Columnist Kyle Goon: The Orioles are hoping pitchers get and stay healthy because trades may be difficult to swing this year.

The Orioles are in a bit of a rut and — as fans have become accustomed to — the cavalry is on its way.

It was gutting, of course, to see Craig Kimbrel struggle on the mound this weekend against the Oakland Athletics. After blowing a save on Friday night, the 35-year-old struggled through a short ninth-inning stint Sunday afternoon before finally giving up a two-run homer and heading to the dugout with the team trainer.

What luck: The Orioles are expecting a pitching infusion this week.

Kyle Bradish could make his first start of the season on Thursday against the Yankees. John Means just finished a rehab stint in Norfolk by twirling seven shutout innings with a hit and a walk. Depending on how manager Brandon Hyde wants to use his starters, he may be able to slip some of the team’s arms into more relief-oriented roles if Kimbrel misses time (as of Monday morning, that was unknown).

“Hopefully we got some guys coming off the IL soon,” Hyde said Sunday, not betraying any deep concerns.

But the more closely you examine the Orioles pitching situation, the more it feels fragile — something that could upend the good times of the last two years and make the season a lot more challenging.

It’s not all that clear how much the Orioles can do to fix it except continue to shuffle around arms — and pray.

So far, Baltimore has been a run-creating machine. They lead the league in runs per game (5.59), thanks in large part to their MLB-best 41 home runs. It’s not just power, but how their hitters see the ball: They’re also leading the MLB in barrel percentage (10.7%) and rank top three in hard-hit ball percentage (44.7%). Aside from great seasons at the plate so far from Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Ryan O’Hearn and Ryan Mountcastle, young guns Jordan Westburg and Colton Cowser are also making great contact and getting the offense rolling.