When the only losing performance by a starting pitcher still got the club into the sixth inning with a chance to win the game, it’s safe to say that the Orioles rotation had a pretty good week. Orioles starters were 5-1 with a 3.07 ERA -- and that ERA was inflated by five garbage-time runs after the Orioles took a 10-run lead Thursday night. We’ll find out tonight if Jake Arrieta has really figured things out, but it’s hard to find much fault after back-to-back shutouts in Atlanta.
Grade: A- (Baltimore Sun photo by Gene Sweeney Jr.)
It was an unusual week in which the bullpen was not involved in a single decision, but that wasn’t a bad thing. The guys who pitch in setup and save situations combined to pitch 9 2/3 scoreless innings. Kevin Gregg (pictured) and Dana Eveland gave up three runs in non-critical situations, but even including those, the bullpen finished the week with a 2.25 combined ERA. The best news, of course, is that the rotation has pitched enough innings to keep the deep O’s bullpen surprisingly fresh.
Grade: A- (Getty Images)
No one could have reasonably expected what Brian Roberts (pictured) has already brought back to the table after a 13-month absence from the major league lineup. He had three hits in his 2012 debut Tuesday night and had a three-RBI game in Atlanta. There is no question that he has given the club a lift at an important juncture in the first half. There were big contributions all around the infield. Mark Reynolds (9-for-21, 7 RBIs) has come on strong at the plate. J.J. Hardy batted .308 and played his usual stellar defense. And Wilson Betemit batted .400 with a homer and three RBIs. It was all good.
Grade: A (Getty Images)
The Orioles should be limping right now with two-thirds of the starting outfield on the disabled list, but Steve Pearce (pictured) and Chris Davis have picked up a lot of slack and pushed the club a few days closer to the return of Nick Markakis. Pearce has been a pleasant surprise, delivering a five-RBI performance against his former Pittsburgh Pirates teammates Thursday night and accounting for 11 runs for the week. Davis made his major league debut in right field this weekend and played well, while continuing to swing a very productive bat. Oh yeah, and Adam Jones batted .429.
Grade: A (Getty Images)
Matt Wieters (pictured) had just four hits in 18 at-bats last week, but he made them count by driving in five runs. Backup Ronnie Paulino played Sunday’s game and went hitless in three at-bats. Each of them called a shutout over the weekend, so the end pretty much justifies the means.
Grade: B- (Baltimore Sun photo by Gene Sweeney Jr.)
Even though the Orioles only employed the DH for the three home interleague games last week, they got a week’s worth of production from Chris Davis (pictured). He banged out six hits in 13 at-bats against the Pirates, scored four runs and had five RBIs. Nick Johnson had one hit in three pinch-hit appearances.
Grade: A (Getty Images)
The Orioles continued to handle adversity well. Jake Arrieta bounced back well when called on to fill in for injured starter Brian Matusz, and the Orioles made good with a makeshift outfield after Endy Chavez had to go back on the disabled list. That resourcefulness allowed the O’s to win their third and fourth straight series and keep pace with the sizzling Yankees. Can’t ask for too much more than that.
