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CHICAGO – The Orioles will go for their eighth sweep this afternoon as they wrap up their series against the White Sox.
Tyler Wells makes his third start after allowing three runs in 11 2/3 innings. He’s faced the White Sox twice in his career and surrendered five earned runs (six total) in 7 1/3 innings.
Jorge Mateo is in center field today and batting ninth. Jordan Westburg bats second and starts at third base.
Tyler O’Neill is the designated hitter. Jeremiah Jackson moves down to fifth in the order and is in right field.
Alex Jackson is catching. Samuel Basallo goes to the bench.
CHICAGO – Four relievers pitched last night for the Orioles before they could secure an 8-7 win over the White Sox. Left-hander José Castillo kept his jacket on and his seat on the bench.
Castillo would be the 69th player to appear in a game with the Orioles this season. The Marlins set the record last year by using 70.
The Orioles are in a September race, but not the one they wanted.
The club record was 62 in 2021, but it didn’t stand a chance this year. Injuries and the trade deadline created a roster churn that’s still in motion.
The Orioles have used 39 different pitchers, including position players forced into emergency relief, the second-most in franchise history behind the 42 in 2021. Thirty-four position players have gotten into games, tied for first with the 1955 team.
CHICAGO – What seemed inevitable has become official. The numbers can’t be manipulated. Optimism can’t be manufactured.
The 2025 Orioles are eliminated from the playoff chase.
Tonight’s 8-7 victory over the White Sox at Rate Field won't prolong their bid for a miracle run at the final Wild Card. The Mariners and Astros won, and those teams held the Orioles' fate in their hands.
Finishing above .500 remains a possibility if the Orioles (71-80) win their last 11 games. Their most recent non-winning season was in 2021, when they lost 110.
They shocked the industry in ’22 by posting 83 victories and signaling an end to the rebuild, and they went 101-61 the following year to claim the division.
CHICAGO – The Orioles will get a second opinion on Albert Suárez’s right elbow after he underwent an MRI last night.
Suárez is done pitching in 2025 after the Orioles put him on the 15-day injured list yesterday with right elbow discomfort. He noticed it after throwing three innings Sunday in Toronto.
“I think in the next week we’ll have something official on him that we want to release,” said interim manager Tony Mansolino, “but we have to go through the proper channels and make sure that the treatment plan and everything is appropriate.”
The season has been a grind for Suárez, who made one appearance in March, also in Toronto, before going on the IL with a rotator cuff strain. He got into four games this month, allowing two runs in nine innings, before enduring another shutdown.
The bullpen has a new left-hander, José Castillo, a waiver claim from the Mariners who reported today.
CHICAGO – Jordan Westburg is ready to play again for the Orioles, who reinstated him from the 10-day injured list earlier today. He’s serving as the designated hitter for tonight’s game against the White Sox.
Westburg’s last appearance came on Aug. 18 in Boston. He’s been out with a right ankle sprain.
The injured list is back down to 10 players.
Infielder Emmanuel Rivera was designated for assignment to make room for Westburg. He’s hit .250/.291/.283 in 42 games.
The 40-man roster has 39 players.
The Orioles have made the following roster moves:
- INF Jordan Westburg (right ankle sprain) was returned from his rehab assignment and reinstated from the 10-day Injured List.
- Activated LHP José Castillo. He will wear No. 66.
- Optioned LHP Grant Wolfram to Triple-A Norfolk after yesterday’s game.
- Designated INF Emmanuel Rivera for assignment.
The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 39 players.
HOMESTAND HIGHLIGHTS
Thursday, September 18 – HBCU and Divine Nine Night
HBCU and Divine Nine Night – Orioles.com/HBCU
Pregame Concert: Lloyd with Morgan State Alumnus DJ Heat
CHICAGO – The White Sox announced last night’s attendance at 11,020, but the entire upper deck was empty and the lower bowl had rows and rows of unoccupied seats. Tickets sold don’t equal bodies in the ballpark. The Windy City isn’t keen on supporting a team that …
You can fill in the rest.
The mailbag carried the necessary weight to avoid tipping over. Time to sort through it.
This is the latest sequel to the beloved 2008 original. You ask and I answer. The sarcasm comes at no extra charge.
Also, my mailbag lays down squeeze bunts and your mailbag gets chased out of bakeries for squeezing bundts.
CHICAGO – Tony Mansolino was the Orioles third base coach and infield instructor last summer, not their interim manager, when Kyle Bradish tossed seven hitless innings in the White Sox’s home ballpark. The details are a bit fuzzy.
