Tyler Wells walked into the Orioles’ clubhouse this afternoon dripping with sweat, the effects of a 25-pitch bullpen session in the Camden Yards heat.

He still managed to look happy.

Wells has made encouraging progress from his ligament-reconstructive elbow surgery last June. He mixed in his changeup today and will incorporate breaking balls next week. He doesn’t know when he’ll be cleared to face hitters.

“Everything’s feeling good,” he said. “Elbow feels good, shoulder feels good, body’s feeling good. So I feel like I’m in a really good spot right now with feels, location, and everything like that.”

Wells is experiencing a process unlike anything else in his life, with responsibilities as a new father woven into his rehab. He’s undergone elbow surgery in the past, before the Orioles chose him in the Rule 5 draft, but this one isn't an exact duplicate.

Gary Sánchez has returned to the Orioles. He was reinstated from the 10-day injured list this afternoon, with catcher Maverick Handley optioned to Triple-A Norfolk as the anticipated counter move.

Sánchez went on an injury rehab assignment after getting rid of the inflammation his right wrist. He was rested yesterday.

Handley is 3-for-40, but he’s helped to lower the staff ERA to 4.93. He caught the combined shutout last night, which began with Charlie Morton’s 10 strikeouts in five innings.

Morton has a 2.97 ERA in eight games with Handley behind the plate. He provided an example last night of his connection to the kid.

“The other day he came in, ‘What time’s your ‘pen?’” Morton recalled. “I told him. He was like, ‘Would you mind if I came out and played catch with you?’ I was like, ‘Yeah, dude. Absolutely. I love that.’ I think it just shows his desire and willingness to develop and develop a rapport and just kind of throwing himself in the mix. Because you don’t really have many guys who are catching who are like, ‘Hey man, I’ll come catch a ‘pen.’ But I think he has a desire to get better. He has a desire to just work on his game, and whether that’s a physical thing, a mental, emotional thing, I think that’s why he and I are working well together.

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Reinstated C Gary Sánchez (right wrist inflammation) from the 10-day Injured List.
• Optioned C Maverick Handley to Triple-A Norfolk.

The Orioles had a late start last night due to the threat of rain, with the actual precipitation lighter than anticipated before the downpour in the fifth inning.

The injury talk started much earlier, and it was heavier than expected.

Let’s take a stroll through yesterday’s updates and try not to roll an ankle.

Grayson Rodriguez

The “sluggish” start on March 5 in Fort Myers turned into an elbow/triceps issue, which turned into a lat issue that kept the projected No. 2 starter from pitching this season.

Charlie Morton had to wait out a rain delay tonight that lasted more than an hour before throwing his first pitch. The grounds crew sprinted to the tarp and stood shoulder-to-shoulder behind it after the top of the fourth inning, cutting through the finish line of the hot dog race.

Morton was the one on a roll.

The only way to slow him was to drench him.

Morton tossed five scoreless innings and tied his season high with 10 strikeouts before umpires halted play with one out in the bottom of the fifth following Ramón Urías’ single. The 69-minute break forced interim manager Tony Mansolino into a pitching change, with Yennier Cano entering in the sixth.

The bullpen backed up Morton with four scoreless frames, and a couple of solo home runs led the Orioles to a 2-0 win over the Angels before an announced crowd of 20,204 at Camden Yards.

Grayson Rodriguez said today that he will throw his first bullpen session next week since experiencing a setback in the middle of April in recovering from a strained lat muscle.

Rodriguez, speaking to the local media for the first time since early March in Fort Myers, also expressed confidence that he’ll pitch after the All-Star break.

“Throwing every day,” Rodriguez said of his flat ground sessions. “Right now feeling good.”

Asked about returning in 2025, Rodriguez said he doesn’t have an exact week or specific timeline, “but I’m definitely gonna pitch this year.”

Rodriguez is on the 60-day injured list. He experienced discomfort in his elbow/triceps area in camp, which robbed him of the normal velocity in his final appearance against the Twins, but he said today that he’s rehabbing only from the lat strain – his third including the summer of 2022 with Triple-A Norfolk.

Interim manager Tony Mansolino reminded the media again this afternoon that the Orioles have beaten tough pitchers in the past. They didn’t fear Tarik Skubal. They weren’t cowering in corners of the clubhouse. Start the game and get after it.

They created some traffic in the first two innings tonight, drawing only the eighth walk off Skubal this season. But his roll was coming, and the Orioles couldn’t do much about it.

