The Home Run Derby and 96th All-Star Game are over and the Orioles fly to Houston later today before opening their series Friday night against the Astros. They haven’t named their starters and could deviate from the present order of Dean Kremer, Trevor Rogers and Brandon Young.

However the rotation lines up, the Orioles need it to keep performing at the same high level that’s gotten them out of last place and back to only two games out of the last Wild Card. They’re bringing a season-high four-game winning streak to Daikin Park.

“They definitely set the tone,” said Jeremiah Jackson. “They kind of run it. When we’re on defense, when they’re doing their thing and they’re mowing guys down and they’re getting quick outs, it kind of helps us. It kind of jump starts us to go score some runs. And with that being said, also, when we can go put up some runs and we can score runs like we’re doing right now, it gives the pitchers a lot more room to be comfortable and just do their thing.”

Asked about the starters after Sunday’s game, outfielder Taylor Ward described them as “unbelievable.”

“So fun to play behind. KB (Kyle Bradish) last night doing his thing, pounding the zone,” Ward added. “Tempo’s great. I mean, it’s just awesome to play behind.”

Bradish didn’t surrender a hit against the Royals for six innings Saturday, was charged with one run in 6 2/3 and shaved his ERA to 3.61, its lowest mark of the season. He’s posted a 2.12 ERA in his last five starts.

As it turned out, Bradish wasn’t the only Oriole who didn’t notice the no-hit bid as quickly as some others.

“You know, I actually didn’t realize until the fifth,” Ward said. “I looked up and saw they didn’t have any hits. Pretty cool.

“He’s got the stuff, and I was really pulling for him, obviously. It was just fun to play behind him, and him get the win. He’s got the potential for sure to throw a no-hitter, so I was really hoping for him.”

Brandon Young deserves votes for the mythical first-half team MVO after posting a 3.42 ERA in 15 starts. It was 3.07 on June 21. The Orioles have gone 12-3 in his games.

Trevor Rogers posted a 10.31 ERA and 1.745 WHIP in four starts in May before turning back the clock to 2025. He allowed seven runs in 30 2/3 innings in June for a 2.05 ERA and has surrendered one run in 11 innings this month. Left-handers are hitting .172/.240/.287 against him this year.

Shane Baz completed his first half as an Oriole with a 4.11 ERA in 19 starts. His nine losses are tied for most in the majors, a list that also includes Bradish and isn’t a true reflection of a pitchers’ value. But still, it’s out there.

“Decent” is how Baz described his season thus far after allowing one earned run and two total Sunday with nine strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.

“A lot of things that I can get better at,” he said. “I feel like today was a good step in the right direction. I just felt like I attacked the whole time, stuff like that.

“Yeah, I would say fine. I feel like I can be a lot better. Today, I think, was, like I said, a step in the right direction, and I think the stuff was as good as it has been all year. So that’s obviously good to see, and, you know, I’ll try to pick up right where I left off with my next one.”

Dean Kremer was optioned at the end of camp and strained his right quadriceps after only two starts with the Orioles. He returned July 1 and held the White Sox to one run in six innings. 

The next outing against the Cubs was bizarre, with four runs surrendered on a career-high four homers over five innings. Only five other Orioles starters have allowed four runs but also four homers: Pat Dobson, Mike Flanagan, Jason Hammel, Bud Norris and Bruce Zimmermann.

The only starters left on the injured list are Zach Eflin and Chris Bassitt. Eflin underwent Tommy John surgery after one appearance. Bassitt had a surgical procedure to remove a bone spur in his lower back and could return later in the second half. The Orioles aren’t discounting it.

“It was just one of those things where it was like, ‘Hey, I’ve got to get right so I can help these guys,’” Bassitt told the media in Cincinnati. “Rather than being a liability, I can be an asset again.”

Rotation depth down below includes Trey Gibson, who didn’t make his scheduled start with Triple-A Norfolk due to an illness. Cade Povich also could be recalled. And president of baseball operations Mike Elias is expected to check on available starters if the Orioles buy at the deadline.

The bullpen looks much more vulnerable, especially without closer Ryan Helsley and left-hander Keegan Akin. Elias needed to work on it anyway and the urgency increased with the two subtractions.

The Orioles are counting on Helsley’s return later in the summer. Maybe he can walk through the door arm-in-arm with Félix Bautista. Akin got a second opinion on his left elbow Tuesday from Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington, Texas and underwent ligament-reconstructive surgery yesterday.

This team needs a couple of high-leverage relievers and especially a lefty.

“Those are two pretty important pieces, but I think the talent that we’ve had in the bullpen has been really good and guys have stepped up so far,” said Andrew Kittredge, who recorded saves in back-to-back games last week. “I think injuries are unfortunately just part of the game that you almost expect to lose a guy or two every year. But unfortunately with Helsley being a huge piece of our ‘pen, that was a big blow. But we’ve got a lot of talent down there, guys that can kind of step in.

“No one’s going to replace Helsley, but we’ve got a lot of talent down there, guys that can kind of step in. No one’s going to replace Helsley, but guys that can kind of fill shoes in different roles. I think we’ve done a pretty good job so far.”

The bullpen didn’t surrender a run in 8 2/3 innings in the Royals series, but a 4.23 ERA, while improved, ranks 18th in the majors. Dumping Helsley and Bautista into it would provide a tremendous lift if they’re healthy and the rust is gone.

“You know getting both those guys back would be huge,” Kittredge said. “I know at that point it’s almost like you’ve got a lot of mouths to feed down there, but at the same time it’s a good problem to have when you have that kind of talent in an eight-man bullpen.”

Kittredge has watched Bautista from the other side and while in the Orioles’ bullpen before his trade to the Cubs in July 2025.

“He went down in Cleveland and that was like a week or two before the deadline,” Kittredge said. “ I know he was coming off his surgery, so I don’t even think I really got the full experience. He was still very good, but kind of that first full year off Tommy John, it takes them a little bit to get back in. But he was still lights out at the beginning of last year. Fun to play with him and watch what he can do. And I know he’s capable of even more.”