The Orioles remain 7 ½ games behind in pursuit of the last Wild Card spot after last night’s 7-6, 10-inning loss to the Mets. Thirteen games separate them from the first-place Blue Jays.

There’s still a chance, but it’s barely a flicker.

Tomoyuki Sugano is trying to get back to the form that produced a 3.04 ERA through 12 starts. He’s registered an 8.87 ERA and 2.149 WHIP in his last five outings to leave his overall numbers at 4.44 and 1.307 in 93 1/3 innings.

Sugano has allowed seven home runs in his last four starts over 18 innings.

Jackson Holliday is the designated hitter tonight. Holliday has recorded an RBI in three straight games (five RBIs total) after collecting one in the previous nine games.

Last night’s game at Camden Yards moved the Orioles a little closer to the trade deadline and identifying as buyers or sellers. The players drawing interest from other clubs mostly are pending free agents and easy to figure out. They know how it works, their names appearing in various articles and outlets. Tune it out or let it become a distraction.

Tony Mansolino is experiencing another first as interim manager – handling a clubhouse that could undergo many changes before Aug. 1.

He executed a positive spin on the subject during yesterday’s media scrum, before a four-run lead disappeared in the eighth in a 7-6, 10-inning loss to the Mets.

“In a lot of ways, I think all those stories are kind of making my job easier because it’s motivating these guys,” he said. “A lot of these guys don’t want to go anywhere. They like it here, so as every story kind of comes across the desk a little bit or something gets tweeted or however it’s put out there - I don’t really pay attention to a whole lot of it myself – I know it kind of creates a lot of motivation for these guys.

“There’s a lot of chatter in there about trying to stay here, trying to get this thing going, so it’s kind of making my job a little bit easier in some ways.”

Bryan Baker turned to watch the flight of another baseball heading for the center field fence. He stood with his hand on his hip, certain of the outcome. Pete Alonso knew it, too, carrying his bat most of the way to first base before flipping it in celebration.

A pair of two-run homers off Baker in the eighth inning made a 6-2 lead disappear, and the Orioles would be tested to get back up again, knowing how every loss rips into their hopes for a playoff push and increases the likelihood that the front office sells at the trade deadline.

They couldn't get back on their feet. 

The Mets scored a run against Yennier Cano in the top of the 10th inning and defeated the Orioles 7-6 before an announced Hawaiian shirt crowd of 35,200 at Camden Yards.

Juan Soto had an RBI single off Cano. The Mets loaded the bases with one out and couldn't pad their lead, but it didn't matter. Huascar Brazobán kept the automatic runner, Jackson Holliday, at second base.

Cade Povich has received a second opinion on his left hip and he threw in the bullpen a few days ago. He’s scheduled for two ups in another session this afternoon.

The resumption of an injury rehab assignment is getting close. The Orioles happily will take positive news.

Povich was pulled from his first assignment at Triple-A Norfolk in late June due to recurring soreness in his hip. He hasn’t pitched for the Orioles since tossing 3 2/3 scoreless relief innings on June 15.

“Everything’s feeling good,” he said today. “I think we kind of had the idea that when I went to Norfolk everything was pretty good. In the first inning, just tried to make a play. It was kind of a freak thing. My foot kind of caught and twisted in a way that I think put a little pressure on the hip. So it could have been the same thing, it could be something a little different, but we’re just trying to work back and everything’s feeling good right now.”

Povich saw a hip specialist in Nashville to get his second opinion.

Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino said initial projections have catcher Gary Sánchez missing eight to 10 weeks with a right knee sprain.

Sánchez, who’s on the 10-day injured list retroactive to Sunday, met with doctors earlier today.

“There’s always a scenario where it could go really good for Gary and it can be a little earlier,” Mansolino said, “but I think initial estimates are probably that.”

Sánchez missed more than six weeks with right wrist inflammation. He was 18-for-61 (.295) with five home runs since returning to the active roster.

“It is gonna be tough,” Mansolino said. “He’s been swinging the bat so good. He’s carried us. He hit a lot of big homers, carried us in a lot of ways."

The All-Star Game is a week from today, which is the unofficial halfway point of the season.

The Orioles are playing their 90^th game tonight, against the Mets at Camden Yards, to begin their last homestand before the break. They can move eight below .500 for the first time since May 6.

Four days off before another trip to Tampa present an opportunity to process everything that’s happened and wonder exactly how they got to this point. How so many surprises attached to one team like barnacles. 

* Rather than challenge for a division title, the Orioles are stuck in last place.

* Their two best starters are Trevor Rogers and Charlie Morton.

Age doesn’t matter to Keagan Gillies. It’s just a number and part of his baseball journey.

What’s important is where he’s headed – from Double-A to Triple-A and to next Saturday’s All-Star Futures Game in Atlanta.

Gillies learned about his selection shortly before the Orioles bumped him another level in their farm system. Chesapeake Baysox manager Roberto Mercado delivered the news after Gillies came out of the game, ample reward for a reliever with a 1.15 ERA, 0.574 WHIP and eight saves in 26 appearances.

