Orioles' Chris Bassitt placed on the injured list due to low back discomfort, marking another setback for the team's struggling rotation. With Bassitt's addition to the IL, the Orioles face a challenging situation, as they already have three other starters on the injured list: Zach Eflin, Dean Kremer, and Cade Povich. This leaves the team with a limited pitching rotation, relying on Kyle Bradish, Shane Baz, Trevor Rogers, and Brandon Young to fill the gaps. The recall of Trey Gibson to start tonight's game provides a temporary solution, but the team must carefully consider their options for long-term relief.
The Orioles' offseason decision to sign Bassitt to a one-year, $18.5MM deal has not yielded the expected returns. His performance this season has been underwhelming, with a 5.27 ERA in 56 1/3 innings, a significant drop from his 22.6% strikeout rate in 2025. The low back issue that plagued Bassitt last year, causing him to miss the ALDS and ALCS, has seemingly persisted, with recent starts cut short due to lower back tightness. The team's current predicament highlights the need for a robust and healthy pitching staff, especially with the ongoing struggles of other starters.
The situation is further complicated by the team's limited options for replacing Bassitt. Gibson, who has a 3.65 ERA in three appearances this year, is a potential candidate for a spot start, but his performance in Triple-A suggests he may not be a long-term solution. The team must decide whether to send Gibson back down, in which case they would need to find a suitable reliever, or to keep him and hope he can provide stability. The search for an external option or a non-roster player like Nestor German or Trace Bright could be an alternative, but the team's immediate focus is on managing the current crisis and ensuring the health and performance of their remaining pitchers.
