Orioles shut down by lefty again in listless 4-0 loss to Royals

Jacob Calvin Meyer, The Baltimore Sun on May 3, 2025

Published in Baseball

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BALTIMORE — The Orioles faced a left-handed pitcher. Therefore, they lost.

Baltimore entered this weekend as MLB’s most inept offense against lefties. Somehow, they were even worse than normal Saturday night.

The Orioles were stymied by a pair of Kansas City southpaws in a 4-0 loss to the visiting Royals. The defeat stunts what was the best stretch of Baltimore baseball all season after consecutive wins Wednesday and Friday.

The Orioles’ listlessness against lefties is perhaps the No. 2 reason — behind the starting rotation, of course — that they’re in last place in the American League East with a 13-19 record. Baltimore is 2-9 versus left-handed starting pitchers and 11-10 against righties.

Saturday, it was Kris Bubic and Daniel Lynch IV who tormented Baltimore’s bats. Bubic and Lynch combined to twirl seven spotless innings, allowing only five hits (all singles) and two walks. The lineup’s lifeless performance with the lumber spoiled another quality start from Tomoyuki Sugano, who pitched six innings of two-run ball.

Sugano and Bubic each tossed scoreless frames to open the game, but the skies opened and began pouring down on Oriole Park. After a 57-minute delay, both starters remained in the game. Bubic completed four more frames for the win, his third of the season and second over Baltimore after he fired 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball against the Orioles in early April.

Sugano, meanwhile, shockingly completed six innings as he was efficient with his pitch count. The lone runs he allowed were on a single by Maikel Garcia in the fourth and a homer by Cavan Biggio in the fifth. Sugano has given up three or fewer runs in all seven of his starts to begin his MLB career. The 35-year-old Japanese superstar has a 3.00 ERA and 1.13 WHIP.

Seranthony Domínguez surrendered a pair of solo homers to Kyle Isbel and Vinnie Pasquantino in the eighth for the Royals’ final runs. After two scoreless frames from Lynch, righty relievers Lucas Erceg and John Schreiber slammed the door on the shutout. The Orioles have been held without a run five times this season (15% of the time) after doing so a combined 17 times over the past two seasons (5% of the time).

After Saturday’s shutout, the Orioles are hitting .174 with a .490 OPS against lefties, ranking last in MLB in both categories. For reference, Bob Gibson in 1968 (considered the greatest season from a pitcher in MLB history) held opposing hitters to a .184 average and .469 OPS.

The Orioles would rather face Gibson. At least he’s right-handed.

Instant analysis

Orioles general manager Mike Elias on Friday took “responsibility” for Baltimore’s rotation being one of the worst units in the major leagues. Entering the offseason, it was clear Elias needed to bolster his rotation given the assumption that ace Corbin Burnes was heading out West.

Elias felt as if he did so by signing Charlie Morton and Sugano to one-year contracts totaling $28 million. He’s been roundly (and fairly) criticized for the former’s struggles. He hasn’t been properly praised for the latter’s success.

Sugano was placed under challenging circumstances Saturday, and he once again pitched like the seasoned veteran that he is. Sugano has been Baltimore’s best and most reliable starter with a 3.00 ERA. He’s allowed three or fewer runs in all seven of his starts. This rotation would be in shambles without him.

Sugano isn’t an ace. But he’s pitching like it. And Elias deserves at least some credit for that.

On deck

The Orioles will look to win their second straight series Sunday. To do so, Kyle Gibson will have to pitch better than he did in his season debut Tuesday when he surrendered nine runs against the New York Yankees.

The good news for the Orioles? A right-hander is on the mound for the Royals. Michael Lorenzen will pitch opposite Gibson.

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