TORONTO – Ryan Mountcastle likes hitting against Toronto and in Toronto. That point was reinforced again tonight as he hit a three-run homer to left in the Orioles' four-run third and later added another homer as they were on their way to their latest victory.

Mountcastle hit Nos. 9 and 10 as the Orioles beat the Blue Jays 10-1 to improve to 39-20. They have won five of six and 10 of their past 12 games. They are now 18-8 on the road.

Since being swept three straight in St. Louis, they are 10-2, scoring 75 runs. 

The Orioles have now gone 20 straight American League East series without losing one as they will at least split this four-game set after winning the last two nights. Their outstanding record in the division is now 13-4.

This game also featured the first major league hit and homer of Connor Norby's career. Playing his second big league game and having gone 0-for-6 in the bigs to that point, he hit a two-run shot to left in the eighth off right-hander Nate Pearson for a 10-1 lead. 

TORONTO – For a team that has sent five starting pitchers to the injured list already this year and just recently lost both John Means and Tyler Wells for the season, seeing TBA listed as the Orioles' starters Wednesday and Thursday in this series presented some intrigue.

But today, O’s manager Brandon Hyde told reporters that right-hander Albert Suárez (2-0, 1.57 ERA) will start tomorrow against the Blue Jays and righty Kyle Bradish (1-0, 3.18 ERA) could go on Thursday.

“We are still TBA for Thursday. Probably announce that sometime tomorrow. But Suárez for tomorrow,” said Hyde.

Hyde was asked if there are any health concerns with Bradish.

“No, we’re considering giving him an extra day (of rest) or two," he said. "Just kind of from how he is feeling. But we are just monitoring it daily. So we are keeping that TBA right now."

Connor Norby stays at second base tonight and moves up to eighth in the order as the Orioles try to guarantee at least a split of their four-game series in Toronto.

James McCann is catching and batting ninth.

Colton Cowser remains in center field, putting Cedric Mullins on the bench. Austin Hays stays in left field.

Hays hit his first two home runs last night since Sept. 19.

Adley Rutschman is the designated hitter. Ryan O’Hearn moves to the bench.

Running low on starting pitching, the Orioles are bringing back a veteran who didn’t make the team out of spring training.

The club is on the verge of signing Julio Teheran to another minor league deal, according to a source. The sides are "close."

Teheran, 33, agreed to a minor league deal on Feb. 28 that would have paid $2 million if he pitched in the majors. He allowed five runs and nine hits with seven walks and 10 strikeouts in 13 1/3 innings and was granted his release.

The Mets signed Teheran on April 5 and he became a free agent again six days later after making one start and allowing four runs and six hits in 2 2/3 innings in Atlanta.

The Cubs signed Teheran on April 18 and released him Saturday after another opt-out. He posted an 8.82 ERA and 1.806 WHIP in eight starts with Triple-A Iowa.

Anthony Santander saw the board and an opportunity.

But who would play?

Chess ranks among Santander’s favorite hobbies and the Orioles’ clubhouse is equipped to satisfy it. However, he’s more likely to find teammates gathering at the pool or bumper pool tables. They weren’t inclined to take his cue, as it were, and trade in the rack for a rook.

The next move was to choose a partner.

Jorge Mateo has the most speed on the club and he’s also a fast study. He was introduced to the game a year ago and already developed the same passion for it as Santander.

TORONTO – Once a very tough place for the Orioles to get wins, Toronto’s Rogers Centre saw the Birds go 6-1 last year, on their way to going 10-3 against the Blue Jays in 2023.

The Orioles enjoyed their first visit north of the border this year as well.

Austin Hays produced his first two homers of the season and Anthony Santander added a two-run shot – all off former Oriole Kevin Gausman – and later Ramón Urías got one as the O’s beat Toronto 7-2 in the opener to the series and road trip.

The Orioles improved to 38-20 for the season and to 17-8 in road games as they opened a four-game series here. The eight-game trip will next take the team to St. Petersburg, Fla. to face Tampa Bay.

Hays, swinging it much better in recent weeks with his stats slowly trending up, hit a two-run shot in the fourth and added a solo blast in the seventh. He had not homered all year and not since last Sept. 18 at Houston, which also was his last two-homer game. It was the sixth multi-homer game of his career.

TORONTO - Orioles prospect Connor Norby got an important phone call on Sunday. On the other end of the line was Orioles assistant general manager Eve Rosenbaum, calling to tell him he was finally headed to the major leagues.

Drafted by the club in the second round of the 2021 draft (No. 41 overall) out of East Carolina University, Norby’s first chance at this level has finally arrived.

Since the 2022 season he has played 198 games and taken 913 plate appearances at Triple-A. He has played in 344 minor league games overall.

“I started shaking,” Norby said of that phone call yesterday. “I think I shook for about an hour. I kind of settled down a little bit. Not much sleep though. But getting here and getting in the stadium, it’s what you dream of.”

Norby said when he got to the ballpark, coach Tim Cossins handed him a lineup card that had his name on it. He was in there batting ninth at second base. He will wear No. 12.

