BOSTON – The Orioles had a game postponed yesterday for the fifth time this season, setting up the third of their four scheduled doubleheaders.

Life keeps getting harder for them.

They give up 13 runs in the eighth inning of Game 1, forced again to use a position player to pitch, and the tarp goes on the field less than two hours before Game 2's start time. It begins to rain, as if on cue. They’re stuck in a cramped clubhouse at “America’s most beloved ballpark,” which is a kind way of saying it’s old.

They never posted a lineup, unlike the Red Sox, who either held more confidence in the rain halting or just did it for practice. A starter wasn’t confirmed until last night, when the club announced Zach Eflin for Game 1 and TBA for Game 2. Trevor Rogers finally could get the ball as the 27^th man, but Charlie Morton also is a possibility.

The season hasn’t gotten past May and the Orioles have allowed 19-plus runs twice this season. Emmanuel Rivera became the 26^th player to pitch for them with his emergency appearance in Game 1, and Rogers could be the 27^th - seven fewer than last year’s total. The group includes two infielders and a backup catcher.

BOSTON – Interim manager Tony Mansolino had a decision to make today with two runners on base and two outs in the fifth inning. The Orioles led by a run and Seranthony Domínguez was ready in the bullpen. Trevor Story stepped to the plate, Mansolino ignored the right-left matchup by sticking with Cade Povich, and a ground ball killed the rally.

Povich was pushed to 98 pitches and exited with only one run allowed. Mansolino had no choice now except to trust his bullpen. That decision was out of his hands.

The lead slipped through the Orioles fingers and shattered.

Ceddanne Rafaela delivered a game-tying single off Domínguez in the sixth, Jarren Duran followed with an RBI single off Gregory Soto and Rafael Devers hit a three-run homer. Devers finished with eight RBIs after his grand slam off infielder Emmanuel Rivera in a 13-run, 12-hit eighth that sent the Orioles to an embarrassing 19-5 loss in Game 1 of a doubleheader at Fenway Park.

Both teams used a position player to pitch, with the Red Sox giving Abraham Toro his first career experience in the ninth. The Orioles scored twice. At times, it resembled baseball.

BOSTON – The rain has stopped in Boston and the tarp is off the field. The Orioles and Red Sox will attempt to play two games in a day-night doubleheader.

Gunnar Henderson is the designated hitter today, with Jorge Mateo playing shortstop. Jackson Holliday continues to bat leadoff.

Ryan O’Hearn is in left field to handle the Green Monster, and Heston Kjerstad is in right.

Ramón Urías is playing third base.

Trevor Rogers is the 27^th man. He'll probably start Game 2. Starters for Saturday and Sunday are now TBA.

BOSTON – Jim Henneman, the longtime Baltimore sportswriter and Orioles official scorer affectionately known as “Henny,” passed away last night. He was 89.

Henneman has been battling health issues but he made it down to Sarasota again for spring training and attended home Opening Day. He was moved into hospice care this week.

The Orioles renamed the press box in Henneman’s honor in January 2024, a gesture that brought him to tears.

“I can’t imagine a better honor,” he said.

The team issued a statement this morning, saying it was “heartbroken” to share the news.

BOSTON - The Red Sox flip-flopped starters for today’s doubleheader, using the rainout to move Brayan Bello ahead of Lucas Giolito. The Orioles are sticking with left-hander Cade Povich for Game 1 but haven’t committed to a starter for the nightcap.

Charlie Morton was listed for tonight before the weather forced a fourth postponement. He could get the ball anyway, or the Orioles could use an opener ahead of him, move Zach Eflin to Game 2 on normal rest rather than wait until Saturday, or choose a pitcher who’s called up as the 27^th man.

It won’t be Chayce McDermott because he was optioned Wednesday.

Left-hander Trevor Rogers, also on the 40-man roster, hasn’t started for Triple-A Norfolk since May 16 and he’s listed as tonight’s starter against the St. Paul Saints. He’s allowed 12 earned runs (13 total) and 16 hits with six walks and 15 strikeouts in 13 1/3 innings.

The 40-man isn’t really a consideration because the Orioles have two openings.

BOSTON – With rain in the forecast throughout the day and night, the Orioles must endure their fourth postponement of the 2025 season.

Makes it harder to carry the momentum from yesterday’s 11-inning win in Milwaukee.

The Orioles and Red Sox will play a split doubleheader on Friday, with Game 1 at 1:35 p.m. and Game 2 at 7:10 p.m.

Both teams get a 27th man.

The Orioles already made up two of their first three postponed games, being swept in a doubleheader in Detroit and at home against the Twins. They have a day-night doubleheader against the Blue Jays on July 29 at Camden Yards.

The Orioles avoided a third consecutive series sweep yesterday. They didn’t fold after losing leads in the ninth and 10^th innings. Félix Bautista allowed a run in his fourth consecutive appearance, but hey, at least he was cleared to pitch on back-to-back days.

