Todd Karpovich offers a spring outlook for the 2020 Orioles, from the starting rotation to potential breakout players to those who could be on the move.
Projected Starting Rotation
1. John Means: The left-hander emerged as the Orioles’ top starting pitcher last season and finished second in American League Rookie of the Year voting. Means, 26, appeared in 31 games (27 starts) and went 12-11 with a 3.60 ERA, 121 strikeouts, 38 walks and a 1.14 WHIP. He also had a 4.6 WAR, according to Baseball Reference. The Orioles will be relying heavily on Means to avoid a sophomore slump.
2. Alex Cobb: The veteran right-hander has undergone hip and knee surgeries since signing a four-year, $57 million deal before the 2018 season. Cobb was limited to 12.1 innings in 2019 and went 5-15 with a 4.90 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in 28 starts the previous year. The key for Cobb is to have a healthy spring training and build some momentum to get his career back on track.
