Differences in Starting Pitching Performance of Yankees versus Orioles Clearly Evident
Revamped Yankees Shine: Fried Impresses Amid Cole's Absence
The Yankees' stellar starting pitching lineup seemed even stronger after signing Max Fried to an eight-year, $218 million contract last December. The plan was to slot Fried neatly between Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon, with Fried delivering a stellar 16 wins in his first season with the team.
However, mere weeks later, the Baltimore Orioles found themselves parting ways with Corbin Burnes after acquiring him from the Milwaukee Brewers the previous offseason. Burnes, who had delivered 15 wins for the Orioles, joined the Arizona Diamondbacks on a six-year deal worth $210 million with an opt-out after the second season. It has been revealed that the Orioles' efforts to retain Burnes were somewhat half-hearted compared to Arizona's offer, which stood at four years, $180 million [USA Today].
Burnes' admission about the Orioles' offer came a month after Cole underwent Tommy John surgery on his elbow, a year after the 2023 AL Cy Young winner missed the first 75 games with an elbow injury.
The Yankees coped well without Cole for the first two-plus months of the previous season, compiling a 45-29 record. This time around, the Yankees are managing in Cole's absence, but results have been mixed. However, a week after their rotation held the worst ERA in baseball, things looked brighter.
On a Sunday afternoon, around 950 miles apart, the contrast between these two teams' starting pitchers was palpable. As the Yankees battled the Tampa Bay Rays, Fried was putting together a dominant 7 2/3-inning outing, yielding just two singles. The tournament ERA dropped to 4.50 as the Yankees secured their 14th victory in 22 games.
Aaron Judge heaped praises on Fried, noting, "He's incredible. You see it up close, especially to lose a guy like Gerrit Cole, who you can't replace, and then you sub in Max Fried to go and be that ace for us. It's been fun to watch."
Cody Bellinger echoed Judge's sentiment, stating, "It doesn't surprise me at all. I've gotten plenty of at-bats off him with very little success. He's one of the best pitchers in the game. He knows how to pitch."
In stark contrast, the Orioles' starting pitching has been lacking. With Charlie Morton getting rocked for seven runs in just 2 1/3 innings in a 24-2 loss against the Cincinnati Reds, the Orioles now sport a 6.11 ERA from their starters - higher than in 2021, 2019, and even 2018, all seasons characterized by triple-digit loss counts. Morton was among the Orioles' offseason moves, with the team opting to bolster their young arms with veteran talent. However, questions linger over the dependability of Grayson Rodriguez, who recently underwent a second opinion for a sore shoulder following the cancellation of a side session.
Meanwhile, the Yankees and Orioles continue on their divergent paths early in the 2025 season, with the Orioles struggling to a 12-9 record, contrasted with the Yankees' impressive 19-3 start. A key difference rests in the teams' starting pitching, with Alex Cobb leading an otherwise inconsistent Orioles rotation (4.77 ERA) against the Yankees' dominant foursome (3.38 ERA).
- Despite Gerrit Cole's absence due to surgery, the Yankees' pitching performance has been mixed, a week after their rotation held the worst ERA in baseball, but things looked brighter with Max Fried delivering a dominant outing.
- The Orioles, on the other hand, have struggled with their starting pitching, with a 6.11 ERA from their starters which is higher than in 2021, 2019, and even 2018, despite adding veteran talent.
- In a stark contrast, Max Fried's performance for the Yankees stands out, yielding just two singles over 7 2/3 innings on a Sunday afternoon, lowering the tournament ERA to 4.50 as the Yankees secured their 14th victory in 22 games.
- Signing Max Fried to an eight-year, $218 million contract seems to have been a supplementary move to reinforce the Yankees' already strong pitching lineup, and his performance so far in his first season with the team demonstrates the right contrast to the Orioles' struggling starting pitching.
