Orioles Starter Responds After Shutout, 10K Performance

Getty Cade Povich pitching during a September 3 game against the Chicago White Sox.

Nothing’s been easy for Cade Povich during his rookie year with the Baltimore Orioles. But you wouldn’t know that watching him pitch against the Chicago White Sox on September 3.

Povich pitched 7.1 innings of shutout baseball, adding a career-high 10 strikeouts in his longest MLB outing. He told reporters postgame that it was all working for him on the mound in his 12th MLB start.

“Honestly, I think a little bit of everything,” he said postgame on September 3. “Just getting ahead from the start, trying to execute pitches, let the defense work, and the offense score runs.”

The 24-year-old credited the Orioles’ offense postgame for allowing him some breathing room on the mound.

“Offense gets out to a huge lead and it just lets me kind of relax, go back to the game plan, really focus on what I need to do,” Povich said, according to Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports. “And just continue to have their back like they had mine.”

Baltimore scored 7 of their 9 runs in the first two innings against Chicago. Povich had all the insurance he needed to get on the mound and display some improvements garnered in Triple-A this year.

But according to the lefty his and the Orioles’ game plan remains the same, no matter the scoreboard.

“It’s always stick to the same approach we’ve got going into the game: execute the game plan, no matter if it’s a 0-0 ballgame, or a 10-nothing ballgame,” Povich said.

His latest outing improves his 2024 record to 2-7, and lowers his ERA from 6.58 to 5.76. Povich getting comfortable against teams like the White Sox could pay dividends for a Baltimore team down three starters with season-ending surgery.

Grayson Rodriguez: “Arm’s Feeling Good”

While the Orioles work through a limited pitching rotation, help is on the way as some of their arms continue rehabbing.

Grayson Rodriguez, out with lat/teres discomfort, threw a bullpen session as apart of his rehab on September 4. He spoke with reporters after, and said everything is going according to plan.

“Arm’s feeling good and I think right now that’s the most important thing is just being able to get back on the mound, let it eat a couple times,” Rodriguez said, according to Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports.

Baltimore has been without their number two starting pitcher since August 7. He’s 13-4 this season with a 3.86 ERA.

Rodriguez reiterated that his arm is feeling good, and that he’s ready to get back out there, with hopes of getting a few starts in before the playoffs start.

“Obviously you want to get back out there as fast as you can, but first and foremost is making sure you’re healthy,” Rodriguez continued. “That way you can at least make a few more starts ahead of the postseason rather than rush back and set yourself back a little bit further. But right now everything’s feeling good and just waiting to get back out there.”

Danny Coulombe: ‘I’m Pretty Optimistic’

Elsewhere, the Orioles’ best reliever pitched against bats for the first time since June. Danny Coulombe told reporters he “felt pretty good,” after throwing against three hitters.

“Felt pretty good,” Coulombe said, according to Roch Kubatko. “I’m sore in all the right places. I think we’re just going to take it day-by-day, but I’m pretty optimistic. I feel very good today. We’ll just keep progressing and go from there.”

Coulombe had surgery in June to remove bone chips from his throwing elbow. He remains on track for a return in September.

“As long as it keeps trending the way it is, absolutely,” Coulombe said. “But it’s a day-by-day thing. Surgery’s a tricky thing, but I’m pretty happy with where we’re at.”

Coulombe pitched 26 innings over 29 games this season before his injury. He struck out 28 of 92 batters faced, and walked only 3.

With the postseason fast approaching, everything is trending up for a Baltimore pitching staff that’s been rocked with injury.