Chris Holt on the O's improved pitching

For a team that ranked last in the major leagues in team ERA last season, the Orioles have made some impressive pitching improvement thus far in the 2022 season. Baltimore’s ERA was 5.84 in 2021 and the next closest team to that was really not that close with Arizona at 5.11.

But this season the Orioles have gone from worst to, at one point on the recent road trip, close to first. They ranked near the top of the league to that point in team ERA, rotation ERA and bullpen ERA.

The club took a step back when it gave up 27 runs in three games at Yankee Stadium, but still is doing overall much better in American League pitching stats. Through last night’s game – a 2-1 loss to Minnesota at Oriole Park – the team ERA of 3.60 is eighth in the league and the rotation ERA of 3.53 is fourth. In bullpen ERA, at 3.67, the O’s are ninth.

Right-hander Tyler Wells gave up one run in five innings last night. It was the 19th time in 23 games that an O's starting pitcher allowed two earned runs or less. That happened 10 times in the first 23 games a season ago. O's starters have an ERA of 1.72 in home games.

It is a nice trend for the better. During the West Coast trip, I sat down with O’s second year pitching coach/director of pitching Chris Holt to discuss some reasons for the potential turnaround. Holt was one of the first hires by executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias after he took over with the Orioles and he headed up the O’s minor league pitching development starting in 2019 and still does today, even with his bigger role now on the major league staff.

One key, he said, is the aggressiveness of the pitchers.

“They are making it a deliberate intention to attack from pitch one,” Holt said. “No matter who the hitter is or what the situation is. They know they have different options to get strike one and they are confident in attacking, so that’s been the No. 1 thing. When pitchers in general, across the league, when they are falling behind, it’s either because they won’t commit to throwing strike one, or physically may be battling some things with their delivery. And I think we’ve been good on both fronts.

“Guys are attacking the zone with quality pitches. And the deliveries have gotten improved over the offseason and throughout the spring. So I think in all facets they have a lot of things firing on all cylinders and overall they have been more aggressive as individuals and with their attack plans.”

A factor just as important is the preparation in the hours leading up to game time. The pitchers are schooled in how to go about getting the opposition out. Now they have to take their strengths and best match that up to that night’s opponent.

“Scouting reports are always extremely valuable,” said Holt. “Ryan Klimek (manager, pitching strategy) has really filled a huge position for us as pitching strategist. He’s been doing a phenomenal job both with getting information for the players and then communicating information in a way that’s easily understood that capitalizes on their strengths and their pitches and pitch quality. So Ryan has been a huge addition for that. Of course (Darren) Holmes (assistant pitching coach) and I, you know, are privy to the scouting reports as well, so we’re able to follow up through those things in games.

“As far as the scouting information and using that on top of our pitchers working with their strengths, execution and follow through at game time has been quite good.”

And it’s showing in the results.

A third factor that is pretty vital and should be somewhat apparent is that several of these pitchers have out pitches and they know to play to those strengths. Think Joey Krehbiel’s cutter and changeup, Paul Fry’s slider, Félix Bautista's splitter and, in the case of someone like tonight’s starter Bruce Zimmermann, a strength is not necessarily one pitch but overall pitchability. The ability to throw all of his pitches at any time for strikes.

“We certainly value pitch quality,” Holt said. “And have the tools and resources to help guys, No. 1, get consistent with their best and improve things if needed. So far, everyone has been really going about their work in a focused way on the field. You know, really humble with how they approach things and how they prepare themselves and come game time they are committed to attacking with those pitches they are working on.”

And now that some young pitchers with not a lot of experience are having some success, that can lead to greater confidence in what they are doing. That should not be discounted in the start on the mound either.

Results can lead to that confidence. The Orioles are playing a ton of close games with 15 of 23 thus far being decided by two runs or less. And with an offense that has scored two runs or less 13 times already, the O's pitching has been tested to keep having success.

To this early stage of the new season, the pitchers have carried their load and then some.