The Baltimore Orioles aren't projected to have one of the better starting rotations in baseball this season, but even still young right-hander Kevin Gausman may not have a spot. According to reports Orioles manager Buck Showalter said six pitchers are competing for five spots, and Gausman's been told to prepare for either outcome.
"Until everything shakes out, I want him to be ready to do both things," Showalter said. "There's a possibility [to go to the bullpen] for everybody. Really all options open right now. We've got some time to make decisions, dealing from some quality right now. I don't worry about it a lot because we're picking from a number of people we like, as opposed to last man standing."
Gausman was effective last year, going 7-7 with a 3.57 ERA in 113.1 innings of work. He made 20 starts, and posted a 1.31 WHIP. Gausman also struck out 6.99 batters per nine, a number that many expected to be higher coming out of Triple-A.
As of now the only starter that should feel completely safe is Chris Tillman, who went 13-7 with a 3.34 ERA for the first-place O's in 2014. Gausman hasn't expressed any displeasure so far with the possibility of beginning the year as a reliever.
"Yeah, obviously I think I showed last year that I can pitch out there [in relief]," Gausman said. "I feel good out there, but I also feel comfortable starting, so that's pretty much their decision."
Gausman is listed as the fifth starter for now on Rosterresource.com, but Ubaldo Jimenez is waiting in the wings. Jimenez is in the second year of a four-year, $50 million contract so long relief is not ideal. He was awful in 2014 though, posting a 6-9 record with an ERA approaching 5.00 and a walk rate hovering near six per nine innings.
[MLB.com]
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