under the tutelage of pitching coach ray miller, who rejoined the orioles in the middle of the 2004 season, bédard refined his control of the changeup (his third pitch) to go along with his 91–93 mph fastball and slurve. in the beginning of 2005, he posted a 2.08 era, but after a sprained knee sidelined him for two months, he posted a 5.44 era. he had one of his best statistical years in 2006, going 15–11 in 33 starts and posting a 3.76 era and 1.35 whip. he also pitched a total of 196.1 innings, his highest in any season.