The Orioles have seven more games to play on their West Coast trip – one in Seattle this afternoon and three each in Los Angeles and Anaheim.

My mailbag hasn’t moved an inch. It’s still within my reach, just as the Orioles remain within reach of the Wild Card.

They haven’t given up on the division, but one step at a time.

Gunnar Henderson and Jackson Holliday homered last night, Blaze Alexander had three more hits and a walk, Kyle Bradish allowed one run and struck out a career-high 12 batters in 7 2/3 innings, and the Orioles snapped a three-game losing streak and evened the series.

They love to keep us guessing.

Ryan Helsley surrendered a home run to the first two batters he faced in the ninth in his return to the closer’s role, but the Orioles held on for a 5-3 win.

Here are seven more questions.

As of today are we deadline buyers or sellers?
Definitely deadline buyers. They won’t surrender while sitting this close to the Wild Card. Mike Elias figures to be in the market for a starter and at least one reliever. Maybe he tries to land a bat, which is easier than landing a plane. Feel free to write this down. Pitching seems like the most important area to address. We also must remember that a need could arise later due to injury or some really bad individual results.

3-6, 6-1, 1-5, 3-1, 2-7, 5-4, 1-5, 8-3, 2-5, 3-2. That’s the O’s season in sequence in small chunks. Add that up and you get the 34-39 record. Why has this club been so inconsistent? That’s 25-11 in the good times and 9-28 in the bad, with no real prolonged stretches of average play (maybe the 5-4 stretch in the middle).
It was my understanding that there would be no math. The Orioles are maddeningly inconsistent and I don’t know if there’s an easy explanation. Otherwise, they might stop being that way. They rally from late deficits but also lose late leads. The rotation got much better but couldn’t always overcome breakdowns in other areas. The issues defensively and with runners in scoring position have hurt. Before Tuesday, opponents were slashing .263/.353/.418 with two outs. The average was tied with the Rockies for highest in the majors, and the on-base percentage  and slugging were second highest. Exactly how does a team correct that problem?

Have you attended any games as “just a fan” since joining the beat? For example, even though you’re not working the Seattle series, would the family go to the game and sit in the bleachers?
Bleachers? Not a chance. Seriously though, I get tickets to each home game and give them to friends and family. I think the last time I came as a fan, Mark Trumbo delivered a walk-off hit in extra innings. So yeah, it’s been a while. I promised my wife that I’d take her to a game later this summer. Maybe bring the granddaughter and the three of us can hang out. I watched an inning with them on Sunday because their seats were in front of the press box.

Did we get any feedback from Trey Gibson after the game on Sunday?
He pitched Saturday. We didn’t ask him anything Sunday. Gibson surrendered a pair of two-run homers in the first inning and was charged with six runs in 4 1/3. He walked five and hit Xander Bogaerts on the helmet. Gibson blamed his struggles on the failure to throw first-pitch strikes and falling behind in the count. He began pitching from the stretch after the second inning and was pleased with the results. Looked like growing pains that should be expected from a young man making his fourth major league start.

Any news on Nate George?
The High-A Frederick outfielder and No. 1 prospect in the system per MLB Pipeline hasn’t played since May 3 due to an undisclosed illness. He had two hits that night. I checked this week and was told there is no additional update at this time.

In 2022, the first utility player Gold Glove (DJ LeMahieu-AL/Brandan Donovan-NL) was awarded. Should there also be a utility player vote on the All-Star ballot?
I’m surprised it hasn’t happened already. Blaze Alexander would be in the running. The way he’s hitting, he might be the favorite. He’s hitting .310/.364/.424 in 63 games. Who saw that coming? Having a utility player would reward the guys who can’t get on the ballot at one position due to limited starts. They shouldn’t be penalized for their versatility. And every team has that player.

Do you think Dylan Beavers will be back with the Orioles by July 1?
I think he has a shot. He’s supposed to begin a rehab assignment today with Double-A Chesapeake. We haven’t heard about a specific number of at-bats needed but he can get plenty of them before July 1. Getting him on the field will be interesting. The active roster has only four outfielders on it, though Alexander can move from the infield. Who loses the most at-bats to Beavers – Colton Cowser, Leody Taveras or Tyler O’Neill? Samuel Basallo and Adley Rutschman are used at designated hitter. But manager Craig Albernaz will welcome the challenge of getting Beavers in the lineup.