Before the Orioles played their 117th game of the season tonight, they switched up the usual routine at home by gathering in the dugout to watch the latest Hall of Fame inductions. They stood at the railing, eyes locked on former center fielder Adam Jones as he addressed the crowd and tried to control his emotions.
"I took tremendous pride playing for you guys,” he said. “I took tremendous pride playing more for the name on the front of the chest than the name on the back."
Jones turned to the bench and reminded a team going through hard times that he was there, too, early in his career and to keep grinding.
“Trust me,” he said, “you do it long enough, you’ll be where I’m at.”
Rookie Brandon Young went to the mound and began warming for his 10th major league start, walked the first batter he faced and surrendered a long home run to Shea Langeliers.
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.
Yennier Cano left his seat in the Orioles’ dugout after the bottom of the third inning and began his stroll to the home bullpen. He’s already said his goodbyes to Bryan Baker, Gregory Soto and Seranthony Domínguez. Just part of the business. And it creates major complications for those left standing, and walking, who want to keep winning.
Rookie Brandon Young, recalled today as the 27th man in Game 2, hadn’t completed the fifth inning in six of his seven starts. Interim manager Tony Mansolino probably spent part of his afternoon introducing himself to his new relievers and wondering how he’d piece together nine frames. And whether everyone in the room was ready for the possibility of high-leverage work.
Young retired the side in order in the fifth and earned the chance to keep going, getting through the sixth and leaving with the score tied and a quality start on his resume. That was one worry put to bed.
Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman hit back-to-back doubles off Jeff Hoffman in the eighth and Corbin Martin earned his first career save in the Orioles’ 3-2 victory over the Blue Jays before an announced crowd of 14,929 at Camden Yards. The bullpen logged three scoreless innings, and the Orioles won their fifth game in a row and sixth out of seven.
Oh, these silly sellers.
CLEVELAND – The Guardians were knocking on the door all night.
The home team in red had every opportunity to break the door down in their eventual 10-5 victory over the Orioles. Inning after inning, Cleveland just couldn't deliver with runners in scoring position. That was, at least, until a breakout seventh inning.
Things did start out well for the visitors, though.
Jackson Holliday, Jordan Westburg and Gunnar Henderson thought that their 1-2-3 placement in the lineup referred to how many singles they should count to start the game. Holliday made one, Westburg made two, and Henderson made three.
Henderson made both three and one, actually. Three singles, one run, 1-0 Baltimore.
TAMPA – The Orioles filled the opening on their 26-man roster by signing reliever Corbin Martin to a one-year major league contract.
Martin was designated for assignment Sunday before the Orioles knew that reliever Scott Blewett would go on the injured list with right elbow discomfort. Martin declined an outright assignment, became a free agent and signed a new contract.
The 40-man roster is full.
Zach Eflin’s rehab assignment was transferred to the Florida Complex League and he could be reinstated from the injured list if he gets through it without any setbacks.
Catcher Chadwick Tromp begins his rehab assignment at Class A Delmarva.
ARLINGTON, Texas – The Orioles conclude their series against the Rangers tonight after another round of roster moves, the latest aimed at reshuffling the bullpen.
Yennier Cano has returned from Triple-A Norfolk and left-hander Keegan Akin goes on the 15-day injured list with left shoulder inflammation. The Orioles selected Corbin Martin’s contract from Norfolk and designated Matt Bowman for assignment again.
Cano was optioned June 22 after posting a 4.73 ERA and 1.388 WHIP in 32 appearances. He pitched twice for Norfolk and allowed one run in two innings.
Akin surrendered a game-tying, three-run homer to Adolis García in the 10th inning Monday. He allowed four earned runs and five total with nine hits in his last four outings over 4 1/3 innings.
Martin hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2022 with the Diamondbacks. The Orioles claimed him on waivers from the Brewers in May 2024 and he has 5.29 ERA in 29 appearances with the Tides.
The 26 players announced as non-roster invitees to spring training weren’t on a locked list of names. The Orioles had the freedom to expand it, which they did after infielder Luis Vázquez cleared outright waivers and was assigned to Triple-A Norfolk.
Reliever Dylan Coleman announced his signing to a minor league deal on Instagram, the Orioles confirmed it and he’s an invite. Infielder Emmanuel Rivera cleared waivers, was outrighted and also received an invitation. And there could be more.
Here’s the updated list:
Pitchers
Raúl Alcantara
Justin Armbruester
Matt Bowman
Dylan Coleman
Jakob Hernandez
Yaramil Hiraldo
Corbin Martin
Robinson Martinez
Levi Stoudt
Carlos Tavera
Thaddeus Ward
Nathan Webb
The Orioles have recalled outfielder Kyle Stowers from Triple-A Norfolk today, according to an industry source. The club hasn’t announced the move.
Stowers hasn’t appeared in a major league game since May 14, 2023, after breaking camp with the Orioles. He’s batting .240/.315/.541 with 11 doubles, 11 home runs, 32 RBIs, 13 walks and 44 strikeouts in 165 plate appearances with Norfolk.
A chance to join the expanded September roster last year was ruined after Stowers was hit by a pitch and fractured his nose. He had missed two months with a shoulder injury.
Stowers was 2-for-30 with the Orioles last year, striking out 12 times in 14 games. The former second-round draft pick out of Stanford made his major league debut on June 13, 2022 in Toronto while replacing Anthony Santander, who was put on the restricted list. Stowers returned in August and finished with a .253/.306/.418 line and four doubles, a triple, three home runs and 11 RBIs in 34 games.
A spot must open on the roster to accommodate Stowers. And perhaps there are multiple moves pending with Austin Hays eligible to return from the injured list.