Interim manager Tony Mansolino could enjoy the flight to Boston. The losing streak ended at eight. The Orioles improved to 1-27 when trailing after the seventh.

Can’t make up all the ground in one game. Yesterday was a start.

Let’s tackle a few questions this morning. This time, I’ll do the asking.

* Did the Orioles make the right choice with the rotation?

MILWAUKEE – Baltimore was right there. The losing streak was over. 

The Tony Mansolino era had its first victory in the palm of its hand. 

For the first time this season, Baltimore could come back to win a game after trailing entering the seventh inning. They found clutch situational hits when they needed to. Their former All-Star closer was on the mound with a chance to seal things in the ninth. 

Baltimore was one strike away. 

In a 2-2 count, American Family Field erupted at the sight of a Caleb Durbin RBI single to tie the game at three runs apiece. 

MILWAUKEE – There haven’t been very many positives to point to in the brief Tony Mansolino era. Today, there’s one in plain sight. 

Andrew Kittredge, who the O’s signed to a one-year, $10 million deal with an option for 2026 this offseason, was reinstated from the injured list today. Kittredge missed a chunk of spring training and the beginning of this season after undergoing “knee debridement” surgery. At his healthy best, he’s one of the best setup men in the game. 

“I definitely wasn’t expecting to have surgery during spring training,” Kittredge said this morning with a laugh. “That was kind of out of my control. So, I just attacked the rehab and feeling good, and just excited to be back now, even though it wasn’t the beginning of the season that I hoped for. Excited to be back.” 

Kittredge made 74 appearances for the Cardinals a season ago, top-10 among pitchers’ games played. He posted a 2.80 ERA, a return to form in his first full season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2022. 

Having previously gone through a long rehab, Kittredge knew the drill this time around. 

Reliever Andrew Kittredge is on the verge of finally making his Orioles debut.

The Orioles reinstated Kittredge from the 15-day injured list this morning and optioned Chayce McDermott to Triple-A Norfolk.

Kittredge made only one appearance in spring training before undergoing surgery to repair cartilage in his left knee. He signed for $10 million over the winter.

McDermott allowed three runs and walked five batters in 4 2/3 innings in his third career major league appearance and was optioned after the game.

The bullpen has an extra reliever today as the Orioles try to snap an eight-game losing streak and avoid a third consecutive sweep. They’ve fallen 17 games below .500.

The Orioles lost Game 2 of last Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Twins after former manager Brandon Hyde handed Yennier Cano the ball in the eighth inning and watched him allow three runs. This was an automatic and understandable move, using the primary and rested set-up man to protect a 6-5 lead before passing it on to closer Félix Bautista.

The critics came after Hyde again for no good reason. It was the right decision, it blew up like so many others in 2025, and Cano’s ERA was inflated from 2.70 to 4.40.

Interim manager Tony Mansolino summoned Cano in the eighth inning Monday night with the score tied in Milwaukee. Cano got the first two outs, but a full-count walk and stolen base preceded William Contreras’ ground ball single to give the Brewers a 5-4 win.

First base was open, but the Orioles pitched to Contreras, who finished with four hits.

“We have a ton of faith in Yenni,” Mansolino said. “Yenni’s one of our guys. We really like Yenni, really in any situation. So we bet on our guy, it didn’t work out. We’ll do it again next time.”

MILWAUKEE – The story of the O’s first two games in Milwaukee has felt eerily similar. 

The starting pitching didn’t take them out of it but wasn’t stellar, the bullpen was adequate but not great, and some late life from the offense wasn’t enough to push Baltimore ahead. 

Any way you slice it, it added up to the Orioles’ eighth consecutive loss, this time 5-2. The Orioles haven’t won a series against the Brewers since 2003. 

The first turn around the order was incredibly uneventful for both teams. If you like pitching and defense, the first 18 plate appearances were right up your alley. Three walks between both teams, with the most excitement coming in a Sal Frelick fly out to the warning track. 

Batter No. 18 was a Chayce McDermott three-pitch strikeout of Joey Ortiz. It was the 19th batter that presented the first sign of trouble. 

MILWAUKEE – Mike Elias isn’t a stranger to addressing the media in the midst of a losing season. 

Since taking the reins of the O’s front office in November 2018, Elias oversaw tough years in the win and loss columns from 2019 to 2021. 

The caveat there, of course, is that Baltimore was rebuilding. Soon, players like Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, Jordan Westburg and more would join the fold to propel the Orioles to a 100-win season and division title, and back-to-back postseason appearances. 

A stranger to this type of address? No. Just a bit unfamiliar. 

His next one just came much sooner than anyone expected. 

The Orioles released Kyle Gibson this afternoon after he cleared waivers. He was designated for assignment on Sunday.

The outcome was predictable with Gibson paid $5.25 million this year.

The door could remain ajar for Gibson’s return to the organization, perhaps agreeing to another deal that allows for the veteran to pitch in the minors in a second attempted ramp-up.

