The Orioles’ attempts to climb out of the deep hole they dug earlier this season are aided by a relief unit that’s acted as a rope ladder.

Don't let last night's fraying in Tampa change your opinions and perceptions. 

The bullpen went into the matchup with a 1.76 ERA in the last 23 games since May 24, the second-lowest mark after the Cubs’ 0.68. Four of the 17 earned runs came from Dean Kremer after he was used behind opener Scott Blewett. They struck out 33.3 percent of batters in that span, the best reliever rate in baseball.

The improvement had lowered the bullpen’s season ERA to 4.42. It was 5.62 through May 23, fourth-highest in the majors.

Trevor Rogers made his second Orioles start of 2025 last night and was gone after 2 1/3 innings, forcing Blewett into the game and messing with the numbers, ideal order and momentum. Blewett was charged with one run in 1 2/3 and Yennier Cano, summoned by the fifth, coughed up four to tie the game. Andrew Kittredge surrendered four in the seventh to give the Rays a 12-8 lead. 

TAMPA – Eight runs on seven hits. 

That was the line for the Baltimore Orioles tonight in the second inning alone. 

Twelve runs on 18 hits. 

That was the line for the Tampa Bay Rays tonight in innings three through seven.  

It culminated in a 12-8 Orioles loss, a tale of two games that the Orioles found themselves on the wrong end of. A contest that had the makings of a blowout still resulted in a victory with a comfortable margin, but not for the team that had an 8-0 advantage after two. 

The Orioles have more mound decisions on their plate.

They needed a starter for tonight and must remove a reliever to fit him onto the roster. Trevor Rogers will go from taxi squad to active roster after his 6 1/3 scoreless innings against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. And Grant Wolfram could be one-and-done after the Orioles recalled him yesterday to replace Colin Selby, who was one-and-done.

Interim manager Tony Mansolino didn’t confirm Rogers’ start during his pregame session with the assembled media in Tampa, but he said, “We’re excited to kind of get him in here tomorrow.”

The food room? The showers?

He’s going to be on the mound and trying not to stand in a puddle of sweat. The heat seems intense. Dean Kremer’s skin had the shine of a glazed donut last night. He looked like he collided with the Exxon Valdez.

TAMPA – Nobody wants their window of opportunity in the big leagues to open due to injury. Unfortunately, that’s the nature of the game and the reality for some, especially for those grinding away at Triple-A.  

Ryan Mountcastle’s extended absence affords Coby Mayo the opportunity to get a look without fear of demotion. Mayo has been working hard at first base and improving at the plate, making the most of his chance. 

Now, that window is open for Trevor Rogers. His previous start came as the 27th man in a doubleheader. But with Cade Povich now serving stint on the injured list, Rogers figures to get at least a few turns in the rotation. 

“It’s an opportunity, and I’m very excited for that,” Rogers told reporters yesterday. “We’ll see what comes of it.” 

His first chance back in the bigs since May comes against a talented Rays lineup tonight. But that start against Boston a few weeks ago was a stellar one, in which the lefty tossed 6 ⅓ shoutout innings, allowing just two hits and no walks with five strikeouts. 

Coby Mayo is getting his first start at George M. Steinbrenner Field tonight and Adley Rutschman is on the bench for the third game of the series against the Rays.

Jordan Westburg is playing third base and batting second. Ramón Laureano is the cleanup hitter.

Ryan O’Hearn is the designated hitter and Colton Cowser is in left field. Cedric Mullins is batting ninth.

Cowser has hit three home runs in 11 games since returning from the 60-day injured list.

The Orioles have won 12 of their last 17 games since May 30, and the .706 winning percentage is tied with the Astros for best in the majors.

The Orioles recalled left-hander Trevor Rogers from the taxi squad to make tonight’s start against the Rays in Tampa, and reliever Grant Wolfram was optioned after spending one day with the team.

Rogers started Game 2 of a May 24 doubleheader in Boston and allowed two hits over 6 1/3 scoreless innings. He issued no walks and struck out five.

In four starts last season, Rogers threw first-pitch strikes at a 70.7 percent rate. The percentage was 81.8 against the Red Sox.

Rogers has made two career starts against the Rays and allowed four runs with 15 strikeouts in 12 innings. Yandy Díaz gets small-sample-size recognition for going 2-for-2 with a double and walk.

Rogers is working on five days' rest tonight. 

TAMPA – The Rays’ offense entered tonight’s game scorching hot. In four consecutive games, all wins, Tampa had posted at least seven runs. 

For the first time in what has felt like a long time, the Rays were stifled. Orioles pitching won the night in Baltimore's 5-1 victory. 

"It seems like 26 guys are playing well right now," interim manager Tony Mansolino said after the game.

The story was Dean Kremer and the bullpen, but the O's offense got things started. 

All Jordan Westburg has done since returning from the injured list is produce. His second-inning double, hit over 110 mph off the bat, set the Orioles up with their first scoring chance of the night. Ryan O’Hearn pushed him to third, and Ramón Laureano brought him home to make it 1-0 Baltimore. 

TAMPA – Nobody would blame Ryan O’Hearn for paying close attention to stats.

