The Baltimore Orioles are in a bad place right now. They’ve lost three straight, sit fourth in the AL East at 39-47, and their starting rotation looks like a MASH unit. But there’s actually some good news for a change.
Dean Kremer threw a bullpen session Monday, and according to MLB.com, he could be back as soon as July 1 for the series finale against the White Sox. That would be a huge lift for a team that’s been treading water without him.
Kremer’s been out since April with a quad strain
The right-hander landed on the 60-day injured list retroactive to April 20 after straining his right quad. He’s been working his way back through minor league rehab starts, and the results have been promising. At Triple-A Norfolk on June 21 and June 26, Kremer allowed just one run over 10.1 combined innings. That’s the kind of efficiency the Orioles have been missing.
Before the injury, Kremer was 0-1 with a 4.09 ERA but an elite 0.91 WHIP in limited action. The 30-year-old has spent his entire seven-year pro career in Baltimore, and he gave them four straight solid seasons before 2026. He’s not an ace, but he’s a reliable mid-rotation arm who eats innings and keeps games close.
Right now, the Orioles rotation is a mess. Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, and Shane Baz are your top three, and they’re a combined 14-23 with ugly peripherals across the board. That’s not going to cut it if Baltimore wants to chase a wild-card spot.
The AL East isn’t exactly a juggernaut this year
The Rays started hot but have cooled off. The Yankees are playing without Aaron Judge. Toronto looks nothing like the team that went to the ALCS last year. And Boston is having a miserable season. So the Orioles aren’t dead yet, but they’re running out of time.
Kremer’s return won’t fix everything. But if he can give them five or six solid innings every fifth day, it takes pressure off a bullpen that’s been overworked and gives the offense a chance to do what it does best. Baltimore needs a spark. Kremer might be it.
The team hasn’t officially confirmed his return date, but all signs point to him being activated this weekend. For a franchise that’s been waiting on pitching help all season, that’s about as good as news gets.
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