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The Orioles looked like they were trying to maintain their run of walk-off wins this afternoon. Tie the game, take a lead and be tied again within the first three innings. Get in and out of jams. Pin the opposing pitcher on the ropes and let him escape.
Just get them to the ninth or past regulation, when something magic happens.
Dylan Beavers was last night’s hero with his bases-loaded single in the 10th. He delivered the go-ahead run again today, but it came from an infield hit in the seventh inning to propel the Orioles to a 3-2 win before an announced crowd of 13,957 at sunny Camden Yards.
Four of the previous five games ended with walk-off wins, but wild celebrations aren’t promised.
The Orioles (69-77) have won eight of their last nine games and nine of 11. Twelve more victories guarantee a .500 finish or better.
SAN DIEGO – The Orioles are pulling more players off the injured list, reducing the number to 10 with a little more than three weeks left in the season.
They might need to send out the homer hose for repairs. Maybe chip in to pay the Petco Park water bill.
Jackson Holliday cleared the right-center field fence against former Orioles Rule 5 Draft pick Nestor Cortes to begin today’s game. Colton Cowser, Coby Mayo and Alex Jackson went back-to-back-to-back in the third to send Cortes to the showers, accompanied by a chorus of boos.
The Orioles cleaned up on the Padres, completing the series sweep with a 7-5 victory before an announced crowd of 35,019 at Petco Park.
A 4-2 road trip has left the Orioles with a 64-76 record as they wait for the Dodgers to arrive in Baltimore for a weekend series.
SAN DIEGO – The rest of baseball also recognizes Trevor Rogers’ brilliance on the mound.
Rogers was named the American League’s Pitcher of the Month for August, while Milwaukee’s Freddy Peralta won the honor in the National League.
Rogers is the 14th Oriole to earn the distinction and the first since Corbin Burnes last September. Erik Bedard was the last left-hander in 2007.
This is the first time that Rogers has won it.
It was fairly predictable.
The American League Cy Young race is one of the two-man variety, coming down to the wire between Detroit’s Tarik Skubal and Boston’s Garrett Crochet.
The latter has been dominant in a Red Sox uniform, posting a 2.38 ERA and over 11 strikeouts per nine innings entering this afternoon’s contest against the Orioles.
The O’s were lucky to avoid Crochet for a two-game series up in Fenway. They didn’t get so lucky in this afternoon’s series finale in OPACY.
In a game that Crochet starts, you’re fortunate to not be trailing when he leaves. That’s where the Orioles found themselves entering the seventh inning, all knotted at two.
But it was the Red Sox bullpen that got the best of the Orioles, blanking the birds' bats in the final three innings. The Sox were able to push one run across in the eighth, and that was all they needed. The O's fell 3-2 and were swept in this four-game series.
The business side of baseball reared up and bit reliever Roansy Contreras earlier today with news that the Orioles designated him for assignment to make room for right-hander Shawn Dubin.
Contreras finally got the call this week and made his Orioles debut last night, tossing 4 1/3 scoreless innings behind opener Dietrich Enns. He’s out of minor league options and would need to pass through waivers before the Orioles could outright him.
“Those are tough decisions,” said interim manager Tony Mansolino. “There was a lot of time spent on that, trying to figure out what the right thing to do was. We’ve got a lot of smart people who are looking at a lot of different type of information and trying to make the best decision they can.
“The coach in me wants him to get claimed because we want our players to play in the major leagues and get opportunities. The Baltimore Oriole in me wants him to get through and go unclaimed and be back in the fold for us.”
Dubin will be in the bullpen today.
Reliever Shawn Dubin has reported to the Orioles after a waiver claim from the Astros earlier this week. Roansy Contreras was designated for assignment to make room for him on the active roster.
The 40-man roster has 39 players.
Tough business. Contreras tossed 4 1/3 scoreless relief innings last night in his Orioles debut and is in limbo this morning.
"I'm very thankful to the Orioles organization for giving me the opportunity to be up in the big leagues and be here with them now,” he said last night. “So I'm very thankful for them.”
Contreras was the 65th player used by the Orioles this season. Dubin can become the 66th. Tyler Wells will be reinstated from the 60-day injured list when rosters expand and can become the 67th if someone doesn’t beat him to it.
Samuel Basallo has been a major leaguer for less than a week and he’s on a record pace.
Basallo was the first player signed and developed by the Orioles’ new international program to reach the majors. He became only the second player to record an RBI in his first three games and to collect five over that same period. And most stunning, of course, is his distinction as the first to receive a contract extension of four-plus years under executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias.
It wasn’t Adley Rutschman or Gunnar Henderson or Jackson Holliday or Colton Cowser or Jordan Westburg or Coby Mayo or Dylan Beavers.
It was the kid who just turned 21 and made his debut on Sunday.
Maybe the organization’s plan is to start with the youngest and work its way up.
