Sulser's strong year, month-by-month breakdown and more notes

Orioles reliever Cole Sulser made quick work of the Toronto Blue Jays to record the save on Tuesday night at Rogers Centre. On 12 pitches he recorded a 1-2-3 inning to pick up his sixth save as the Orioles beat Toronto 4-2.

For Sulser it was the continuation of a solid year - one in which he now has effective weapons to get out both left- and right-handed hitters and now is no longer a big reverse-splits-only guy.

In 49 innings, Sulser is 3-3 with a 3.12 ERA, allowing 38 hits with 1.204 WHIP and 3.9 walks per nine innings with 11.6 strikeouts. Big difference from last year, when his ERA was 5.56 and his walk rate was much worse at 6.8, and so was his strikeout rate, at 7.7.

ERA-plus adjusts pitchers' ERA for ballpark factors, and 100 is considered league average. At 149, Sulser's ERA-plus is the best among O's pitchers, with John Means second at 134, followed by Tyler Wells at 131 and Tanner Scott at 110. Sulser's ERA is 49 percent better than the American League average.

So what is not to like about a pitcher acquired via a waiver claim from Tampa Bay on Oct. 1, 2019 who records those sorts of stats? A pitcher with the best ERA on the club and one who will not even be arbitration-eligible until after the 2022 season. A pitcher with three options remaining. So yeah, nice addition.

Recently manager Brandon Hyde talked about Sulser's improved 2021 season on the stat sheet.

"I think Cole's made big strides this year," Hyde said. "Last season was short, he had quite a few appearances, a lot of high-leverage spots. This year I think he's a little bit more comfortable in the big leagues. He's healthy, too. Last year he pitched, really, the last couple weeks with that hurt foot, but this year he's maintained health.

"He has improved his slider to help against right-handed hitters. He's always had that 93-94 mph good, hopping fastball that he can kind of get up above the zone. And then that good change-split that he has. I just think it's more consistent. He had a tough time against right-handers last year just because he didn't really have the confidence in the slider. Now he's throwing the slider more, so you're seeing him being able to get right-handers and left-handers out."

And that has been big for Sulser, who was lights out last year against lefty hitters, allowing a batting average of .143 and OPS against of .464. But in 2020 those numbers were .282 and .953 versus righty batters. This year he's still very good versus lefties at .198/.606, but now he is much stronger against right-handed batters, who hit .225 with a .668 OPS against him. That is a big improvement for Sulser.

Yes, he is 31, but with the options remaining, he has made a big case this year to be part of future O's bullpens.

What to make of this?: The Orioles have completed five months of baseball on the season after August came to an end. In three of those months, they have been much more competitive. In April they went 12-14, in June 10-17 and in July 10-12. So, over those three months the Orioles played 11 games under .500, going a combined 32-43 (.427).

But they also went just 5-23 in May and 4-24 in August, two really bad months, said Captain Obvious. A combined 38 games under .500, going 9-47 (.161). So most of their losing (51.6 percent of it) has been crammed into two months.

What does that mean?

I have no idea. You are what your record says you are, and the Orioles have the worst in the majors, no matter how they got there. It is just interesting that for three months they were much more competitive than they have been for the other two.

Time for Big Mike?: Is it time for the Orioles to call up right-hander Mike Baumann? I don't have a vote on that, but would cast a yes vote if asked.

Big Mike was rolling at the end of his stay with Double-A Bowie at the end of July, and has carried that over to Triple-A Norfolk. In his latest outing for the Tides on Tuesday night he gave up just one run and five hits over six innings versus Charlotte, with no walks and seven strikeouts. In his last four starts for Bowie before he joined Norfolk, Baumann went 1-0 with a 2.05 ERA. In his six games since joining Triple-A he is 1-1 with a 2.00 ERA.

Usually, I am fine with young pitching prospects spending significant time in the minors and stacking up a bunch of good starts and continuing to develop. But Baumann is on a roll right now and he's on the 40-man roster. No doubt he is a big part of the plan for 2022. So why not get him going now and take a look for a few starts to wrap up this season?

Let's face it, we have seen plenty of pitchers this year make it to the Orioles, not so much because they pitched so well in the minors, but because they provided a fresh arm or they were on the 40-man, or both. Bauman would be a guy coming up who actually deserved the call.

Over those past 10 starts for the Baysox and Tides, he's thrown 49 innings, allowing 11 runs and 31 hits with 17 walks and 52 strikeouts. That's a 2.02 ERA.

If he comes up and struggles, well, we've seen plenty of that this year. He could always begin next year back on the farm and spend more time getting experience and seasoning. A call now is not necessarily for good. But wouldn't that be great if it turned out that way? A homegrown pitcher who comes up and pitches well and sustains that over an extended period of time?

This might be the guy to do just that.