“I’m very pumped up. It’s gonna be a fun time,” said Gillies, the first Tulane University alumnus chosen since the Tigers’ Jake Rogers in 2019.

“It was surprising. I know I had worked hard for this, I know that I had a good season up to this point, but to be recognized in this way, it’s an honor and I’m grateful for it.

Ryan O’Hearn will have to make new friends at the All-Star Game.

The reserves and pitchers were announced today and none of the other Orioles are joining O’Hearn at Truist Park in Atlanta.

Second baseman Jackson Holliday, who went 4-for-4 with a two-run homer today in a 2-1 win over the Braves, advanced to Phase 2 of voting but didn’t have his name called.

Holliday is batting .260 with 13 doubles, two triples, 11 home runs, 36 RBIs and a .724 OPS in 82 games and has emerged as the everyday leadoff hitter. He’s only the fourth Oriole with multiple four-hit games before turning 22, joining Manny Machado and Hall of Famers Brooks Robinson and Eddie Murray.

Closer Félix Bautista, outfielder Ramón Laureano and shortstop Gunnar Henderson also appeared to have a chance at an All-Star selection.

The Orioles go for their fourth sweep this morning in an 11:35 a.m. Roku game against the Braves.

Their record against the National League improved to 7-13, and they’re 1-6 in interleague series.

A win today would bring them to nine games below .500 for the first time since June 20 in New York.

Catcher Gary Sánchez left yesterday’s game with right knee discomfort and is out of today’s lineup. He underwent an MRI and the Orioles summoned David Bañuelos from Triple-A Norfolk for their medical taxi squad.

Running thin again at the position, the Orioles acquired catcher Alex Jackson from the Yankees today in exchange for international bonus pool space and a player to be named later or cash considerations.

The All-Star reserves and pitchers will be announced at 5 p.m. on ESPN, and the Orioles find out whether Ryan O’Hearn has company on his return trip to Atlanta, where they conclude a three-game series against the Braves with an 11:35 a.m. Roku start.

Most of the All-Star attention seems to be focused on second baseman Jackson Holliday, who advanced to Phase 2 in his bid to start for the American League but lost to the Tigers’ Gleyber Torres. Holliday stroked a game-tying, run-scoring single yesterday against the Braves but was in a 2-for-24 slump before the hit.

Holliday is deserving of a selection and would be a fun story as the 21-year-old former first-overall draft pick whose father, Matt, was a seven-time All-Star.

Ramón Laureano has entered the chat. He began yesterday batting .273/.341/.508 with 14 doubles and 10 home runs in 60 games, and he delivered a tie-breaking double yesterday in the 10^th inning.

He also has those seven outfield assists.

Orioles catcher Gary Sánchez avoided a second trip to the injured list after a Gregory Soto pitch in the dirt nailed him on the finger Tuesday night at Globe Life Field.  

Can he do it again?

Sánchez exited today’s game against the Braves in the bottom of the fifth inning with right knee soreness after making a tag at the plate to end the fourth. He was in obvious pain, as shown on the MASN broadcast.

Austin Riley doubled to left field with two outs to score Ronald Acuña Jr. with the tying run. Colton Cowser retrieved the ball and fired to Gunnar Henderson, whose relay nabbed Matt Olson.

Sánchez made the sweeping tag and got his left arm tangled with Olson, which appeared to be the source of the injury. But the team identified it as his knee.

Coby Mayo is out of the lineup today for the fourth game in a row, as the Orioles continue their series against the Braves in Atlanta.

Mayo came off the bench for one at-bat Tuesday night in Texas. He has 11 hits and eight RBIs in his last 37.

Tyler O’Neill is in right field for the first time since going on the injured list and missing almost two months. He was the designated hitter last night.

Ramón Laureano is the DH and cleanup hitter. Gary Sánchez is catching.

Dean Kremer has lowered his ERA to 4.27 in 17 games (16 starts). He tossed seven scoreless innings against the Rays in his last outing, and opponents have managed only two runs in 17 2/3 in his last three starts. He hasn’t surrendered a home run in his last seven starts.

The mailbag didn’t make it any further than the first leg of the road trip. Given the rash of injuries, just be glad that it didn’t strain a muscle. Or get a rash.

The Orioles are playing the Braves in Atlanta and I’m sorting through the latest round of questions. You ask, I try to answer, and we have another sequel to the beloved 2008 original.

I don’t care about clarity, length, style or brevity, but I do care about Beavers, and young Dylan gets some attention today.

Also, my mailbag is an All-Star and your mailbag has its insurance coverage dropped by Allstate.  

What happened to Emmanuel Rivera?
Rivera cleared outright waivers again and accepted an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk. Again. Wash, rinse ... you know the drill.

Tyler O’Neill was reinstated from the injured list earlier today, giving the Orioles their projected starting outfield with Cedric Mullins and Colton Cowser.

O’Neill has appeared in only 24 games this season due to neck inflammation and a left shoulder impingement. His last at-bat in the majors was May 15.

During his absence, O’Neill remained stuck in 1-for-23 and 2-for-38 slumps. His last home run was hit April 13.

