A statistical look at the Orioles' 2016 team pitching

Yesterday, we took a statistical look at how the 2016 Orioles' team offense ranked against the rest of the American League. Today, we do the same with the team pitching stats. After each stat, the rank within the AL is listed along with the AL average, when available.

* 4.22 team ERA (10th, 4.20)
* 4.72 starter ERA (13th, 4.43)
* 3.40 bullpen ERA (first, 3.84)
* 1 complete game (tied for 11th, 3)
* 69 quality starts (tied for 11th, 76)
* .258 batting average against (ninth, .257)
* 1,248 strikeouts (10th, 1,283)
* 545 walks (15th, 485)
* .328 OBP (12th, .320)
* .421 slugging (seventh, .422)
* .750 OPS (11th, .742)
* 183 home runs (11th, 196)
* 69 stolen bases (fifth, 75)
* 1.36 WHIP (12th, 1.32)
* 2.29 K/BB ratio (13th, 2.66)
* 73.8 Left on base percentage (eighth)
* 4.31 Fielding Independent Pitching (11th)
* 15.1 Wins Above Replacement (8th)

The Orioles were about league average in allowing base hits with a .258 average against, but they ranked dead last in most walks allowed with 545, issuing 60 more than average. That doesn't sound like a lot over the average, but being last in any category is not good. The Orioles allowed 483 walks in 2015 to rank 11th in the AL.

Among pitchers who threw 40 or more innings last season, the highest walk rates per every nine innings belonged to Yovani Gallardo (4.65), Ubaldo Jimenez (4.55), Mychal Givens (4.34), Vance Worley (3.63) and Chris Tillman (3.45).

AL East rotation ERAs and AL ranking:
3.64 - Toronto (first)
4.22 - Boston (third)
4.26 - Tampa Bay (sixth)
4.44 - New York (10th)
4.72 - Baltimore (13th)

The Orioles' rotation improved by a large margin in the second half. At the All-Star break, the starters had an ERA of 5.15. In the second half, that number was 4.24. Over a full year, a rotation pitching to an ERA of 4.24 would have ranked fourth in the AL in 2016. They will need to pitch more like that second half rotation, which included Dylan Bundy and finally, at the end of the year, some solid starts from the veteran three of Gallardo, Jimenez and Wade Miley.

We know how good the Oriole bullpen was in 2016 and how that is a clear team strength. It will be hard for Zach Britton to be as good but he should again be one of the top closers in the league.

Bundy's season innings total will be something to monitor and watch as well as how the six starters for five spots works itself out between now and opening day. The Orioles were below average in most of the categories listed above last year. Will 2017 be any better for the pitchers?