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 26^th 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.

Cade Povich has received a second opinion on his left hip and he threw in the bullpen a few days ago. He’s scheduled for two ups in another session this afternoon.

The resumption of an injury rehab assignment is getting close. The Orioles happily will take positive news.

Povich was pulled from his first assignment at Triple-A Norfolk in late June due to recurring soreness in his hip. He hasn’t pitched for the Orioles since tossing 3 2/3 scoreless relief innings on June 15.

“Everything’s feeling good,” he said today. “I think we kind of had the idea that when I went to Norfolk everything was pretty good. In the first inning, just tried to make a play. It was kind of a freak thing. My foot kind of caught and twisted in a way that I think put a little pressure on the hip. So it could have been the same thing, it could be something a little different, but we’re just trying to work back and everything’s feeling good right now.”

Povich saw a hip specialist in Nashville to get his second opinion.

ATLANTA – Charlie Morton and Dean Kremer are in very different places in their careers. 

Morton finds himself on his sixth big league team in his age-41 season, while Kremer has only suited up in an Orioles uniform as a major leaguer in his sixth year. As far as 2025 goes, though, the duo has found their seasons traveling on a similar path, albeit with different stops along the way. 

Today, the pair can propel the Orioles to a series win over the Braves. 

Let’s start with Morton, who allowed just two earned runs in over five innings of work against his former team last night. The right-hander got off to a disastrous start to the season with a 10.89 ERA in his first five starts. 

From there, you know the story. He went to the bullpen, made some mechanical changes, and figured things out in a big way. In his seven starts back in the rotation, Morton has tossed an impressive 2.97 ERA with 44 strikeouts and just 11 walks. 

ARLINGTON, Texas – The injury updates for the Orioles create a health spray chart.

The bad news today seemed to override the good.

* Zach Eflin was placed on the 15-day injured list this afternoon, as expected, with tightness in his lower back.

* Brandon Young was recalled, as expected, but he’s starting Tuesday night against the Rangers because Charlie Morton has a mild case of tendinitis in his right elbow. Morton is pushed back to Friday night in Atlanta.

* Jordan Westburg could be available tonight after hitting in the cage earlier today to test his sore left index finger. The club is hoping that Westburg returns to the lineup Tuesday or Wednesday.

The unsettled status of the Orioles’ rotation broadened yesterday with Zach Eflin’s lower back tightness and disappearance after only one inning. The series against the Rays concludes today with Dean Kremer starting, and the current roster has Trevor Rogers, Charlie Morton and Tomoyuki Sugano lined up for the Rangers series in Arlington.

Eflin’s availability for his next start is up in the air, and likely to land before Jonathan Aranda’s home run ball. His turn arrives on the off-day and he could pitch Friday night in Atlanta if healthy. A trip to the injured list, and it’s premature to speculate, could return Brandon Young to the majors. He must stay down a minimum 15 days unless replacing an injured player.

Off-days Thursday and July 7 could prompt the Orioles to stick with a temporary four-man arrangement.

The next call isn’t going to left-hander Cade Povich.

Povich is eligible to return on Tuesday but the Orioles want to give him more work on his injury rehab assignment. He started for Triple-A Norfolk Thursday and allowed three earned runs and five total with seven hits, one walk and three strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings. He threw 75 pitches

Ryan O’Hearn isn’t pretending that he’s unaffected by a possible All-Star selection. He's excited about the support and the likelihood that he represents the Orioles in Atlanta on July 15.

O’Hearn received the most votes among American League designated hitters with 1,762,125 and advanced to Phase 2 opposite the Yankees’ Ben Rice, who received 674,120.

“I was blown away by the amount of votes when I saw it yesterday, so very humbling, awesome,” he said today at his locker. “We’ve still got to get through Phase 2, but very cool. I was blown away by seeing by seeing that number, 1.6-something or 1.7, whatever it was. And the fact that that many people voted for me, it blows my mind.”

