Chris Bassitt's IL Stint Forces Baltimore Orioles Deeper Into Their Rotation Depth

When the Baltimore Orioles signed Chris Bassitt over the offseason, the expectation was stability. Instead, his trip to the injured list on Monday became another reminder of how little stability the Orioles have found in their rotation this season.

Baltimore placed the 37-year-old on the 15-day injured list with lower-back discomfort, retroactive to June 5, after he exited Wednesday's start against Boston following just three innings. Top pitching prospect Trey Gibson was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk as a result and will start Monday night's series opener against Seattle.

Under normal circumstances, losing a starter carrying a 5.27 ERA would not seem like a defining development. The Orioles, however, are long past the point where they can view injuries in isolation.

Bassitt became the 20th different Orioles player to land on the injured list this season and the latest addition to a growing list of unavailable starters. Zach Eflin, Dean Kremer and Cade Povich are already sidelined, leaving Baltimore with four starting pitchers on the injured list at the same time.

Coming into the season, Gibson looked more like a late-year possibility than someone expected to carry meaningful innings before the middle of June. Instead, Monday marks his third career major league start and fourth appearance. The Orioles have already called upon him four separate times this season, a reflection of how aggressively their depth chart has been tested.

In some ways, this is exactly why Baltimore spent the offseason accumulating pitching options.

The Orioles drew criticism for not adding a front-line ace, instead adding volume. At the time, that strategy felt unsatisfying to many observers. Three months later, it may be the only reason the Orioles have managed to keep a functioning rotation together.

Baltimore has already reached a point where pitchers once viewed as insurance policies are being asked to take on high-leverage roles. Brandon Young has experienced that shift. Gibson is now getting the same opportunity.

There is also a fair question about whether Bassitt's back issue helps explain some of his uneven performance. He spent a similar injured-list stint last season while a member of the Blue Jays due to persistent lower-back inflammation. His strikeout rate has dropped dramatically compared to last year, and his most recent outing ended with visible discomfort.

The Orioles will obviously need Bassitt healthy if they're going to climb back into contention, though the more interesting development may be what happens in his absence.

Trey Gibson gets his chance today as he makes his third career big-league start against Mariners right-hander Emerson Hancock.