Shane Baz struggles through three versus Twins

Tanner Bibee, the qualified starter with the second worst run support in the league, couldn’t deal with a big early lead against the Orioles on Tuesday and was left with a no-decision. Baz, the qualified starter with the worst run support in the league, also had some issues tonight, but he managed to hang on after being backed by an eight-run third inning. The win makes him 6-15 with a 4.05 ERA. He’ll likely face the Mets on Tuesday.

Baz gave up four hits, walked two and struck out six. He fell to 5-15 with the loss. The only run Baz allowed came on a solo home run by the blazing hot Mickey Gasper. He’s lost six of his last seven starts while only allowing more than three runs in a start once in that span. Baz’ 3.91 ERA indicates he’s pitched better than his 15 losses. He’s lined up to face the Guardians at home next week.

Baz gave up five hits, walked three and struck out four. He improved to 5-14 with the win. Baz had lost his last five starts entering play Saturday, but rebounded with a solid performance as he was one out away from recording a quality start. Baz has a 4.01 ERA. He’s lined up to face the Red Sox at home next week.

Baz struck out three and walked three in the 96-pitch outing. It was his third time facing his former team this season, but the first two went better than Sunday’s, with 15 strikeouts and two earned runs allowed across 13 frames. Baz appeared headed for another gem against them before three runs came around to score in the top of the sixth, ultimately handing him his league-leading 14th loss. He’ll look to rebound against the A’s in Sacramento next time out.

Baz allowed one run through six before giving up singles to two of the three batters he faced in the seventh. Josh Walker took over then and allowed both inherited runners to score to get Baz tagged with his 13th loss to the year. That’s the most losses for an Orioles pitcher since Jorge López and Matt Harvey both lost 14 games in 2021. The good news is that Baz’s velocity was back tonight after a surprising dip last time out that he said was a result of mechanical issues. Apart from that start, he’s mostly pitched well of late, and his next outing will come against a familiar Rays lineup that he’s turned in two of his better performances again this year (1-0, 1.38 ERA in 13 IP).

This was one of the best starts of Baz’s career. He cruised through the first five innings facing just one batter over the minimum with zero walks and eight strikeouts. Then, Elias Díaz reached on an infield single to start the sixth inning and Joc Pederson made Baz pay for a first-pitch cutter at the letters that he sent out for a long two-run home run. That was the only mistake Baz made as his fastball and changeup stymied the Rangers’ left handed batters while his fastball, cutter, and knuckle-curve decimated the righties. Starts like this make for us to recognize his still ridiculous talent. Don’t look now, but Baz has a 2.93 ERA in 15 starts since May 15th with 82 strikeouts and 27 walks across 92 innings. He’s scheduled to face the Twins next time out.

Baz gave up six hits, walked one and struck out four. He fell to 4-10 with the loss. The only run Baz gave up came on a two-out single to Bryan De La Cruz in the fifth inning. Still, with no run support, the 27-year-old right-hander took the loss. Baz has a 3.86 ERA. He’s lined up to face the Rangers on the road next Friday.

Baz struck out two in the 90-pitch outing. He’s now given up just seven earned runs over his past four starts, but the strikeouts have fluctuated, and he allowed a high WHIP against the Braves on Sunday. Baz has been serviceable in deeper fantasy formats this season, but he hasn’t broken out following the offseason trade to Baltimore. He’s scheduled to pitch at home against the Phillies in his next start.

Baz struck out six and walked none. He’d walked at least one batter in 17 consecutive starts until last week, but now he’s posted a 15/0 K/BB in his last two starts, putting him at 105/42 in 117 2/3 innings overall. So, that’s rather encouraging. He’ll take a 4-9 record and a 4.13 ERA into his next start at home against the Braves.

Baz allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits in the ballgame and did not allow a base on balls. The Royals scratched out single runs against him in the second and third innings, but Baz was able to evade any further damage. He couldn’t get the final out in the fifth inning though, and was ultimately pulled at 104 pitches after allowing a two-out double to Lane Thomas. He got a whopping 19 swings and misses on the afternoon — seven on his fastball and six on his knuckle curve — while posting a CSW of 28 percent. The 27-year-old righty wraps up his first half with a 4-9 record, 4.11 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and a 99/42 K/BB ratio over 111 2/3 innings in his 19 starts.