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Grayson Rodriguez (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, Calif.—For the Orioles to go deep into the postseason, they need their young pitchers to step up and pitch like frontline starters.
Just in time, Grayson Rodriguez did.
Rodriguez pitched six innings with two runs allowed to lead the Orioles to a 6-3 victory over the Angels on Monday night. The 23-year-old righthander allowed seven hits, walked two and struck out seven to record his fifth consecutive quality start and help the Orioles advance a season-high 3.5 games ahead. of the Rays for the best record in the American League.
The Orioles No. 1 prospect entering the season, Rodriguez struggled at first in his major league debut but was a very different pitcher in the second half.
Rodriguez had a 7.35 ERA in his first 10 starts before the Orioles demoted him to Triple-A Norfolk in late May. He has a 2.85 ERA in nine starts since returning to the majors on July 17.
“This second time around I kind of feel like myself,” Rodriguez said. “Going to Norfolk, I just got back to who I am and I think that started.”
After struggling to find his rhythm early, Rodriguez dialed in and showed his ace-caliber stuff against the Angels. He drilled a 99 mph fastball into the outside corner to strike out Mike Stefanic looking in the fourth inning and found a 98 mph fastball on the opposite side of the plate to get Nolan Schanuel looking on the fifth. He found his slider perfectly in a trio of strikeouts, none prettier than an 83 mph late-breaker that lined the bottom outside corner to freeze Brandon Drury in the fifth. His changeup was the best of them all, racking up eight swings and misses and diving hard under the barrel of Angels hitters all day.
Rodriguez left a dangling changeup at the plate that Randal Grichuk launched for a home run in the fourth inning. Other than that, he gave the Angels very little damage.
“After the third, I think the last three innings he really took it,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “You really see life in his fastball. He only made one mistake on Grichuk, giving him a chance to change, but other than that, his last three innings he was like the Grayson we knew he would be.
It’s the latest step in Rodriguez’s continued growth into one of the most effective starts in the American League. His 2.85 ERA is the fourth lowest in the AL since he returned from the minors on July 17. His .213 opponent average is the fifth lowest.
It’s a far cry from Rodriguez’s first game in the majors, when batters hit .307/.374/.582 against him and his confidence was shaken.
“The first time I came here I didn’t really enjoy it and I think it showed,” said Rodriguez. “Now I can’t wait to go out there and get the ball when it’s my day.”
Rodriguez’s rise came at the right time. The Orioles declined to add a top-of-the-rotation starter at the trade deadline and only acquired struggling Cardinals righthander Jack Flaherty, who had a 6.66 ERA in five starts for the Orioles. Young righthanders Kyle Bradish and Dean Kremer are dealing with workload concerns after surpassing their previous career highs by more than 20 innings with a month left in the regular season. Fellow righthander Tyler Wells was demoted to Double-A at the end of July to manage his innings amid similar concerns.
Rodriguez, for his part, shows no signs of slowing down. He has completed at least six innings in six of his last seven starts. He averaged 97.4 mph on his fastball against the Angels, right in line with his season average. His slider and changeup are as sharp as they have been all year, as is his command when he dials it up.
As the season progressed, Rodriguez continued to improve.
“There was more conviction in his tones,” Hyde said. “More on the attack in the strike zone, better tempo in his delivery, confidence. He has the goods. It’s all about putting it together, and he has since he came back.
The Orioles rose from their rebuild and surged to the top of the AL on the strength of homegrown position players Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, Cedric Mullins, Austin Hays and Ryan Mountcastle. While there’s no doubt about the franchise’s flagship position player, the Orioles have long faced questions about whether or not they can build a playoff-caliber rotation to complete the dynamic lineup.
With Rodriguez pitching like he has, they just might have a frontline starter that can carry them deep into October.
“Defense is amazing (and) our guys can do it,” Rodriguez said. “We have a lot of young guys that can play and a lot of good veterans. It’s a great combo. We have some great leaders in this clubhouse.
“I think it comes through the farm system that I see this talent, and I think it’s finally starting to show.”