The Orioles optioned Dylan Carlson after Wednesday's game in Texas in anticipation of O'Neill's return.

O’Neill is expected to be in the lineup tonight, as the Orioles begin a three-game series against the Braves in Atlanta.

Tony Mansolino delivered the news Wednesday afternoon, first on the lineup posted and then in his daily dugout media session. The interim manager was given the freedom to write in Gary Sánchez’s name. Among another flurry of Orioles roster moves, an activity that qualifies as cardio on this team, they wouldn’t need a sixth catcher this season.

Not yet, anyway. It would be dumb to think that only five players will wear the tools of ignorance.

The Orioles broke camp with the expected pairing of Sánchez and Adley Rutschman. The competitions didn’t spill behind the plate. Only an injury would disrupt the duo.

And then, it happened. Again and again.

Sánchez went on the IL April 29 with right wrist inflammation. Maverick Handley was involved in a home plate collision June 22 in New York and remains on the concussion list. Handley was recalled because Rutschman strained his oblique the previous day during batting practice.

ARLINGTON, Texas – Another check on the trade interest generated by the Orioles still finds teams targeting their bullpen and All-Star first baseman Ryan O’Hearn. Nothing has changed or should be deemed as surprising.

Any club in the market for relievers is keeping tabs on Seranthony Domínguez, Gregory Soto and Andrew Kittredge. The $9 million option on Kittredge’s contract could be a deterrent in some organizations or bring appeal due to the controllability.

I had one scout suggest that the cost might be too rich for his team’s ownership, but that certainly won’t be true with others.

I’ve also heard Keegan Akin’s name come up with a few teams. He’s got another year of arbitration eligibility and can be used in long relief and as an opener.

Akin surrendered a game-tying three-run homer to Adolis García in the 10^th inning Monday night and went on the 15-day injured list yesterday with shoulder inflammation. He’s allowed four earned runs and five total with nine hits in his last four appearances covering 4 1/3 innings and has raised his ERA from 2.67 to 3.32.

ARLINGTON, Texas – The Orioles made another series of roster moves today and celebrated Ryan O’Hearn’s election to the All-Star Game. They addressed their latest injury and dodged a more serious one. And they hoped that, at some point in the 2025 season, they might jump off the wave that lifts and dumps them.  

They had another splashdown tonight at Globe Life Field.

Marcus Semien hit a three-run homer off Tomoyuki Sugano in the third inning, and the lead grew, along with the right-hander’s slump, in a 6-0 loss to the Rangers.

Ezequiel Duran’s two-run single in the fourth and Corey Seager’s leadoff homer in the fifth pushed Sugano further into the deep end, and the Orioles couldn’t rescue him. They need to find some answers.

The impressive beginning to Sugano’s major league career has given way to a stretch of 22 earned runs (23 total) and 40 hits allowed over 22 1/3 innings in five outings. His ERA is 4.44.

ARLINGTON, Texas – The voting is done. The results are in. And Ryan O’Hearn will get less time to rest at the All-Star break.

He couldn’t be happier.

O’Hearn finished first at designated hitter for the American League by receiving 78 percent of the votes, placing ahead of the Yankees’ Ben Rice. He won the Phase 1 balloting to reach the two-man final and held his ground.  

Second baseball Jackson Holliday finished behind the Tigers’ Gleyber Torres but still can make the team as a backup.

Pitchers and reserves, totaling 23 for each league, are determined through a combination of “Player Ballot” choices and selections coming from the commissioner’s office. The rest of the rosters will be announced Sunday at 5 p.m. on ESPN.

ARLINGTON, Texas – Gary Sánchez stays in the Orioles lineup tonight after being hit on the finger last night in the eighth inning.

The X-rays must have come back negative because Sánchez is the designated hitter. Jacob Stallings makes his first start with the Orioles.

Jordan Westburg is out of the lineup for a fifth consecutive day due to soreness in his left index finger.

Ramón Laureano is playing right field and batting second. Ryan O’Hearn is the first baseman and cleanup hitter. Coby Mayo is on the bench.

On a busy day, the Orioles also signed infielder/outfielder Jose Barrero to a minor league contract.

ARLINGTON, Texas – The Orioles conclude their series against the Rangers tonight after another round of roster moves, the latest aimed at reshuffling the bullpen.

Yennier Cano has returned from Triple-A Norfolk and left-hander Keegan Akin goes on the 15-day injured list with left shoulder inflammation. The Orioles selected Corbin Martin’s contract from Norfolk and designated Matt Bowman for assignment again.

Cano was optioned June 22 after posting a 4.73 ERA and 1.388 WHIP in 32 appearances. He pitched twice for Norfolk and allowed one run in two innings.

Akin surrendered a game-tying, three-run homer to Adolis García in the 10^th inning Monday. He allowed four earned runs and five total with nine hits in his last four outings over 4 1/3 innings.

Martin hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2022 with the Diamondbacks. The Orioles claimed him on waivers from the Brewers in May 2024 and he has 5.29 ERA in 29 appearances with the Tides.