Under new manager Buck Showalter, the Baltimore Orioles struggled, finishing last in the loaded American League East with a 69-93 record. The biggest challenge for the team has been finding the right mix of starters to keep them in contention. The Baltimore pitching staff finished last year with an AL-worst 4.89 ERA. The Orioles added Wei-Yin Chen from Taiwan, but it seems as though that won't be enough for the team to rise up the rankings in the East. Here are our MLB predictions for the Orioles' starting rotation and closer this season.
Projected Rotation
Zach Britton (LHP) - Despite this being just his second full season with Baltimore, Britton finds himself at the top of the rotation for 2012. He started last year brilliantly, posting a 3.18 ERA and 1.23 WHIP over his first 13 starts, but faltered over the second half of the season, posting a 6.22 ERA and 1.70 WHIP in his final 15 starts. The youngster still has a lot of room to improve and could grow into a top-of-the-line starter as early as this year.
Jason Hammel (RHP) - The Orioles acquired Hammel in a deal that sent Jeremy Guthrie to the Colorado Rockies. He went just 7-13 with a 4.76 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in 27 starts with Colorado last season, so I wouldn't be expecting too much from him in Baltimore.
Jake Arrieta (RHP) - Arrieta was second on the team with 10 wins in just 22 starts last year, but his 5.05 ERA and 1.46 WHIP are unsettling. If he is unable to improve in those two areas, it's tough to predict if he can maintain the double-digit win plateau. He just turned 26 in March, so there is still a lot of time to grow and improve as a player.
Wei-Yin Chen (LHP) - Wei-Yin Chen is the wild card of this roster. After playing four seasons in Japan and posting a 2.48 ERA and 1.06 WHIP, he was picked up by the Orioles in the offseason. He could end up being the ace of the staff, or fail to make the rotation all together.
Tsuyoshi Wade (LHP) - Another pitcher coming over from Japan is Tsuyoshi Wade. However, he doesn't seem to have the same potential as Chen. Wade is a soft-tossing lefty with a number of different pitches, but you have to be accurate if you are going to throw a mid-80s fastball, especially in the offensive-minded AL East.
Projected Closer
Jim Johnson (RHP) - After Kevin Gregg failed to live up to expectations last season, Johnson replaced him and was servicible in the ninth inning last year. Johnson may not be the closer at the end of the year, but he's got the best chance to start the season with the job.
Projected Rotation
Zach Britton (LHP) - Despite this being just his second full season with Baltimore, Britton finds himself at the top of the rotation for 2012. He started last year brilliantly, posting a 3.18 ERA and 1.23 WHIP over his first 13 starts, but faltered over the second half of the season, posting a 6.22 ERA and 1.70 WHIP in his final 15 starts. The youngster still has a lot of room to improve and could grow into a top-of-the-line starter as early as this year.
Jason Hammel (RHP) - The Orioles acquired Hammel in a deal that sent Jeremy Guthrie to the Colorado Rockies. He went just 7-13 with a 4.76 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in 27 starts with Colorado last season, so I wouldn't be expecting too much from him in Baltimore.
Jake Arrieta (RHP) - Arrieta was second on the team with 10 wins in just 22 starts last year, but his 5.05 ERA and 1.46 WHIP are unsettling. If he is unable to improve in those two areas, it's tough to predict if he can maintain the double-digit win plateau. He just turned 26 in March, so there is still a lot of time to grow and improve as a player.
Wei-Yin Chen (LHP) - Wei-Yin Chen is the wild card of this roster. After playing four seasons in Japan and posting a 2.48 ERA and 1.06 WHIP, he was picked up by the Orioles in the offseason. He could end up being the ace of the staff, or fail to make the rotation all together.
Tsuyoshi Wade (LHP) - Another pitcher coming over from Japan is Tsuyoshi Wade. However, he doesn't seem to have the same potential as Chen. Wade is a soft-tossing lefty with a number of different pitches, but you have to be accurate if you are going to throw a mid-80s fastball, especially in the offensive-minded AL East.
Projected Closer
Jim Johnson (RHP) - After Kevin Gregg failed to live up to expectations last season, Johnson replaced him and was servicible in the ninth inning last year. Johnson may not be the closer at the end of the year, but he's got the best chance to start the season with the job.
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