The schedule is down to six games before the Orioles reach the All-Star break, with three against the Cubs and three against the Royals at Camden Yards. They’ve gone 24-23 at home and 18-26 on the road.

Only a half-game separates the Orioles and last-place Red Sox, winners of three in a row.

The American League is a mess. How else to explain the Rays emerging as the best team at 52-36? The Yankees losing nine of 10 and 12 of 15 before defeating the Rays last night? The White Sox being in first place at 47-42 after three straight 100-loss seasons? The Mariners being in first place while only three games above .500 and the Rangers settling into second at 45-45?

All of it makes life more complicated for Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias, who’s running out of time to determine whether to buy or sell. Or maybe it’s somewhere in between.

“I think at the end of the day we just have to compete and win each day, and then all that stuff will kind of figure itself out as we go,” said infielder Jeremiah Jackson. “We’re just ready for the next game and we’re just looking to dominate today and play our brand of baseball moving forward every day.”

The Athletic’s Jim Bowden wrote that the Orioles “have made it clear that starting pitching continues to be their top priority in all trade discussions,” which is interesting, since the bullpen is a much bigger concern – and that was true before closer Ryan Helsley and left-hander Keegan Akin were lost to elbow injuries. Meanwhile, the rotation has emerged as a strength and the prime reason why the Orioles are hanging on in the Wild Card chase.

Relievers also cost less in prospects or young major league talent.

“It’s fun to play behind,” Jackson said of the rotation. “They’re doing well. They’re grinding. We are, too. I think as a whole right now, as a team, I think we’re in a great spot, and moving forward, it’s gonna be a lot of fun days ahead of us.”

Bowden also wrote that he expects the Orioles to pursue Tarik Skubal if the Tigers make him available, but that the Angels’ Reid Detmers and José Soriano are the best fits. I’d say they’re also much more realistic targets. Elias would have to part with his top prospects for a rental, so the club needs to give him a reason to even consider it.

Also, Bowden recommends that the Red Sox sell. That half-game that separates them from the Orioles must seem much larger.

Unless the Orioles go with six starters, they’d have to fit a trade acquisition in a unit that currently has Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, Shane Baz, Dean Kremer and Brandon Young. They might have to dig into whatever rotation depth exists, and someone like Trey Gibson is bound to attract interest. Young certainly will, too, if the Orioles really are all-in at the deadline and try to reel in the biggest catch.

Grant Wolfram is the only left-hander in the Orioles’ bullpen and that’s got to change. Aroldis Chapman could be available and he’d fill a gaping hole with the club unsure about Helsley’s return. And another southpaw for the bridge to Chapman also makes sense.

The deadline could resemble 2024, when Elias landed starters Rogers and Zach Eflin and relievers Seranthony Domínguez and Gregory Soto. But he also could aim higher offensively than Eloy Jiménez, Austin Slater and Christian Pache.

The next few weeks could bring clarity to Elias’ plans, whether the Orioles go on a serious run or fall flat. The haze remains if they keep taking a few steps forward and a few back.

The seller side of the Orioles exposes players on expiring contracts, and that includes Rogers, outfielder Taylor Ward and reliever Andrew Kittredge. Helsley has an opt-out in his contract, but his injury complicates any potential discussions. Akin’s elbow and first baseman Ryan Mountcastle’s fractured foot have the same effect.

Elias isn’t adverse to trading players under team control, which he demonstrated last summer while parting with Kittredge, reliever Bryan Baker, infielder Ramón Urias and outfielder Ramón Laureano. And he could seek controllable players in return if his vision extends past 2026.

The Cubs arrived in Baltimore with a 50-40 record that put them in second place in the National League Central. They’ve won six of their last eight games and 12 of 16, and they have a plus-46 run differential.

The offense has totaled 455 runs that ranked fourth yesterday in the majors, and a .747 OPS ranked fifth. But the rotation’s 4.62 ERA was 24th.

Outfielder Peter Crow-Armstrong ranks second in the majors with a 5.5 fWAR. He’s batting .292/.383/.527 with 14 doubles, four triples, 19 home runs, 49 RBIs, 41 walks and 23 stolen bases in 90 games.

Left-hander Matthew Boyd makes his eighth start, and third since his reinstatement from the injured list. He underwent surgery on his left knee on May 7 and was set to return before experiencing soreness in his left shoulder. He tossed 4 2/3 scoreless innings on June 25 against the Mets and allowed three runs and eight hits in five innings against the Padres.

Boyd has made six career starts against the Orioles and posted a 4.83 ERA in 31 2/3 innings. He’s allowed three runs with 14 strikeouts in 10 1/3 innings in his two starts at Camden Yards.

Pete Alonso is 0-for-5 with four strikeouts.