CINCINNATI — Cole Irvin has spent the year renting his rotation spot. The southpaw only made the Orioles’ Opening Day rotation after injuries to John Means and Kyle Bradish and seemed destined to get bumped to the bullpen.
But the way he’s pitching, it’s going to be hard to wrestle the ball from his untouchable arm.
The 30-year-old tossed his third straight scoreless start in Friday’s 3-0 win over the Reds at Great American Ball Park as he extended his career-best scoreless stretch to 20 2/3 innings.
How impressive is this stretch for Irvin? Only three O’s starters have a longer such stretch over the past two decades: Matt Harvey (21 1/3 IP, July 18-Aug. 4, 2021), Erik Bedard (21 IP, July 7-20, 2007; 22 IP, April 23-May 4, 2005) and Dean Kremer (22 2/3 IP, June 17-July 4, 2022).
Irvin gave up a bloop single to Elly De La Cruz two batters into the game but quickly settled down. I have retired the next 17 batters by limiting quality contact. Six of the 17 balls in play against him were hard hits, but only one of those was hit in the sweet spot (with a launch angle between 8 and 32 degrees).
The Reds grounded out 11 times against Irvin compared to just two fly ball outs, which was crucial in this hitter-friendly park. And Baltimore’s defense gobbled up every out, including seven putouts by shortstop Gunnar Henderson. Irvin did not issue a single walk and struck out four, all swinging.
