Baker (3-2) allowed an unearned run and walked one over two-thirds of an inning, taking the extra-inning loss versus the Yankees on Tuesday.
A groundout, an intentional walk and a sacrifice fly combined to produce the winning run for the Yankees in the 10th inning. Baker's two losses this year have come in his last three outings, and he's been scored on in each of those appearances. Despite the recent shaky pitching, he has a 2.78 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 28:14 K:BB through 22.2 innings this season. He's added nine holds and a blown save while working in a setup role.
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Orioles' Bryan Baker: Handed loss Thursday
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Baker (3-1) allowed two runs on a hit and two walks with one strikeout in two-thirds of an inning versus the Angels on Thursday, taking the loss.
Adley Rutschman's two-run home run in the seventh inning put the Orioles ahead, but Baker put two runners on in the eighth. Austin Voth and Danny Coulombe each allowed an inherited runner to score, both charged to Baker. Prior to Thursday, Baker had allowed just one run over his last 20 appearances combined. He's now at a 2.57 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 27:13 K:BB through 21 innings this season. The right-hander's earned high-leverage work with the Orioles down a couple of key arms, but it's unclear if Baker will maintain that role once Mychal Givens (knee) and Dillon Tate (forearm) are back from the injured list.
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Orioles' Bryan Baker: Collects third win
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Baker (3-0) didn't allow a baserunner and struck out two over 1.1 scoreless innings to earn the win Friday over the Pirates.
Baker entered with two outs in the seventh inning, and Adley Rutschman was able to catch Ji Hwan Bae stealing to end the frame. Baker then submitted a perfect eighth inning. The reliever has quietly emerged as one of the Orioles' most reliable arms, and his 19 appearances are tied for sixth most in the majors through Friday's action. The right-hander has delivered with a 1.89 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 24:11 K:BB while adding eight holds and a blown save.
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Orioles' Bryan Baker: Records second win
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Baker (2-0) walked two and struck out two over 1.2 scoreless and hitless innings to earn the win Thursday over the Tigers.
Baker got the last two outs of the sixth inning and also pitched the seventh after the Orioles rallied ahead. Since a three-run meltdown on Opening Day, Baker hasn't been charged with a run in his last 13 innings while adding a 17:5 K:BB in that span. For the season, the righty reliever has a strong 1.98 ERA and 0.73 WHIP with five holds through 14 appearances.
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Orioles' Bryan Baker: Remains lock to make team
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Baker is a virtual lock to break camp with the Orioles, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Baker was viewed as an option to close earlier in spring training, but with Felix Bautista on track to avoid the injured list, that is now unlikely. The 28-year-old Baker hasn't exactly done himself any favors, allowing eight earned runs on 10 hits and four walks over 4.2 innings through five Grapefruit League appearances. He was an effective middle reliever in 2022 with a 3.49 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 76:26 K:BB over 69.2 innings, though he could see more setup work this year with Dillon Tate (elbow) out for the first month of the campaign.
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Orioles' Bryan Baker: Could be option to close
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Baker and Cionel Perez could get chances to close games if Felix Bautista (shoulder/knee) needs to miss time, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports.
The O's hope that Bautista will ready in time for Opening Day as he eases into things this spring following last year's shoulder and knee injuries. If he's not, though, it sounds like Baker and Perez would get ninth-inning looks. Baker picked up one save for Baltimore in 2022 while posting a 3.49 ERA and 76:26 K:BB over 69.2 frames.
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Orioles' Bryan Baker: Notches first career save
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Baker struck out two without allowing a baserunner to earn the save in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Blue Jays.
Baker was called upon to protect a one-run lead and he had little trouble doing so to record the first save of his career. He concluded the 2022 season with 11 straight scoreless appearances, during which he maintained a 13:3 K:BB across 12.1 frames. It was Baker's first full season in the majors, and he was a solid contributor out of Baltimore's bullpen by posting a 3.49 ERA while also tallying nine holds.
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Orioles' Bryan Baker: Works around two hits
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Baker struck out one in a scoreless inning during Saturday's 6-3 loss to the Blue Jays.
Baker erased a Vladimir Guerrero single when Bo Bichette grounded into a double play. Matt Chapman then singled before Baker struck out Teoscar Hernandez to end the seventh inning. Baker's allowed three hits and a walk over 3.2 innings without allowing a run in his last four appearances. The right-hander now owns a 3.98 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 67:24 K:BB through 61 innings while adding a 4-3 record, eight holds and two blown saves. He'll likely finish 2022 in a mid-leverage role.
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Orioles' Bryan Baker: Snags win Monday
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Baker (4-3) earned the win Monday, striking out two over 1.1 scoreless innings.
Starter Kyle Bradish fell an out short of qualifying for the win, allowing Baker to pick up his first decision since July 4. Since the start of July, he's posted a solid 2.81 ERA with a 1.31 WHIP and 24:8 K:BB across 16 innings. He's kept opponents off the board in 15 of 18 appearances in that span. For the season, Baker owns a 4.10 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 53:20 K:BB with five holds and two blown saves in 48.1 innings. With Felix Bautista holding the closer role and Dillon Tate and Cionel Perez operating as setup men, Baker's middle-relief role hasn't changed much since Jorge Lopez was sent to the Twins at the trade deadline.
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Orioles' Bryan Baker: Extends scoreless streak
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Baker allowed two hits in a scoreless inning during Monday's 5-1 win over the Rays.
