CINCINNATI – Maybe the O’s starters are just trying to match or better the previous pitcher. But whatever the reason, this team, as catcher James McCann observed last night, has used great game plans and execution to go on a tremendous pitching roll.

Today it led them to a three-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park.

The O’s had not swept the Reds since the 2014 season, and never on the road before today’s 11-1 win behind Dean Kremer’s strong start, Jordan Westburg’s two-run homer, two RBIs from Adley Rutschman and Anthony Santander's grand slam in the ninth to cap it off. 

Friday night here, Cole Irvin threw 6 1/3 scoreless innings. Lefty John Means went seven without allowing a run last night.

Today Kremer pitched six scoreless while allowing just one hit, a clean single to left by Christian Encarnacion-Strand in the fifth. He walked one and fanned six, throwing 93 pitches.

CINCINNATI – After pitching-led 3-0 and 2-1 wins over the Cincinnati Reds this weekend, the Orioles can sweep this series today with a victory at Great American Ball Park.

The O’s took a 2-0 lead to the ninth last night and hung on for a 2-1 win. They improved to 22-11 and have won three in a row, five of six, 10 of 14 and 14 of the last 19 games. They are now 10-4 in road games.

They have won this series and are now 8-3 in series play for the season and are 4-1 in road series, losing only at Pittsburgh.

Baltimore has two series sweeps, both of three games, this year. They won three straight April 9-11 at Boston by a combined 23-10 score and three in a row at home versus Minnesota April 15-17 by 22-9. 

The Orioles began this series ranking first in the American League in slugging and fourth in OPS. They remain first in the major leagues in team homers and were scoring 5.29 runs per game – third-best in the majors – at the start of this weekend.

CINCINNATI – Orioles pitcher Grayson Rodriguez, on the 15-day injured list since May 1 - retroactive to April 30 - with right shoulder inflammation, started a throwing program today off flat ground at Great American Ball Park. He made throws from 60 to 75 feet.

Orioles pitching coach Drew French, in a pregame interview with reporters, said Rodriguez's return is still to be determined.

“We’re going to take it one step at a time. We’re just going to keep stacking days on top of each other. Hopefully give him a couple of bullpens before we release him back," said French.

French isn’t sure yet whether Rodriguez, who is 4-1 with a 3.71 ERA over six starts, will need a rehab assignment.

“Right now we’re just looking at the early stages, like getting him to his first bullpen. That is what kind of today looked like.”

The Orioles are trying for the sweep this afternoon in Cincinnati and Dean Kremer is hoping to keep the pitching staff on its roll.

The team ERA is 1.17 in the last six games and 2.23 in 13. John Means notched the rotation’s seventh scoreless start last night.

The Reds have scored one run in the first two games of the series, and it came against Craig Kimbrel last night in the ninth inning before Yennier Cano recorded the two-out save.

Kremer has registered a 4.19 ERA and 1.078 WHIP in six outings. His eight home runs surrendered are tied for most in the American League.

Kremer tied his season high with seven innings in his last start against the Yankees, with both runs scoring on solo homers. He faced the Reds in 2022 in Cincinnati and allowed six runs and 10 hits in 4 1/3 innings.  

CINCINNATI – As the Orioles watched left-hander John Means roll through seven scoreless last night, getting more swings and misses than he had since his 2021 no-hitter, they had to be excited and elated.

Here it was just May 4 and now both Kyle Bradish and Means are back. The team is 22-11 and in first place. A staff that was already pitching well added an All-Star and a pitcher that finished fourth in the American League Cy Young Award vote in 2023.

In a span of three days, Bradish and Means looked as good as ever, proved they are healthy and combined to allow one run over 11 2/3 innings.

At one time, John Means Day meant a losing O’s team had something to look forward to. Now Means just wants to fit in with a first-place club and do his part.

“You know, this team is playing so well, you just want to join them, you want to feel that energy they are feeling," he said. "So to be back and be able to feel that, pretty incredible.”

The Orioles wrap up their series against the Reds this afternoon, going for the sweep, and I’m unwrapping three more questions that hang in the air. At least where I’m breathing.

The good news is there’s a definite answer to the first one.

What the heck happened to Terrin Vavra?

Vavra posted photos recently on his Instagram account with a caption about “the most trying 10 months of my career” and offering thanks for the support he’s received. The first photo showed Vavra in his hospital bed holding one of his children.

