There are moments that in an instant seem to encapsulate the Orioles’ 2025 season. You just have to look for them. They really aren’t hard to find.

The latest example came tonight when they stranded three runners in the first inning and immediately fell behind, a nasty predicament for a team that was 4-19 when the opponent scored first and too often putty in the hands of a lefty starter.  

Change is good and the Orioles desperately needed it. They toyed with it. But old issues keep resurfacing.

They collected 10 hits off the Nationals’ MacKenzie Gore in 3 2/3 innings, broke a tie on Ramón Urías sacrifice fly in his third attempt with the bases full, were tied again and lost 4-3 at Camden Yards on a two-out infield single in the ninth inning off Félix Bautista.

Anything that could go wrong did go wrong.

If the Orioles are going to make a run and escape last place in the division, this would be an ideal time to start.

They’re 12 games below .500 for the first time since the conclusion of the 2021 season and 9 ½ out of first place. The Nationals, in town for a weekend series, are 18-27 and in fourth place in the National League East after losing eight of their last nine.

Tonight’s game sets up a rematch between left-handers Cade Povich and MacKenzie Gore.

The pair started on April 24 in D.C. Povich allowed one run in 6 2/3 innings and Gore allowed two runs with eight strikeouts in six innings. The Orioles won 2-1 to avoid a sweep.

Povich hasn’t pitched since May 6 in Minnesota. He’s allowed eight runs in his last two starts totaling 10 2/3 innings.

Ryan Mountcastle slowed for an instant yesterday as he prepared to pull into second base with a double, saw that Twins right fielder Kody Clemens bobbled the ball, and sped up to try for the triple. Clemens, playing his third position in four innings, fired to third baseman Royce Lewis for the out.

Mountcastle rose from the dirt, his uniform covered in it and headed back to the dugout. The Orioles were down three runs, and Mountcastle’s elevated production at the plate and spot in the lineup couldn’t give them a lift. But he tried.

Manager Brandon Hyde had Mountcastle second in the order in both games of Wednesday’s doubleheader and again yesterday, moving up one of the few hot bats on the team. Mountcastle has hit second 77 times in his career.

“I can’t remember the last time I did it (before Wednesday),” Mountcastle said. “I’ve done it before. I like it. I like batting second with a guy like Gunnar (Henderson) behind me and Jackson (Holliday) in front of me. It’s a good little spot to hit.”

Any spot is bound to work for Mountcastle when he’s cooking.

MINNEAPOLIS – The absence of an opposing left-handed starter in the Twins series could allow manager Brandon Hyde to do less juggling with his lineup. Jackson Holliday might stay at second base. Heston Kjerstad might stay in left or right field. Ryan O’Hearn could keep getting starts as the designated hitter or at first base.

Matchups don’t factor much at third base. Hyde can play a hunch or the No. 2 prospect in the system

Coby Mayo started last night over Emmanuel Rivera – both right-handed hitters with pop who provide options while Jordan Westburg and Ramón Urías are on the injured list. And that’s the only time that “options” is used with Rivera, who’s out of them.

Mayo is 0-for-8 since the Orioles recalled him over the weekend, including a called third strike last night on a ball out of the zone. He also struck out swinging twice to complete his 0-for-3 night. Rivera is 2-for-8 with a home run after slashing .313/.370/.578 last year in 27 games.

“Just going to kind of play it a little bit by ear and give Mayo a little bit of an opportunity,” Hyde said after Sunday’s loss to the Royals. “He came in late (Saturday) night, that’s why he didn’t play. But kind of pick my matchup a little bit until we get Urías and Westy back.”

MINNEAPOLIS – An off-day didn’t provide a reset for the Orioles. Facing a right-handed starting pitcher wasn’t a reprieve.

Striking out 11 times against the Twins’ Pablo López in five innings and 17 overall wasn’t going to bring them back from an early deficit.

Cade Povich allowed five runs in the third, including Carlos Correa’s 458-foot shot into the second deck in left field. López had hitters barreling air, and the Orioles lost their third consecutive game 9-1 before an announced crowd of 19,779 at Target Field.

It seemed like the appropriate venue for target practice.

