When last we saw Orioles hurler Brian Matusz, he was setting a major league record. A bad one. He ended last year with a 10.69 ERA in 49 2/3 innings, the highest ERA ever for a pitcher to throw at least 40 innings.
Matusz, though, appears to have shaken off that disaster. He was terrific against Tigers regulars on Thursday, striking out six in four scoreless innings. While he gave up three runs in his spring debut, he’s pitched eight shutout innings since, and he has a 13/0 K/BB ratio in 10 innings overall.
Even better news is that Matusz is back throwing in the low-90s after averaging just 88 mph with his fastball last year.
It suggests a bounce-back season is on the way for the former No. 4 overall pick in the draft. It was expected that Matusz would have to go to Triple-A at the start of the season and work his way back to the majors from there, but now it looks like a rotation spot is very much within reach. He still has the highest ceiling of any Orioles pitcher.
