Miguel Gonzalez’s MRI results came back more positive than the Orioles had originally anticipated, according to MASN’s Roch Kubatko, but a stint on the 15-day DL is still very likely for the Orioles starter (oblique injury strikes again!).
Gonzalez has performed quite well as the O’s fourth starter this season, posting four straight quality starts in his last four outings. Overall this year, Gonzo has pitched to a 3-4 record with a 4.15 ERA as a starter. While Miggy – like every Orioles starter – has struggled to go deep into ballgames, he has held opponents to three runs or less in nine of his 10 starts and has been one of the O’s most consistent starters as of late.
Based on the reports, a decision will be made whether to DL Gonzalez by Friday, and if so it will leave an open spot in the rotation for Saturday’s game against the Oakland Athletics. Roch tweeted that either TJ McFarland or Kevin Gausman will fill this vacancy if needed, but with McFarland having to come in for 1.2 innings in relief last night I don’t see him taking the hill on Saturday.
That being said, bringing up Gausman for another spot start may actually be far worse than having McFarland pitch on short rest.
It is safe to say that the handling of the Orioles’ number two prospect, and hopefully future front-of-the-line starter, has baffled just about everyone.
A few weeks ago, the O’s pulled up Gausman on short rest, after just coming off the disabled list, to make a spot start against the AL-leading Detroit Tigers. Talk about setting up a young kid, whose confidence and success is key to the future of this organization, for failure and possible career-altering doom.
It is no question that Gausman is one of, if not the prized possession of the Orioles farm system. His development and grooming to become a top of the rotation starter should be one that is handled with the utmost care and precautions. Every decision should be made based on giving Gausman the greatest opportunity to succeed.
Bringing up a kid, who is at a very fragile point in his development, to get smacked around by one the strongest lineups in baseball (on short rest and coming off the DL) only to option him back to Norfolk the next day is not how you build a superstar. That is exactly how you destroy the kid’s confidence and possibly ruin his career.
Therefore, bringing up Kevin to face one of the hottest teams in baseball on Saturday, who are leading the MLB in run differential (+120), is again setting him up for failure. Especially if he is only going to be up to make a few starts in Miguel Gonzalez’s absence, and then be sent back down to Norfolk.
Yes, I understand that Gausman is going to have to prove himself by being able to pitch against the elite teams in baseball, but going about it in spot starts where he hasn’t been able to build on any success at the Major League level could have detrimental results.
Kevin Gausman’s success is key to the future of the Baltimore Orioles, whether that success is here or using him to bring a proven starter via trade, the O’s cannot afford to mishandle another top pitching prospect. Call the kid up to face a struggling Rays or Red Sox team; don’t feed him to the wolves.
