The Orioles had the day off on Monday after a brutal 11-2 loss to the Texas Rangers on Sunday Night Baseball. In that game, the Orioles’ needs became even clearer. At the trade deadline, they are going to need some help in their starting rotation.

Cole Irvin got the start on Sunday night and allowed five runs over 3.2 innings of work. After beginning the month of June with an ERA of 2.87, he posted an 8.50 mark over his next four starts and watched his ERA for the season climb to 4.13.

Over 18 innings of work, Irvin has given up 22 runs, and to make matters worse, Baltimore lost Tyler Wells, Kyle Bradish, and John Means for the season to Tommy John surgery.

The Orioles are going to need to get Irvin out of the rotation soon and add their pitching reinforcements.

Orioles must get Cole Irvin out of the rotation ASAP

Irvin had put together a respectable season up until June. But that was when things began to fall apart. A 4.13 ERA isn’t terrible, but it’s not what the Orioles are going to need if they want to remain at the top of the American League East.

They recently overtook the New York Yankees for the top spot in the division, but with three starters out and Irvin struggling, their need for additional reinforcements at the deadline became that much more obvious. Orioles fans themselves aren’t terribly pleased with the way Irvin has pitched in recent weeks, with one fan calling for him to not start again this season.

Fortunately, the Orioles are in a good position to add, and there are plenty of options to choose from at the deadline. They could potentially reunite with Jack Flaherty, who is with the Detroit Tigers now but was acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals last year at the deadline.

But it’s obvious that Baltimore needs to find a different role for Irvin in the meantime, and that will become easier if they add a starter or two to the mix.