Kjerstad triple pushes Orioles to fifth win in a row (updated)

Heston Kjerstad

SEATTLE – The seismic shift in the Orioles’ season has taken them from last call to bars raised.

A rotation that ranked statistically among the worst in baseball is pushing its starters to keep performing at a much higher level. The group has registered a 2.11 ERA in the past 10 games, with two runs or fewer allowed in eight. The next man up must stand tall.

The offense is delivering more often in the clutch, whether with powerful strokes or well-placed pokes. Runs aren’t scoring in bunches, but the amount is sufficient.

Heston Kjerstad tripled for the second time in three games, driving in two runs with two outs in the seventh inning to key the Orioles’ 3-2 victory over the Mariners at T-Mobile Park. He has four hits this month, three for extra bases.

The Orioles are 24-36 overall and 9-8 under interim manager Tony Mansolino. They’ve claimed back-to-back series for the first time and built their first five-game winning streak since June 7-12, 2024. They won a fourth straight road game in a single season for the first time since June 7-10, 2024.

Laureano and Sánchez rehab updates, tonight's Orioles-Mariners lineups (and more)

Ramon Laureano

SEATTLE – Outfielder Ramón Laureano and catcher Gary Sánchez begin their injury rehab assignments tonight with Triple-A Norfolk, which is playing in Nashville. Laureano is leading off and playing right field and Sánchez is batting third and serving as designated hitter.

Laureano and Sánchez joined infielder Jordan Westburg, who is reaching the finish line in his assignment. Westburg is batting second and playing third base.

Coby Mayo is playing first base tonight as the Orioles try to stay on their recent roll.

Colton Cowser stays in center field, Heston Kjerstad in right and Dylan Carlson in left. Ryan O’Hearn goes from first baseman to designated hitter.

Left-hander Cade Povich will try to give the Orioles five straight quality starts for the first time since July 5-9, 2023 with Dean Kremer, Kyle Bradish, Cole Irvin, Tyler Wells and Kyle Gibson.

All-Star voting begins today, pregame notes on Orioles and Mariners

Ryan O'Hearn

SEATTLE – Ballots were revealed earlier today for the All-Star Game that’s set for the July 15 at Truist Park in Atlanta.

Votes can be cast at www.mlb.com/all-star/ballot.

Phase 1 runs from today-June 26, and Phase 2 from June 30-July 2. One player may be chosen from each position during the initial round except for outfield (three). Starters are selected beginning June 30.

The top vote recipient in each league automatically makes the starting lineup, and the remaining spots are determined by the fans.  

Starters will be announced on July 2 at 7 p.m. on ESPN, and pitchers and reserves will be revealed July 6 at 5 p.m. on ESPN.

West Coast leftovers for breakfast

Heston Kjerstad

SEATTLE – The starts keep coming to Orioles outfielder Heston Kjerstad, with injuries presenting more opportunities than otherwise would be available to a struggling hitter.

Kjerstad appeared in his 51st game last night, making his 18th start in right. He’s made 25 in left and served as designated hitter in one game.

Opportunities aren’t the issue here. It’s the results, which lowered his average to .185 with a .231 on-base percentage and .308 slugging percentage heading into last night.

Kjerstad tripled on Sunday, the first of his career, but was picked off third base. He broke an 0-for-20 streak and was 3-for-38 in his past 10 games.

Batting eighth last night against Mariners right-hander George Kirby, Kjerstad lined a 96.5 mph fastball up the middle for a one-out single in the second inning and lined out to left field to end the fourth. He lined to center on Sunday, and to third and left field on Saturday.

Orioles run winning streak to four games with 5-1 victory over Mariners (updated)

Orioles run winning streak to four games with 5-1 victory over Mariners (updated)

SEATTLE – The Orioles kept jabbing at Mariners starter George Kirby tonight, with all eight of their hits against him singles. Ramón Urías clipped the right side of Kirby’s jaw with a 102.7 mph line drive that resulted in the final out of the fifth inning – the ball rolling to first baseman Rowdy Tellez - and left a thin stream of blood running past his mouth.

Kirby was coming out anyway after 95 pitches, but it still resembled a knockout blow.

Tomoyuki Sugano and Colton Cowser wouldn’t let the Mariners get up. Sugano held them to one run in seven innings and Cowser marked his return with an opposite-field homer off former teammate Eduardo Bazardo in a 5-1 victory over the Mariners at T-Mobile Park.

Heston Kjerstad drove in Coby Mayo with a double in the ninth, pinch-runner Jordyn Adams scored on Jackson Holliday’s single, and the Orioles improved to 23-36 with their first four-game winning streak since June 26-29, 2024. They’ve won seven of their last nine games and are 8-8 under interim manager Tony Mansolino.

Sugano delivered the rotation’s fourth quality start in a row and lowered his ERA to 3.04. He allowed five hits, walked one batter and struck out five.

Cowser on his return from injured list and the shrimp scandal, plus some rehab updates

Colton Cowser

SEATTLE – The Orioles are making their latest attempt to get healthy. This time, it involves Colton Cowser.

