Four more questions relating to Orioles before they return home

The West Coast trip winds to a finish this afternoon, with the Orioles unable to run their sweep streak to three series. The mighty Athletics ruined those plans on Friday night. 

The season is 63 games old and the Orioles entered last night 12 below .500, 14 out of first place in the division and 8 ½ from the last Wild Card. Only the A’s and White Sox had worse records.

The most basic math tells us that elimination isn’t imminent. The second week in June leaves a lot of season to be played. But each loss feels like another shovelful of dirt is dumped on them.

That’s the way it is when a team digs such a deep hole for itself.

Let’s visit or review a few more questions that hover around the Orioles, who are off Monday before hosting the Tigers, owners of the best record in baseball.

Should Coby Mayo play every day?

This is also known as “getting the Heston Kjerstad treatment.”

Ryan Mountcastle is expected to be out for at least two months with a Grade 2 hamstring strain. There isn’t an indisputable reason for Mayo to sit unless he’s resting. He’s the No. 2 prospect in the system, according to outlets like Baseball America that didn’t graduate him, and he’s been subjected to sporadic playing time and shuttling from Triple-A Norfolk to the majors and back.

The lineup can hold Mayo, Kjerstad and Ryan O’Hearn between first base, the corner outfield and designated hitter. Mayo also can play third. Player evaluations bring less risk to a season that’s dumped the Orioles in last place.

A recent stretch of success raised hopes, which doesn’t have to lower Mayo’s opportunities.

The A’s started right-hander Luis Severino last night and Mayo was on the bench after his double and walk in the series opener. The Orioles have to decide whether he stays untouchable and is viewed as the future first baseman, especially with O’Hearn a possible trade chip at the deadline and a pending free agent. They also can’t risk lowering Mayo's value.

One roster move is down, but what’s next?

Outfielder Jordyn Adams was on borrowed time and the Orioles designated him for assignment Friday while reinstating outfielder Ramón Laureano from the 10-day injured list. Infielder Jordan Westburg was expected to arrive ahead of Laureano, but the Orioles apparently will wait until the homestand.

Westburg, outfielder Tyler O’Neill and catcher Gary Sánchez seem to be next in line, with Cedric Mullins to follow. Sánchez can switch places with Maverick Handley, but the other three moves aren’t as simple.

Mayo, Kjerstad, Emmanuel Rivera, Jorge Mateo and Dylan Carlson are the healthy choices. Rivera can play first base, but keeping him strays from the prospect evaluation. Carlson has done everything to warrant a roster spot, but keeping him strays from the prospect evaluation.

Is Trevor Rogers on the clock for another promotion?

Rogers started Game 1 of yesterday’s doubleheader in Louisville and carried a shutout into the seventh before surrendering two runs in a 2-1 walk-off loss. He scattered 11 hits, which is the only way to describe that amount over 6 2/3 innings.

Rogers was the 27^th man for the doubleheader in Boston and tossed 6 1/3 scoreless innings with only two hits. Coupled with his last two starts for Norfolk, Rogers had worked a total of 18 2/3 innings and allowed four runs with no walks and 12 strikeouts.

The fastball velocity averaged 92.3 mph yesterday, compared to 93.3 against the Red Sox, when he topped out at 95.6. The key points are that he’s getting outs, pounding the zone and working deeper into games.

The Orioles arrived in Sacramento with far fewer concerns about their rotation, before Dean Kremer and Charlie Morton stumbled. The bullpen is down to two left-handers with Cionel Pérez outrighted to Norfolk, and one way to make room for Rogers would be to move Cade Povich to relief if he isn’t optioned. Or the club could wait through the trade deadline, when there might be some movement.

Of course, with the number of injuries striking again this season, the Orioles might only have to wait for an opening to present itself.

And speaking of Pérez …

Does he get another shot with the Orioles? And what happened to him?

Pérez made his first and only appearance for Norfolk Tuesday in Louisville and tossed a scoreless inning with a walk.

The final straw for the Orioles was the five runs charged in an inning on May 23 in Boston. Pérez left with an 8.31 ERA and 2.123 WHIP in 21 2/3 innings, and every team passed on him.

The Orioles exercised the 2025 option on Pérez’s contract that pays $2.2 million, but he remained in decline since 2022, when he was 7-1 with a 1.40 ERA in 66 games.

The Tides didn’t use their bullpen yesterday in Game 1 of the doubleheader, thanks to Rogers. Game 2 was rained out, which can't be blamed on Rogers.

Pérez has been mostly inactive since Boston. Kind of makes you wonder what’s next in store for him.