32-year old righty reliever Kevin Gregg is on thin ice with the Orioles as far as the closer’s job is concerned. Gregg pitched in 12 games (0 starts) in May for the Orioles and he was 0-1 with 4 saves, a 3.97 ERA and a 2.03 WHIP as he walked 13 batters in only 11 1/3 innings pitched. Gregg has now pitched in 22 games (0 starts) for the Orioles this year and he is 0-1 with 9 saves, a 3.38 ERA and a 1.69 WHIP. If Gregg doesn’t start pitching better soon, 36-year old righty reliever Koji Uehara might take his closer’s job away from him. Uehara has pitched in 22 games (0 starts) for the O’s so far this year and he is 1-0 with a 2.66 ERA and a 0.85 WHIP. He has only given up 15 hits while walking 5 batters in his first 23 2/3 innings with 29 whiffs, as he has been very impressive. Uehara pitched in 43 games (0 starts) last year for the Orioles and he was 1-2 with 13 saves, a 2.86 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP. Uehara is flat out a better pitcher than Gregg is, so look for the switch at closer to come soon if Gregg doesn’t start pitching better soon.

Young righties Jake Arrieta and Chris Tillman are having issues right now for the Orioles. Arrieta has started 3 games for the Orioles so far this year and he is 1-1 with a 7.04 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. He actually has pitched good in two of his three starts so far this year. Chris Tillman has also started 3 games for the Orioles so far this year and he is 0-1 with a 7.30 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP. Tillman hasn’t been anywhere as good as Arrieta, but he did look good in his first start of the year. The Orioles need to stick by these guys for a while this season to see what they have in them. Both of these guys have electric stuff.

The Orioles were 34-73 when they hired Buck Showalter. Since then, the Orioles are 24-15 as they look like a team with a plan now. Showalter has to like what he has in the future with his starting rotation. I would think that the O’s would want to keep 31-year old righty Jeremy Guthrie around to be a example for the younger pitchers on the team. He has started 29 games for the O’s this year and he is 10-13 with a 3.74 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. Guthrie has outstanding stuff but he is mis-cast as an ace right now. 24-year old lefty Brian Matusz has struggled a bit this year but he has fought through it. He has started 29 games for the O’s this year and he is 8-12 with a 4.68 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. 24-year old Jake Arrieta was one of the Orioles’ top prospects coming into this season and he has battled on the mound in his first taste of the majors. He has started 17 games for the Orioles this year and he is 5-6 with a 4.96 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP. Arrieta, like Matusz, just seems to ooze with potential. 24-year old righty Brad Bergesen seems to be a back of the rotation type of starter. He struggled big time early this season but he has been very solid since Showalter’s arrival on the scene. He has pitched in 26 games (24 starts) for the Orioles this year and he is 6-10 with a 5.29 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. 22-year old righty Chris Tillman also has big time potential even though he has struggled for the O’s this year. Tillman has started 8 games for the Orioles so far this year and he is 1-4 with a 6.32 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP. 22-year old lefty Zach Britton is another elite prospect that’s almost major league ready. Britton has pitched in 27 games (26 starts) in AA+AAA-ball this year and he is 10-7 with a 2.70 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. The Orioles have a lot of good, young pitching which is exactly the way the Tampa Bay Rays built their team. So hang in there Orioles’ fans.

When the Orioles traded for 35-year old righty starting pitcher Kevin Millwood they figured he would give them quality innings at the top of the rotation while setting a good example for the kids coming up. After all, he started 31 games for the Rangers in 2009 in which he was 13-10 with a 3.67 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. But, Millwood has been awful this year for the Orioles. He has started 27 games for the O’s this year and he is 3-15 with a 5.38 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. Millwood has given up 201 hits (26 homers) in only 165 2/3 innings for the Orioles this year as he is pretty much throwing batting practice. There is almost no chance of Millwood returning in 2010 to the Orioles.

The Orioles have placed 35-year old righty starting pitcher Kevin Millwood on the 15-day disabled list with a right forearm strain. Millwood has started 18 games for the Orioles this season and he is 2-8 with a 5.77 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP. He has given up 135 hits (20 homers) in only 107 2/3 innings this season for the O’s as he has been throwing batting practice. The Orioles have activated 25-year old lefty swinging outfielder Felix Pie who will be the starting LF going forward for the O’s. Pie has played in 8 games for the O’s this season and he is 8 of 20 (.400 avg, 1.105 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 1 homer and 1 RBI. He played in 11 games on his rehab assignment in Rookie+A+AA-ball in which he was 14 of 43 (.326 avg, .827 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 3 RBIs and 1 stolen base.