Rain delayed the start of the game for 1 hour and 40 minutes. Bradish matched his career high with 11 strikeouts and came out after 103 pitches. The first batter to face reliever Danny Coulombe ruined the drama by homering.
“How do I not remember this?” Mansolino asked this afternoon during his dugout media session.
“I hope he does it again tonight.”
Bradish walked the leadoff hitter, struck out the next two and surrendered back-to-back singles to give the White Sox an early lead. He wouldn’t chase history. The goal was much more simple. Just do the job well enough to give his team a chance to win.
CHICAGO – Albert Suárez started yesterday in Toronto, allowed a run over three innings, threw 53 pitches and was lost for the rest of the month.
That’s also a wrap on his 2025 season.
Suárez went on the 15-day injured list this afternoon with right elbow discomfort and is scheduled to undergo an MRI tonight. He made one appearance this season, on March 28 at Rogers Centre, and missed about five months with a rotator cuff strain.
In four September appearances, Suárez allowed two runs and four hits over nine innings and won twice. Yesterday was his first start since Sept. 29, 2024.
“After the third inning right there, just kind of where he was at, it was kind of, see how he felt, and he said there’s a little bit of tightness in the forearm, so wisely pulled the plug in that situation with Big Al,” said interim manager Tony Mansolino.
CHICAGO – The Orioles made another flurry of roster moves this afternoon in Chicago.
Relievers Chayce McDermott and Yaramil Hiradlo were recalled from Triple-A Norfolk. Albert Suárez was placed on the 15-day injured list with right elbow discomfort, ending his season, and Carson Ragsdale was designated for assignment.
Ragsdale was optioned yesterday before the DFA.
The Orioles also claimed left-hander José Castillo on waivers from the Mariners, but he hasn’t reported.
Infielder Jordan Westburg is with the club and said he’s ready to go, but the Orioles didn’t announce a move with him.
The Orioles have made the following roster moves:
- Recalled RHP Yaramil Hiraldo and RHP Chayce McDermott from Triple-A Norfolk.
- Claimed LHP José Castillo off waivers from the Seattle Mariners. He has not yet reported.
- Placed RHP Albert Suárez (right elbow discomfort) on the 15-day Injured List.
- Designated RHP Carson Ragsdale for assignment after optioning him to Triple-A Norfolk after yesterday’s game.
The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 40 players.
The Baltimore Orioles and Major League Baseball today announced that infielder JORDAN WESTBURG has been named the Orioles’ 2025 nominee for the esteemed Roberto Clemente Award. The most prominent individual player award bestowed by MLB, the Roberto Clemente Award, presented by Capital One, is the annual recognition of a Major League player from each club who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy, and positive contributions, both on and off the field.
The Orioles will join Major League Baseball in honoring the 24th annual Roberto Clemente Day on Monday, September 15, as they take on the Chicago White Sox at 7:40 p.m. ET at Rate Field. This commemorative day was established by Major League Baseball to honor Clemente’s legacy and to officially acknowledge local club nominees of the Roberto Clemente Award. As part of the league-wide celebration, the Roberto Clemente Day logo will appear on the bases and official dugout lineup cards, all players will wear a “21” patch on their jersey (with 2025 nominees being notated on their patch), and a special tribute video will be played in ballparks. Once again this season, each team’s Clemente nominee will wear ”21” on their uniform, joining players and uniformed personnel from Puerto Rico, previous nominees, and those who have worn “21” on prior Roberto Clemente Days.
The Orioles will recognize Westburg in a special on-field ceremony at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Saturday, September 20, against the New York Yankees. In addition, Major League Baseball will make a donation to a charity of Westburg’s choice.
Since making his major league debut in 2023, Westburg has showcased all the qualities that the Roberto Clemente award was created to honor. Westburg’s leadership extends beyond the diamond and into the Orioles clubhouse, where his values and integrity set the tone. During Spring Training, he helped organize and lead team-wide Bible study sessions, creating an inclusive and encouraging space for teammates to grow in their faith and support one another in their spiritual journey.
Westburg is also active in the greater Baltimore community, which included his volunteer work at several non-profits during the Orioles’ 2025 Birdland Caravan. His efforts included wrapping diapers at ShareBaby, organizing books at the Maryland Book Bank, preparing athletic gear for underserved youth with Leveling the Playing Field, and assembling Narcan kits and foster care bags with Break a Difference. Westburg’s dedication to serving the community he calls home is evident. His wife, Anna Claire, later returned to volunteer with ShareBaby during the season, reflecting the couple’s shared dedication to service.