Was this a new surgery on his shoulder that would perhaps ruin his chances of playing in 2024, or was he celebrating the end of his rehab from his original labrum procedure last fall?

CINCINNATI – It was April 17^th in Jacksonville, Florida, and one-time O’s ace John Means was pitching in his fourth injury rehab game with Triple-A Norfolk.

He didn’t get out of the first inning, threw just 34 pitches and gave up five runs and two homers.

But things were very different tonight. Very different.

Means, who had his best rehab game last Sunday with seven scoreless on one hit for the Tides, picked up tonight where he left off there as the Orioles beat Cincinnati 2-1 to take the first two in this series in front of 33,202 at Great American Ball Park.

There was much drama in the ninth as the Reds, down 2-0, got a run off Craig Kimbrel and had bases loaded and one out. But Yennier Cano got the save with a strikeout and flyout to end this thriller and make Means a winning pitcher.

CINCINNATI – The Orioles are on a real solid pitching roll here and try to keep that going tonight with the return of left-hander John Means to the Baltimore rotation.

The O’s produced a four-pitcher, two-hit shutout last night and beat Cincinnati 3-0 in the series and road trip opener in front of 25,861 at Great American Ball Park.

They are now 21-11 and have won four of five and nine of their past 13 games. They are 9-4 on the road, 8-3 in series-opening games and 4-1 when that series opener is on the road.

In the last five games, O’s pitching has allowed 0, 2, 2, 2 and 0 runs. That is six runs allowed in that span, for an ERA of 1.20, giving up 24 hits in 45 innings with a .157 batting average against and .486 OPS.

Over those five games, Baltimore starters have an ERA of 1.52 and in that stretch, the bullpen pitchers have allowed just one run over 15 1/3 innings with one walk to 16 strikeouts.

CINCINNATI – O’s lefty John Means is back on a major league mound tonight for the first time since Sept. 29, 2023, versus Boston. After not getting in a game in spring training and making six rehab starts at Triple-A, he faces the Cincinnati Reds in Game 2 of this weekend's series.

“Yeah, excited to watch him,” manager Brandon Hyde said today. “Long road back. The long road back was last year and now with the setback that he had it pushed the season back for him a little bit. But he’s excited to get out there. Hoping everything goes well and he finishes feeling good and healthy. We’re all looking forward to watching him pitch.”

O’s pitching has been on a roll recently with two shutouts in the last five games, allowing six total runs and 30 runs allowed the past 12 games with a team ERA of 2.33.

“With the amount of quality arms we have, especially in the rotation right now, the depth we have is huge. And you know, try to keep those guys healthy as much as possible,” added Hyde.

Hyde also today discussed the club’s stolen base success rate. While tonight’s opponent, Cincinnati, leads MLB with 56 steals, the Reds stolen base percentage of 83.6 percent ranks ninth in the majors. Baltimore, with 26 steals in 29 attempts, leads the majors with an 88.9 success rate.

John Means makes his 2024 debut tonight as the Orioles continue their series in Cincinnati following last night’s 3-0 win. And after Cole Irvin ran his scoreless streak to 20 2/3 innings.

Means hasn’t pitched for the Orioles since Sept. 29 against the Red Sox, when he allowed two runs and three hits in 6 1/3 innings. He faced teammates in a simulated game at Camden Yards prior to the Division Series and experienced discomfort in his elbow/forearm area that led to his exclusion from the roster, a delayed off-season throwing program and stint on the injured list.

Tonight marks his latest comeback to the rotation, and he’s with a club that’s 21-11, has won 13 of its last 18 games and is one ahead of the Yankees for first place.

The Reds are a new opponent for Means, who’s posted a career 3.97 ERA in 13 starts against the National League.

Jeimer Candelario is 3-for-8 with a double, triple, RBI and walk against him. Santiago Espinal is 2-for-2 with a double and RBI.

CINCINNATI - A new season is beginning today for the Orioles' rookie-level Florida Complex League team. Listed below is the roster for this year’s O’s FCL squad.

This roster features a heavy international flavor with 18 players from the Dominican Republic, 16 born in Venezuela and one from Cuba.

The roster includes infielder Luis Almeyda who was signed to the largest bonus for an international amateur in team history at $2.3 million on Jan. 15, 2023.

Almeyda, now 18, was limited to 19 games in the Dominican Summer League last year by first an ankle sprain and then by a left shoulder issue which required surgery in August.

