Orioles rolling out the rookies in rotation

Matt Harvey made his 28th start last night, the former Orioles reclamation project in spring training who turned into the No. 2 guy in the rotation breaking camp. Before all the shuffling that wrecked the order like a wet NASCAR track.

Whether Harvey receives a 29th, or when he does, is under discussion. Whether the Orioles bend to the need to evaluate and offer chances to their prospects who suddenly have formed a conga line to Camden Yards.

Mike Baumann made his major league debut Tuesday coming out of the bullpen because Jorge López is on the injured list and likely done for the rest of the season. And because, frankly, there isn't room in the rotation.

The Orioles won't remove John Means as long as he's healthy. You don't sit your ace and leader. And he's obviously in their 2022 plans. Of course, he gets the ball until the Orioles close shop later this summer, with whatever amount of extra rest is bestowed upon him.

Manager Brandon Hyde has six starters, including Chris Ellis, Keegan Akin, Zac Lowther and Alexander Wells. Hyde said yesterday that he doesn't know whether Wells remains in the rotation or goes to the bullpen.

Dean Kremer has earned another shot. Fans have earned the joy that comes with watching pitchers who are included in top prospects lists and are supposed to be pieces in the rebuild.

Ellis crashed the party, coming from the Rays bullpen and posting a 2.84 ERA and 0.868 WHIP in three starts. Offering five hitless innings Saturday in the Bronx. Proving again that if you want pitching, rummage through the Rays discards.

It's also a good idea during the late stages of a last-place season to poke around for some perks. And that leads us back to the rookies, including Rule 5 reliever Tyler Wells, who plowed through the Royals in the ninth inning Tuesday to preserve Baumann's first major league win.

Three rookies, beginning with Alexander Wells, handling the pitching load.

It just felt right, even if it had gone wrong.

Harvey interrupted a streak of four rookies in a row making starts for the Orioles, the 15th time in club history that it's happened, according to STATS. The most recent before this summer was Sept. 15-17, 2020 with Thomas Eshelman, Akin, Kremer and Bruce Zimmermann - the last two in a doubleheader against the Rays at Camden Yards.

The club record for consecutive games started by a rookie is seven from Sept. 21-27, 2008 with Chris Waters, Brian Bass, Garrett Olson, Alfredo Simón, Radhames Liz, Waters and Bass. The Orioles lost six of those games.

None of the 2021 starters earned a victory, but it's the only time in those 15 instances when the Orioles had a winning record (3-1).

The Orioles also started rookies in six straight games from Sept. 13-19, 2008. Brian Burres broke the chain before Waters took the mound on the Sept. 21.

The rookie quartets also played out on Sept. 14-17, 2018, Sept. 8-12, 2009, Sept. 1-5, 2009, Aug. 27-30, 2009, Aug. 22-25, 2009, Aug. 17-20, 2009, Aug. 11-15, 2009, Aug. 6-9, 2009, Aug. 1-4, 2009, Sept. 8-11, 2008 and July 30-Aug. 1, 1989.

In case you forgot, the Orioles finished in last place in 2009 but managed to lose fewer than 100 games. They went 64-98.

They also had new uniforms with the updated "ornithologically correct" Oriole bird on their caps. It probably should have been stitched laying on its back, but I digress again ...

The pitching staff included rookies Chris Tillman, Brian Matusz, David Hernández, Jason Berken, who stayed in line to account for the chunks of starts. Jeremy Guthrie was the graybeard. The old man and we'll see.

Rookie Brad Bergesen bowed out after Billy Butler's line drive slammed into his shin on July 30.

I hear he later filmed a commercial.

Manager Dave Trembley talked about the "cavalry" coming in spring training 2009 and he was including Jake Arrieta, a step behind the others. Two years later, The Baltimore Sun ran a headline that read, "Orioles pitching cavalry has been in full retreat"

The team is expecting much more from this wave.

I checked on the 1989 streak out of curiosity and a fondness for the "Why Not?" season. I never would have guessed that "Texas" Mike Anthony Smith made the July 30 start - not to be confused with "Mississippi" Mike Anthony Smith.

Smith was followed by Bob Milacki, Pete Harnisch and Dave Johnson.

I'm assuming that you probably would have gotten three out of four.