In the midst of a career season, the 31-year-old is hoping for his first All-Star selection. For a player optioned or designated for assignment five times during his professional career, the bid would signify the epitome of perseverance in the game. 

As such, the do-it-all slugger has earned the right to doom scroll box scores when he wakes up in his Florida hotel tomorrow morning. 

Instead, he’ll be doing arts and crafts. 

“Get out of the hotel, go serve somebody beside yourself, people who really need it,” O’Hearn said. 

Left-hander Trevor Rogers has joined the Orioles in Tampa and is on the taxi squad.

The Orioles need a starter on Wednesday and Rogers appears to be the choice. He tossed 6 1/3 scoreless innings against the Red Sox in Game 2 of a May 24 doubleheader in Boston.

Coby Mayo is out of the lineup again tonight, as the Orioles try to bounce back from last night’s 7-1 loss to the Rays. Ryan O’Hearn is playing first base and Cedric Mullins is the designated hitter.

Colton Cowser is in center field. Jordan Westburg is the third baseman and cleanup hitter.

Gunnar Henderson has a 10-game hitting streak. He’s slashing .322/.402/.411 (29-for-90) in his last 24 games.

Colin Selby threw two scoreless relief innings last night in Tampa and he’s headed back to Triple-A Norfolk.

Another swap of arms has brought left-hander Grant Wolfram to the Orioles. They recalled Wolfram today and optioned Selby.

Wolfram has appeared in two games with the Orioles and allowed two runs and three hits in 1 1/3 innings. He pitched in back-to-back games in Detroit on April 26-27.

Wolfram has a 4.87 ERA and 1.426 WHIP in 18 appearances with Norfolk. His stay with the Orioles could be as brief as Selby’s, since they need a starter for Wednesday night.  

Dean Kremer has allowed nine runs and 13 hits this month in 12 1/3 innings and he gets the ball tonight. He was used in bulk relief in his last outing, covering seven innings and allowing four runs in the fourth.

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 – The Rays and Orioles entered play tonight as two of the hotter teams in baseball. The Florida heat only added to their rising temperatures. 

Tampa Bay had won 18 of their last 25 and were on the heels of a three-game sweep of the New York Mets. The Orioles went 15-10 over that same stretch, 11-4 in their last 15, and were fresh off a three-game sweep of the Angels. 

Something had to give. 

Tonight, it was the O’s starting pitching that gave in a 7-1 loss. The pillar of their recent stretch of success was anything but. 

Tampa Bay struck early and they struck often. On Zach Eflin’s fourth pitch of the game, Josh Lowe skied a ball to right field that found some outfield seats. At 334 feet with a 97.9 mph exit velocity, it was hit just well enough to get out of the ballpark. 

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. 

Colton Cowser and Ryan O’Hearn are back in the Orioles’ lineup for tonight’s game against the Rays in Tampa. Cowser hasn’t played since slamming into the center field fence on Thursday and O’Hearn didn’t play in the last two games because of a sore left ankle. He was scratched from Saturday's lineup.

Jordan Westburg is batting cleanup and serving as designated hitter. O’Hearn follows as the first baseman, and Cowser is batting eighth and playing left field. Dylan Carlson is in right.

Jackson Holliday is leading off again. Coby Mayo is on the bench.

Gunnar Henderson is slashing .326/.408/.419 (28-for-86) with five doubles, a homer, seven RBIs, 15 runs scored and 11 walks in his last 23 games since May 21. He has a nine-game hitting streak.

Orioles relievers have posted a 1.91 ERA (17 earned runs in 80 innings) in the last 21 games since May 24, the third-lowest mark in the majors.

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.

The increase in wins has again transformed the Orioles’ home clubhouse into more of a nightclub setting after games. The music is blaring, the strobe lights flashing. The only difference is that IDs aren’t checked at the door.

The smoke machines are creating a dense fog that makes it hard to see across the room. Players had three of them cranked up Saturday. It’s like being inside a van at a Grateful Dead concert.

This is a team that’s riding the high of being competitive again and keeping hopes alive that it can make a run at the postseason. Only six games separate it from the last Wild Card.

The Orioles didn’t quit on former manager Brandon Hyde. They played hard and were racked with guilt over his dismissal. But the fun returns when games aren’t lost in bundles.

The vibe improved along with the level of play. It’s a natural reaction.

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.

One offseason addition to the roster returned to the Orioles yesterday while another trended backward.

Gary Sánchez was reinstated from the injured list and grounded into a double play, struck out, homered for the first time since Sept. 27 and was hit by a pitch. He’s 4-for-33 this season.

Maverick Handley went 3-for-40 before the Orioles optioned him yesterday, so offense isn’t flowing from backup catcher, but Sánchez brings some pop and he showed it yesterday.

“It's a presence when he steps in the box,” interim manager Tony Mansolino said. “He walks in there, he's got that big ol’ leg kick and he gets that thing cranking and he swings through a pitch, it does not feel good if you’re on the other side, I promise that.”

Tyler O’Neill is the concern. He signed a three-year, $49.5 million contract with an opt-out after the first season that doesn’t figure to be exercised unless he has a long, healthy and productive stretch of games.