The Orioles optioned Baker to minor-league camp Sunday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
The right-hander posted a 3.60 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 51:24 K:BB across 45 innings for Baltimore last season, and he allowed just one run with an 8:5 K:BB over seven innings during spring training. It likely won't be too long before Baker receives another look in the big leagues.
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Orioles' Bryan Baker: Doing fine in spring
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Baker has allowed a hit, two walks and a hit batsman while striking out three over 2.2 scoreless innings in Grapefruit League play.
Baker had 11 holds, a 4-3 record and three blown saves over 46 appearances last season, pitching to a 3.60 ERA and 1.27 WHIP. He can strike out over a batter per inning while usually serving in a middle-innings role as part of a bridge to the closer. The Orioles have a number of high-leverage options available, and Baker could find himself in that mix if he can carry his success from spring into the regular season, assuming he makes the roster.
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Orioles' Bryan Baker: Listed on ALDS roster
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Baker is on the Orioles' roster for the ALDS, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Baker put up a 3.60 ERA and 1.27 WHIP through 45 innings with Baltimore in the regular season, though he's only pitched in one big-league game since Aug. 1. Baker's lack of recent major-league action indicates he was likely added to the roster as bullpen depth, and he doesn't project to appear in high-leverage situations.
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Orioles' Bryan Baker: Sent back to minors
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Baker was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday.
Baker was recalled on Thursday and threw three innings of relief Friday against the Rays, giving up one run on two hits. Mike Baumann was recalled to take his place in the bullpen.
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Orioles' Bryan Baker: Moves up from Triple-A
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The Orioles recalled Baker from Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday.
After being optioned to Triple-A on Aug. 2, Baker posted a 5.40 ERA and 1.46 WHIP over 11.2 innings. Though his performance doesn't necessarily warrant a call-up, Baker has a 3.64 ERA in 45 MLB appearances this year, and he'll be back with the big club and provide a fresh arm out of the bullpen after Nick Vespi was optioned to Norfolk in a corresponding move.
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Orioles' Bryan Baker: Optioned to Norfolk
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Baltimore optioned Baker to Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday.
This move frees up a 26-man roster spot for starter Jack Flaherty, who was acquired from the Cardinals just before Tuesday's trade deadline. Baker has posted a steady 3.64 ERA and 51:24 K:BB through 42 innings of relief this season with the Orioles and should return to their bullpen mix at some point down the stretch.
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Orioles' Bryan Baker: Snags win Monday
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Baker (4-3) allowed a hit but was not charged with a run over one-third of an inning, earning the win Monday over the Phillies.
Baker got the last out of the eighth inning, but only after allowing an inherited runner to score. The Orioles retook the lead in the ninth, and Cionel Perez locked down the save to give Baker his first win since May 12. Baker is at a 3.79 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 48:23 K:BB while adding 11 holds over 40.1 innings this season.
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Orioles' Bryan Baker: Dealt loss Monday
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Baker (3-3) allowed two runs on a hit and a walk in one inning, taking the loss Monday versus the Dodgers.
Baker surrendered a grand slam to Chris Taylor after Grayson Rodriguez got into trouble the third time through the order. Prior to Monday, Baker had allowed five runs over his last 13 innings while posting a 15:6 K:BB and two holds in that span. He's at a 3.89 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 47:22 K:BB with 11 holds and two blown saves over 39.1 innings this season. Baker sees some setup work, but he's unlikely to present any challenge to closer Felix Bautista's ninth-inning gig.
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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: 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: 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: 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.
