Orioles GM takes the heat for starting rotation collapse: 'That's my responsibility' - ESPN

BALTIMORE — If the second half of 2024 was a reality check for the Baltimore Orioles — their first real stretch of mediocrity since they became contenders again — the start of this season is a near-crisis.

This young Baltimore team experienced very little failure while winning 101 games in 2023, but now the Orioles are well aware of what baseball's more humbling side feels like.

«I think we're getting a little more familiar [with adversity] than we wanted to be,» general manager Mike Elias said before Friday night's 3-0 win over Kansas City.

Elias met with reporters to address his team's 12-18 record in April. The Orioles aren't just in last place in the AL East, they also had the worst run differential in the American League before Friday's game.

The young core of hitters that was so fearsome early last year has struggled mightily in 2025. Elias has reason to view that as a temporary blip, but the other main culprit this year — the collapse of the starting rotation — might be harder to fix.

Zach Eflin, Grayson Rodriguez and Albert Suarez are on the injured list, and Dean Kremer took a 7.04 ERA into Friday's start. Tomoyuki Sugano has been fine, but Charlie Morton is 0-6 with a 9.45 ERA and will work out of the bullpen for now. Kyle Gibson allowed homers to four of the first five batters Tuesday in his first big league start of the season.

«It is difficult to contend with that level of injuries, but even that aside, they've had a poor start, and that's my responsibility. I'm in charge of baseball operations,» Elias said. «When we have a bad record to start the year, that's my responsibility.»

Elias opened himself up to second-guessing in the offseason when the Orioles lost Corbin Burnes to free agency and the GM gave