Ryan Mountcastle slowed for an instant yesterday as he prepared to pull into second base with a double, saw that Twins right fielder Kody Clemens bobbled the ball, and sped up to try for the triple. Clemens, playing his third position in four innings, fired to third baseman Royce Lewis for the out.

Mountcastle rose from the dirt, his uniform covered in it and headed back to the dugout. The Orioles were down three runs, and Mountcastle’s elevated production at the plate and spot in the lineup couldn’t give them a lift. But he tried.

Manager Brandon Hyde had Mountcastle second in the order in both games of Wednesday’s doubleheader and again yesterday, moving up one of the few hot bats on the team. Mountcastle has hit second 77 times in his career.

“I can’t remember the last time I did it (before Wednesday),” Mountcastle said. “I’ve done it before. I like it. I like batting second with a guy like Gunnar (Henderson) behind me and Jackson (Holliday) in front of me. It’s a good little spot to hit.”

Any spot is bound to work for Mountcastle when he’s cooking.

Cedric Mullins got the right break on the ball, with the proper angle and exceptional footspeed. He laid out for it, made the diving catch and held on through the crash landing. Tomoyuki Sugano waited for Mullins after the top of the second inning to give him a congratulatory pat, to thank him for the assist.

It was the last moment today that the Orioles really felt good about the game. As they keep discovering, adversity can strike quickly and with tremendous force.

No. 9 hitter DaShawn Keirsey Jr. gave the Twins a lead with a two-run shot in the third inning, Byron Buxton followed with his 10^th homer, and the Orioles were swept in another series after a 4-0 loss before an announced crowd of 30,926 at Camden Yards.

The Orioles (15-27) slipped to 12 games below .500 for the first time since the conclusion of the 110-loss 2021 season. The Twins (24-20) have won 11 in a row, six against the Orioles.

Having the opponent score first creates a mess for the Orioles, who are 4-19. Ryan Mountcastle doubled in the fourth and was thrown out trying for the triple. Chris Paddack hit Adley Rutschman to begin the fifth, Ryan O’Hearn singled and the next three batters were retired – two on strikeouts. Mullins doubled off reliever Louis Varland in the eighth and Heston Kjerstad was drilled on the right elbow with a 98.9 mph fastball with two outs, but Jackson Holliday popped up.

Jackson Holliday is batting leadoff again today, as the Orioles try to avoid another sweep against the Twins.

Holliday hit first in both games of yesterday’s doubleheader and went 1-for-10.

Ryan Mountcastle stays in the second spot in the order. Adley Rutschman is batting cleanup.

Emmanuel Rivera gets the start at third base after collecting two more hits yesterday in Game 2. Heston Kjerstad, who homered is in left field and batting ninth.

Ramón Laureano is on the bench. He’s struggled against secondary pitches this season, posting a .190 average against breaking balls and a .095 average against off-speed, but he’s hitting .265 with a .559 slugging percentage against fastballs.

The Orioles are down to nine players on the injured list, including outfielder Colton Cowser and pitchers Kyle Bradish, Grayson Rodriguez, Albert Suárez and Tyler Wells on the 60-day. This is the healthiest they’ve looked in a long time.

Infielder Ramón Urías was the latest player to escape it yesterday, and he did so without going on a rehab assignment. He can get a bundle of starts at third base and also sub at second if needed. Outfielder Tyler O’Neill and pitcher Zach Eflin were reinstated with the team in Anaheim. Pitcher Chayce McDermott was reinstated and optioned on May 4, and the Orioles used him yesterday as the 27^th man to start Game 2 before returning him to Triple-A Norfolk.

“It’s great for us,” Urías said. “It’s just what we need now, a full team together. We’re just ready to win some games.”

Reliever Andrew Kittredge is nearing his return, but a few more boxes need to be checked. He’s made four rehab appearances since undergoing surgery in March to repair cartilage in his left knee, and a fifth is coming over the weekend.

