receive seemed to be worth it.
However, Matusz’s struggles date back to his rehab assignment in the minors and the team desperately needs a left-hander in the bullpen with an all right-handed starting staff and bullpen (Zach Britton does not count as he is the closer).
[Related: O’s Trade Matusz to Braves; Braves Immediately DFA Him]
Ashur Tolliver will get the first opportunity as the left-handed specialist, but this could be a situation where we see multiple pitchers throughout the season get a look. Dan Duquette could also make a trade as well, but the organization will turn to internal candidates first.
Hard throwing lefty Tanner Scott exploded on the scene in the Arizona Fall League and continued to pitch well in spring training, but remains in Single-A due to early season command issues and ineffectiveness. The good news is he beginning to pitch well and could be an option later in the season, especially if he is promoted soon.
The Orioles have the second-best winning percentage in all of baseball without having a lefty specialist, so if they can figure out this glaring weakness, it will only strengthen a great bullpen.
One final note on Matusz. This is just another example of the Orioles failing to groom one of their own to become an elite pitcher. Yes, he carved out an important role during the Orioles’ ride to the playoffs in recent seasons, he was a top-5 pick, and he never became that top of the rotation guy many thought he would be.
O’S PHILOSOPHY ON DRAFT PICKS
The Orioles have shown over the last few seasons that they have no issues forfeiting draft picks. It started with the Ubaldo Jimenez and Nelson Cruz signings and continued this year with Yovani Gallardo. We could also throw in the Dexter Fowler situation as they would have lost another pick if the signing became official. The Orioles also traded their 76th pick in the Matusz trade. If you count Duquette trading their international signing bonus slots in 2015 with the Astros for Chris Lee and yesterday with the Cincinnati Reds for right-hander Franderlyn Romero, it’s apparent their philosophy is different from that of many organizations.
I would love to ask Duquette his thought process on this and it could be a situation where he feels the players they acquired will be better than anyone they would draft this year or sign on the international level. Lee is already one of the organization’s top prospects, so that trade on the surface appears to be a victory.
We will find out in the next couple of years if the moves the O’s made yesterday will turn out the same.
