The Baltimore Orioles can't afford to have starting pitcher Kyle Bradish struggle for the entire season. Luckily for them, the 6-foot-3, 215-pounder showed why he's their No. 2 starter in Friday's 4-3 loss to the Athletics.

Bradish allowed three runs on five hits over seven innings to go with a season-high 10 strikeouts against one walk. This was the Arizona native's second quality start of the season.

Bradish tossed four scoreless innings before allowing all three of his earned runs in the fifth. Zack Gelof tied the game 1-1 with an RBI single before Nick Kurtz smacked a two-run triple to right.

Bradish allowed only one baserunner for the rest of his outing after that, which was when he walked Jacob Wilson in the sixth inning. The right-hander tossed 60 strikes out of just 96 pitches. 

Bradish is now 1-5 with a 4.83 ERA over eight starts this season.

Bradish earned the loss despite his performance, as Baltimore was down 3-2 after he exited and never came back. Wilson hit an RBI single off of reliever Trey Gibson in the eighth, and Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo answered with an RBI single in the ninth to shrink the deficit to 4-3. However, that was the game's last scoring play. 

On the other hand, Bradish's outing was a personal victory. The veteran needed another positive outing after a subpar start to his season and injury-shortened campaigns over the last two years. He underwent Tommy John surgery in June 2024 and made just 14 starts across 2024 and 2025.

Baltimore needs Bradish to perform as he did in 2023, when he went 12-7 with a 2.83 ERA over 30 starts, as its pitching staff is shorthanded. Ace Trevor Rogers (illness), right-handed starter Dean Kremer (quadriceps), and closer Ryan Helsley (elbow) are all on the 15-day IL. It'll be easier to deal with those absences if Bradish pitches effectively.

The former New Mexico State Aggie was drafted in the fourth round by the Los Angeles Angels in 2018, who traded him to the Orioles the following year. He's 17-14 with a 3.80 ERA over 64 career minor-league outings (56 starts).

Baltimore called up Bradish to the big leagues in 2022, and he finished the year 4-7 with a 4.90 ERA over 23 starts. He then bounced back in 2023, and he still has a chance to have a similar season in 2026.

The Orioles are now 17-22 after Friday's loss. Up next is a rematch against the Athletics on Saturday at 4:05 p.m. ET. Right-handed pitcher Shane Baz will start for Baltimore against right-hander Aaron Civale.