BOSTON -- The Orioles’ rotation has been the talk of the team over the past two weeks. Across their last 13 games entering Wednesday, O’s starters recorded a 2.40 ERA -- the second-lowest mark in the Majors during that stretch behind only the Mariners (2.26).
A key component to that recent success has been Chris Bassitt. The veteran right-hander had allowed one earned run or fewer in four of his last seven starts dating back to April 11. Over that stretch, Bassitt was 2-1 with a 3.93 ERA.
Following a strong seven-inning start by Shane Baz in Tuesday’s series opener, Bassitt took the mound at Fenway Park on Wednesday looking to carry the Orioles’ momentum into a series win against the Red Sox.
Bassitt cruised through his first two innings on 20 pitches before laboring through the third and exiting his start early with lower back tightness, turning the ball over to Albert Suárez for the fourth in an 8-1 loss.
“During the outing, he felt some lower back tightness,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “He was grinding through it, through that third inning, and we ultimately had to move on to Suárez."
After giving up a leadoff single to Caleb Durbin, Bassitt recorded two quick outs on six pitches to bring up Wilyer Abreu, who entered the at-bat with a .429 average, a homer and six RBIs against the right-hander. Bassitt and Abreu battled in an eight-pitch at-bat that ended with a two-run homer that Abreu wrapped around Pesky's Pole.
Bassitt then gave up a walk to Willson Contreras, which which resulted in a visit from Albernaz, who jogged out to the mound after noticing a difference in Bassitt’s movement. Bassitt proceeded to give up a single and a second walk before getting Isiah Kiner-Falefa to ground into a forceout and end the inning. Bassitt’s 36 pitches in the third were the most he’s had to throw in an inning this season.
“It was kind of late in the second and then noticeable in the third,” Albernaz said. “Just kind of how he wasn’t moving the way he usually moves down the mound. That inning was long, as well. That’s why I went out there and talked to him, and he obviously wanted to push through it, the competitor he is. We made the decision after that inning to go to Suárez.”
When Bassitt signed with the Orioles on Feb. 13, he joined his new club and jumped right into Spring Training. His O’s tenure started rocky with a 6.75 ERA over his first five starts, before he started turning the page toward the end of April. Since then, Bassitt more than halved his walk-rate (from 12.0 to 5.1) and doubled his strikeout rate (from 9.3 to 19.0).
“That's the biggest thing, especially with all of our starters, is what we're seeing lately is all of them are just attacking the strike zone,” Albernaz said pregame. “And when you’re throwing strikes, you're relentless in the strike zone, it allows you to pitch deeper into the games. And also you get the opposing lineup honoring all the strikes, and that's when you can induce chase.”
What stuck out in particular to Bassitt’s manager was an uptick in his fastball velocity. In his last start against his former team, the Blue Jays, Bassitt averaged 1.3 mph faster on his fastball. On Wednesday night in Boston, Bassitt was down on all of his pitches, including 0.8 mph on the four-seam.
In his own assessment, Bassitt told reporters postgame he couldn’t really execute and confirmed he was dealing with back tightness, but declined to go into further detail.
“Any time your starter goes three innings and gives up three runs, that’s probably a recipe for a loss, so chalk this up on me,” Bassitt said. “I have no doubt the guys will bounce back tomorrow and then with [Trevor] Rogers on the mound, right? I have full confidence we’ll do well tomorrow. Just upset with how the day went.”