The pause button can be used only for one day.

The Orioles resume their season tonight, if the weather cooperates, by starting a 10-game homestand that could reveal exactly who they are in the fourth week of May and with summer approaching.

The Tigers lost their sixth game in a row yesterday, the last four to the Guardians, and are 20-31 and in last place in the American League Central, including a 7-19 record on the road. They’ve got their own problems, including tonight’s starter, former Oriole Jack Flaherty, who’s 0-5 with a 5.77 ERA and 1.603 WHIP in 10 outings. He’s walked 29 in 43 2/3 innings.

Pete Alonso is 3-for-6 with a double, home run and two walks against Flaherty.

Chris Bassitt has registered a 5.44 ERA and 1.698 WHIP in nine appearances, including eight starts, and he couldn’t mask his frustration and disappointment in D.C. after allowing four runs and six hits in five innings in a 13-3 loss. He didn’t try to do it. He wasn’t going to put on an act for the media.

Asked whether this is the toughest beginning to any season, Bassitt replied “Yeah, obviously.”

Anything positive to take away from the outing?

“Nothing,” he said. “I’m too old to deal with the positives. It was a bad game, bad loss.”

You’ve got to appreciate his honesty.

The Orioles were counting on innings and consistency from Bassitt when signing him to an $18.5 million contract on Feb. 13. Take the ball every fifth or sixth day and give the team a chance to win, as he’s done so many times in his 12-year career. Be a stabilizing force.

“One thing I’ve always respected about Chris is the way that he’s able to change speeds and change lanes,” pitching strategy coach Ryan Klimek said last weekend. “So I think just continuing to get his command refined, trusting his stuff in the zone. Those are the things that are gonna help him change speeds, keep hitters off balance.”

The rotation stays in order with Brandon Young Saturday and Trevor Rogers Sunday, but storms in the forecast could create changes.

The Tigers announced left-hander Framber Valdez for Saturday but are TBA for Sunday.

Valdez was linked to the Orioles throughout the offseason until he signed a three-year, $115 million deal with Detroit, much less than projected and perhaps caused by personality concerns in the industry. The Orioles met with him but didn’t appear to be a finalist despite reports that labeled them as the favorite.

Not only is Valdez dragging a 4.58 ERA and 1.400 WHIP in 10 starts and striking out a career-low 7.4 batters per nine innings, he was suspended five games for intentionally hitting Trevor Story with a pitch.

The Tigers have varying issues, as you’d expect from a last-place club that’s lost nine of 10 and 14 of 16.

Their 196 runs scored ranked 26th in the majors after a loss to Cleveland completed a four-game sweep. Their .690 OPS was 23rd and .372 slugging percentage 25th. The rotation has a 4.01 ERA and doesn’t have two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, who underwent surgery to remove a bone chip from his elbow.

In outs above average rankings, the Tigers’ defense was dead last yesterday at minus-21.

The Orioles, by comparison, are minus-13, which ranked 27th yesterday. It may surprise some folks that the Rays were 28th at minus-14.

The Tigers were batting .250 with runners in scoring position yesterday to rank 15th in the majors, while the Orioles were 21st at .237.

Injuries are leaving the Tigers’ roster in tatters. Among the 15 residents on the IL are Justin Verlander, Kerry Carpenter, Gleyber Torres, Javier Báez, Beau Brieske, Ty Madden, Jackson Jobe and Parker Meadows. Troy Melton reportedly could be reinstated from the 60-day IL and start Sunday against the Orioles.

The Baltimore pitching staff has a 4.97 ERA that ranked 26th yesterday and the rotation’s 5.11 ERA was last in the American League and 28th overall. A 1.52 WHIP and .275 opponents’ average were last in the AL and 29th overall.

*Class-A Delmarva pitcher Hunter Allen underwent surgery this week to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. Dr. Keith Meister handled the procedure in Arlington, Texas.

Allen, 22, was a seventh-round pick in the 2025 draft out of Ashland University in Ohio. He made two relief appearance this year and allowed five runs with nine walks and 11 strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.