With the Baltimore Orioles heading into an off day following a nine-game West Coast road trip, the Birds have officially reached the midway point of the season.
While there is still plenty of baseball left to play, the first half has highlighted several areas where the Orioles have come up short.
The good news is that the American League remains wide open. The bad news is that the trade deadline is quickly approaching, and the one commodity nearly every contender will be chasing is pitching.
Before we shake that fruit tree, let’s take a look at the latest edition of The Great, The Good & The Ugly.
THE GREAT: KYLE BRADISH
Like a classic muscle car that needed a little tune-up before returning to form, Kyle Bradish hit a rough patch after putting together a strong stretch of starts.
What he has done since those two difficult outings is a reminder of why the Orioles have never lost faith in their 29-year-old right-hander and why many in Birdland believe he can become the ace this franchise has been searching for.
Over his last two starts against the Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Angels, Bradish has been dominant. Across 15.2 innings, he has allowed just one earned run for a 0.58 ERA while striking out 22 and walking only three.
On the season, Bradish is 5-7 with a 3.64 ERA across 89 innings. He has recorded seven quality starts while posting 94 strikeouts against 42 walks. Opponents are hitting .258 against him, and his 3.908 pitches per plate appearance is currently a career-best.
THE GOOD: THE AMERICAN LEAGUE
This may raise some eyebrows, but after a 4-5 road trip and a 38-44 record, most teams would not be seriously discussing postseason hopes.
Fortunately for the Orioles, the American League has not been nearly as deep as the National League this season.
Only five AL teams currently sit above .500, with another just one game over the mark. Meanwhile, the third Wild Card spot is occupied by a team playing below .500 baseball. The AL East currently holds three playoff positions and the Orioles remain just two games out of the final Wild Card berth.
The return of several injured players (Dylan Beavers, Dean Kremer, Chris Bassitt, etc.) should help strengthen the roster, but there are still areas that need improvement if Baltimore hopes to make a serious push.
In a weaker-than-usual American League, the Orioles have an opportunity to stay in the race deep into the season if they can just take advantage of it.
THE UGLY: CRAIG ALBERNAZ
The Orioles had an opportunity to prove they could compete with some of the best teams in baseball during this road trip.
Instead, after navigating the first six games with a 3-3 record — a stretch that arguably could have been 4-2 — things became even more frustrating against the Halos.
It starts with roster construction. Carrying three catchers instead of adding an extra infielder from the taxi squad left the team short-handed when injuries struck. Part of a manager’s job is communicating roster needs to the front office rather than simply making do with what is available.
Then there was the management of the pitching staff, particularly in the final game of the trip. At this point, Albernaz has not consistently shown a strong feel for his bullpen or how best to deploy his pitching staff.
Yes, he is a first-year manager, and there will be growing pains. However, he was brought in with the expectation that he would provide an upgrade in the dugout. Through the season’s first half, some of his mistakes and shortcomings have become increasingly difficult to ignore.
The Orioles are off Thursday before beginning a six-game homestand. The halfway point of the season has arrived, and from here, every game carries greater significance.
Will Kyle Bradish continue his emergence as the ace Baltimore has been searching for since Mike Mussina? Can the Orioles capitalize on a weak American League playoff race? And will Craig Albernaz make the adjustments necessary to become the manager the organization believes he can be?
Find out next week in the next edition of The Great, The Good & The Ugly.
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