The Orioles have released righty starting pitcher Adam Eaton and with good cause! Eaton started 8 games for the Orioles this season and he was 2-5 with a 8.56 ERA and a 1.83 WHIP. Eaton allowed a stunning 9 homers and 56 hits in only 41 innings pitched for the Orioles this season. It almost doesn’t matter who replaces Eaton because it will likely be a HUGE UPGRADE!

Chris Ray has been pitching batting practice this season for the Orioles. He has pitched in 2 games out of the bullpen and he has a 0-0 record with a 27.00 ERA and a 4.50 WHIP. He has allowed a stunning 5 hits and he’s walked a batter in only 1 1/3 innings this season. The more troubling stat is that Ray hasn’t whiffed anyone yet this season and that’s usually one of his strong points.

The Baltimore Orioles are removing lefty Garrett Olson and righty Dennis Sarfate from the starting rotation and they’re moving them to the bullpen. Olson has started 21 games for the Orioles this season and he is 8-6 with a 6.38 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP. Sarfate was pathetic as a starter for the Orioles. He has started 4 games for the Orioles this season and he was 0-2 with a 10.34 ERA and a 2.11 WHIP. Sarfate’s overall numbers have taken a huge hit with his rotation stint. Sarfate has pitched in 49 games (4 starts) for the Orioles this season and he is 4-3 with a 5.35 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP. It’s unknown right now who will replace Olson and Sarfate in the rotation but chances are that it will be a huge improvement.

The Orioles have bumped 27-year old lefty Brian Burres to the bullpen. Burres has pitched in 21 games (19 starts) this season for the Orioles and he is 7-7 with a 5.37 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP. He will likely be the long man in the bullpen unless George Sherrill or Jamie Walker are traded before Thursday. 27-year old righty Dennis Sarfate will replace Burres in the rotation and he should fit right in with the other Orioles’ starting pitchers as he doesn’t like to throw strikes. Sarfate has walked a stunning 39 batters in only 50 innings for the Orioles this season. He does have good stuff as he has only allowed 35 hits and has whiffed 52 batters in 50 innings pitched. He has pitched in 45 games (0 starts) for the Orioles this season and he is 4-1 with a 3.78 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. This is probably not a good idea for the Orioles as Sarfate will take a while to get stretched out enough to give them 5 innings which will tax the bullpen.

Jeremy Guthrie has been the only consistent starting pitcher for the Orioles this season. He is 5-7 despite having a 3.49 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP which is pretty darn good. But, either the offense doesn’t score for him or the bullpen blows it for him as he hasn’t had much luck this season. Daniel Cabrera started the season well but he’s back to his old tricks of not throwing strikes. He is 6-5 with a 4.33 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP this year. Lefties Brian Burress (7-5, 5.02 ERA) and Garrett Olson (6-4, 5.65 ERA) have both been off more than on this season. Rookie righty Radhames Liz is a lot like Daniel Cabrera as he has great stuff but can’t throw a strike when he needs to. Liz is 3-2 with a 7.57 ERA and a 1.74 WHIP this year for the Orioles. If the rotation doesn’t improve soon the Orioles will have to being in some young pitching in trades for some veteran hitters.