Tonight, the Orioles have a whopping four picks in the top 37 of the MLB Draft. 

Baltimore will select at No. 19, numbers 30 and 31 as compensation for losing Corbin Burnes and Anthony Santander in free agency, and at No. 37, which they acquired in a trade that sent Bryan Baker to the Tampa Bay Rays. 

Years ago, the O’s farm system was seen as the best in baseball, and one of the best that the game has seen in recent memory. Through promotions and trades for big league talent, though, the prospect talent has thinned out. Four high draft picks can certainly change those fortunes. 

While the O’s have had the luxury of the No. 1 overall pick in Adley Rutschman and Jackson Holliday, they haven’t always needed it to select great players. Jordan Westburg was drafted 30th overall, Gunnar Henderson was a second-round pick, and Coby Mayo was a fourth rounder. There’s talent to be found everywhere if you know where to look. 

There is a chance, now with four picks, that the Orioles use one of those selections on a pitcher. The general consensus and chatter throughout the industry, though, seems to be that the O’s will select a position player at No. 19. There haven’t been much tying Baltimore to an arm with their first pick. 

ATLANTA – The last time the Orioles swept an opponent, Trevor Rogers was still pitching for Triple-A Norfolk. 

At the time, Rogers had just one big league start in 2025. It came against the Red Sox in late May, with 6 ⅓ innings of shutout baseball. 

Who knew if the lefty could make that dominant start a habit? 

He’s done just that, and today, he led the Orioles to a sweep of the Atlanta Braves. Today, the O’s came out on top 2-1.  

Rogers was dominant throughout the contest, with the Braves’ first runner in scoring position coming in the bottom of the fifth inning. He struck out six and induced weak contact, of both the ground ball and fly out varieties. 

ATLANTA – The Orioles’ catching situation didn’t seem like it could go from bad to worse. 

Famous last words. 

On June 21, Adley Rutschman hit the injured list with a left oblique strain, with an expected return after the All-Star break. Just two days later, Maverick Handley collided with Jazz Chisholm and went on the concussion injured list. He has yet to resume baseball activities. Same with Chadwick Tromp, who hit the IL on July 1 with lower back tightness. 

Now, it’s Gary Sánchez who heads to the IL, with a moderate right PCL strain. There’s no timeline for his return just yet. 

Sánchez had previously missed a significant amount of time with a wrist injury before returning on June 14. Since then, though, his offensive production has been a huge boost in the absence of Rutschman. 

ATLANTA – Last night’s Fourth of July contest between the O’s and Braves didn’t provide many fireworks. This afternoon, though, the clubs certainly made up for it, combining for five home runs in an extra-innings thriller. 

The Orioles came out on top, 9-6. 

After facing three elite starting pitchers in Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi and Spencer Strider, it was just the performance the bats needed to get back on track. 

"I feel like our guys have swung the bat good here for the last month, and I thought today was a pretty good indication of it," Tony Mansolino said after the game. "We faced a really good Major League bullpen, a lot of left-handed pitching, that thing that’s been tough on us here over the last year-and-a-half. And after 10 innings to walk out with nine runs, you have to be pleased."

Dean Kremer was on the mound for Baltimore, looking to continue his great stretch of starts since May 1. A big key was that he needed to avoid the big inning. 

ATLANTA – Charlie Morton and Dean Kremer are in very different places in their careers. 

Morton finds himself on his sixth big league team in his age-41 season, while Kremer has only suited up in an Orioles uniform as a major leaguer in his sixth year. As far as 2025 goes, though, the duo has found their seasons traveling on a similar path, albeit with different stops along the way. 

Today, the pair can propel the Orioles to a series win over the Braves. 

Let’s start with Morton, who allowed just two earned runs in over five innings of work against his former team last night. The right-hander got off to a disastrous start to the season with a 10.89 ERA in his first five starts. 

From there, you know the story. He went to the bullpen, made some mechanical changes, and figured things out in a big way. In his seven starts back in the rotation, Morton has tossed an impressive 2.97 ERA with 44 strikeouts and just 11 walks. 

ATLANTA – Nothing says Fourth of July quite like baseball. The home team even wore red white and blue. 

The home fans just went home blue, though, as the Orioles did their best USA impression to take down the guys wearing red, 3-2. Luckily, the Braves didn’t have to wear red coats in the Atlanta heat. 

The headliners of tonight’s contest, outside of the fireworks show, included the returning Jordan Westburg and Tyler O’Neill, who combined to reach base five times tonight. 

"Yeah, I think two of the three runs, right?" interim manager Tony Mansolino said after the game. "TO (O'Neill) led off the inning with a single then came around on the home run by Ced (Cedric Mullins) and then Westy with the big home run there to get us on the board."

Westburg’s return to the lineup started off on the right note with an infield single. Gunnar Henderson followed with a double down the line to put the O’s in business, but Ryan O’Hearn and Ramón Laureano couldn’t capitalize. 

ATLANTA – Two big bats are back for the O’s brigade. 

