The Baltimore Orioles have activated relief pitcher Danny Coulombe from the 60-day IL. He had been Baltimore’s most consistent reliever before his injury. Coulombe sported a very respectable ERA of 2.42, with an impressive WHIP of 0.615. This made him one of the top relievers in that category before being placed on the IL. He struck out 28 opponents while only allowing 13 hits across 29 appearances this season. Coulombe has electric stuff, and the Orioles will be happy to get him back, especially since they’ve been besieged by injuries all season. They are getting more key injured players back as the postseason approaches.
Orioles Activate Danny Coulombe From Injured List https://t.co/pXeJ3QWtdN pic.twitter.com/IGyl6q9eMi
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) September 20, 2024
Orioles Star Reliever Danny Coulombe Activated Off IL
Coulombe is a rare four-pitch reliever who has shown consistency throughout his entire MLB career. Across 10 seasons and 284 appearances with four different teams, he has a 15-9 record and an ERA of 3.57. The Orioles are currently first in the American League Wild Card standings and are getting back a solid reliever at a good time. But with Coulombe activated, Burch Smith has landed on the IL with a right adductor/groin strain. Coulombe was dealing with an elbow injury that occurred during mid-June, and he had to undergo elbow surgery to get bone chips removed.
The Impact Coulombe Provides
The bullpen is a crucial part of a team, especially in the postseason. The Orioles now have themselves a lefty reliever with juice, and they are hoping he can be a key part of a successful October run. Baltimore’s bullpen ERA from March 28 to June 8, when Coulombe was healthy, was 3.38, ranked seventh in MLB. However, the Orioles’ bullpen ERA from June 9 to Sept. 19, when Coulombe was injured, increased to 4.68, ranking them 25th in MLB.
Hopefully, Coulombe can continue to be consistent for the Orioles as the team remains five games ahead of the Kansas City Royals for the top Wild Card spot. He has primarily relied on the slider but also throws in a sinker and four-seam fastball. He’s been known to have a nasty slider, making him a top setup option and difference-maker in the pen. The Orioles will also soon be getting back first baseman Ryan Mountcastle, who has started a rehab assignment.
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