With rotation spot on the line, Irvin twirls scoreless gem

CINCINNATI -- Cole Irvin has spent the year renting his rotation spot. The southpaw made the Orioles' Opening Day rotation after injuries to John Means and Kyle Bradish and seemed destined to get bumped to the bullpen.

But the way he's pitching, it's going to be hard to wrestle the ball from his untouchable arm.

The 30-year-old tossed his third straight scoreless start in Friday's 3-0 win over the Reds at Great American Ball Park as he extended his career-best scoreless stretch to 20 2/3 innings.

“It's a little bit of what he's been doing the last couple of starts,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “Just great pitch mix, working ahead of hitters, keeping guys off balance, slider looks really good. Throwing his changeup to the knees or below. Two-seamer has some sink and run to it. Just a great job.”

How impressive is this stretch for Irvin? Only three O's starters have a longer such stretch over the past two decades: Matt Harvey (21 1/3 IP, July 18-Aug. 4, 2021), Erik Bedard (21 IP, July 7-20, 2007; 22 IP, April 23-May 4, 2005) and Dean Kremer (22 2/3 IP, June 17-July 4, 2022).

Irvin gave up a bloop single to Elly De La Cruz two batters into his outing but quickly settled down. He retired the next 17 batters by limiting quality contact. Six of the 17 balls in play against him were hard hit, but only one of those was hit in the sweet spot (with a launch angle between 8 and 32 degrees).

The Reds grounded out 11 times against Irvin compared to just two flyouts, which was crucial in this hitter-friendly park. And Baltimore’s defense gobbled up every out, including seven putouts by shortstop Gunnar Henderson. Irvin did not issue a walk and struck out four, all swinging.

“I've gotten into some processes lately that I didn't have before working with the mental skills coach,” Irvin said. “It's really kept my process simple and easy and just singularly focused on one word every time I'm getting a pitch. Just trying to be as consistent as I can and executing every pitch, four-seam, two-seam, cutter, slider, change. It's a lot of pitches, but if I'm focused on where I'm supposed to throw, it makes the game a hell of a lot easier.”

As Irvin is in the midst of the best stretch of his six-year career, the Orioles’ rotation is gaining reinforcements. Bradish returned from the injured list on Thursday, and Means is scheduled to make his 2024 debut Saturday, which bumped Albert Suárez -- who himself is scoreless in two of his three starts this season -- to the ‘pen.

Righties Grayson Rodriguez (right shoulder inflammation) and Tyler Wells (right elbow inflammation) will return at some point, but neither has thrown off the mound since landing on the IL and therefore lack a timetable to return.

Until then, the Orioles are thrilled to have a starter locating well and pitching with conviction -- and not giving up any runs.

“I said it in March, you can never have enough starting pitching in this game right now,” Hyde said. “The more the better, and hopefully we have to make some tough decisions and spread it around.”