The second pitch thrown by Roansy Contreras with the Orioles drilled Alex Bregman in the middle of the back. Bregman winced and bent forward as the Red Sox’s athletic trainer rushed onto the field. Contreras had followed an opener and raised a welt.

Contreras was a pain to the Red Sox for most of his outing, retiring 12 of 14 after Bregman reached base in the Orioles’ 3-2 loss before an announced crowd of 16,790 at Camden Yards. He tossed 4 1/3 scoreless innings, with three hits allowed, and came close to earning his first win since July 28 with the Angels.

That reward went up in smoke in the ninth inning on Ceddanne Rafaela's two-run homer off Keegan Akin after Jarren Duran's leadoff single. Akin stood with his hands on his hips as the ball headed for the splash zone.

"I felt really good, especially because I had worked with (Samuel) Basallo down in Triple-A, so I think that made it much easier to go out there today and get the job done," Contreras said via interpreter Brandon Quinones.

"I'm very thankful to the Orioles organization for giving me the opportunity to be up in the big leagues and be here with them now. So, I'm very thankful for them."

The Orioles will switch to a six-man rotation after Tyler Wells is placed on the expanded roster next month.

Wells will become part of a unit that includes Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, Dean Kremer, Tomoyuki Sugano and Cade Povich. The Orioles chose to start Wells rather than move him to the bullpen.

“If everybody can stay healthy, that would be great,” said interim manager Tony Mansolino.

“It’s good. It gives Dean an extra day, it gives Tomo an extra day. Nobody will pitch on regular rest the rest of the year.”

Bradish responded favorably to his first start beyond an injury rehab assignment last night since June 2024.

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Selected the contract of RHP Roansy Contreras from Triple-A Norfolk. He will wear No. 66.
• Selected the contract of INF Emmanuel Rivera from Triple-A Norfolk. He will wear No. 26.
• Optioned RHP Yaramil Hiraldo to Triple-A Norfolk after yesterday’s game.
• Transferred RHP Brandon Young (left hamstring strain) to the 60-day Injured List.
• Designated INF Vimael Machín for assignment.

The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 40 players.

The Orioles are tampering with their roster again, with two more players coming in and two more going out.

Roansy Contreras was activated from the taxi squad and had his contract selected from Triple-A Norfolk, and he’ll work in bulk relief tonight, his first major league appearance since Sept. 29, 2024 with the Angels. He posted a 3.73 ERA in 28 appearances (14 starts) with Norfolk.

Infielder Emmanuel Rivera also had his contract selected.

To create room, the Orioles optioned Yaramil Hiraldo, who was charged with three runs last night in 1 1/3 innings and has a 5.65 ERA in 12 games, and they designated infielder Vimael Machín for assignment. They also transferred pitcher Brandon Young (hamstring) to the 60-day injured list, which ends his season.

Contreras will be the 64^th player used by the Orioles this season, two more than the franchise record set in 2021.

The Baltimore Orioles today announced that ROSINA LANSON will join the organization as the Chief Strategy Officer, responsible for overseeing corporate strategic planning, data and analytics, and technology to drive multifaceted problem-solving and research in support of the business operations of both the Orioles and MASN. Lanson will serve as a strategic partner to business unit leaders across various departments to drive operational efficiencies, optimize revenue, and achieve strategic plan objectives.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Rosina to our organization. Her extensive experience in sports business strategy, analytics, and operations will provide the club with key insight and guidance to support our long-term growth and impact,” shared CATIE GRIGGS, Orioles President of Business Operations.

Lanson joins the Orioles from Major League Baseball, where she launched and led the club business operations and strategy advisory function, overseeing efforts to leverage data and strategic insights to drive revenue and fan engagement across all 30 MLB clubs. Prior to joining the baseball world, Lanson spent three years at Meta, leading strategic planning and operations for their global sports team. She was responsible for setting the strategic direction for the group across both Facebook and Instagram, helping partners drive audience development and revenue goals through organic content.

Lanson previously spent time with the New York Jets, where she built and led business strategy for five years. In her time there, she oversaw several key cross-functional projects, including Jets Rewards – the team's access control, in-stadium payment, and loyalty program – and club business efforts related to the Jets 2015 International Series game in London.

“I’m honored to join such an iconic organization and be part of something so meaningful to Baltimore,” said Lanson. “I look forward to contributing my experience from across the industry, working alongside the talented team here as we continue to grow and innovate.”

Kyle Bradish remembered his move. The pinpoint control was evident before his first pitch.

Bradish led the Orioles onto the field tonight, turned sideways as he jumped over the first base line and pounded his fist into his glove after landing. He was starting a major league game for the first time in 438 days, and fans didn’t let the moment pass without an ovation.

The Red Sox deviated a little from their assigned parts in the feel-good story of the returning ace who made it through elbow surgery and an extensive rehab. Bradish struck out eight batters over the first four innings but also surrendered a pair of leadoff home runs.

The velocity was good. The arm was healthy. The rotation immediately got better, for this year and in 2026. Nothing else mattered as much.