Povich retired six of the first seven batters, with Correa reaching on an infield hit leading off the second, but Trevor Larnach and Willi Castro singled with one out in the third and Byron Buxton put the Twins ahead with a 109.7 mph double off the left field fence. Ryan Jeffers followed with a two-run single into right field with the infield in.

MINNEAPOLIS – The Orioles begin their three-game road series against the Twins with Coby Mayo at third base and Dylan Carlson in left field.

Heston Kjerstad is in right. Jackson Holliday is the second baseman.

Left-hander Cade Povich has a 5.16 ERA and 1.652 WHIP in six starts. He faced the Twins, the team that traded him at the 2022 deadline, on Sept. 27 at Target Field and tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings with two hits.

Povich owns a career 2.08 ERA in eight starts against the American League Central, the lowest for any Orioles starter in a minimum five starts. Kyle Bradish is next at 2.51, per STATS.

Also from STATS: Povich has gone at least five innings and allowed two earned runs or fewer in four straight road starts. The only Orioles lefties with longer streaks this century are Erik Bedard (2004-2005), Bruce Chen (2005) and John Means (2021) with five apiece.

The Orioles' rotation isn’t set for Minnesota and there isn’t a clear explanation for it.

Dean Kremer would have started Wednesday on normal rest but the most recent game notes had him listed for Thursday. The extra day could be attributed to the 103.2 mph line drive that bounced off his right thigh in the first inning of Friday night’s game, causing the leg to stiffen as he worked through the seventh.

I asked manager Brandon Hyde about the probables, and specifically Kremer, following Sunday’s 11-6 loss, and he replied, “We’re kind of still figuring things out right now. We’ve got an off-day tomorrow. We’ll let you guys know.”

My interpretation goes in a couple of directions.

1. The Orioles haven’t settled on a starter for Wednesday, but they want Kremer on extra rest.

The Orioles have moved on to Detroit, relieved to snap a three-game losing streak and to avoid being swept by the Nationals.

They lost two of three games to the Tigers at Comerica Park last season and two of three at Camden Yards. Their last three-game sweep in Detroit happened in 2004.

They’d settle for a series win, their second in 2025.

The season is 24 games old for the Orioles and they are counting on track records and improved health until perhaps able to make some moves closer to the deadline.

This also would help:

WASHINGTON – Left-hander MacKenzie Gore presented a huge challenge for an Orioles lineup that has struggled to hit lefties all season.

How could the Orioles lineup hope to find its rhythm against a lefty that led Major League Baseball in strikeouts per nine innings entering the night? That's all anyone was talking about entering tonight’s game.

As it turns out, Gore wasn’t the story. Cade Povich was. And on the back of their young left-hander, the Orioles avoided a sweep and left D.C. with a 2-1 win, their first victory scoring fewer than five runs this season.

Tomoyuki Sugano had been the only O’s starter to put up consistent numbers in recent weeks. The veteran right-hander, in his first major league season, did so again last night, tossing an admirable seven innings.

Povich was even better.

The Orioles are in D.C. again tonight, trying to avoid being swept by the Nationals before flying to Detroit.

The losing streak has reached three games and the record has fallen to 9-14. The Orioles haven’t been six games below .500 since July 5, 2022.

Left-hander Cade Povich is making his fifth start. He’s posted a 6.38 ERA and 2.073 WHIP in 18 1/3 innings.

The last outing was his worst, with the Reds totaling seven runs and six hits in 3 1/3 innings. He walked five batters and surrendered three home runs.

Povich hasn’t faced the Nationals. Nathaniel Lowe has two at-bats against him and is 1-for-2 with a double.

Cade Povich raised his glove to his face and yelled as he drifted toward the third base line. Catcher Gary Sánchez walked to the mound and put an arm around his shoulder.

The body language told an unpleasant story. The Orioles didn’t gain any momentum from back-to-back wins the past two nights. Such a thing doesn’t exist in baseball. The guy holding the ball sets the tone.

Povich kept the Reds scoreless for two innings and watched his start disintegrate, surrendering a career-high three home runs and tying his career high with five walks in 3 1/3. One of the weakest offensive teams in the majors statistically was giving him the business.