The Orioles begin their four-game series in Toronto tonight with Connor Norby making his major league debut. Norby is playing second base and batting ninth.

Norby had his contract selected from Triple-A Norfolk earlier today. Second base won’t be occupied by Jorge Mateo until he’s reinstated from the seven-day concussion list.

Austin Hays is in left field, Colton Cowser is in center and Anthony Santander is in right. Ryan O’Hearn is the designated hitter.

Gunnar Henderson, in his usual leadoff role, is the third-youngest Orioles player to hit more than 50 home runs in his career behind Eddie Murray and Boog Powell.

The Orioles’ 6-1 record against the Blue Jays last season tied for their best in the series. They also won six of seven games in 1982.

The Orioles could make multiple roster moves today before beginning their four-game series against the Blue Jays.

A source confirmed that second baseman Connor Norby and left-hander Nick Vespi are joining the club in Toronto. They boarded the same flight out of D.C. as three beat writers who first laid eyes on them.

The 40-man roster has an opening for Norby if the Orioles select his contract from Triple-A Norfolk, and they can create two more spots later by transferring pitchers John Means and Tyler Wells to the 60-day injured list.

Norby has appeared in 51 games, missing a week with a left wrist injury, and is batting .286/.374/.510 with 17 doubles, a triple, nine home runs and 36 RBIs in 238 plate appearances. He’s made 18 starts in left field and 15 in right, as well as 12 at second base.

The Orioles selected Norby in the second round of the 2021 draft out of East Carolina. He'd give the Orioles a right-handed bat and some versatility, the movement necessary with Jackson Holliday making most of the starts at second base.

The May 8 game in D.C. seems so long ago. Worlds away for the closer with the fifth-most saves in baseball history.

Craig Kimbrel didn’t make it out of the ninth inning again for the fourth time in five tries. He allowed two runs with a hit and a pair of walks, and his ERA swelled to 4.73.

Manager Brandon Hyde spoke with him about a reset, with his next three appearances coming in non-save situations but remaining high leverage due to the club’s propensity for playing close games. A clean seventh inning on May 10 against the Diamondbacks, a win earned the following day with a scoreless 11^th that included a hit batter, and a spotless seventh on May 13 against the Blue Jays.

Perhaps it’s sneaked up on a few people, but Kimbrel is in a dominant stretch with eight consecutive scoreless, hitless and walk-less outings, and he’s struck out 10. The last five have resulted in saves to push his season total to 13 and career mark to 430.

Opponents are hitless in 22 at-bats against him in these eight games.

Walking along Eutaw Street may require protective headgear. Anthony Santander launched a baseball over the flag court in right field yesterday and Gunnar Henderson splashed down this afternoon with his 19th home run and sixth leading off the first inning.

Zack Littell got a called strike with his sinker and regretted the slider that followed. Henderson pummeled it.

The Rays were taking a beating during their visit to Baltimore, but they became the aggressors in the eighth and finally broke a bullpen that amassed 12 1/3 scoreless innings in a row before today.

Dillon Tate returned after recording the last two outs in the seventh and surrendered back-to-back singles and Jose Siri’s two-run, go-ahead double, and the Orioles lost 4-3 before an announced crowd of 32,463 at Camden Yards.

The Orioles were unsuccessful in their bid for a fifth series sweep of at least three games and are 37-20 as they head to Toronto.

Austin Hays is in left field this afternoon as the Orioles close out the series against the Rays and their homestand.

Cedric Mullins is in center and Anthony Santander is in right. Just like the old days.

Jordan Westburg is the third baseman and Adley Rutschman is serving as the designated hitter.

Colton Cowser has posted a 1.009 OPS when batting seventh and a .676 OPS anywhere else in the lineup. He’s out of today’s lineup.

Ryan Mountcastle’s hot bat stays. He’s slashing .459/.500/.757 (17-for-37) with five doubles, two home runs, six RBIs, three walks and eight runs scored in the last 10 games since May 21.

The task at hand can’t change because of an elbow.

Teammates, manager Brandon Hyde and his staff collectively hurt for John Means and Tyler Wells, who will undergo surgery to repair their ulnar collateral ligaments. Two huge contributors to the club are gone, but the process stays the same.

Go out and do your job. Stay within yourself. Don’t feel pressure to replace the missing and make it worse.

“I just want them to do what they do,” manager Brandon Hyde said yesterday afternoon. “Give us the best starts that they can. I don’t want them to try to do anything extra. We’ve thrown the ball really well so far this year. Hopefully, we continue to do that.

“I want our guys to do what Albert Suárez did (Friday) night. Just give us as much as they can every time out.”

The second batter that Kyle Bradish faced today singled into right field, the ball glancing off Jorge Mateo’s glove as he attempted to make a sliding stop. A cleaner single followed. The no-hit stuff and the breaks were left back in Chicago.

Bradish lasted only 2 2/3 innings after losing his command and issuing three consecutive walks, the last with the bases loaded that broke a 4-4 tie. But a game was won again.

Hitting four home runs and getting strong work out of the bullpen made it happen. This is a team that will find a way.

