'Pitch with an edge': Povich hoping to use late-season starts to grow in Majors
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BALTIMORE -- For Cade Povich, the next seven weeks could be important as the Orioles’ mindset shifts toward development and looking ahead to 2026.
The 25-year-old left-hander is by no means established in the big leagues. Baltimore’s rotation mix will only grow more crowded by the beginning of Spring Training in mid-February. So Povich may need to capitalize on these late-season starts to solidify his spot for the future.
At the same time, Povich isn’t putting additional pressure on himself.
“They're, in a way, just as important as all the other ones,” Povich said. “Plenty of chances to be able to continue to grow, try maybe some different things, learn some different things about myself -- about pitching, about pitching in the big leagues.
“Trying to figure out what works and what can kind of help me get to that next level.”
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Sunday afternoon may have been a step in that direction.
In his second outing since returning from a left hip injury, Povich tossed six innings of one-run ball in the Orioles’ 3-2 loss to the A’s in the series finale at Camden Yards. The southpaw gave up only four hits while walking three and striking out five during the 94-pitch performance.
The A’s didn’t score a run until the sixth, when Povich gave up a leadoff double to All-Star Brent Rooker and an RBI single to Colby Thomas. But Povich completed the inning without allowing further damage to keep the game tied at 1.
It was Povich’s first outing of six-plus innings -- and his first quality start -- since April 24, when the former top prospect tossed 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball at Washington.
The key? Improved fastball command.
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“To me, it’s probably the best I’ve seen him throw the fastball armside,” interim manager Tony Mansolino said.
Povich doesn’t throw especially hard. His four-seam fastball averaged 92.1 mph against the A’s, with the heater topping out at 93.6. Yet, he induced five whiffs with the pitch -- as well as six with his sinker -- among the 14 he generated during the outing.
When Povich is successful, he’s locating his fastball in the right spots to still get it by hitters. When he struggles, he’s not doing that. The results have been mixed so far in his two-year MLB career, as he owns a 5.08 ERA through 31 games (30 starts).
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“I think my better outings is when I’ve been able to command the fastball really well,” Povich said. “That was kind of a priority during rehab, before I started throwing games, just in bullpens, it was kind of a priority being able to command certain parts of the zone with the fastball. ...
“The command and being able to locate it to different parts has been a lot better and have led to a lot better results.
The other key?
“Pitch with an edge, pitch with an edge in his mentality,” Mansolino said. “Because he’s going to need to in the big leagues. ... I think with Cade, when I’ve seen him have a little adversity surrounding his outings -- whether it’s coming off the IL or getting sent down and coming back up -- those have been his best outings. And I just think he fights for his life on those days.”
The Orioles’ rotation currently features Povich, fellow lefty Trevor Rogers and a trio of righties -- Tomoyuki Sugano, Dean Kremer and Brandon Young (the club’s No. 27 prospect per MLB Pipeline). But righties Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells are both nearing returns.
Bradish (Tommy John surgery) has made four rehab starts, with the past two coming at Triple-A Norfolk. Wells (UCL repair surgery) has tossed 8 1/3 scoreless innings over three rehab outings, the two most recent coming at Triple-A.
Right-hander Albert Suárez (right subscapularis strain) is set to begin a rehab assignment during the upcoming week, though the 35-year-old could pitch in relief rather than start.
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Even though Baltimore (53-65) is out of postseason contention, it will want to get Bradish and Wells some big league innings this year to build momentum toward next season. In order for that to happen, the O’s will need to clear some space -- making this time important for less experienced hurlers like Povich and Young.
“There’s a lot of equal standing right now for guys, so as guys who pitch good and are consistent, they’ll probably get more opportunity here,” Mansolino said. “Guys who don’t, then they’ll probably get a little bit of a reset, just by the virtue of Tyler Wells, Suárez, Bradish, they’re not that far off.”