O’Hearn has gone through too much on his journey to become an established major leaguer to downplay the balloting. The Royals trading him for cash, the Orioles outrighting him, the dip in his career followed by an ascension that should get him introduced at Truist Park.

“It would mean everything,” he said. “I’ve been the last guy on the worst team in baseball, I’ve been hitting in the middle of the lineup on a team that was considered one of the best teams in the American League. Seen a lot of angles in this game, and to be able to be an All-Star, it’s shocking to say. And humbling, amazing. Would be a huge blessing, an honor.

The Orioles probably won’t match last year’s total of five All-Stars, but they have a chance to send two starters to Truist Field in Atlanta.

Ryan O’Hearn and the Yankees’ Ben Rice are the finalists at designated hitter in the American League. O’Hearn received 1,762,125 votes and Rice garnered 674,120.

Jackson Holliday, in his first full major league season, and the Tigers’ Gleyber Torres are finalists at second base. Torres received 1,981,665 votes and Holliday 1,302,186.

Phase 2 of voting begins Monday at noon and concludes Wednesday at noon. The winners will be announced that night at 7 p.m. on ESPN.

Fans are allowed to vote once per day on MLB platforms, and totals will reset. Phase 1 balloting doesn’t carry over to Phase 2.

Orioles infielder Jorge Mateo is beginning his injury rehab assignment Tuesday night for Triple-A Norfolk. The Tides are hosting Gwinnett.

Mateo is on the 10-day injured list with left elbow inflammation caused by a May 31 collision with Heston Kjerstad in right-center field. He was eligible to return on Tuesday but needs to get some at-bats.

“I feel a lot better right now,” Mateo said today via interpreter Brandon Quinones.

The injury occurred in the same elbow that underwent reconstructive surgery last summer, but Mateo was bothered only by some swelling. He’s able to swing a bat, play defense, slide and do “everything I need to do.”

Infielder Luis Vázquez remains on the roster in Mateo’s absence.

The Orioles are back on the road and my mailbag is adamant about missing the Tampa portion of it. No Trop, no trip.

Let’s do some dumping and count how many questions are related to the trade deadline and whether the Orioles will buy or sell. That’s a popular one these days.

The answer isn’t as clear anymore.

You ask, I answer, and we have the latest sequel to the beloved 2008 original. I was gonna edit for clarity, length and style, but decided against it. I edited that idea. Sorry to disappoint again. And that's what I said.

Also, you should know that my mailbag receives the most All-Star votes and your mailbag is confused by the ballot.

TAMPA – For the second consecutive road series, the Orioles find themselves in a minor league park. 

The Rays’ temporary home of George M. Steinbrenner Stadium, though, has a bit more familiarity than the Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. 

“I mean, it’s Yankee Stadium, it’s just in Florida,” Tony Mansolino said today. “So, we kind of know the stadium.” Just a bit hotter than New York. 

“I do think actually playing in Sacramento kind of prepared you to come here because it got you out of the big league stadium, and the energy and atmosphere that a big league stadium gives you,” Mansolino added. “Understanding that we’ve kind of got to create that ourselves, we definitely learned that in Sacramento.” 

Getting two key pieces back in the lineup is certainly cause for a boost in energy. 

Left-hander Cade Povich, who tossed 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief yesterday in a bulk role behind opener Scott Blewett, won’t pitch for at least 15 days.

The Orioles put Povich on the injured list this afternoon with left hip inflammation and recalled reliever Colin Selby from Triple-A Norfolk.

Povich has a 5.15 ERA in 13 games, including 12 starts. He retired 10 batters in a row yesterday and didn’t show any signs of an injury.

Asked whether pitching in relief instead of starting helped him mentally, Povich replied, “Maybe. I think I was a little amped up. I think my velo was a little higher today. I think I was letting it eat a little early.”

Selby has allowed two runs in 3 2/3 innings and struck out five batters with the Orioles over three appearances. He has a 3.24 ERA in 16 games with Norfolk.

