Sometimes, all it takes is one start to remind everyone what you're capable of. For Baltimore Orioles starter Kyle Bradish, Friday night was that moment—even if the final score didn't go his way.
In a 4-3 loss to the Athletics, the 29-year-old right-hander delivered what can only be described as his best outing of the season. Over seven innings, Bradish allowed three runs on five hits while striking out a season-high 10 batters and walking just one. It marked his second quality start of the year, and for a pitcher who has battled through injuries and inconsistency, it was a much-needed step in the right direction.
The game wasn't without its bumps. After tossing four scoreless innings, Bradish ran into trouble in the fifth. Zack Gelof tied the game with an RBI single, and Nick Kurtz followed with a two-run triple to right field. But here's the encouraging part: Bradish didn't unravel. He allowed just one more baserunner—a walk in the sixth—before finishing his night on a high note. He threw 60 strikes out of 96 pitches, a sign of the control and efficiency that made him a standout in 2023.
Bradish's curveball was particularly lethal. He generated a season-high nine strikeouts and 14 whiffs overall, with eight of those coming on his curveball—the most he's ever recorded in any of his 75 MLB starts. It was the kind of performance that had scouts and fans nodding in recognition of the pitcher who went 12-7 with a 2.83 ERA over 30 starts two years ago.
Unfortunately, the Orioles couldn't complete the comeback. After Bradish exited with a 3-2 deficit, reliever Trey Gibson allowed an RBI single to Jacob Wilson in the eighth. Baltimore's Samuel Basallo answered with an RBI single in the ninth to make it 4-3, but that was as close as they'd get.
Still, for Bradish personally, this was a victory. He entered the season with a 1-5 record and a 4.83 ERA over eight starts, and that was after missing significant time due to Tommy John surgery in June 2024. Over the last two seasons, he's made just 14 starts total. The Orioles need the Bradish of old—especially with ace Trevor Rogers sidelined by illness, Dean Kremer dealing with a quadriceps injury, and closer Ryan Helsley out with an elbow issue.
If Friday night was any indication, the right-hander might just be finding his groove again. And for a team fighting to stay in the playoff race, that's the kind of spark that can change everything.