After scoring just two total runs in their last two games, notably against Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi, it’s an offense that could use a boost of momentum. Tonight in Atlanta, the Orioles are hoping to get it. 

For the first time in a week, Jordan Westburg gets the start at third base. Westburg had missed the last five games with an injury to his left index finger, the same injury that kept him out for a short stretch two weeks ago. 

“Obviously, we kind of had to sit on that for the week,” interim manager Tony Mansolino said before the game. “Is he at 100 percent? Probably not, but I think it’s probably close.”

Westburg could bring some new habits upon returning, too. 

Since Mike Elias and company took the reins in 2019, the Orioles have been one of, if not the most, successful drafting teams in the league. 

Of course, having some top five selections have helped to solidify that podium placement, allowing Baltimore to draft talents like Adley Rutschman, Heston Kjerstad, Colton Cowser and Jackson Holliday. But, it’s important to note that those high draft picks weren’t necessary to acquire great talent. 

In that 2019 draft class, when Rutschman was selected first overall, Gunnar Henderson was drafted by the O’s with the 42nd pick, Kyle Stowers 71st, and Joey Ortiz 108th. 

A year later, when Kjerstad was the second overall pick, Jordan Westburg was 30th and Coby Mayo was 103rd. 

Great drafts aren’t just made by the drafts themselves, though. Once the players are selected, their new player development system is responsible for getting them through the minor leagues and to the big leagues. 

There’s never a good time for one of your star players to go down with injury. But for the Orioles and Adley Rutschman, the timing of the star catcher’s left oblique strain couldn’t have been much worse. 

Since Rutschman’s promotion to the big leagues a few seasons ago, Baltimore has gone as their face of the franchise has gone. When Rutschman plays well, generally, the Orioles play well. That’s exactly what we saw in June. 

In the month, Rutschman’s 2025 was turning around. The catcher hit .309 with a .381 on-base percentage, posting an OPS close to .900 with just eight strikeouts and seven walks. It’s no surprise, then, that the O’s were 11-6 in the 17 games that Rutschman was healthy in the month. 

Now, the Orioles must navigate life without him until at least the All-Star break, according to interim skipper Tony Mansolino. 

Rutschman’s injury, and its ramifications, was the topic of discussion on this week’s edition of “The Bird’s Nest,” which you can watch here: https://masn.me/qp9slhbj. 

TAMPA – It was an ominous night of baseball at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

Under normal circumstances, the 4-1 Orioles win would’ve been the leading story. After last night’s loss, they turned things around to deliver an all-around win and secure a series split. 

Instead, minds were and continue to be elsewhere. 

In the seventh inning, a foul ball off the bat of Adley Rutschman took an unfortunate line to the Rays’ dugout. The hard-hit struck reliever Hunter Bigge, who, along with being hit on the side of the face, took a scary fall into the dugout. The game was stopped for a long stretch as medical personnel attended to Bigge. After some time, he was placed on a stretcher and gave a thumbs-up to the concerned crowd. He exited the field on a cart with medical staff attending to him. 

Throughout the night, some positive updates about Bigge have rolled in. According to Rays reporters, manager Kevin Cash said that Bigge was coherent and talking to the physician at a local hospital. The hope is that these are just the first of many positive updates. 

TAMPA – “That’s a really, really frustrating loss.”

That was the takeaway from Andrew Kittredge after last night’s game, one in which the Orioles led by eight in the second inning only to lose by four at the end of it.

“Not much to say on that one,” Cedric Mullins added. “That's a tough loss. Definitely one you want to flush as soon as possible. Get back at it tomorrow.”

That’s the mentality that the Orioles are bringing to the ballpark today, looking to rebound after last night’s deflating loss. But there’s no rallying cry from interim manager Tony Mansolino. The players know what they need to do. 

“I think if every day I’ve got to rally the troops and have a team meeting and give a message, I don’t know if it’s the right guys,” Mansolino said of his clubhouse today. “We definitely don’t need that with these guys. They know. I was just in the hitters’ meeting just now. It’s energetic, they’re laughing, they’re talking, they’re trying to figure out how to beat Rasmussen right now.” 

TAMPA – Eight runs on seven hits. 

That was the line for the Baltimore Orioles tonight in the second inning alone. 

Twelve runs on 18 hits. 

That was the line for the Tampa Bay Rays tonight in innings three through seven.  

It culminated in a 12-8 Orioles loss, a tale of two games that the Orioles found themselves on the wrong end of. A contest that had the makings of a blowout still resulted in a victory with a comfortable margin, but not for the team that had an 8-0 advantage after two. 

TAMPA – Nobody wants their window of opportunity in the big leagues to open due to injury. Unfortunately, that’s the nature of the game and the reality for some, especially for those grinding away at Triple-A.  

Ryan Mountcastle’s extended absence affords Coby Mayo the opportunity to get a look without fear of demotion. Mayo has been working hard at first base and improving at the plate, making the most of his chance. 

Now, that window is open for Trevor Rogers. His previous start came as the 27th man in a doubleheader. But with Cade Povich now serving stint on the injured list, Rogers figures to get at least a few turns in the rotation. 

