The Baltimore Orioles' bid for a series sweep against the Miami Marlins unraveled in the most frustrating way possible—a walkoff throwing error that sealed an ugly loss. But the damage didn't stop there. Starting pitcher Cade Povich exited after just three innings with what the team has described as "left forearm discomfort," adding another name to the Orioles' growing list of injured arms.
Forearm issues are never a good sign in baseball, often signaling more serious problems beneath the surface. While the team hasn't confirmed the extent of the injury, Povich is almost certainly headed for the injured list. He'll join fellow starters Trevor Rogers, Dean Kremer, and Zach Eflin, the latter of whom is out for the season. For a team already navigating a brutal stretch, this is the last thing they needed.
The Orioles' pitching depth has been stretched alarmingly thin—and we're only in early May. Already, nine different starting pitchers have taken the mound for Baltimore, and that number could climb as another rotation spot opens up. One possible solution? Rogers is eligible to return from the 15-day IL in just three days. If he's not ready, the O's could turn to Trey Gibson, who impressed in his MLB debut against the Yankees last weekend. Fittingly, the next time this rotation slot comes up, it'll be against New York again—so Gibson might want to brace himself for Round 2.
It's a particularly cruel break for Povich, who was trying to pitch his way back into the team's plans and help offset the loss of veteran starters. Whether he would have delivered a breakout performance or landed in the 5+ ERA range like the last two seasons is now a question that may go unanswered for a while. Injuries continue to wreak havoc on this Orioles roster, testing their depth and resilience.
After a disappointing 2-5 road trip, the O's return home for an eventful weekend series against the Athletics. Tonight's giveaway? The wildly popular Tupac bobblehead. And after tomorrow's game, the team is hosting a post-game concert featuring Nelly. If only the concert could also feature Tupac—now that would be something worth showing up for.