Shane Baz was hit hard Friday night, allowing three earned runs on nine hits and two walks over five innings in a loss to the Giants. He struck out four, threw 59 strikes in 100 pitches and was charged with the defeat.
The outing left Baz at 4.50 ERA with a 1.56 WHIP and a 0-1 record across three starts, a line that reflects how uneven his early season has been. The right-hander will try to clean up his command in his next scheduled start against Arizona.
For Baz, the issue was not just the runs. It was the traffic. Nine hits and two walks in five innings gave the Giants too many chances, and the count of 59 strikes on 100 pitches showed how often he had to work from behind.
Read Also: Taylor Ward: Orioles need Kyle Bradish to steady rotation against White Sox
His next turn against Arizona now matters because it is the first chance to steady the early numbers and show sharper control. If Baz can trim the walks and limit the damage on contact, the start would go a long way toward changing the look of his opening month.