Gibson signed his contract on March 21 and lasted only four starts, compiling a 16.78 ERA and 2.919 WHIP. He allowed 23 runs and 29 hits in 12 1/3 innings, with seven walks and 10 strikeouts.

Ramón Laureano, who’s 11 for his last 19, remains the cleanup hitter tonight. Heston Kjerstad is in left field and batting eighth.

The Orioles are trying to get healthier after injuries hit them early again, and the news on outfielder Colton Cowser leaves them more encouraged.

Cowser is reporting to High-A Aberdeen today for pregame workouts, and his rehab assignment begins Wednesday if the weather cooperates.

Cowser fractured his left thumb in the fourth game of the season while diving into first base at Rogers Centre in Toronto. He was transferred to the 60-day injured list and can be reinstated on May 30.

The loss has been felt all season with the Orioles' offense slashing .230/.298/.388. They’re batting .198 with a .612 OPS with runners in scoring position.

A runner-up finish last season in Rookie of the Year voting in the American League raised expectations for Cowser. He began the season 2-for-16 against the Blue Jays and broke the thumb trying to beat out a ground ball.

One of the most predictable qualities of Orioles teams is the unpredictability of the daily lineup postings.

Pitching splits might influence some decisions or they can go largely ignored. Players rarely camp out in the exact same spot in the order. Hit first in one game and maybe seventh or eighth in the next. A few starts in a row can be followed by a few nights spent leaning on the dugout railing and waiting to spit water after a double.

The Orioles have used seven leadoff, No. 2 and No. 3 hitters this season, nine cleanup, No. 5 and No. 9 hitters, and 10 No. 6 and 7 hitters. Dylan Carlson last night became the 12^th player to bat eighth.

The manager has the final say, but the crafting is a collaborative effort with the analytics and advance scouting departments providing data and input. Tony Mansolino, working under the interim tag, isn’t going to be the exact same as Brandon Hyde. He’ll get the same information but try to find ways to stir up a stagnant offense.

Mansolino’s first lineup on Saturday had three left-handed hitters in the first three spots – Jackson Holliday, Ryan O’Hearn and Gunnar Henderson. Hyde wasn’t always comfortable having that many players in a row batting from the same side.

MILWAUKEE – The first two innings haven’t been kind to the Orioles in the Tony Mansolino era. Late deficits haven’t been kind to Baltimore all season. 

In the first game of their new series against the Brewers, the Orioles beat both trends. But they couldn’t beat the Brewers, falling 5-4 in Game 1. 

Yesterday, the ever-reliable Zach Eflin allowed seven earned runs in his first two frames against the Nationals. On Saturday, Kyle Gibson and Charlie Morton combined to do the same. 

The Orioles, on the other hand, found their earliest runs of those two games in the fifth inning. 

Tonight’s deficit of 3-1 after two innings wasn’t quite 7-0, but it still wasn’t the start the Orioles were looking for.

MILWAUKEE – It’s been quite the 72 hours in Birdland.

Tony Mansolino found out that he would be the Orioles' interim manager on Saturday morning. Without much time to settle and adjust, Baltimore had two afternoon games against the visiting Nationals. 

“Being totally honest, just an absolute ton of anxiety Saturday and Sunday,” Mansolino said today. “Didn’t sleep a whole lot. Just going through the information and getting my mind prepared for what the job is. I slept last night, which was a really nice feeling waking up today.” 

Now the Orioles find themselves as visitors in Milwaukee for a three-game series, the first in which Mansolino has found himself at the helm from the jump. 

“Last night, getting on the plane, I pulled out the advanced binder, and I was able to just start looking at what’s going on in terms of the strategy of the game," he said. "I was able to pull out my computer and start looking at lineups and players and things that would help us get ready for the next day. I think that exercise, just kind of strangely, settled me down.”

The Orioles have put pitcher Chayce McDermott on their taxi squad tonight in Milwaukee, which likely makes him Tuesday night’s starter against the Brewers. The spot is listed as TBA.

McDermott was the 27^th man in Game 2 of Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Twins and allowed four runs in three innings before the Orioles returned him to Triple-A Norfolk. He walked three batters and struck out five.

Being the 27th man allows him to return to the majors without waiting the minimum 15 days.

Jackson Holliday is leading off tonight and Ramón Laureano is the cleanup hitter. Ramón Urías is playing third base, Dylan Carlson is in left field and Maverick Handley is catching.

Adley Ruschman is on the bench.

The emotions running through Tony Mansolino are best described as mixed.

He’s a first-time major league manager but on an interim basis. He’s living the baseball dream but at the expense of friend Brandon Hyde. And he can’t say with any certainty why he’s sitting in that chair inside that office.

“That’s probably a better question for him. I’m not sure,” Mansolino said yesterday, referring to executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias.

“I’ve been here for five years. I feel like I probably built some equity in the building through my time here, so I’m sure that had a little something to do with it.”

It didn’t hurt, but we’re working under assumptions.