“It’s an opportunity, and I’m very excited for that,” Rogers told reporters yesterday. “We’ll see what comes of it.” 

His first chance back in the bigs since May comes against a talented Rays lineup tonight. But that start against Boston a few weeks ago was a stellar one, in which the lefty tossed 6 ⅓ shoutout innings, allowing just two hits and no walks with five strikeouts. 

TAMPA – The Rays’ offense entered tonight’s game scorching hot. In four consecutive games, all wins, Tampa had posted at least seven runs. 

For the first time in what has felt like a long time, the Rays were stifled. Orioles pitching won the night in Baltimore's 5-1 victory. 

"It seems like 26 guys are playing well right now," interim manager Tony Mansolino said after the game.

The story was Dean Kremer and the bullpen, but the O's offense got things started. 

All Jordan Westburg has done since returning from the injured list is produce. His second-inning double, hit over 110 mph off the bat, set the Orioles up with their first scoring chance of the night. Ryan O’Hearn pushed him to third, and Ramón Laureano brought him home to make it 1-0 Baltimore. 

TAMPA – Nobody would blame Ryan O’Hearn for paying close attention to stats.

In the midst of a career season, the 31-year-old is hoping for his first All-Star selection. For a player optioned or designated for assignment five times during his professional career, the bid would signify the epitome of perseverance in the game. 

As such, the do-it-all slugger has earned the right to doom scroll box scores when he wakes up in his Florida hotel tomorrow morning. 

Instead, he’ll be doing arts and crafts. 

“Get out of the hotel, go serve somebody beside yourself, people who really need it,” O’Hearn said. 

TAMPA – The Rays and Orioles entered play tonight as two of the hotter teams in baseball. The Florida heat only added to their rising temperatures. 

Tampa Bay had won 18 of their last 25 and were on the heels of a three-game sweep of the New York Mets. The Orioles went 15-10 over that same stretch, 11-4 in their last 15, and were fresh off a three-game sweep of the Angels. 

Something had to give. 

Tonight, it was the O’s starting pitching that gave in a 7-1 loss. The pillar of their recent stretch of success was anything but. 

Tampa Bay struck early and they struck often. On Zach Eflin’s fourth pitch of the game, Josh Lowe skied a ball to right field that found some outfield seats. At 334 feet with a 97.9 mph exit velocity, it was hit just well enough to get out of the ballpark. 

TAMPA – For the second consecutive road series, the Orioles find themselves in a minor league park. 

The Rays’ temporary home of George M. Steinbrenner Stadium, though, has a bit more familiarity than the Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. 

“I mean, it’s Yankee Stadium, it’s just in Florida,” Tony Mansolino said today. “So, we kind of know the stadium.” Just a bit hotter than New York. 

“I do think actually playing in Sacramento kind of prepared you to come here because it got you out of the big league stadium, and the energy and atmosphere that a big league stadium gives you,” Mansolino added. “Understanding that we’ve kind of got to create that ourselves, we definitely learned that in Sacramento.” 

Getting two key pieces back in the lineup is certainly cause for a boost in energy. 

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The result of this afternoon’s game had a heftier weight on the pendulum. 

If victorious, the Orioles would head back to the East Coast winners of two straight series out west and five of six games overall. Couple that with a sweep of the White Sox, and that’s eight of nine. With Jordan Westburg and Cedric Mullins potentially joining a team on a scorching hot streak next week, everything would be coming up Birds.

An impressive sweep of the Mariners bookended by taking care of business against the White Sox and Athletics. That's closing in on "we're so back" territory.  

A 5-1 loss, however, felt monumentally different. 

Entering a fresh series against the Orioles, the Athletics had lost 20 of their previous 22 games. Their rough stretch indicated the possibility that Baltimore could continue to gain some ground in the standings. 

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – “When you’re talking about 10-plus guys on the IL, and now, little by little, they’re coming back. If you understand that, you know that things will turn around," Ramón Laureano said last night. 

"And that’s what we’re seeing right now.”

Things are trending in the right direction in Baltimore. 

After last night’s 7-4, come-from-behind victory, the O’s have a chance to take the series against the Athletics this afternoon. That, of course, would be the first time all season that Baltimore has won three straight series. Their series win in Seattle marked the first time they had won back-to-back series. 

Tomoyuki Sugano’s name penciled into the lineup card gives them a good chance to do it. 

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Pitching has led the way for the Orioles in their recent stretch of success. 

They didn’t allow more than three earned runs in any of their games against the White Sox and Mariners, a streak that was snapped last night. They hadn’t had a blowup outing from a starting pitcher since Zach Eflin’s eight earned runs against the Nationals on May 18. 

That streak ended tonight as well. Charlie Morton allowed four runs in the first inning, and the Orioles found themselves staring at a first-inning deficit. 

Call it momentum or a mentality shift, but tonight, things were different. 

Early in the season, a start like that might have buried Baltimore. On a pleasant night in West Sacramento, though, the Birds battled back and came out on top 7-4.