The Baltimore Orioles came into the 2026 campaign carrying significant expectations, with many around the league anticipating a strong showing from the club. Instead, the early portion of their season has been underwhelming, as the team has struggled to find consistency and rhythm.
Through their first 25 games, Baltimore has managed just a 12-13 record, a mark that places them in third position within the highly competitive American League East. While this record does not put them out of contention by any means, it does fall short of the lofty standards that were set based on their talent and potential.
As the Orioles prepared for an important series against the Boston Red Sox, the organization was forced to address an unfortunate development on the injury front. According to a report shared by Jacob Calvin Meyer, the team has been dealt another setback involving its pitching staff.
Right-handed pitcher Dean Kremer has officially been placed on the 15-day injured list due to a strain in his right quadriceps. The move has been made retroactive to April 20, indicating that the injury had already been affecting him prior to the formal announcement.
In response to Kremer’s absence, Baltimore has decided to promote Brandon Young, who is expected to take the mound as the starting pitcher for Friday’s matchup against Boston. Young’s call-up comes on the heels of a very encouraging stretch of performances across both the minor leagues and his limited exposure at the major league level.
In total, he has surrendered just two runs over 21.2 innings pitched, an impressive statistic that highlights both his command and his ability to limit opposing offenses. His recent form has given the Orioles reason to believe that he can provide stability, at least in the short term, while they deal with injuries within the rotation.
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Kremer’s situation is particularly notable given the somewhat unusual trajectory of his season thus far. Despite being an established member of the pitching staff in recent years, the 30-year-old began the 2026 season in the minor leagues, a decision that may have surprised some observers.
However, he eventually worked his way back onto the major league roster, earning another opportunity to contribute at the highest level. In his brief stint since returning, Kremer posted a 4.09 earned run average across two starts, suggesting that he was at least capable of providing serviceable innings for the team.
Now, with this latest injury, Kremer’s momentum has once again been interrupted. The severity of the quad strain and the exact timeline for his return remain uncertain at this point. Soft tissue injuries such as this can vary significantly in recovery time, depending on the extent of the damage and how well the player responds to treatment and rehabilitation. As a result, the Orioles will likely proceed cautiously, prioritizing Kremer’s long-term health over any immediate desire to rush him back into action.
Even though Kremer is not typically viewed as one of the team’s marquee players, his absence is still meaningful. Over the past few seasons, he has carved out a reputation as a dependable option within the starting rotation.
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While he may not consistently dominate opposing lineups, he has demonstrated an ability to take the ball regularly and provide innings, which is a valuable trait for any pitching staff. For example, during the 2025 season, Kremer recorded a 4.19 ERA across 31 appearances, reflecting a level of durability and steadiness that teams rely on over the course of a long season.
Without Kremer available, Baltimore will need others to step up and fill the void. This is where Young’s emergence becomes particularly important. If he can continue to perform at the level he has shown recently, he could help mitigate the impact of Kremer’s absence and perhaps even carve out a more permanent role for himself in the rotation.
However, transitioning from limited opportunities into a more consistent starting role at the major league level presents its own set of challenges, and it remains to be seen how he will handle the increased responsibility.
The timing of this injury is also less than ideal for the Orioles, as they are still searching for momentum in the early stages of the season. Competing in the AL East requires sustained excellence, given the depth and quality of the division.
Falling behind early can make it more difficult to recover later in the year, particularly when facing strong opponents on a regular basis. As such, maintaining as much stability as possible within the roster is crucial, and injuries like Kremer’s complicate that effort.
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Looking ahead, the Orioles will continue to monitor Kremer’s condition closely and provide updates as more information becomes available. In the meantime, the focus will shift toward maximizing the contributions of the players who are currently healthy and available. Whether that means relying on young arms like Young or adjusting the rotation in other ways, Baltimore will need to be proactive in addressing the challenges that have arisen.
Ultimately, while Kremer’s injury is not necessarily catastrophic, it does represent another hurdle for a team that has yet to fully hit its stride in 2026. How the Orioles respond to this adversity both in terms of on-field performance and roster management could play a significant role in shaping the trajectory of their season.
Orioles’ Starting Pitching Outlook After Dean Kremer Injury
For the Baltimore Orioles to truly establish themselves as legitimate contenders this season, the performance of their starting rotation will be absolutely critical.