Manager Brandon Hyde removed Povich after seven runs scored and the Orioles lost 8-3 before an announced sellout crowd of 42,587 at Camden Yards that voiced its agitation on a few occasions.

Heston Kjerstad homered again, following Sánchez’s leadoff single off Scott Barlow in the eighth with a 407-footer to center field at 105.9 mph.

Any potential timeline for Grayson Rodriguez to get back into the Orioles’ rotation is scrambled again after he experienced another setback.

The hits keep coming without appearing in games.

Rodriguez was supposed to throw a bullpen session today but the club canceled it a few days ago due to soreness in his right shoulder. Rodriguez was sent for an MRI.

This is another major blow for the rotation, which also lost No. 1 starter Zach Eflin to a lat strain. Eflin won’t be ready when he’s eligible to return on Wednesday.

Manager Brandon Hyde shared the Rodriguez news with the media.

An immediate take from yesterday’s 7-6, 10-inning loss to the Blue Jays is how reliever Jeff Hoffman should remember that the Orioles make another trip to Toronto and his team makes another trip to Baltimore. Be careful with that pucker or risk getting punched in the mouth. But there’s more.

Manager Brandon Hyde downplayed the latest short outing from a starter, pointing out how he handled them differently the past few games after an off-day and rainout, and with another break in the schedule today. But the bullpen is passing the baton too much, finally losing its grip yesterday in Toronto’s three-run eighth. The rotation needs to consume more innings, plain and simple.

Zach Eflin is on the injured list after going six innings in each of his three starts and posting a 3.00 ERA. He’s a huge loss for however long that it lasts.

Charlie Morton starts Tuesday night’s series opener against the Guardians at Camden Yards. He’s due like one of those bills from the record company that used to promise free albums if you returned their card by the deadline. Anyone with me here?

Morton has allowed four runs in 3 1/3 innings, five runs in five innings and four runs in five innings for a total of only 13 1/3.

Bench coach Robinson Chirinos made his managerial debut this afternoon after Brandon Hyde was ejected. Ryan Mountcastle lined a ball over the left field wall that used to torment him. Tyler O’Neill almost nailed Mr. Splash with his home run into the Bird Bath section. Gunnar Henderson showed signs of busting out of his slump with three hits in the first four innings. The bullpen couldn’t hold a three-run lead in the eighth, and the Orioles stranded the winning run at second base in the ninth.

Peel back the many layers and the Orioles still don't have a series win.

The Orioles couldn't score in the bottom of the 10th inning, leaving Jordan Westburg at third base, and the Blue Jays prevailed 7-6 before an announced crowd of 27,193 at Kids Opening Day at Camden Yards.

Myles Straw's infield hit off Matt Bowman scored automatic runner Andrés Giménez. Bowman left two on base, but Ramón Laureano took a called third strike from Jeff Hoffman for the final out of the day. Hoffman blew a kiss toward the Orioles' dugout, his response to the contract offer reportedly rescinded after his physical due to concerns about his shoulder. The Braves did the same and he signed with the Blue Jays for $33 million over three years.

"When I'm thinking about the games before the games are being played and stuff, yeah, obviously that's definitely in my head. But once I'm in the game, in the moment, I'm focused on making pitches," Hoffman told reporters outside the visiting clubhouse.

KANSAS CITY – The Orioles are 10 games into their 2025 season, losing six of them. They just dropped their first regular season series to the Royals since Aug. 30-Sept. 1, 2019. Their starters have remained on turn, which enabled the rotation to cycle through twice.

Young left-hander Cade Povich allowed a career-high 13 hits yesterday, three more than in his Aug. 29 start at Dodger Stadium. But in that disaster, Povich lasted only 3 1/3 innings and was charged with five runs.

It was his second-worst outing after going one-plus innings in Oakland on July 6 and surrendering eight runs and five hits with three walks and a pair of homers.  

What happened yesterday at Kauffman Stadium demonstrated how much Povich has grown as a pitcher. He made it through six innings to save the bullpen and kept the Orioles within striking distance if their bats had cooperated. Povich allowed four runs, but three in the first inning were preventable if a fly ball in right-center field was caught.

