The Orioles keep riding a rotation that suffered multiple breakdowns in 2026.

It’s become the No. 1 reason why they aren’t out of the Wild Card chase, even after last night’s 9-5 loss in Minnesota. The bullpen imploded again, with Rico Garcia and Grant Wolfram allowing a combined seven runs, the bats were dead until scoring four times in the last two innings, and the defense committed another error.

Trevor Rogers was the opening day starter and he went on the injured list April 30 with the flu. Chris Bassitt signed an $18.5 million contract, broke camp as the No. 4 starter and had surgery June 27 to remove a bone spur in the facet joint near his lumbar spine. Zach Eflin returned to the Orioles on a $10 million contract with a mutual option and blew out his elbow in his first outing on March 31.

Dean Kremer was a surprise option at the end of camp, made two starts after the Orioles recalled him on April 13 and strained his right quadriceps. He was traded to the Twins on Aug. 1.

Cade Povich went on the IL with left elbow inflammation after a May7 start in Miami and didn’t return to the Orioles until Aug. 4.

One of the most interesting developments in a weird season is how an apparent Achilles’ Heel began to stomp opposing hitters.

The rotation has posted a 3.07 ERA this month, with 16 earned runs in 46 2/3 innings. A dormant offense was an unfortunate counter until erupting Sunday for 10 runs.

Orioles starters had a 3.73 ERA since May 24 before last night, which ranked fifth in the American League. Their ERA prior to that date was 5.13 to put them ahead of only the Rockies (5.55).

Kyle Bradish, returning from his elbow-reconstructive surgery, and Shane Baz are the workhorses with 23 starts, and Rogers made his 22nd last night. Brandon Young is the unexpected come-to-the-rescue Oriole with a 3.43 ERA in 19 starts.

Rogers posted a 2.28 ERA in his last 11 starts before facing the Twins, with 17 earned runs over 67 innings. He was pulled last night after allowing two runs in four innings, his shortest outing since May 18.

Bradish has a 2.85 ERA in his last  nine starts with 17 earned runs over 53 2/3 innings. Baz has a 2.55 ERA in seven starts with 12 earned runs over 42 1/3 innings.

Go back to May 15, and Baz has posted a 2.93 ERA in 15 starts and recorded his first career complete game. This is the guy that the Orioles envisioned when signing him to a five-year, $68 million extension in March.

Young registered a 2.86 ERA in five May starts, a 2.76 ERA in five June outings and a 3.77 ERA in five July starts.

Bradish recorded his 500th strikeout in his 90th career game Saturday night, reaching the milestone in fewer games than anyone in club history. He surpassed Erik Bedard, who did it in 97 games.

Shouldn’t fix what isn’t broken, but change is coming.

Povich was inserted for Kremer but returned to Triple-A after Sunday’s game. Bassitt appears to have competed his rehab assignment after making a third start on Friday and tossing six scoreless innings on 83 pitches. Either he’s replacing Povich or the Orioles are using Thursday’s off-day to temporarily go with four starters.

Manager Craig Albernez didn’t dismiss the idea of going with a six-man rotation when asked on the last homestand, but he also indicated that the Orioles weren’t worried about the Bradish and Young workloads. They can find ways to provide an extra day of rest.

Six is out. Five is more likely. And the Orioles need the unit to keep operating at a high level.

Rogers had good velocity last night but lacked the usual command. And he didn’t get much support, with Kremer holding the Orioles to one run and one hit in seven innings.

*Gunnar Henderson led off again last night despite his continuing struggles at the plate and went 0-for-3 with a walk and run scored. He’s batting .212 with a .675 OPS in 118 games and is 2-for-25 this month.

Albernaz told the assembled media at Target Field that the Orioles need Henderson to get going and they maintain the same confidence in him.

“Not many teams have a Gunnar Henderson, and we do, and Gunnar has been struggling for the results but the process has been great,” Albernaz said. “But for us to get where we need to go, Gunnar Henderson has to be Gunnar Henderson and we have all the faith in the world.