Bradish completed six innings on 81 pitches and struck out 10 in the Orioles’ 5-0 loss before an announced crowd of 14,776 at Camden Yards. He allowed two runs and four hits and didn’t issue a walk.

The Orioles summoned right-hander Roansy Contreras from Triple-A Norfolk today and placed him on the taxi squad.

The visit will last more than 24 hours.

Interim manager Tony Mansolino needs a starter for Wednesday night and said Contreras is going to pitch “a good amount.” The exact role is undetermined, but another roster move is lurking.

Contreras could start or work in bulk relief behind an opener.

“A lot will kind of depend on how we go through today,” Mansolino said.

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Reinstated RHP Kyle Bradish (right elbow UCL surgery) from the 60-day Injured List. He will start tonight’s game.
• Claimed RHP Shawn Dubin off waivers from the Houton Astros. He has not yet reported.
• Transferred RHP Scott Blewett (right elbow discomfort) to the 60-day Injured List.
• Designated RHP Matt Bowman for assignment.

The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 40 players.

Another bullpen move is coming for the Orioles.

The club announced today that it claimed right-hander Shawn Dubin on waivers from the Astros. He hasn’t reported.

Dubin, 29, made 23 appearances this season and posted a 5.61 ERA and 1.481 WHIP in 25 2/3 innings. Three of his last four outings came against the Orioles, when he allowed nine runs in four innings. His ERA was 1.33 on June 20 and he didn’t pitch again for Houston until Aug. 12.

The Astros designated Dubin for assignment on Saturday. He’s out of minor league options and has registered a 4.95 ERA and 1.550 WHIP in 57 games over three seasons.

The Orioles already have used a franchise-record 63 players this season. The old record was 62 in 2021.

The Orioles will begin the 2026 season at home for the second time in three seasons after five consecutive road openers.

Major League Baseball released the schedules earlier today and the Orioles host the Twins on March 26. The teams get an off-day and play two more games before the Rangers arrive for three.

The first road trip takes the Orioles to Pittsburgh from April 3-5 and Chicago to face the White Sox from April 6-8.

The All-Star break is July 13-16, followed by road games in Houston and Boston.

The Orioles end the season in New York again, with the final game played on Sept. 27. The last homestand brings the Brewers and Blue Jays to Baltimore.

The Orioles today announced their 2026 regular season schedule. Baltimore will open the 2026 season on Thursday, March 26, at Oriole Park at Camden Yards against the Minnesota Twins.

The Orioles continue the season-opening homestand following an off day on Friday, March 27, with two games against the Twins before hosting the Texas Rangers in a three-game series beginning on Monday, March 30. Following an off day on Thursday, April 2, Baltimore begins its first road trip of the year on Friday, April 3 at Pittsburgh for the Pirates’ Home Opener.

DIVISION RIVALS: The Orioles will play four series each against American League East foes, two at home and two on the road, for 13 games against each divisional rival. Baltimore will host the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays at Oriole Park for seven games and the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees for six. The Orioles do not begin divisional play until a home series with Boston from April 24-26, and won’t play a division rival on the road until facing the Yankees from May 1-4. The club’s first eight series and 11 of the first 13 sets to begin the year will be outside the AL East. Twelve of the team’s final 22 games come within the division. The O’s will play a season-high 13 consecutive games against division rivals from May 25-June 7.

WEEKEND WARRIORS: Baltimore will host 14 weekend series, including four against AL East rivals: Red Sox (April 24-26 and September 3-6), Blue Jays (May 28-31), and Rays (August 21-23).

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE: The home schedule features three games played on holidays, including Mother’s Day (May 10 vs. Athletics), Memorial Day (May 25 vs. Tampa Bay), and Labor Day (September 7 vs. Cleveland).

Tomoyuki Sugano didn’t allow a run today while he was on the mound and the Orioles kept manufacturing them.

They were able to control everything except the weather.

Sugano shut out the Mariners over 5 1/3 innings before a series of storms forced a stoppage that lasted 2 hours and 18 minutes in the Orioles’ 5-3 victory before an announced crowd of 14,083 at Camden Yards.

The Orioles are 55-66 overall and 7-14 in rubber games. They went 5-1 against the Mariners and are 13-5 since the beginning of 2023.

The 5-0 lead in the fifth inning represented the most runs scored since Aug. 6 in Philadelphia. They came on a wild pitch, double steal, single, double and sacrifice fly.

“Steal bases I guess, I don’t know,” first-round pick Ike Irish answered with a laugh. 

“Steal bases, the first thing out of the catcher’s mouth, huh?” I replied with a chuckle. I had asked Irish, the No. 19 pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, if he had any goals for the remainder of his first professional season. 

“Hit the ball hard and steal bases,” he doubled down. “And outside of that, have fun.” 

That element won’t be missing for MLB Pipeline’s second-best Orioles prospect. The catcher/outfielder/first-baseman hybrid is keeping things light after being drafted just a few months ago. 

It’s the message the organization has sent him, too. 

