O’s option Trey Gibson to Florida Complex League

It was going to be seven scoreless innings, but the Blue Jays challenged the final play of the seventh because second baseman Jeremiah Jackson’s heel was on the grass at the start of the play. That got Sean Keys awarded first base. Gibson had to return to the mound after going to the dugout, walked the next guy on four pitches and was lifted. Fortunately, Yennier Cano did strand the two runners. Gibson entered with a 7.36 ERA in seven starts and one relief appearance, but he got that down to 6.13 tonight. That has to make him feel better about things heading towards the offseason.

Gibson draws the starting assignment for the nightcap of Wednesday’s twin bill against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards. He’ll try to keep Baltimore’s slim playoff hopes alive for at least a few more hours. The 24-year-old former top pitching prospect has struggled to a bloated 7.36 ERA across 33 innings at the highest level this season.

Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt were set to face off tonight. They’ll instead pitch Wednesday now. Trey Gibson was expected to be called up to start for the Orioles on Wednesday, though that hadn’t yet been officially announced.

Gibson allowed 22 runs in 20 2/3 innings with the Orioles in the month of June. With Dean Kremer (quad) back from the injured list, Gibson was no longer needed in the MLB rotation

Gibson gave up two homers, five other hits and six walks in his worst outing to date. Since being recalled on June 8, he’s allowed 22 runs in 20 2/3 innings, with the Orioles losing all five of his starts. One would think he’ll be sent down after this to make room for the returning Dean Kremer.

With the Orioles off Thursday, Gibson was pulled after just 66 pitches today. It worked out initially, as the bullpen maintained a 5-2 lead until the eighth, but things went bad afterwards in what turned out to be a 7-6 loss in 10 innings. Gibson remained 1-2 with a 5.63 ERA through six starts and one relief appearance. He’s due to face the White Sox next week.

Gibson allows seven hits, and he also issued four walks. .Despite that traffic, there were some real flashes of the 24-year-old’s potential in this game, and he was able to escape some jams thanks to the punchouts. Gibson isn’t ready for primetime just yet and even this outing was closer to mediocre than dominant, but it’s easy to see why many believe Gibson is the best pitching prospect in Baltimore’s system. He pitches in Los Angeles again Wednesday, but that start will come against the Angels.

Gibson was tagged for four runs in a calamitous opening frame, which included two-run homers by Jackson Merrill and Samad Taylor. The 24-year-old pitching prospect managed to get out of the frame without any further damage and saved Baltimore’s bullpen by working into the fifth. He was all over the place from a command standpoint, managing to punch out a season-high seven, while also handing out five walks. It’s unclear whether he’ll get another turn in the rotation, but that’ll depend on whether Chris Bassitt (back) is ready to take the ball next week.

Gibson drew the starting assignment in place of an injured Chris Bassitt (back) and managed to keep Baltimore within striking distance into the middle innings. He failed to record a strikeout and issued one walk. He carried a shutout into the fifth inning before finally giving up a run and departing with a pair of runners on-base. Unfortunately, reliever Anthony Nunez walked Julio Rodríguez before coughing up a grand slam to Josh Naylor that ostensibly put this one away for good. Gibson is an interesting long-term prospect, but he holds a pedestrian 4.24 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 5/8 K/BB ratio across 17 innings this season. He’ll get the ball against the struggling Padres on Saturday if he stays in Baltimore’s rotation.

Gibson is one of the more intriguing young arms in the game but he’s posted a 3.65 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and 5/7 K/BB ratio across 12 1/3 innings at the highest level this season. The 24-year-old prospect is not a recommended streaming option against the Blue Jays in a challenging road matchup in Canada.