Baltimore Orioles starter Dean Kremer just reminded everyone, fans, critics, and maybe even his own teammates why you don’t give up too quickly on guys who know how to battle.

After a rocky beginning to 2025, Kremer has been on a quiet but undeniable redemption tour this August. Each start has built upon the last, culminating in his most impressive performance yet: a seven-inning shutout gem against the Houston Astros, where he allowed just three hits, zero earned runs, and struck out seven. An effort that not only gave the Orioles a huge lift in the standings, but also lowered Kremer’s ERA below the 4.00 mark (3.97) for the first time this season.

For a pitcher who once sat with a ballooned 8.44 ERA after being knocked around by the Toronto Blue Jays in April, that turnaround is nothing short of remarkable. It’s also exactly the kind of reminder Orioles fans needed, that this rotation isn’t a “lost cause,” no matter what the outside chatter says.

Orioles’ Dean Kremer delivered statement start against Astros in redemption run

Kremer’s August surge isn’t happening in isolation. The Orioles’ rotation has quietly pieced together what is possibly their best stretch of the season, proving they can stand toe-to-toe with playoff-caliber lineups. Against AL West contenders — the Astros and the Seattle Mariners. the O’s staff delivered six strong outings, highlighted by four quality starts and gutsy contributions from Tomoyuki Sugano and Cade Povich, who each tossed five effective innings.

But make no mistake: Kremer has led the charge. His eight-inning, one-run performance against the Mariners showed he could dominate deep into games. His follow-up against the Astros was the exclamation point; a statement start against a team known for punishing mistakes.

This pitching run should breathe some life back into the fanbase. It tells Orioles fans that the team’s arms aren’t just stopgaps until reinforcements arrive, they’re capable of carrying the load right now.

Of course, baseball has a way of humbling you quickly. And Kremer and the rest of the rotation won’t have to wait long for their next test. Baltimore faces the Astros again for the second time in as many weeks, and six out of their next nine games against a Boston Red Sox lineup that has been relentless down the stretch.

This will give opposing hitters multiple looks at Baltimore’s starters, and it’ll give Kremer and company a chance to prove this isn’t just a hot streak. If the Orioles can continue to get this version of him — the one keeping hitters off balance, and showing poise against elite lineups, then the rotation goes from a liability to a weapon.

He may not be an ace, but what Kremer is doing right now is ace-like. More importantly, it’s symbolic. The Orioles may not need a superstar to carry the staff. They need steady arms who can compete and give the offense a chance to win.

For a fanbase that’s endured a season filled with more downs than ups, Kremer’s latest start was more than just a box score. It served as a sign that the team is still fighting, and just maybe rounding into form to close out the season.