Kremer returned after a nine-week absence due to a right quad strain.
Dean Kremer's line Wednesday afternoon was exactly what the Baltimore Orioles had hoped to see when they activated him from the injured list. Six innings of one-run ball and a steady presence that helped end a four-game skid.
For Kremer, though, the outing represented something that couldn't be measured by the stat line.
After spending more than two months sidelined with a right quad strain, the right-hander admitted the hardest part of rehabilitation wasn't the physical work. It was feeling disconnected from a team that continued playing without him.
"Being on the IL, for me, I feel like a waste of space, because I'm not bringing any value," Kremer said postgame, via MASN. "I'm not adding to anything on the field, so that's probably one of the hardest things for me. Rehab was watching from a distance and not feeling like you get to be a part of something, but it's great to be back and kind of start from here."
That perspective helped explain why Wednesday carried more significance than simply making his first start since April 18.
Baltimore spent much of June trying to stabilize the rotation, with Trevor Rogers, Brandon Young and Shane Baz each providing encouraging stretches. Kremer's return gives the Orioles another veteran arm capable of handling six competitive innings, something Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said has become one of the right-hander's defining traits.
"Dean's pedigree, his track record, like he's battle-tested," Albernaz said, via MASN. "To have that presence, knowing that he can navigate the game and control his emotions, slow heartbeat, that's what we valued. That's what we missed."
After surrendering a leadoff home run on his second pitch, Kremer settled into the outing rather than letting it snowball. Albernaz credited his command of the fastball, his willingness to mix in the curveball early in counts and his ability to keep attacking the strike zone against a White Sox lineup that had Baltimore's offense quiet through four innings.
Kremer believes part of that consistency came from an unusual rehab process. Because the quad injury never affected his throwing mechanics, he was able to continue building arm strength and maintain his feel instead of starting over once he was healthy.
"The two months off wasn't the best, but I kept my arm in shape, kept my feel," Kremer said via MASN. "Getting back has been easier than if I had to shut down throwing."
That feeling showed throughout his six innings, but so did the appreciation for simply being back on the mound.
The Orioles needed someone capable of settling a game after a difficult stretch. Kremer did exactly that. Now they'll hope the rest of the rotation can follow suit, still 4.5 games out of a wild card spot as the All-Star break nears.
