This morning I focused on possible replacements for Jake Arrieta‘s rotation spot in my weekly column on MASNSports.com. I came to the conclusion that Freddy Garcia looks to be the most major league ready, but his schedule won’t line up with Wednesday’s start in Baltimore and he’s out of minor league options. The two logical call ups would be Zach Britton, who’s 7/5 K/BB worries me slightly, or Josh Stinson.
The O’s beat writers have been tweeting that Stinson has been spotted in the clubhouse in Baltimore, implying he’s the lucky winner of the Replace Jake Arrieta Sweepstakes.
Don’t know much about Stinson? Don’t feel too bad, he’s only been in the Orioles system since April 4 when he was claimed off waivers from the Oakland Athletics. Stinson is 1-0 with a 0.77 ERA over 13 2/3 innings pitched in two starts with the Norfolk Tides.
He’s a 25-year-old right handed pitcher who was selected in the 37th round of the 2006 amateur draft by the New York Mets. Stinson made his big league debut on September 2, 2011. He was waived by the Mets at the end of spring training in 2012 and claimed by the Brewers. The A’s claimed him on March 29, 2013 and then, as previously mentioned, the O’s claimed him on April 4.
In eight combined seasons in the minor leagues, Stinson has a 3.93 ERA 1.64 K/BB and 1.463 WHIP serving mostly in relief (224 games, 96 starts). Stinson has made 20 appearances in the big leagues, 14 with the Mets in 2011 and 6 with the Brewers in 2012. He’s thrown 22 1/3 innings and recorded a 4.43 ERA. In his lone start on October 3, 2012, Stinson went 4 innings, gave up 3 hits, an earned run, two walks and zero strikeouts against the Padres.
He didn’t surrender a run in relief for Milwaukee in 5 1/3 innings over five appearances last season.
Zach Wilt is the Founding Editor of BaltimoreSportsReport.com and Host of the BSR Podcast. You can follow him on Twitter @zamwi or send him an email: zach@baltimoresportsreport.com.