The roster features three players with this club on minor league injury rehab assignments. They are infielders Terrin Vavra and Max Wagner, and pitcher Jake Cunningham.

CINCINNATI – One pitcher has been added and left-hander John Means is next. When the veteran O’s lefty starts tonight at Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park, he will join right-hander Kyle Bradish as another recent addition to the Baltimore rotation.

Grayson Rodriguez went to the injured list, Albert Suárez went to the bullpen and first Bradish and now Means are back.

If it goes as well for Means as it did this week for Bradish, the Orioles will be pretty excited about that.

Means had Tommy John surgery in April of 2022 and finally made it back to the Orioles for the final month last year. His first game last Sept. 12 was the O’s 144^th of the year. But Means went 1-2 with a 2.66 ERA over four starts and helped the club down the stretch.

He would have likely started an American League Division Series game versus Texas but some elbow soreness that week shut him down. The O’s were cautious with him this winter and slowed played his spring where he did not pitch in one game in Florida.

The Orioles were forced to wait last night until the rain finally stopped to begin their three-game series in Cincinnati.

The delay also gave the organization time to catch its breath after the barrage of news and updates that hit the media.

To review:

Gunnar Henderson and Colton Cowser are monthly award winners.

I participated in the voting and won’t reveal my ballot, but Henderson and Royals catcher Salvador Perez had really strong cases as I recall. Yeah, really strong.

CINCINNATI – The great recent pitching run of O’s lefty Cole Irvin hit the road tonight at Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park. He baffled the Reds as he had the Royals and Athletics in his two previous starts.

He entered the game with a scoreless streak of 14 1/3 innings and had thrown 13 2/3 scoreless on eight hits in his most recent outings against Kansas City and Oakland.

He was 2-0 with an ERA of 0.98 his last three starts, with the Orioles 3-0 in those games.

A great pitcher’s duel between Irvin and Cincinnati right-hander Hunter Greene was finally broken up in the Baltimore seventh. Adley Rutschman produced an RBI double for the lead and Ryan O’Hearn's home run added to that as the Orioles beat Cincinnati 3-0 in front of 25,861 in the road trip opener.

In a game that started two hours and 41 minutes late due to rain, they won the series opener to stay a game ahead of the Yankees, who also won. The Birds are now 21-11 with wins in four of the last five and nine of their past 13 games.

CINCINNATI – Winners of eight of their last 12 games and four of their past five series, the Orioles begin a weekend series tonight at Cincinnati, playing the next three days at Great American Ball Park as they begin their third road trip of the 2024 season.

The Orioles have won three of their four road series – losing only at Pittsburgh – and are 8-4 in road games and 3-1 in series-opening games on the road.

They begin play tonight at 20-11 (.645) and are tied for the best record in the American League with Cleveland. In the major leagues, only Atlanta (20-9, .690) has a better record. The Orioles lead the AL East by one game over New York, by 2 1/2 over Boston, 5 1/2 over Toronto and 6 1/2 games over Tampa Bay.

Right-hander Kyle Bradish allowed one run over 4 2/3 innings Thursday afternoon as the Orioles won the series finale over the Yankees 7-2 to take three of four in that series and gain the division lead. The Orioles got solo homers from Ryan Mountcastle, Jorge Mateo and Ryan McKenna.

The Orioles have a big lead for most homers in the majors with 48, while New York is second with 41 and Philadelphia third at 40.

CINCINNATI – The Orioles won a much anticipated series with the New York Yankees. They took three of four and they moved into first place.

Could they have a letdown as their latest road trip begins in cloudy Cincinnati tonight?

“Not with this group. I think this group comes to play every day," said manager Brandon Hyde this afternoon. "That being said, this a really good Cincinnati Reds team. They gave us everything we could handle and more last year. They are unbelievably athletic and we’re going to face three outstanding arms on the mound.”

Hyde today said there is no update yet on testing done on right-hander Grayson Rodriguez, who recently went on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation.

“Not yet, no. He’s still just kind of letting everything kind of calm down and we’ll hopefully start him back up here pretty soon,” Hyde said.

Heston Kjerstad, who was named the International League’s Player of the Month earlier today, is starting in left field tonight for the series opener against the Reds in Cincinnati.

Colton Cowser is on the bench, whether to rest or to heal from slamming his knee into the outfield wall yesterday and being hit on the foot by a pitch. Either way, he's one of the reserves.