Cowser is in center field tonight for the first game against the Mariners at T-Mobile Park. He was reinstated from the injured list yesterday, leaving the Orioles with 11 players on the shelf.

Cowser hasn’t played for the Orioles since fracturing his left thumb on March 30 in Toronto. He completed a rehab assignment that consisted of three games with High-A Aberdeen and three with Triple-A Norfolk.

“Feeling good,” he said. “It was one of those things where, had to get some ABs and was able to do so. Was fighting the weather a little bit a couple of those days, but feeling good.”

Cowser went 6-for-11 with four doubles at Norfolk, but he wasn’t using statistics to measure his readiness.

Cowser back in Orioles' lineup, plus pregame notes from Seattle

Tomoyuki Sugano

SEATTLE – Colton Cowser was reinstated from the injured list yesterday and he’s playing center field tonight and batting sixth for the series opener in Seattle.

Jackson Holliday remains the leadoff hitter.

Coby Mayo is the designated hitter, Heston Kjerstad is in right field and Dylan Carlson is in left.

Ryan O’Hearn, the cleanup hitter and first baseman, is batting .329 against right-handers and the Mariners are starting three in the series. O’Hearn’s average is tied for fourth-highest among left-handed hitters versus right-handers in a minimum 100 plate appearances.

Tomoyuki Sugano has posted a 3.23 ERA and 1.063 WHIP in 11 starts. He’s got a 3.67 ERA and 1.223 WHIP in six home games and a 2.73 ERA and 0.876 WHIP in five road games.

Catcher Tromp chooses free agency

Generic-Gates

The Orioles have made the following roster move:

  • C Chadwick Tromp elected free agency in lieu of accepting an outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk.

Mabry happy for chance to coach his hometown Orioles (Cowser reinstated)

Ryan O'Hearn

You don’t have to look far to find the local connections with new Orioles senior advisor John Mabry.

He grew up a fan of the team, which happens when you’re raised in Cecil County and attend Bohemia Manor High School in Chesapeake City, played for the renown Johnny’s amateur baseball team and participated in the Crown All-Star Game at Memorial Stadium.

“Favorite players Cal Ripken, Eddie Murray, the whole nine yards,” Mabry said. “I’ve been watching the Orioles since Wild Bill Hagy type stuff. So it’s a cool opportunity, and at this time it was cool for our family, as well.”

Mabry was at Camden Yards this morning to fulfill his role as senior advisor, a move consummated a few weeks after the Orioles fired manager Brandon Hyde and made third base coach Tony Mansolino the interim, and it’s a broad set of responsibilities.

“Just gonna be a helping hand,” he said. “Just be an available resource for coaches and players. Get to know everything that’s going on and just be available.”

Orioles reinstate Cowser, designate Hummel for assignment

Orioles-Logo

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

  • Reinstated OF Colton Cowser (left thumb fracture) from the 60-day Injured List.
  • Designated UTL Cooper Hummel for assignment.

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

Morton comes up big again and small-ball Orioles complete sweep with 3-2 win (updated)

morton v STL

The Orioles went to extremes today to prove that they can score without relying too much on home runs, that the small ball approach remains in their skill set.

That station-to-station doesn’t always require movement.

A two-run third inning that broke a scoreless tie featured a single, double, two more singles and a sacrifice fly. The exit velocities in three straight at-bats were clocked at 79.3, 77.9 and 76.3 mph.

Charlie Morton didn’t need the Orioles to bring much thunder on a sunny day. They gave him a lead and he allowed an unearned run in a season-high 6 2/3 innings in a 3-2 victory over the White Sox before an announced crowd of 33,037 at Camden Yards that completed the first sweep in 2025.

Morton lowered his ERA to 6.20 and raised the Orioles’ record to 22-36 with their sixth win in eight games and seventh in 11. They’ve gone 7-8 under interim manager Tony Mansolino. The White Sox (18-41) have lost 12 of 16.

Leftovers for breakfast

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The Orioles are trying to mix two vastly different mindsets as they enter the month of June.

This is a team with an opportunity to evaluate younger talent by providing regular starts that could allow it to get a jump on the 2026 season. To offer valuable experience to these players and possibly make some earlier decisions while plotting an offseason plan.

That’s the seller attitude, conceding that 2025 is a lost cause as they sit in last place and try to make the best of a crappy situation.

Interim manager Tony Mansolino recognizes the opportunity available to a prospect like Coby Mayo, but he isn’t giving up on the season. There are no concession speeches during his pre-game and post-game media sessions.

Mansolino kept Heston Kjerstad in the lineup yesterday, an easier task with all three Opening Day starters and one backup on the injured list. Kjerstad played right field, Jorge Mateo got another start in center and Dylan Carlson was in left. Ryan O’Hearn played first base in Ryan Mountcastle’s absence rather than getting another start in right or left.

Pérez clears waivers, goes to Norfolk

Orioles-Logo

The Orioles have made the following roster move:

  • LHP Cionel Pérez has cleared outright waivers and accepted an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk.