The 21-year-old catching phenom signs an eight-year contract extension less than a week after his major league debut. Two more players go on the injured list.
Just another day in the life of the Orioles, who can bounce from unpredictable to monotonous in a matter of seconds.
They had to play the latest game on their schedule, the 128th this season, and lost to the Astros 10-7 before an announced crowd of 24,224 at Camden Yards.
After claiming three series in a row for the first time, the best they can do against Houston is a split. Dean Kremer starts Saturday night.
Colton Cowser hit his 10th home run in the seventh inning to reduce Houston’s lead to 7-6, the ball traveling 417 feet to right field at 108.3 mph. Reliever Enyel De Los Santos left a fastball over the middle of the plate and regretted it.
HOUSTON – The August schedule isn't an easy one for Baltimore.
With inexperience everywhere, the O's have had to face the two crown jewels of the American League West, the Mariners and Astros, in two consecutive series.
Baltimore took two of three against Seattle. And after taking game one in Houston, the Birds fought tooth and nail in Game 2.
In the end, though, it was Houston that came away with a 5-4 victory in 12 innings.
And, of course, it was Ramón Urías. Last night, the former Oriole broke up Brandon Young's perfect game bid. Tonight, he walked it off. Another slow dribbler to third, and another heartbreaker.
Dylan Beavers is making his major league debut tonight, starting in right field and batting sixth in Houston. He’s the 61st player used by the Orioles this season, one short of the franchise record set in 2021.
Daniel Johnson is in center field and Dylan Carlson is in left.
Coby Mayo stays at first base, with Ryan Mountcastle serving as designated hitter. Get used to it.
One night after rookie Brandon Young tossed a perfect game for 7 2/3 innings, the Orioles are using Rico Garcia as an opener.
What a weird season.
Because the Orioles’ roster can’t sit still, much like a fussy toddler except with grown men, changes are coming again to a rotation that posted the second-highest ERA in the American League before today.
Cade Povich is trying to stay in it. He’s pitching to win and also keep his job, and he isn’t alone. The club is allowing for a developmental period after falling out of the playoff race, but there’s a limit to the number of starters and length of the patience displayed.
Povich registered his first quality start since April 24, holding the Athletics to one run over six innings, but Willie MacIver's two-run double off Keegan Akin in the ninth gave them a 3-2 win over the Orioles before an announced crowd of 23,183 at Camden Yards.
Akin was trying for his third save in his new role, but a leadoff walk to Darell Hernaiz and one-out single by Gio Urshela preceded MacIver's double. Pinch-runner Lawrence Butler ran through the stop sign and would have been an easy out if catcher Alex Jackson had held onto the ball. Or maybe if Gunnar Henderson's relay wasn't so far up the line.
"He didn’t mean to throw it there," said interim manager Tony Mansolino. "Things are speeding up right there. He’s got his back to the play. He’s catching the ball and he just kind of threw a sinker to the plate, just kind of getting on top of it, straighten the thing out, making a better throw.”
PHILADELPHIA – The visiting clubhouse at Citizens Bank Park isn’t a good location for trying to identify new players.
Lockers don’t come with names, just uniform numbers that aren’t much use without a program or freakish memory skills. And the Orioles’ roster has undergone a startling makeover.
A player sat on a couch yesterday wearing a thick white headband and looking at his phone. The face was unrecognizable to anyone who missed the introductions in Chicago.
The stranger turned out to be first baseman Ryan Noda, who had a pinch-hit single Sunday. The Orioles claimed him on waivers from the White Sox over the weekend.
A pitcher sat at his locker who also hadn’t been in the organization the last time that the Orioles were home. A reporter on the beat discreetly held up his phone to reveal the player page belonging to left-hander Dietrich Enns, who was acquired from the Tigers at the trade deadline for cash considerations. Enns allowed a run and five hits Sunday in 1 2/3 innings.
PHILADELPHIA – Games over the next two months that can’t get the Orioles back into a playoff chase have the power to elevate a young pitcher in the eyes of his bosses. For as long as he’s allowed to stay on the mound.
Left-hander Cade Povich returned from the injured list today to make his first appearance in almost two months, and he came within an infield hit of his third quality start of the season and first since April 24.
Interim manager Tony Mansolino removed Povich after 5 2/3 innings, choosing to let Corbin Martin face Nick Castellanos with the score tied. The matchup mattered more than determining whether Povich could work out of his own jam.
Martin saw six batters and retired none. Harrison Bader hit a three-run homer, Kyle Schwarber greeted Yaramil Hiraldo with a grand slam and the eight-run inning propelled the Phillies to a 13-3 victory before an announced crowd of 41,099 at Citizens Bank Park.
Elvin Rodríguez worked the eighth, becoming the 56th player used by the Orioles, and Edmundo Sosa and Weston Wilson hit back-to-back home runs. When a game unravels for this team, it leaves a huge mess.
