Povich dealt valuable learning experience in start against A's 

OAKLAND -- Young pitchers nearly always receive some bumps and bruises upon their introduction to the big leagues. It’s almost expected to happen, especially after a few outings, when opposing teams have more data and a better idea of how to game plan for the hurler.

Cade Povich took the biggest lumps of his six-start MLB career on Saturday afternoon at the Oakland Coliseum.

The Orioles’ No. 8 prospect per MLB Pipeline recorded only three outs and allowed eight earned runs over one-plus innings during a 19-8 loss to the A’s. It marked the first time the left-handed Povich allowed more than three runs since his MLB debut in Toronto on June 6, when he yielded six runs in 5 1/3 innings.

Povich had pitched at least 4 2/3 frames in each of his first five big league starts, three of which featured the 24-year-old allowing two or fewer runs.

What made Saturday’s start so different?

“Just not on attack early,” said Povich, whose ERA rose from 4.05 to 6.51.

It was a tough start to the day for Povich, who began his outing with six consecutive balls en route to issuing back-to-back walks to Daz Cameron and Tyler Nevin. Then, Brent Rooker immediately followed with a three-run homer to put Baltimore in a quick 3-0 hole.

Povich gave up another three-run home run in the second, when Max Schuemann pushed Oakland’s lead to 6-0. Povich then walked Cameron and gave up a single to Miguel Andujar on his 43rd and final pitch of the contest.

“It just looked like he didn’t have his command from the beginning,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “He just didn’t look sharp today.”

Oakland manager Mark Kotsay gave a similar assessment when reviewing his team’s success against Povich, who generated zero whiffs on the 14 swings against him.

“Lack of command, really,” Kotsay said. “He came out and couldn’t establish his fastball. When he did throw the fastball in the zone, it was over the middle, so we took advantage of that. I thought the hitters did a nice job of being patient, being selective and getting him in the zone to have success.”

Prior to Povich, only three starters in O’s history (since 1954) had posted a start with three or fewer outs recorded and eight-plus earned runs allowed: Chris Tillman (one IP, eight ER on May 21, 2014, at Pittsburgh), Victor Zambrano (0.2 IP, eight ER on Sept. 26, 2007, vs. Toronto) and Hayden Penn (0.2 IP, eight ER on Sept. 3, 2006, at Oakland).

The A’s (34-57) may not be a postseason contender this season, but their 109 home runs rank fifth in MLB and third in the American League. They have several potent young hitters in their lineup capable of doing damage, as Povich experienced.

“There’s always stuff to learn from,” Povich said. “It doesn’t matter what team it is at this level, if you’re not on attack and coming out with your best stuff, it’s going to happen to you.”

Povich likely has a bright future ahead of him, and he’s shown glimpses of what he’s capable of -- such as his six scoreless innings vs. the Braves in his Camden Yards debut on June 12. He can now use Saturday’s tough showing as a learning experience, as pitching prospects before him have done.

For example, Grayson Rodriguez had a 7.35 ERA in his 10-start debut stint in the Majors last year, which included two outings with eight earned runs allowed. The right-hander returned to have a stellar second half (a 2.58 ERA in 13 outings) and has built upon that during the first half of 2024 (a 3.45 ERA through 15 starts).

Rodriguez returned to the Minors last season, though, and the same could potentially happen to Povich at some point.

The defending AL East champion Orioles are in win-now mode, as they sit at 56-33, two games ahead of the Yankees (55-36) for first place in the division. They may not have the ability to allow Povich to struggle through tough outings in the big leagues as they look to secure a division title and then make a deep postseason run.

Baltimore will be in the market for pitching ahead of the July 30 Trade Deadline, and Povich could be the first starter bumped if a hurler is acquired (or possibly before then).

For Povich, he’ll remain focused on trying to perform better than he did Saturday, the overwhelmingly toughest day of his month-plus in the big leagues thus far.

“I mean, I’m still alive, still breathing,” Povich said. “Just kind of stay the same course, look over stuff, see what was good and what was bad, and prepare for the next one.”