O's newest bullpen addition is intriguing despite numbers

At first glance, Fujinami's lackluster numbers won't inspire much confidence from O's fans. However, despite sporting a 5-8 record and an 8.57 ERA in 34 appearances, Fujinami may only be beginning to hit his stride. 

Through April and May, Fujinami was, well, not good. In 17 games, including four starts, Fujinami went 2-5, allowing 40 earned runs over 30 innings pitched. However, in 17 games over June and July, Fujinami is showing signs of settling in at the Major League level. The 29-year-old is 3-3 with two holds and a 3.26 ERA with 20 strikeouts and six walks over 17 innings. Furthermore, Fujinami is a flamethrower, capable of hitting 102 mph on the gun. 

In the postseason, there's no substitute for solid bullpen pitching and no contending team can have too many options. So, picking up Fujinmai for a minor leaguer is a no-brainer for the Orioles. 

Baltimore improved to 58-37 after an 8-5 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers Wednesday. With the win, the Orioles moved ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays (60-39) by .005 percentage points for the lead in the American League East. According to ESPN Stats and Info, it's the first time since 2016 the Orioles have occupied first place after the All-Star break.