Baker is enjoying his best month of the season -- he owns a 0.90 ERA and 1.30 WHIP through 10 innings in July, and he hasn't allowed a run in his last six appearances. The right-hander has racked up a 17:3 K:BB in that span. With the strength of the Orioles' bullpen, he hasn't been able to earn a larger role with this stretch of success. For the year, he has a 3-3 record, four holds and a blown save while recording a 3.83 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 46:15 K:BB in 42.1 innings.
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Orioles' Bryan Baker: Snags win Monday
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Baker (3-3) walked one and struck out two in a scoreless inning to earn the extra-inning win over the Rangers on Monday.
Baker issued a one-out walk but ultimately had no trouble keeping the score tied at 6-6 in the top of the 10th inning. He ended up with the win when the Orioles walked it off in the bottom of the frame. This was a fourth straight scoreless outing for Baker, his longest streak of the year, and he's covered six innings in that span. The 27-year-old right-hander has a 4.59 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 31:13 K:BB through 33.1 innings overall while adding three holds and a blown save.
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Orioles' Bryan Baker: Grabs second hold
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Baker struck out one in 1.1 perfect innings to earn a hold in Friday's 4-1 win over the White Sox.
Baker has yet to post more than three consecutive scoreless outings this season. The mixed results have continued in June, where he's posted a 4.50 ERA and 1.25 WHIP across eight innings. For the season, the right-hander has a 5.34 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 27:11 K:BB, 2-3 record, two holds and a blown save threw 28.2 innings. He'll likely remain in mostly low-leverage assignments, especially since few other Orioles relievers have struggled in 2022.
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Orioles' Bryan Baker: Takes loss Tuesday
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Baker (1-3) was charged with the loss Tuesday after he pitched 1.1 innings, surrendering three runs on two hits and a walk while striking out a batter against the Mariners.
Baker was tasked with starting Tuesday's contest in what was a bullpen game. He gave up an RBI double in the first inning and two more runs in the second while only recording one out. The three runs surrendered were a season high for the reliever and he has now allowed at least one run in four of his last five appearances. Since May 20, Baker has given up six runs on 10 hits and three walks over 6.2 frames. He'll return to his regular role as a bullpen option following the loss Tuesday.
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Orioles' Bryan Baker: Starting in bullpen game
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Baker will be the Orioles' starting pitcher for Tuesday's contest versus the Mariners in what's expected to be a bullpen game, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Baker will draw his second start of the season, but he's unlikely to pitch more than once through the order before being pulled from the contest. In his last start May 12 in St. Louis, the right-hander pitched 2.1 scoreless frames, allowing one hit while striking out three. On the season, Baker owns a 4.66 ERA and 1.50 WHIP with 21 punchouts over 19.1 innings.
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Orioles' Bryan Baker: Handed loss Tuesday
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Baker (1-2) took the loss Tuesday versus the Yankees. He allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits while recording only one out.
Baker couldn't protect a one-run lead as the Yankees' offense got RBI singles from Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Jose Trevino to walk it off. It's been a rough May for Baker, who has allowed seven runs (five earned) in nine innings. The right-hander has a 5.00 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 20:5 K:BB while adding a hold and a blown save in 17 appearances spanning 18 innings this season.
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Orioles' Bryan Baker: Picks up win Saturday
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Baker (1-0) allowed two runs on two hits and struck out one in one inning, earning the win Saturday over the Angels.
Baker worked the sixth inning, allowing a two-run home run to Brandon Marsh. The Orioles quickly got the right-hander off the hook, putting up three runs in the seventh to put him in line for the win. This was the first time in six outings that Baker's allowed multiple runs. He owns a 4.50 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 8:1 K:BB with a hold in six innings this season. The 27-year-old looks like he'll continue in a middle-relief role.
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Orioles' Bryan Baker: Performing well early on
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Baker has allowed just one run over 4.2 innings this season.
Baker pitched in the ninth and 10th innings of Friday's 2-1 extra-innings win over the Yankees. He's also dialed up six strikeouts and just one walk across his four appearances this season. While the Orioles are unlikely to generate many save chances for their relievers this season, Baker's pitched well and could see more high-leverage work if he can sustain this early success.
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Orioles' Bryan Baker: Makes Opening Day roster
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Baker will be on the Orioles' Opening Day roster, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.
Baker allowed just one run on one hit and one walk with four strikeouts over four innings in spring training. The 27-year-old made his major-league debut with the Blue Jays last season before being claimed by the Orioles on waivers the previous November. His strong spring will allow him to start the season in a low-leverage role out of the bullpen, though the Orioles' lack of relief depth could see him move up the pecking order if he pitches well.
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Blue Jays' Bryan Baker: Moving to majors
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Baker will have his contract selected from Triple-A Buffalo when rosters expand Wednesday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Baker has been lights-out for Buffalo this season with a 1.36 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 40:16 K:BB across 33 innings, and he'll now receive his first opportunity in the majors. The right-hander figures to fill a low-leverage role out of the bullpen in his first taste of the big leagues.
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Blue Jays' Bryan Baker: Excelling in Triple-A bullpen
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Baker (elbow) has tossed 8.2 scoreless innings across seven appearances for Triple-A Buffalo this season, notching two saves while striking out 13.
Baker missed a good chunk of spring training due to a Grade 1 right elbow strain, but he was cleared for game action ahead of the Triple-A season, which began earlier this month. The 26-year-old has looked good thus far in the closing role for Buffalo, converting both of his save opportunities and holding opposing hitters to a .133 average. If he continues to thrive in the late innings for Buffalo, he should earn his first MLB call-up later in 2021.
