First baseman Ryan Mountcastle is on the 60-day injured list with a left foot fracture. His eligibility to return began yesterday.

The progress isn’t that rapid, but it’s happening.

Mountcastle is running down in Sarasota as part of his rehab work.

“He is on the ground with his feet, so it’s a great box to check,” Albernaz said. “Just like anyone, we’re just trying to keep tabs on him and making sure that he’s getting built up appropriately. But yeah, he has his feet on the ground and on the base field.”

The Orioles have 11 players on the injured list, including seven on the 60-day. Zach Eflin is done after one start. Jordan Westburg never made it on the field.

Today’s lineup includes Pete Alonso again, as it has for every game this season.

Alonso has made 65 starts at first base and six as designated hitter. He appeared in 162 games with the Mets in 2024 and 2025 and made it clear at his introductory press conference that he wanted to play every day with the Orioles.

It isn’t entirely his decision, of course.

“If Pete Alonso is in a lineup for 162 games, that’s a great thing, so there’s no stopping,” Albernaz said.

“It’s whatever it dictates, and you know, just like with all our guys, we communicate, see how the bodies are, how they feel. Pete’s been every single day, he’s been saying all the right things and feeling good.”

Alonso is batting .295/.359/.500 (33-for-112) with two doubles, seven homers, 24 RBIs, 12 walk, 16 runs and one hit-by-pitch in 29 games since May 12.

Tyler O’Neill is in right field, again facing a right-handed starter.

Forget the split logic with O’Neill batting from the right side. He’s slashing .246/.355/.385 this season against right-handers, and he’s 6-for-52 against lefties.

The Orioles are trying to get O’Neill on track at the plate and it could be happening. He’s 6-for-16 with three doubles in his last four games and 7-for-22 (.318) this month. He has multiple hits in back-to-back games.

“I talk about process all the time and the work you put in, the prep, but at the end of the day, the players want results,” Albernaz said. “When you have the process, and even though you’re not getting the results, that’s the kind of mental war that’s going on in your head for players. But now that T.O.’s starting to get some results, that’s a, I would say a ‘big relief,’ but also, it’s just a great acknowledgement that all the work that he’s been putting in is now showing up on the field.

“His at-bat quality’s been great. His ability to stay on some tough pitches with two strikes and stay up the middle and the other way has been the biggest thing that’s jumped out.”

Andrew Kittredge has pitched in back-to-back games without allowing a run or hit or walking a batter. He earned his first Orioles save on Thursday.

“He’s been throwing the ball well lately,” Albernaz said. “I think his numbers that we keep on seeing is reflective of when he first came off the IL, but with each outing he keeps on getting better and more comfortable, and that’s why he’s been put in these situations. He’s pitched there before, and the velo’s right where it needs to be. The slider is really sharp and devastating right now. And he’s throwing a ton of strikes, which I think you guys know I like by now is the strike-throwing ability, and that’s where he’s at right now.

“It’s been awesome to have Kitt get back to where he usually has. He’s been there for a while.”

The Orioles have hit 40 home runs since May 16, tied with the Mariners for most in the majors.

Note: This is my last story for today unless news breaks.