While the team entered the year with a sense of optimism, particularly given the upgrades they made during the offseason, the early returns from the pitching staff have been far from reassuring. There are mounting concerns surrounding the consistency and overall effectiveness of the rotation, and those concerns have only intensified following Dean Kremer’s recent injury setback.
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Kremer’s absence leaves a noticeable gap in the Orioles’ pitching depth, forcing the team to rely even more heavily on arms that have yet to find their rhythm this season. The situation becomes even more troubling when considering that some of the pitchers Baltimore brought in specifically to stabilize the rotation have struggled significantly out of the gate.
Both Chris Bassitt and Shane Baz, who were expected to play key roles after being acquired in the offseason, have not lived up to expectations so far. Each has posted an earned run average north of 5.00, a figure that underscores their early-season difficulties and raises questions about whether they can turn things around quickly enough to help the team remain competitive.
Bassitt, known for his veteran presence and ability to eat innings, has not been able to provide the level of reliability the Orioles were counting on. His command has been inconsistent, and opposing hitters have taken advantage of his mistakes.
Similarly, Baz, who was viewed as a high-upside addition with the potential to develop into a front-line starter, has struggled to find consistency in his outings. While flashes of his talent are still evident, the lack of sustained success has made it difficult for Baltimore to depend on him in crucial situations.
Trevor Rogers, another important piece of the rotation, has delivered performances that could best be described as serviceable, but not particularly impressive. While he has managed to avoid complete implosions, he has not resembled the dominant pitcher he was a season ago.
His inability to consistently overpower hitters or command the strike zone at a high level has limited his effectiveness. For a team with postseason aspirations, simply being “adequate” on the mound is not enough especially when other members of the rotation are struggling.
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Kyle Bradish, on the other hand, has been relatively steady, though not spectacular. He has shown flashes of solid pitching and has managed to keep the team in games, but like Rogers, he has yet to elevate his performance to the level needed to anchor the rotation. Bradish’s contributions are valuable, but Baltimore will need more than just decent outings from him if they hope to compete with the top teams in the league.
Taken as a whole, the Orioles’ starting pitching has been underwhelming, and it is clear that improvement is necessary if the team wants to remain in the playoff conversation. The current state of the rotation puts additional pressure on the offense to produce runs consistently, which is not always a sustainable formula for success over the course of a long season. While the lineup is undeniably talented and capable of explosive performances, relying too heavily on offensive production can lead to inconsistency and burnout.
Given these circumstances, it would not be surprising to see Baltimore’s front office explore potential upgrades to the rotation as the season progresses. The trade deadline in early August could present an opportunity for the Orioles to acquire one or more starting pitchers who can provide stability and experience.
However, making such moves will largely depend on the team’s position in the standings as the deadline approaches. If the Orioles are not within striking distance of a playoff spot, they may be hesitant to part with valuable assets in exchange for short-term improvements.
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This reality makes the next few months particularly important for Baltimore. In order to justify being buyers at the trade deadline, the team must demonstrate that it can play a more consistent and competitive brand of baseball.
That means not only improving on the mound but also maintaining a balanced approach that allows both the offense and pitching staff to complement each other effectively. Consistency will be key stringing together quality performances and avoiding prolonged slumps will go a long way toward keeping the Orioles in contention.
The offense, while strong on paper, cannot be expected to carry the team on its own. Even the most potent lineups go through stretches where runs are hard to come by, and without reliable pitching to keep games within reach, those dry spells can quickly turn into losing streaks. For Baltimore to achieve its goals this season, the pitching staff must rise to the occasion and deliver more dependable outings across the board.
As the Orioles prepare for their upcoming series against the Boston Red Sox, there is a sense of urgency surrounding the team. Each game presents an opportunity to build momentum and begin addressing some of the issues that have plagued them early in the season.
The first game of the series is set to take place on Friday night, with the opening pitch scheduled for 7:05 PM EST. It will serve as another important test for a team that is still searching for its identity and striving to find the right balance between its offensive firepower and pitching reliability.
Ultimately, the path forward for the Orioles will depend heavily on whether their starting rotation can improve and provide the kind of performances necessary to support a playoff push. While there is still plenty of time left in the season, the margin for error is not as large as it may seem. If Baltimore hopes to turn its potential into tangible success, the pitching staff must step up and deliver in a way that matches the expectations set at the beginning of the year.
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