Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Chris Tillman has been dealing with discomfort in his throwing shoulder.
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Tillman Comments on Injury
Tuesday, Aug. 23
Tillman discussed his current malady, per MASN:
DL Stint Looks Likely for Tillman
Tuesday, Aug. 23
On Tuesday, Orioles manager Buck Showalter told reporters it looks like Tillman will be headed to the disabled list.
Tillman was scheduled to start Thursday's game against the Washington Nationals, but Showalter said a bullpen session on Tuesday "did not go well," per Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun.
Injury-Plagued Tillman Remains Orioles' Best Starter
The same shoulder forced Tillman to miss a start on Aug. 17. His last start was pushed back to Aug. 20 in order to give him eight days rest.
It didn't do him any good, as BrooksBaseball.net (h/t Encina) indicated his four-seam fastball averaged 91.52 miles per hour—his lowest mark of the season—and he allowed six earned runs on six hits while walking five in just two innings.
However, Tillman revealed after the difficult start that there were no problems with the shoulder.
It was an uncharacteristic start from him, though, as Tillman has been the best starting arm in an Orioles rotation that has not been good this season.
At 15-5 with a 3.76 ERA, Tillman is the only Baltimore pitcher with more than 10 starts who has more than five wins with an ERA lower than 4.11.
Entering Tuesday night, Orioles starters were allowing more than 4.5 runs per game and had a quality start percentage of just 41. Only six teams in the majors have a lower percentage than that.
If Tillman is to miss an extended period of time, it's not going to bode well for the Orioles' postseason chances.
Before Tuesday night's action, the Orioles were two games behind the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox for the American League East lead. On top of that, they were just one game ahead of the Seattle Mariners for the final AL wild-card spot.
Rookie Dylan Bundy could step in yet again for Tillman while he recovers as he continues his season cycling between the bullpen and starting rotation. In 30 appearances (eight starts), he's 7-4 with a 3.33 ERA.
He'll have to provide some ace-like contributions if the Orioles want to feel secure headed toward September.
Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.
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