Jeremiah Jackson is the cleanup hitter today for the first time with the Orioles, who try to avoid a sweep this afternoon in Toronto.
Jackson is starting at third base. He’s hit in every spot in the lineup except third.
Dylan Beavers is in right field and batting second again. Samuel Basallo is the designated hitter and batting fifth.
Coby Mayo moves up to sixth after homering yesterday and producing his first multi-hit game since Aug. 6.
The Orioles lost yesterday for the 10th time when leading through seven innings and the third when ahead entering the ninth.
The Orioles brought up another new pitcher this morning, recalling right-hander Carson Ragsdale from Triple-A Norfolk and placing Shawn Dubin on the 15-day injured list with right elbow discomfort.
Ragsdale will wear No. 83. He’s waiting to make his major league debut after posting a 3.47 ERA and 1.157 WHIP in seven games (five starts) with Norfolk.
Ragsdale, 27, began the season with Triple-A Sacramento in the Giants’ organization. The Orioles claimed him on waivers Aug. 3.
If Ragsdale gets into a game, he’ll be the 68th player used by the Orioles this season.
Dubin made seven relief appearances and allowed three runs in eight innings. He pitched Friday and was charged with three runs and four hits in 1 2/3.
The Orioles have made the following roster moves:
- Recalled RHP Carson Ragsdale from Triple-A Norfolk. He will wear No. 83 and his first appearance will be his MLB debut.
- Placed RHP Shawn Dubin (right elbow discomfort) on the 15-day Injured List, retroactive to September 13.
The Orioles didn’t map out an extensive offseason plan for Ike Irish, their first pick in the 2025 amateur draft. He was able to determine necessary areas of improvement just by visiting Camden Yards last week.
Put a bunch of major league players around a 21-year-old in his first professional season and it becomes clear.
“I think it’s the big things, like you’ve got to get more physical,” he said during a media scrum in the Orioles’ dugout. “Just for myself, standing around these big leaguers, I’m a little smaller than they are, so get a little more physical. And then just fine-tune the talent and get better in all aspects of the game, because I have to.”
Irish obviously didn’t let his draft status go to his head.
The Orioles had four draft picks within the top 37 and chose Irish 19th overall out of Auburn University, thrilled that one of the top hitters in the draft fell to them.
Dylan Beavers moves up to second in the Orioles’ lineup today, the first time he’s hit higher than fifth in the majors. He’s in right field, with Jeremiah Jackson on the bench.
Tyler O’Neill is the designated hitter again and is batting cleanup. Coby Mayo returns to the lineup at first base and is batting ninth.
Samuel Basallo is catching. Dylan Carlson is in left field and Emmanuel Rivera is at third base again.
Tomoyuki Sugano takes his turn today after leaving his last start with a sore right foot. He was hit by a sharp one-hopper and limped to the dugout.
Two of his first three starts in the U.S. came against the Blue Jays. He allowed two runs in four innings in his debut in Toronto and three runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 at Camden Yards.
Various worlds were rocked back in May with manager Brandon Hyde’s firing in his seventh season on the job. It began with Hyde, of course, who learned of his fate the night before the team’s announcement and returned to his home in Sarasota County. Major league field coordinator and catching instructor Tim Cossins, a close friend of Hyde’s since they were teenagers, also was dismissed.
Tony Mansolino thought he’d remain third base coach, his role since the 2021 season, but the Orioles named him interim manager. His move out of the box prompted Buck Britton’s switch from major league coach.
Britton managed Triple-A Norfolk for the past three seasons. He barely had time to get acclimated to the majors, a level he never reached as a player, and he already was inheriting a new title.
“I’ve been in the big leagues for, what five months? It feels like I’ve been here for two years,” Britton said this week, smiling at the accelerated pace of his professional life.
“I never expected to be thrown into the fire. Very thankful and blessed that I was the guy to go over to third base and do that. It’s been a wild ride.
Tyler O’Neill is serving as the designated hitter tonight and batting sixth, as the Orioles begin their three-game series in Toronto.
O’Neill was reinstated from the injured list earlier today.
Ryan Mountcastle is the first baseman, which puts Coby Mayo on the bench.
Dylan Beavers is in left field and Jeremiah Jackson is in right. Samuel Basallo is catching.
The Orioles’ five walk-off wins in the second half are tied with the Rangers and Mariners for most in the majors.