“His at-bat quality has been outstanding. He’s been getting walks. He’s been hitting the ball hard, and now it’s just finding some open area on the field, and so we’re going keep having Gunnar in the leadoff spot because he’s a game-changing player.”

Lowering Henderson in the order doesn’t seem like an option.

“Our best players have to go out and play and perform,” Albernaz said, “and we want Gunnar to get as many at-bats as he can.”

*Major League Baseball has announced its playoff schedule, beginning with the best-of-three Wild Card series on Sept. 29-Oct. 1.

The opening games of the four American League and National League Division Series are slated for Oct. 3. The NL Championship Series begins Oct. 11, and the ALCS starts Oct. 12.

Game One of the World Series will be played on Oct. 23 at the home of the league champion with the best regular season record. Game 7 if necessary is Oct. 31.

*First baseman Pete Alonso is demonstrating why the Orioles paid him $155 million on a five-year contract. What he’s doing at the plate, at first base and inside the clubhouse.

Let’s focus today on his hitting.

Alonso made certain that the Orioles wouldn’t be swept in Texas. He became the fourth Oriole on Sunday to record multiple homers and walks while going 3-for-3 or better.

I wrote about this yesterday but now want to share the other three players:

Adam Jones on May 29, 2012 in Toronto
Eddie Murray on July 23, 1988 in Minnesota
Gus Triandos on Aug. 28, 1957 in Cleveland

Alonso, Jones and Triandos homered and walked twice and went 3-for-3. Murray homered twice and walked three times while going 3-for-3.

More on Alonso: His 289 home runs are fourth most in major league history through eight seasons after Ralph Kiner (329), Albert Pujols (319) and Eddie Mathews (299).

Ryan Howard is right behind Alonso with 286.

*Jackson Holliday hit his 28th career home run Saturday in Texas. Twenty-seven have come with Jackson playing second base, the other when he was the designated hitter.

Why is this worth mentioning?

Because it’s another reminder that he’s still young and an unfinished product after the Orioles made him the first-overall pick in the 2022.

Only six other players have totaled that many home runs as second basemen: Rougned Odor (57), Ozzie Albies (54), Bobby Doerr (40), Bill Mazeroski (34), Gleyber Torres (32) and Gregg Jefferies (28).

Roberto Alomar hit 22 and Joe Morgan had 19. They’re in the Hall of Fame, along with Doerr and Mazeroski.

The more you know …

Holliday had a left-on-left single last night in the ninth, a sweet piece of hitting, and finished 2-for-4.

*Baseball America updated its top 30 prospects list for every team, and right-hander Anthony Eyanson is No. 1 for the Orioles after they acquired him from the Red Sox in the Adley Rutschman trade.

Outfielder Enddy Azocar and right-hander Kyson Witherspoon, also part of that deal, are Nos. 5 and 11, respectively.

Right-hander Michael Forret is eighth after the Orioles got him back from the Rays for reliever Tyler Wells.

Outfielder Jhomnardo Reyes is 17th after the Orioles acquired him from the Twins for starter Dean Kremer. Right-hander Brock Moore, part of the three-pitcher return from the Mariners for outfielder Taylor Ward, is 28th.

The trade deadline was the only avenue used to stock up the system.

The 2026 draft brought outfielder Eric Booth Jr. (No. 2), outfielder Ty Head (No. 16) and outfielder Kevin Roberts Jr. (No. 22). Booth and Head make their professional debuts tonight with Class A Delmarva.

Left-handers Joseph Dzierwa and Caden Hunter, drafted in 2025, are third and fourth, respectively. Right-hander J.T. Quinn is 13th.

Outfielder Nate George, who hasn’t played since May 3 due to an undisclosed illness, slipped to ninth. Outfielder Enrique Bradfield Jr., the Orioles’ first-round pick in 2023, was bumped down from 11th to 21st.

Shortstop Wehiwa Aloy slid from seventh to 15, which seems too low.