“All good news with how he’s throwing the baseball and how he feels,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “I think he throws again this weekend and then he’ll do a back-to-back and maybe another one. We’ll see how it goes.”

The deficit grew to four runs, Charlie Morton kept warming in the bullpen and the Orioles were staring at a doubleheader sweep. Their own reflection was depressing – a team 10 games below .500 and getting worse.

What happened next was easy on the eyes. The Orioles sent 10 batters to the plate in the third, Cedric Mullins hit a grand slam to highlight a six-run inning, and a split was in the works.

Look again.

Yennier Cano was summoned in the eighth and Kody Clemens hit a three-run homer before the right-hander retired his first batter in the Twins’ 8-6 victory before an announced crowd of 10,169 at Camden Yards.

Morton allowed one run in three-plus innings of relief and was in line for his first Orioles win in eight decisions before the Twins rallied. Chayce McDermott, making his second major league start, allowed four runs and four hits with three walks and five strikeouts in three innings.

Gunnar Henderson destroyed a curveball from Twins starter Bailey Ober in the third inning, held his pose as he watched the flight of the ball before beginning his trip around the bases, and slapped hands enthusiastically with teammates as he approached the dugout. The Orioles were riding a high, taking a three-run lead in Game 1 of a doubleheader.

They wouldn’t get another hit until Henderson’s two-out single in the seventh. The momentum died as quickly as his ball had reached the flag court.

Henderson homered after Ryan Mountcastle’s RBI double, but the Twins homered twice against Dean Kremer in a four-run fourth and pulled away late in a 6-3 win at Camden Yards.

Center fielder Byron Buxton charged Ryan O’Hearn’s sinking line drive and made a diving catch to end the seventh after Mountcastle reached on an error and Henderson singled. The Orioles finished with four hits, failed in their attempt to win back-to-back games for a third time, and fell to 15-25.

The Twins committed four errors but won their ninth game in a row, including a sweep of the Orioles last week at Target Field. They scored twice against Keegan Akin in the ninth on Trevor Larnach’s RBI double and a wild pitch. Larnach had advanced to third base on right fielder Tyler O’Neill’s error.

The Orioles have made the following roster move:

• Added RHP Chayce McDermott from Triple-A Norfolk to serve as the 27^th man for today’s doubleheader. He will wear No. 59 and start game two.

Earlier today, the Orioles presented the All Faiths Food Bank with a donation of the proceeds from the 2025 Spring Training 50/50 Raffle at Ed Smith Stadium. In total, over $47,000 was raised for All Faiths, the only food bank, and largest hunger relief organization in Sarasota and DeSoto counties. All Faiths provides millions of meals each year in collaboration with more than 300 agencies and programs throughout the community.

Following the aftermath of Hurricane Milton in October 2024, the Orioles expanded their commitment to All Faiths, as part of the club’s ongoing efforts to support Sarasota and its surrounding communities. In addition to supporting All Faiths, and in direct response to the hurricane, the Orioles also helped raise more than $1.2 million to benefit the Community Foundation of Sarasota County’s Season of Sharing.

Chayce McDermott is in Baltimore as the 27^th man for today’s doubleheader against the Twins and could start Game 2.

The Orioles put McDermott on the taxi squad this morning. He’s made three starts in the minors after reporting to spring training with a strained lat, allowing one run in 1 2/3 innings with Double-A Chesapeake on an injury rehab assignment and one run and three hits in eight innings with Triple-A Norfolk.

McDermott, 26, made his major league debut July 24 in Miami, allowed three runs in four innings and was optioned.

Today’s Game 2 starter “is still undecided,” said manager Brandon Hyde, but all signs point to McDermott.

“We’re bringing McDermott up here as the 27^th man. There’s a chance he starts that game,” Hyde said. “He’s not fully stretched out, starting-wise from that standpoint, so we’re gonna kind of get through Game 1 and then figure out the starter for Game 2.”

