WASHINGTON -- Many aspects of the Orioles¡¯ 9-13 start to the season have been surprising. After all, this is a team that has made two consecutive postseason appearances and had lofty goals entering the 2025 campaign.
Among the most puzzling parts, though, has been Tyler O¡¯Neill¡¯s lack of production against left-handed pitching. The 29-year-old outfielder -- who signed a three-year, $49.5 million deal in December -- is hitting .095 (2-for-21) with 11 strikeouts against southpaws after going 0-for-3 vs. Washington lefty Mitchell Parker in Baltimore¡¯s 7-0 loss at Nationals Park on Tuesday night.
¡°It¡¯s just something that I want to do a little better at, obviously,¡± said O¡¯Neill, who hit .313 with a 1.180 OPS vs. lefties in 75 games for the Red Sox last year. ¡°I want to drive the ball and play as best I can and to my capability. I obviously want to make more contact, I want to get on base more, I want to draw more walks. It¡¯s just the way things are going right now.¡±
O¡¯Neill isn¡¯t alone, so he can¡¯t be solely blamed for the Orioles¡¯ struggles vs. left-handers.
Baltimore fell to 1-6 in games started by southpaws as Parker dazzled for eight dominant innings. The O¡¯s only hit was a left-on-left single by Cedric Mullins in the third. The lineup combined to go 1-for-25 against the 25-year-old.
The Orioles have been on the losing end of matchups against Boston¡¯s Garrett Crochet (April 2), Kansas City¡¯s Kris Bubic (April 6), Cleveland¡¯s Logan Allen (April 15), Cincinnati teammates Andrew Abbott (last Friday) and Brent Suter (Sunday) and now Parker.
Collectively, Baltimore is hitting .165 (33-for-200) against left-handed pitching, which ranks 29th in MLB -- ahead of only Minnesota (.141).
¡°For the most part against right-handed pitching, we've done a decent job. Left-handed pitching, you rely on your right-handed guys, especially, to kind of take care of some things,¡± manager Brandon Hyde said. ¡°Ced is taking great at-bats, competing in the box. Love his at-bats right now. But we just need more guys to take those types of at-bats.¡±
Mullins is leading the way against left-handers, going 6-for-17 (.353) with two homers against them. He reached base three times in Tuesday¡¯s loss, as the rest of the team combined to get on twice.
During the offseason, the O¡¯s focused on adding right-handed bats to complement their roster, and early in the year, Hyde has stressed the importance of giving those players opportunities against southpaws. However, that group -- which includes O¡¯Neill -- has not fared as well in those situations as expected.
Gary S¨¢nchez is 0-for-14 with five strikeouts against lefties. Ram¨®n Laureano is 1-for-13 with six strikeouts.
Even some of the returning right-handed hitters haven¡¯t found success against southpaws, such as Jorge Mateo (1-for-11) and Adley Rutschman (4-for-25).
What has been the difference about Mullins?
¡°I was able to find some things with my timing and just how the body¡¯s moving in the box, feeling a lot better,¡± Mullins recently said.
That, as well as plenty of reps.
¡°I think it¡¯s pretty important, just be able to get feedback,¡± Mullins said. ¡°I think that¡¯s important to make those adjustments against left-handed pitching. At some point, it¡¯s going to be unavoidable for some of those [younger] guys to take on that challenge, left-on-left, so I know they¡¯re ready and waiting for that opportunity.¡±
The less experienced left-handed hitters have been starting to get increased chances against lefties as the Orioles try to jolt their offense. Heston Kjerstad (2-for-7 vs. lefties entering Tuesday) and Jackson Holliday (2-for-9) were both in the lineup in the opener vs. Washington.
Kjerstad went 0-for-3 and Holliday was 0-for-2 with a walk against Parker. But they should learn from facing a left-hander who has been among the best starters in the National League to open the year (a 1.39 ERA through five starts).
Better results against left-handed pitching won¡¯t immediately turn things around for the O¡¯s. Their MLB-high rotation ERA is up to 6.22 after right-hander Dean Kremer allowed six runs (five earned) in 5 1/3 innings against the Nats. The defense hasn¡¯t been up to Baltimore¡¯s crisp standards, either.
But more offense could allow pitchers to feel less of a need to be perfect, while hitters wouldn¡¯t have their tough at-bats taking a mental toll on them as they return to the field.
¡°We¡¯re having a tough time letting things go,¡± Hyde said. ¡°We¡¯re letting at-bats kind of steamroll on us a little bit. It¡¯s showing up on our defense at times as well.
¡°No one¡¯s going to feel sorry for us. This is the big leagues, and you¡¯ve got to be able to bring it every night. You¡¯ve got to be able to turn the page.¡±