Ryan Mountcastle cleared the center field fence twice within the first four innings, going back-to-back with Anthony Santander in the first, Jacob Webb came to the rescue with 2 1/3 scoreless, and the Orioles claimed another series against a division opponent with a 9-5 victory over the Rays before an announced crowd of 36,958 at Camden Yards.

Jordan Westburg marked his return to the lineup by homering in the second inning, and the Orioles moved a season-high 18 games above .500 at 37-19. They’re 14-0-5 in their last 19 series against the American League East and go for the sweep Sunday before flying to Toronto.

Jordan Westburg returns to the Orioles’ lineup today after missing the past two games with a sore right hand.

Austin Hays and Cedric Mullins are on the bench, with Kyle Stowers in left field and Colton Cowser in center. Ryan O’Hearn is the designated hitter.

Anthony Santander, who’s in right field, has posted a .333 average and .762 slugging percentage in plate appearances ending on the first pitch, according to STATS.

Kyle Bradish is back on the mound after his seven hitless innings in Chicago. He brings a 1.75 ERA and 1.052 WHIP in five starts and hasn’t surrendered a home run.

Bradish is 1-3 with a 6.18 ERA and 1.410 WHIP in five career starts against the Rays. Yandy Díaz is 6-for-14 with a double, Randy Arozarena is 4-for-14 with a triple and two home runs, and Harold Ramírez is 5-for-13 with a double.

Albert Suárez made another start with the Orioles last night. Cole Irvin closes out the Rays series on Sunday and is unlikely to do more bouncing between rotation and bullpen.

A minimum of five starters are needed on a major league staff. The Orioles want to expand it to six but injuries have created an unsettled situation.

Dean Kremer’s right triceps injury is improving but he might go on a brief rehab assignment. John Means and Tyler Wells are undergoing elbow surgeries within the next few days and won’t pitch again in 2024, crushing blows for them and the team.

A six-man rotation? The Orioles have fingers crossed that they can keep their quintet from crumbling.

A knee-jerk response to torn elbow ligaments is to burn up the phone lines and make a trade. The Orioles don’t have immediate plans to do it, though executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias said he’s “in contact” with other teams.

The season shifted past the one-third mark for the Orioles tonight. It also dumped them into a treacherous stretch of 29 games in 30 days, the only breather coming on June 17, wedged between series against the Phillies and Yankees. The two teams with the best records in baseball.

How they responded tonight again illustrated why they also belong among the finest.

They pitched, they made plays in the field and they eventually hit in the clutch. Another division opponent was on the wrong side of it.

Austin Hays came off the bench to deliver a game-tying single in the sixth inning, Jorge Mateo doubled to score two more runs, and the Orioles defeated the Rays 3-1 before an announced crowd of 27,364 at Camden Yards.

Craig Kimbrel recorded his 13^th save and 430^th of his career to take sole possession of fifth place on the all-time list, and the Orioles improved to 36-19 after winning for the seventh time in eight tries.

The Orioles are losing two projected starting pitchers for the rest of the 2024 season, presenting more challenges for the rotation and perhaps altering trade plans near or at the deadline.

John Means and Tyler Wells will undergo season-ending elbow surgery within the next few days, according to executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias, who met with the media earlier today in the dugout. Both procedures are to repair the ulnar collateral ligament, and whether it’s Tommy John will be determined later.

The surgeries also will sideline them at the beginning of 2025.

"Both pitchers, after a lot of medical attention and diagnoses, were determined that they're going to require a revision repair to their ulnar collateral ligaments," Elias said. "It's a very unfortunate situation for us, for them. Tough news for everybody. But we'll take great care of them and get them back to their skill level in due time."

The ultimate solution to the injuries isn't discovered until the surgeries begin, which could lead to differing time frames.

Jordan Westburg remains out of the lineup for tonight’s game against the Rays at Camden Yards.

Westburg has a bruised right hand. He didn’t play Wednesday.

Ramón Urías stays at third base. Colton Cowser is in left field, Cedric Mullins is in center and Anthony Santander is in right.

Adley Rutschman is batting .381 against fastballs this season, fourth-highest in the majors per STATS. Eight of his 10 home runs have come off fastballs. Kyle Tucker (13) and Juan Soto (12) are the only players with more.

Albert Suárez stays in the rotation and on turn after replacing injured right-hander Dean Kremer. Suárez tossed four scoreless innings Saturday in Chicago and is 2-0 with a 1.53 ERA and 0.955 WHIP in 11 games (four starts).

The Orioles kept their bullpen intact through the off-day that leads into tonight’s series opener against the Rays and begins a stretch of 29 games in 30 days.

They didn’t option anyone. They didn’t make a trade or a waiver claim.

But the day is still young.

The Orioles keep shuffling relievers. They acquired Thyago Vieira from the Brewers Saturday and optioned left-hander Nick Vespi two days later. Jonathan Heasley was recalled May 23 and optioned the next day to make room for Dillon Tate.

Mike Baumann was designated for assignment on May 18 and later traded to the Mariners for Triple-A catcher Blake Hunt.