Jorge Mateo gets another start at second base after homering yesterday. Ryan O’Hearn is the designated hitter.

Cole Irvin hasn’t allowed a run in his last 14 1/3 innings. He stays in the rotation despite Kyle Bradish and John Means leaving the injured list.

Irvin has made three career appearances against the Reds, including one start, and allowed one run in 5 1/3 innings.

Longtime Orioles Scout Dick Bowie Named Herb Armstrong Award Winner 

The Orioles today announced that former right fielder NICK MARKAKIS and former hitting coach and first baseman/designated hitter TERRY CROWLEY have been elected to the Orioles Hall of Fame. Additionally, longtime former Orioles scout DICK BOWIE will be inducted as this year’s Herb Armstrong Award winner.

The three honorees will be recognized on Friday, August 23, at a luncheon at Oriole Park hosted by the Oriole Advocates, founders of the Orioles Hall of Fame. The on-field induction ceremony will be held on Saturday, August 24, prior to the 4:05 p.m. ET game against the Houston Astros. Information on purchasing tickets for the Oriole Advocates Hall of Fame luncheon will be announced soon. To purchase tickets for the induction ceremony and game, visit Orioles.com/Tickets.

Markakis spent the first nine years of his 15-year career in Baltimore after being selected with the seventh overall pick of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft. He ranks among the all-time Orioles leaders in doubles (6^th, 316), hits (7^th, 1,547), extra-base hits (8^th, 473), runs (9^th, 749), and RBI (10^th, 658). He won two of his three career Gold Gloves in right field with the O’s (2011 & 2014). He led American League outfielders with 17 assists in 2008 and is tied with ADAM JONES for second on the Orioles all-time list with 93 outfield assists, behind PAUL BLAIR (105). His .994 fielding percentage ranks first all-time among MLB right fielders. He led the AL in times on base (283) and bWAR (7.4) in 2008. He was voted Most Valuable Oriole in 2007 after leading the team in average (.300), slugging (.485), OPS (.848), home runs (23), doubles (43), RBI (112), and hits (191).

Crowley had two stints as Baltimore’s hitting coach, spanning a total of 16 years, the second-longest coaching tenure in club history behind ELROD HENDRICKS (28). His first stint was from 1985-89. Crowley returned to the club in 1999 and coached through 2010. His 12 years as coach from 1999-2010 is the fourth-longest continuous coaching stretch in club history behind Hendricks (28), HARRY BRECHEEN (14), and BILL HUNTER (13 ½). The team records for batting average (.281 in ‘04), doubles (322 in ‘08), and on-base percentage (.353 in ‘99) were all set while he was hitting coach. In his second term as hitting coach, individuals established club records that still stand in batting average (MELVIN MORA, .340 in ‘04), doubles (BRIAN ROBERTS, 56 in ‘09), and hits (MIGUEL TEJADA, 214 in ‘06). Overall, Crowley spent 24 years as a big-league hitting coach, including eight years with Minnesota (1991-98). He also spent three years as a minor league hitting instructor, including 1984 in the Orioles farm system.

The Orioles won three of four games from the Yankees, they lead the division, and they just claimed two monthly awards.

This is a team on a roll.

Shortstop Gunnar Henderson was named the American League’s Player of the Month and outfielder Colton Cowser was chosen Rookie of the Month.

Henderson batted .291 (34-for-117) with three doubles, three triples, 10 home runs, 24 RBIs, eight walks, 25 runs scored, six stolen bases and a .624 slugging percentage in 29 games. He’s tied for the major league lead in homers and ranks first in the AL in slugging and total bases. He’s tied for second in triples, extra-base hits and runs scored.

The 10 homers make Henderson the youngest player in history to reach that total before May 1.

Just as the Orioles drew it up when this series began Monday night at Camden Yards.

OK, probably not. Even though they lost a starter in Grayson Rodriguez to injury during the Yankees series and now we know that Craig Kimbrel didn’t pitch once in the series, they would still shutdown a Yankees team that had scored 15 runs each on Saturday and Sunday at Milwaukee.

Oh, and Jorge Mateo and Ryan McKenna would hit big homers off lefty Carlos Rodón in the key series finale game. And Danny Coulombe and Jacob Webb would record saves.

Yep, just as planned.

Sometimes it takes a village to win a key series or at least it takes an entire clubhouse. And the O’s got big contributions from many this series as they took three of four from the Yankees to gain the AL East lead by one game.