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Reinstated INF Ramón Urías (right hamstring strain) from the 10-day Injured List.
• Optioned OF Dylan Carlson to Triple-A Norfolk after yesterday’s postponed game.

The Orioles will play their second doubleheader of the season today, with a third pending against the Blue Jays on July 29 at Camden Yards. To the benefit of everyone, the twin bill against the Twins that begins at 12:05 p.m. is the traditional single-admission type. None of this day-night nonsense.

Play Game 1, wait about 30 minutes and play Game 2.

Dean Kremer is starting the opener, but the Orioles list the second game as TBA. Cade Povich was supposed to pitch last night against his former team, but was called into manager Brandon Hyde’s office after the postponement.

Tomoyuki Sugano is supposed to start Thursday afternoon, but he’d be on regular rest today. Or maybe it turns out to be Povich anyway.

Povich faced the Twins in his last outing and allowed five runs in six innings at Target Field. All five runs scored in the third, including Carlos Correa’s 458-foot shot into the second deck in left field.

Tonight’s game between the Orioles and Twins has been postponed due to inclement weather.

The game will be made up Wednesday as part of a traditional, single-admission doubleheader. The opener starts at 12:05 p.m. because of another ominous forecast, and Game 2 begins approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion.

Gates open at 11 a.m. The games will be broadcast on MASN2.

Both teams can summon a 27^th player.

The team also announced that original ticket buyers for tonight's game should visit Orioles.com/Weather for more information. Tickets dated for Wednesday’s original 6:35 p.m. game will be valid for both games of the doubleheader.

Tonight’s scheduled game between the Orioles and Minnesota Twins has been postponed due to inclement weather. The game will be made up as part of a traditional (single-admission) doubleheader tomorrow, Wednesday, May 14. Due to additional impending weather, Wednesday’s game one will now begin at 12:05 p.m. ET, followed by game two approximately 30 minutes after the first game concludes. Gates will open at 11 a.m.

Original ticket buyers for tonight's postponed game should visit Orioles.com/Weather for information regarding their tickets. Tickets dated for Wednesday’s originally-scheduled 6:35 p.m. game will be valid for both games of the doubleheader, which has been pushed up to 12:05 p.m. due to additional impending weather. For any fans holding tickets to Wednesday's originally-scheduled 6:35 p.m. game, and who are unable to attend at the new time should visit Orioles.com/Weather for options. Fans can continue to access their tickets through the MLB Ballpark App and can transfer or resell these tickets at SeatGeek.com.

Healthcare Appreciation Night has been rescheduled to a future date, which will be announced in the coming weeks. Fans who purchased this theme night ticket package will be contacted with additional information regarding the status of their ticket.

Both games of the doubleheader will be broadcast on MASN2 and on the Orio

ANAHEIM – The Orioles needed a bounceback in the worst way. 

After being swept in three games in Minnesota, the Birds flew to Anaheim in search of answers. Perhaps they found some in a 7-3 victory that wrapped up a series win. 

The sun was shining brightly on a beautiful Mother’s Day in Anaheim. It was a bit too bright, perhaps, for Taylor Ward. 

Gunnar Henderson led off the game with a left-on-left double into the right-center field gap. A few batters later, it appeared as if the O’s had stranded another runner in scoring position when Adley Rutschman flew a ball with a 99 percent catch probability to left. Instead, Ward lost the ball in the Sunday sun and it dropped safely onto the outfield grass for a Rutschman triple. Henderson scored, and the Birds had given Zach Eflin an early 1-0 lead. 

That advantage quickly dissipated. 

ANAHEIM – It hasn’t been the start to the season that the Orioles’ offense was expected to have. 

The Birds have scored five runs or more just a dozen times in the 38 games they've played so far in 2025. They’re 10-2 in those games, an almost maddening statistic considering the fact that five runs isn’t an incredibly high bar to reach. Baltimore has just struggled to get there. 

