Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Albert Suarez made history on Monday night in the team’s 4-2 victory against the Los Angeles Angels. Suarez, who had not won an MLB game since June 23, 2016, snapped a streak of 2,860 days without a victory. According to @EliasSports, Suarez and Travis Blackley are the only pitchers in the last 70 years to go that many days between wins as a starting pitcher.
Suarez’s impressive outing also marked a historical milestone for the Orioles. Since the mound was moved to its current distance in 1893, no pitcher had pitched 5+ innings and allowed no runs in each of their first two appearances after not appearing in the Majors for at least five years.
Suarez, who is only part of the Orioles’ rotation due to injuries to other pitchers, put together another stellar outing in his second start of the season. The right-hander threw 5.1 innings, allowing only two hits and one walk while striking out five batters.
Suarez’s journey to this historic moment has been a winding one. The 34-year-old Venezuelan began his professional career in the Tampa Bay Rays organization before stints with the Los Angeles Angels, San Francisco Giants, Arizona Diamondbacks, Tokyo Yakult Swallows, and Samsung Lions. He signed a minor-league contract with the Orioles in September 2023 and was promoted to the major league roster on April 17, 2024.
Despite his recent success, Suarez’s spot in the Orioles’ rotation could be in jeopardy. John Means, Kyle Bradish, and Tyler Wells are all expected to return from injuries soon, potentially bumping Suarez from the starting five. However, Suarez has proven his worth and will likely provide valuable depth for the Orioles moving forward.