The promotions of Samuel Basallo and Dylan Beavers to the majors reduced the number of Orioles storylines that create interest over the final month-plus of a hugely disappointing season.

The ball is in Kyle Bradish’s court. And his right hand.

Bradish starts tonight for the first time since June 14, 2024, when he came out of the game after five innings and only 74 pitches. He tossed six scoreless innings with only one hit allowed in his previous outing. Something was wrong.

We knew. Bradish received a platelet-rich plasma injection in his right elbow five months early in an attempt to avoid reconstructive elbow surgery. Each start, each pitch, brought its own drama.

How long could he last?

Tomoyuki Sugano became the latest Orioles pitcher tonight to face the same team in back-to-back starts. Dean Kremer did it against the Astros and went from tossing seven scoreless innings in Houston to allowing three home runs in the first inning at Camden Yards.

Kremer is a member of the two-timers club, also making consecutive appearances against the Twins in May and producing worse results in the rematch.

"That’s one of the scheduling challenges everyone has to face," he said over the weekend.

Sugano experienced it and was burned twice by the long ball in the Orioles’ 4-3 loss to the Red Sox before an announced crowd of 15,740 at Camden Yards.

The Orioles couldn’t convert leadoff doubles in the seventh and eighth innings and fell to 60-71.

The Orioles probably will wait until Wednesday morning to announce that night’s starter against the Red Sox. However, they confirmed earlier today that Kyle Bradish is getting the ball Tuesday night in his return from ligament-reconstructive surgery.

Bradish completed his rehab assignment, which lasted six appearances, and finally makes his return from his procedure in June 2024.

“It’s exciting,” said interim manager Tony Mansolino. “Obviously, he’s been miserable not being able to help us this year. Been very miserable, kind of watching this thing and how it’s gone, and he finally gets a chance to help. But just really excited, too, for (head athletic trainer) Scott Barringer and (head strength and conditioning coach) Trey Wiedman, our strength staff, (pitching coach) Drew French, all the people. It’s such a hands-on … and there’s so much work that goes into getting guys back from these Tommy John rehabs, among the other injuries. It’s an organizational win getting him out there tomorrow.”

Expectations will be kept at a reasonable level with Bradish returning from such a long layoff to face major league hitters.

“Guys coming back from Tommy John, we just saw (Shane) Bieber I think in Toronto have a nice one, a really good one, and that’s probably the type of profile that Kyle has in a lot of ways,” Mansolino said. “We’ve seen guys of that high of a profile have clunkers, too, the first couple times, but eventually they get going. And I think over time we’ll see Kyle get back to being Kyle.”

Orioles right-hander Kyle Bradish is confirmed to start Tuesday night for the first time since June 14, 2024.

Bradish hasn’t faced the Red Sox since Oct. 1, 2013, when he was shortened to two innings before the playoffs.

Those were good times for Bradish, but he received a platelet-rich plasma injection in the elbow in January 2024 and lasted eight starts before undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Bradish had posted a 2.75 ERA and 1.068 WHIP in 39 1/3 innings after placing fourth in American League Cy Young voting the previous season. He struck out 53 batters.

The Orioles deemed Bradish ready after he made six starts and totaled 22 innings on his rehab assignment.

The face, name and delivery were familiar. Had to be Trevor Rogers. Just block out the traffic on the bases and it made sense.

Rogers allowed a hit on his first pitch today, walked two batters in the third inning, committed a balk and surrendered the tying run. When the bar is set to near perfection, the hiccups are jolting.

In this magical season for Rogers, he can slip below his usual standards and conjure up a win. He can struggle a little and still skimp on the runs.

Rogers lowered his ERA to 1.40 with one run allowed in his fifth consecutive start, and the Orioles avoided a sweep with a 3-2 victory over the Astros before an announced crowd of 19,746 at Camden Yards. Their record is 60-70.

Astros starter Spencer Arrighetti retired 15 batters in a row before Gunnar Henderson’s two-out single in the sixth inning. Henderson stole second and third base to give him 19, and he scored when Ryan Mountcastle poked a sinker into right field for a 2-1 lead.

The Orioles’ injured list swelled to 15 players but is going to lose some weight with Kyle Bradish’s return this week to the active roster. A few more names are dropping off.

Catcher Adley Rutschman is trying to be among them.

Rutschman strained his right oblique and won’t be reinstated when eligible Thursday. However, he intends to play again next month.

“That’s the plan and I’m working as hard as I can to come back as soon as possible,” he said.

Rutschman missed five weeks with the same injury on his left side.

Colton Cowser, who’s homered in back-to-back games, is leading off today for the fifth time this season.

Jackson Holliday is on the bench.

Jeremiah Jackson is in right field and batting second. Ryan Mountcastle is at first base and Samuel Basallo is the designated hitter. Vimael Machín is at third base again.

Dylan Beavers is in left field. Over his first seven games, Beavers is hitting .500 against fastballs and has made contact with 95.7 percent.

Jackson is 14-for-34 (.412) in his last nine games.