If you believe that everything else would have stayed the same, the next batter flying out gives Povich a 1-2-3 inning instead of a sacrifice fly on his line. Two singles and Michael Massey’s two-run double put the Orioles in a 3-0 hole.

KANSAS CITY – The subject already came up in the series. The Orioles must tighten their defense and keep pitch counts from escalating. Be more supportive in the field. Be more like they were in the past.

A blue sky, reduced winds and temperatures in the low 50s this afternoon made the weather more tolerable at Kauffman Stadium, but another breakdown led to a three-run first inning against Cade Povich.

The bats couldn’t compensate for it and the Orioles lost 4-1 to remain in search of their first series win.

Povich scattered a career-high 13 hits in six innings, and his start began to crumble after Tyler O’Neill made a diving catch to rob leadoff hitter Jonathan India in the first. Bobby Witt Jr. hit a ball into right-center that Jorge Mateo tracked, reached for and missed. Statcast calculated the catch probability at 99 percent.

Vinnie Pasquantino followed with a sacrifice fly, Salvador Perez and Mark Canha singled, and they scored on Michael Massey’s double down the right field line.

KANSAS CITY – Cedric Mullins is out of the lineup today for the first time this season, with Jorge Mateo playing center field in a right-handed heavy Orioles lineup.

Jordan Westburg is at second base, Ramón Laureano is in left field, Gary Sánchez is the designated hitter and Ramón Urías is playing third base.

Left-hander Cade Povich started the home opener against Boston and allowed three runs and five hits in 4 1/3 innings.

The Orioles can get back to .500 with a win. They fly to Arizona after the game.

The Orioles improved yesterday to a major league-leading 102-66 (.607) in 168 games on the road since the start of the 2023 season.

The Orioles used their home Opening Day to fish for compliments.

Fans had to be done complaining about a series split in Toronto and another injury. This was a time to party. The team was back at Camden Yards, the sun came out and players circled the bases in the first inning. The good times rolled, and no one got run over.

Cade Povich warmed to Eminem’s “The Real Slim Shady” and looked like the real deal with eight strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings, but the pitch count got him – 94 of them. Manager Brandon Hyde was left to piece together the rest.

The first four relievers combined for 3 2/3 scoreless innings and the Orioles had another offensive surge in the eighth in an 8-5 win over the Red Sox before an announced sellout crowd of 45.002.

Félix Bautista warmed with the Orioles ahead 4-3 and had to pitch the ninth, no longer in line for his first save since Aug. 24, 2023. He entered to Omar's whistle and a rousing ovation, and he allowed two runs on a leadoff walk, wild pitch, Romy Gonzalez double and two-out broken-bat single by Jarren Duran. Rafael Devers walked but Alex Bregman popped up.

Cade Povich looked sharp yesterday. 

No hits, no walks and no earned runs at Nationals Park for the final exhibition game of the season. 

“Really good. Wanted to get the guys in, get them out quickly and get to Toronto,” Povich said with a laugh. “Everything felt good.”

The goose eggs on the box score would’ve looked better if there was a box score. The rain in the nation’s capital didn’t let the Orioles and Nationals take the field for their final tune-up of spring training. There wasn’t a game, but Povich did look sharp. 

His outfit did, at least.

WASHINGTON – As it turns out, the window of opportunity wasn’t just ajar for Cade Povich. It was open, and “Slim” took full advantage. 

Povich won the fifth spot in the rotation and earned the right to hit the hill for Baltimore’s home opener. A big step up for the lefty, who began last season at Triple-A Norfolk. 

“First Opening Day roster, being able to start, make a home opener start, that’s a big deal,” manager Brandon Hyde said today in D.C.. “I think Cade’s got a great way about him. He’s very, very mild mannered, he’s very composed. I was really impressed with his maturity last year and how much he grew up, honestly.”

That growth was on full display during Povich’s final month of the season. 

He flipped a switch in his five starts in September. After an 11.81 ERA in July and a 7.36 in August, that number plummeted to a 2.60 to close the baseball calendar.