Bring on the left-handed starters. Line up the opponents. Crank up the music, colored lights and smoke machines.

The 2025 Orioles are only 10 games below .500.

It used to be a lot worse.

Cade Povich tossed 3 2/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen and Seranthony Domínguez inherited a bases-loaded jam in the seventh and protected a three-run lead. Gary Sánchez inflated it until the seams popped with a grand slam, and the Orioles completed their latest sweep with an 11-2 victory over the Angels before an announced crowd of 33,370 at Camden Yards that sat through a light steady rain.

The Orioles (30-40) haven’t ventured this close to .500 since May 14. They got here by sweeping three of their last five series.

Ryan O’Hearn and Colton Cowser are available to come off the bench this afternoon for the finale of the series against the Angels at Camden Yards that also completes the latest homestand.

O’Hearn injured his left ankle Friday night when Zach Neto clipped him on a play at first base in the seventh inning. He was scratched from yesterday's lineup. And Cowser is sore after slamming into the center field fence Thursday while chasing a home run ball.

“A lot better,” said interim manager Tony Mansolino. “I think if it’s September, playing for the division right now, I think there’s a really good chance.”

O’Hearn confirmed earlier today that he’s ready to play.

“Feels good today, feels better than yesterday, so I’ll be available off the bench and ready to rock tomorrow,” he said.

The Orioles will try for their third series sweep in the last five today with Adley Rutschman, Jackson Holliday, Colton Cowser and Ryan O’Hearn on the bench.

Jordan Westburg is leading off and playing second base. Gunnar Henderson is the designated hitter. Coby Mayo gets another start at first base after his first career multi-hit game yesterday. Luis Vázquez makes his first Orioles start at shortstop.

Another change: Scott Blewett is the opener, presumably followed by Cade Povich. Blewett hasn’t allowed an earned run in eight relief innings with the Orioles. Today marks his second start in the majors, the other earlier this year with the Braves.

Povich has a 5.46 ERA and 1.525 WHIP in 12 starts. He’s allowed five earned runs in two of his last three starts totaling 9 1/3 innings.

Povich has never faced the Angels.

Cade Povich put his hands on his head as Colton Cowser scaled the center field fence. A spectacular catch would limit the damage in the fifth inning and make it easier for the Orioles to rally. Having the ball fall on the other side would hasten his departure and complicate a comeback attempt.

Cowser landed on the track without the ball. Spencer Torkelson circled the bases with a 419-foot home run. And Povich was gone after one more batter.

A winning West Coast road trip was followed tonight by a 5-3 loss to the Tigers before an announced crowd of 20,291 at Camden Yards. The Orioles are 13 games below .500 again, with the return of a couple more injured players unable to provide a needed spark against the best team in baseball.

Povich was done after Zach McKinstry’s triple. He allowed five runs and nine hits with one walk and six strikeouts. The start drained him of 98 pitches and raised his ERA to 5.46.

Jordan Westburg marked his return from the injured list with a leadoff homer off Will Vest in the ninth, his first since April 19, but the next three batters were retired.

SEATTLE – The seismic shift in the Orioles’ season has taken them from last call to bars raised.

A rotation that ranked statistically among the worst in baseball is pushing its starters to keep performing at a much higher level. The group has registered a 2.11 ERA in the past 10 games, with two runs or fewer allowed in eight. The next man up must stand tall.

The offense is delivering more often in the clutch, whether with powerful strokes or well-placed pokes. Runs aren’t scoring in bunches, but the amount is sufficient.

Heston Kjerstad tripled for the second time in three games, driving in two runs with two outs in the seventh inning to key the Orioles’ 3-2 victory over the Mariners at T-Mobile Park. He has four hits this month, three for extra bases.

The Orioles are 24-36 overall and 9-8 under interim manager Tony Mansolino. They’ve claimed back-to-back series for the first time and built their first five-game winning streak since June 7-12, 2024. They won a fourth straight road game in a single season for the first time since June 7-10, 2024.