“Unfortunately, the start of the season had been more down than up,” hitting coach Cody Asche said today. “There’s no hiding behind that.” 

Entering this afternoon’s Mother’s Day rubber match against the Angels, the Orioles rank 27th in baseball in hits, 28th in walks, 26th in batting average, 26th in on-base percentage and 20th in OPS. 

None of those numbers are incredibly encouraging, especially considering the talent in this lineup that has produced much better numbers in the past.

The Orioles are facing a left-hander today, the Angels’ Tyler Anderson, which again puts them at a statistical disadvantage.

The team is hitting .178/.257/.245 against lefties this season.

Manager Brandon Hyde lowered Cedric Mullins to eighth and is batting Gunnar Henderson leadoff.

Mullins moved down to sixth in the order last night and went 0-for-4 to increase his slump to one hit in his last 34 at-bats. He’s 0-for-19.

Mullins still needs one RBI for 300 in his career. Henderson needs one for 200.

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Reinstated RHP Zach Eflin (right lat strain) from the 15-day Injured List. He will start today’s game.
• Optioned RHP Colin Selby to Triple-A Norfolk.
• Returned LHP Trevor Rogers (right knee subluxation) from his rehab assignment, reinstated him from the 15-day Injured List, and optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk.

While other players string together hits or prevent runs from scoring in consecutive games, Orioles infielder Emmanuel Rivera might become known more for his stubborn streak.

Rivera is a waiver claim in August, dumped by the lowly Marlins, and bats .313 with a .948 OPS in 27 games with the Orioles. Eight of his 20 hits went for extra bases, including four home runs.

The Orioles avoid a possible arbitration hearing by signing Rivera to a $1 million contract on Nov. 22 and designate him for assignment on Jan. 31. He clears waivers, accepts an outright assignment on Feb. 10 and injures his left shoulder in camp.

Any chance to make the team, however slim, is ruined. But Rivera can’t be deterred and the Orioles are rewarded again for having him in the organization. His contract is selected on April 28 with Jordan Westburg going on the injured list, and he just keeps on hitting.

Rivera went 2-for-4 with an RBI single in Friday night’s series opener in Anaheim to make him 8-for-19 in six games, and he started again last night, going 1-for-4. The Orioles also like his play at third base. “The Octopus” brings a lot to the table.

The Orioles snapped a five-game losing streak last night with a 4-1 victory in Anaheim and will try tonight to win back-to-back for only the third time.

Jackson Holliday moves atop the order for the second time in his career. Cedric Mullins is lowered to sixth.

Mullins went 0-for-5 last night and is in a 1-for-30 slump. He’s hitless in his last 15 at-bats.

Gunnar Henderson is the designated hitter and Jorge Mateo is at shortstop. Emmanuel Rivera had two hits and an RBI last night and he’s at third base again tonight.

Kyle Gibson makes his third Orioles start tonight after allowing 12 runs and 16 hits with six homers in 7 2/3 innings. He’s registered a 5.83 ERA and 1.452 WHIP in 15 career starts against the Angels, and he owns a 7.27 ERA and 1.587 WHIP in seven starts in Anaheim.

Outfielder Tyler O’Neill was reinstated from the injured list yesterday and Zach Eflin should follow on Sunday to start the final game of the road trip. Reliever Andrew Kittredge made his second rehab appearance on Thursday. Infielder Ramón Urías is trending toward a return perhaps by Tuesday or Wednesday after the latest break in the schedule.

Unable to get on a roll that moves them out of last place, the Orioles are implementing a new tactic this month - subtracting from the IL instead of adding to it.

Can’t hurt to try it.

Fifteen different Orioles have gone on the IL this season, only two fewer than in 2024. That’s the most in the American League and second in the majors to the Dodgers’ 17.

The White Sox and Reds have 15 different players, and the Marlins and Mets have 14.