Woof. Who saw this coming?
The once red-hot Baltimore Orioles have cooled off to a disappointing 5–8 record after getting rolled by the Arizona Diamondbacks and losing three straight series.
The Orioles have yet to win a series this year after a sluggish start from a lineup that, on paper, should be one of the best in baseball and a rotation that has been one of the worst thus far.
The lone bright spot has been the bullpen. Despite an early injury to Albert Suárez that landed him on the 60-day IL, this group has stepped up and established itself as one of the best in the league.
Even while picking up the slack for a struggling rotation, the bullpen continues to rank among the top in multiple major categories.
With that being said, let’s dive into our first edition of the Battery Bullpen Power Rankings of the 2025 season:
1.) GREGORY SOTO
Shocker, right? But there’s no other choice, as Gregory Soto has been absolutely dominant to start the season, with most of his work coming in high-leverage situations.
In five innings, Soto has posted a 0.00 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP and eight strikeouts, good for a 38.1% K rate, the best of his career and among the best in baseball.
He’s leaned on his three-pitch mix — slider, cutter, and four-seam fastball — all of which have been generating major whiffs early on.
2.) BRYAN BAKER
An even bigger surprise than Soto, the Bryan Baker resurgence is real.
In six innings, he Baker has allowed no walks, struck out seven and posted a 0.00 ERA with a 0.50 WHIP. He’s tweaked his approach this year, cutting his four-seam fastball usage from 48.8% to 41%.
On top of that, his slider and changeup have been filthy, producing whiff rates of 25% and 40%, respectively.
3.) YENNIER CANO
The streak of zero ERAs continues.
In four innings, Yennier Cano has been untouchable, with four strikeouts, no walks and a 0.25 WHIP to his name. One interesting development: Cano has dramatically reduced his sinker usage — just 24% this year compared to 51% in 2024.
Expect him to bring that pitch back into the mix more often as the season progresses to generate more swing-and-miss.
4.) SERANTHONY DOMÍNGUEZ
Another 0.00 ERA to satisfy the stat heads, Seranthony Domínguez has been lights out, throwing 5.2 scoreless innings with seven strikeouts, no hits allowed and a 1.24 WHIP.
The only blemish: control. He’s issued four walks over three games.
Still, the signs are encouraging, as his average exit velocity is just 77.5 MPH (among the lowest in the league), and his hard-hit rate is 22.2%, which ranks in the top 8% of MLB relievers.
5.) FÉLIX BAUTISTA
Seeing Félix Bautista return to the mound, whistles and all, was one of the best moments of the 2025 season.
While his numbers aren’t elite yet, that was to be expected as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery. In three innings, he’s allowed two runs on three hits, with three walks and three strikeouts, good for a 6.00 ERA and 2.00 WHIP.
With his velocity still building, Bautista has relied more on his sinker. Expect him to start ramping up the heat as his arm strength returns.
6.) KEEGAN AKIN
Keegan Akin has become the go-to innings eater, stepping up when starters can’t go deep, and he’s done well.
Over seven innings, Akin has allowed two runs on three hits, with two strikeouts and two walks. That’s good for a 2.57 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP.
Expect him to be a staple in long-relief situations this year.
7.) MATT BOWMAN
Called up to replace the injured Suárez, Matt Bowman has filled the right-handed long-relief role nicely.
In 6.1 innings, he’s given up just one run on three hits, with no walks, a 0.63 WHIP and a 1.42 ERA.
Despite his solid performance, Bowman is likely the first man out once healthier arms return — he’s here to eat innings until someone stronger is ready.
8.) CIONEL PÉREZ
There’s no easy way to say it. Cionel Pérez has been dreadful.
In five innings, he’s allowed six earned runs and six walks, with just two strikeouts. His 16.20 ERA and 24% walk rate rank among the worst in baseball, and his K rate has dropped to a career-low 8% (from a 20% career average).
A few more outings like this, and he won’t be on the roster much longer. He’s officially on a very tight leash.
What do you think of our rankings? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, X, Bluesky and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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