Mayo recalled, Mountcastle to IL

Orioles-Logo

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

  • Recalled INF Coby Mayo from Triple-A Norfolk.
  • Selected the contract of OF Jordyn Adams from Triple-A Norfolk. He will wear No. 80.
  • Placed INF Ryan Mountcastle (right hamstring strain) on the 10-day Injured List.
  • Designated C Chadwick Tromp for assignment.

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

Eflin goes seven scoreless in Orioles' 2-1 win, Mountcastle exits with sore hamstring (updated)

Zach Eflin

The Orioles handed out bowling shirts today to the first 15,000 fans. Zach Eflin didn’t spare the White Sox, but when would the offense strike?

It took until the bottom of the sixth inning, when the Orioles loaded the bases with no outs and scored twice on a sacrifice fly and double steal. They didn’t offer much support and little was needed.

Eflin shut out the White Sox over seven innings and the Orioles began the series with a 2-1 win before an announced crowd of 22,108 at Camden Yards.

Félix Bautista surrendered two doubles in the ninth inning, the second by Andrew Benintendi with two outs. Luis Robert Jr. walked with the count full in an eight-pitch at-bat before Bautista nailed down his ninth save.

Disaster didn't strike.

Mansolino on Mullins, Cowser and Mabry, plus today's lineups

Colton Cowser

Orioles center fielder Cedric Mullins underwent an MRI yesterday on his right hamstring, and the club is expressing early optimism regarding the severity of the strain and length of his absence.

Mullins leads the club with 10 home runs and 31 RBIs, and he ranks second with a .324 on-base percentage, .448 slugging and .772 OPS. His placement on the 10-day injured list is retroactive to yesterday, making him eligible to return on June 8.

“Very minor,” said interim manager Tony Mansolino. “My guess is that this will probably be the minimum for him. And who knows? It can go a little bit further. But we are not super concerned. It’s more right now just taking care of Ced and making sure we get him back 100 percent.”

Mullins has missed three of five games. He appeared in 147 last season but made two trips to the IL in 2023 with adductor strains.

Dylan Carlson is in center field this afternoon, and Mansolino said deciding on starters will be day-to-day.

Orioles hire Mabry, Mullins placed on IL, Hummel re-signed

Cedric Mullins

The Orioles hired former major league outfielder/first baseman and coach John Mabry as senior advisor. The announcement came this afternoon.

The current coaches will remain with the club for the rest of the 2025 season.

Mabry played in the majors for 14 season and was a coach with the Cardinals, Royals and Marlins over a span of 12 seasons. He spent the 2024 season as Miami’s hitting coach after being an assistant the previous year.

Utility player Cooper Hummel, who declined an outright assignment last night and became a free agent, has signed another one-year major league contract with the Orioles. He’s replacing center fielder Cedric Mullins, who goes on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain.

Mullins was out of the lineup in three of four games before Wednesday. Today’s move is retroactive to yesterday.

Orioles place Cedric Mullins on IL, sign Cooper Hummel to major league contract

Baseballs generic

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

  • Signed UTL Cooper Hummel to a one-year major league contract for the 2025 season.
  • Placed OF Cedric Mullins (right hamstring strain) on the 10-day Injured List, retroactive to May 29.
  • Transferred RHP Cody Poteet (right shoulder inflammation) to the 60-day Injured List.

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

Orioles hire John Mabry as senior advisor, major league coaching staff

Orioles-Jacket-Logos

The Orioles today announced that they have hired 14-year major league veteran JOHN MABRY as senior advisor, major league coaching staff. In this new role, he will be advising Interim Manager TONY MANSOLINO and the rest of the major league coaching staff.

Mabry (pronounced MAY-bree), 54, spent the 2024 season as hitting coach with the Miami Marlins and was the assistant hitting coach in 2023. He worked as a major league coach for the Kansas City Royals from 2020-22 after serving as hitting coach for the St. Louis Cardinals from 2013-18. Mabry was also assistant hitting coach for the Cardinals in 2012.

The former first baseman/outfielder slashed .263/.322/.405 (898-for-3409) with 183 doubles, six triples, 96 home runs, 382 runs scored, and 446 RBI in 1,321 games across 14 MLB seasons with the Cardinals, Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres, Florida Marlins, Philadelphia Phillies, Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs, and Colorado Rockies from 1994-2007. Mabry had three separate stints with St. Louis, where he played in 748 career games. He helped the Cardinals secure the National League Pennant in 2004 before falling to the Boston Red Sox in the World Series.

Mabry graduated from Bohemia Manor High School in Maryland’s Cecil County in 1989. He attended West Chester University of Pennsylvania from 1989-91 before being selected by St. Louis in the sixth round of the 1991 First-Year Player Draft.

Orioles move Friday's first pitch to 4:30 p.m. due to forecasted inclement weather

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After consultation with Major League Baseball, tonight’s originally scheduled 7:05 p.m. game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards between the Orioles and Chicago White Sox has been moved to 4:30 p.m. due to forecasted inclement weather.

Gates will open at 4 p.m. and parking lots will open at 3:00 p.m.

The first 15,000 fans in attendance will receive the Bowling Shirt, presented by DriveEzMD.