PHILADELPHIA – The Orioles reinstated left-hander Cade Povich from the injured list today and he gets the ball to start a three-game series against the Phillies.
That wasn’t the only move.
Infielder/outfielder Vidal Bruján was activated and he’s wearing No. 40. The Orioles claimed him yesterday.
The counter moves were optioning reliever Houston Roth and outfielder Jordyn Adams. Roth didn’t make his major league debut before departing.
Povich has a 5.15 ERA and 1.500 WHIP in 13 games (12 starts). His only relief appearance came on June 15, with 3 2/3 scoreless innings before going on the IL with left hip inflammation.
Attempts to get comfortable with the structure of the Orioles’ roster is time wasted. The changes and debuts are coming at a dizzying pace.
The Orioles set a club record by using 62 players in the 110-loss 2021 season. The total is 55 this year and they have infielder/outfielder Vidal Bruján and relievers Elvin Rodríguez and Houston Roth waiting for their first chance. Bruján will meet the team in Philadelphia.
Terrin Vavra received his first at-bat Saturday since 2023, and before the Orioles designated him for assignment the following day. He just made it under the wire.
A corresponding move is pending with Bruján. Vavra seemed to be the most likely player to go but he’s already out the door. Shortstop Luis Vázquez could be vulnerable.
Jeremiah Jackson has started in right field the past two games and he’s hit, moving up to fifth in the order yesterday. The ground beneath his feet might be more solid.
Another reliever walked out the door today when the Orioles traded Gregory Soto to the Mets for minor league pitchers Wellington Aracena and Cameron Foster. Seranthony Domínguez knows that he could be the next one.
The bullpen is a hot spot in trade discussions.
Domínguez and Soto came to the Orioles is separate trades with the Phillies last summer, the latter on deadline day. Domínguez texted Soto earlier today after receiving the news.
“It’s part of the business,” Domínguez said. “We do what we have to do. I wish him the best and good luck to him.
“It’s hard when you get traded. You’ve got to move from somewhere to another (place) and get new teammates. But I wish the best for him and wait for what happens.”
Make it 26.
That’s how many different Orioles have gone on the injured list this season, two more than the total in 2021, seven more than in 2012 and 2008, and nine more than in 2024, 2018 and 2015. And we’re not taking into account the repeat visitors like Tyler O’Neill, Zach Eflin and Gary Sánchez.
Félix Bautista became the 26th yesterday, retroactive to Monday, with right shoulder discomfort. The only good news is that his surgically-repaired elbow is fine.
Trying to put a positive spin on 2025 can create shoulder and elbow pain. What else can possibly go wrong?
Don’t answer.
TAMPA – Kyle Bradish will begin his injury rehab assignment Thursday with High-A Aberdeen, staying on track for a second-half return to the Orioles’ rotation.
Bradish had two ups yesterday during live batting practice in Sarasota.
Adley Rutschman (oblique) will start his rehab assignment Tuesday with Triple-A Norfolk. He’s getting at-bats today against Tyler Wells, who’s nearing his own assignment.
First baseman Ryan Mountcastle (hamstring) will join Rutschman later in the week.
Left-hander Cade Povich (hip) starts Thursday or Friday at Norfolk.
Zach Eflin begins his injury rehab assignment Sunday at Double-A Chesapeake, as he works to return from lower back discomfort. Eflin will face hitters in Florida next Friday and “should be ready to go,” according to interim manager Tony Mansolino.
Cade Povich, recovered from left hip inflammation, starts Sunday at High-A Aberdeen and will pitch again next Saturday before the Orioles consider reinstating him.
First baseman Ryan Mountcastle will accompany the team to Tampa after the break and report to Norfolk on July 22, as he recovers from a Grade 2 right hamstring strain. He’s eligible to be reinstated from the 60-day injured list on July 30.
“He’s starting to look pretty good,” Mansolino said. “We’re getting excited about him.”
Adley Rutschman took batting practice today from both sides of the plate to test his left oblique strain and will catch Kyle Bradish for two innings next Saturday in Florida.
Orioles starters Zach Eflin and Cade Povich are going on injury rehab assignments Sunday while their teammates play their final game before the All-Star break.
Eflin, on the 15-day injured list with lower back discomfort, will join Triple-A Norfolk in Jacksonville. Interim manager Tony Mansolino said Povich, on the 15-day IL with left hip inflammation, will report to High-A Aberdeen or Double-A Chesapeake.
Catcher Chadwick Tromp, on the 10-day IL with a lower back strain, is doing full baseball activities. He could begin a rehab assignment after the break.
Catcher Maverick Handley, sidelined with a concussion, is cleared for some activities – he ran and played catch today - but probably won’t swing a bat for at least another week.
“I would expect Trompy to be ahead of Handley at this point,” Mansolino said.