Dean Kremer surrendered two home runs in the fourth inning to give Skubal plenty of room to operate in the Tigers’ 4-1 victory before an announced crowd of 18,800 at Camden Yards. Last year’s unanimous choice for the American League’s Cy Young tossed seven shutout innings, and the Orioles lost back-to-back series after a six-game winning streak.

The Angels are next for the Orioles (27-40), who managed three hits off Skubal. He struck out Coby Mayo to end the seventh, pounded his fist in his glove and accepted cheers from Tigers fans behind the visiting dugout.

Tonight marked Skubal’s sixth scoreless outing. He blanked the Orioles for six innings on April 27 in Detroit. His ERA is down to 1.99.

The Orioles might not wait until next week’s road trip to reinstate Gary Sánchez from the 10-day injured list.

Sánchez batted twice this afternoon in his rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk and is 8-for-22 with a double and three home runs in seven games. He’s recovered from his right wrist inflammation.

Interim manager Tony Mansolino offered only a small percent a few days ago that Sánchez would rejoin the Orioles during the homestand. They have a weekend series against the Angels before heading to Tampa and New York.

“I told you the other day it was a small chance. I think the chance went up quite a bit because he hit the points that we needed and we’ll probably see him here at some point sooner than later,” Mansolino said today.

Sánchez is 3-for-30 in 12 games after signing an $8.5 million contract. Maverick Handley likely would return to Norfolk if Sánchez is reinstated.

The Orioles have made the following roster move:

• INF Emmanuel Rivera has cleared outright waivers and accepted an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk.

Cal Ripken Jr. stood on sacred baseball ground this morning, at home plate in the exact spot where it was planted at the old Memorial Stadium on 33^rd Street. Ripken began his major league career in this neighborhood and he returned today, the site of the first Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation Youth Development Park, for the announcement of a partnership that’s creating the Ripken Foundation – Nike RBI Initiative.

This partnership strives to support instructional baseball and softball leagues at 30 organizations across 14 states, with the goal of expanding access to the sport for youth around the country.  

Players from the James Mosher Baseball youth league sat in a line in front of Ripken at The Harry & Jeanette Family Center Y at Stadium Place as he talked about the program and promised to offer them tips during the instructional period that followed.  

“It kind of gives us a chance to look into why we started the Foundation, and it was really to capture dad’s spirit,” Ripken said later in a media scrum.

“He had a really coaching spirit, helping minor league guys get to the big leagues, and he also went out and did different clinics in different areas to expose kids to baseball and the values of sports. So now when we kind of think about him, I think about him like as a teacher, because a coach does a whole lot more than just teach you how to play. Kind of helps with your confidence, kind of puts you in the right direction, and sometimes there’s issues that, if you have a good, trusting relationship with your coach, they start asking you questions. And that’s really the magic that happens through the relationship through sports, and hopefully that’s what we’re capturing with kids.”

Beginning today, the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN) has expanded its MASN+ Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) streaming option to include MLB.TV as an additional platform. Fans can now purchase MASN+ directly through MLB.TV, which now allows in-market fans to stream all regular season Orioles and Nationals games LIVE or on demand with no blackouts (subject to national exclusivities). 

Fans can subscribe to MASN+ on MLB.TV for $64.99 for the remainder of the 2025 regular season by visiting MLB.TV or via the MLB app. A recurring monthly subscription is also available for $19.99 per month. Additionally, fans will be able to purchase a bundled subscription that includes both MASN+ and MLB.TV; this option allows fans to stream all out-of-market MLB games, MLB Network 24/7 (US only), select live MiLB games, MLB Big Inning, and live audio for all MLB Clubs.

Existing MASN+ season pass subscribers will receive a special invitation to be able to utilize the MLB.TV platform for the remainder of the 2025 season.

MASN+ can still be purchased directly on MASN’s website at masnsports.com or via the MASN app available on iOS and Android mobile devices, Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV.

MASN+ subscribers receive 24/7 MASN and MASN2 content including every available Orioles and Nationals game, Orioles and Nationals Classics, O’s and Nats Xtra, and all other MASN programming. Orioles and Nationals games produced by MASN include special features like in-game interviews with players, mic ups, and in-depth interviews and analysis. 

Ramón Urías will find it harder to get into the Orioles’ lineup as more healthy players filter back from the injured list. Jordan Westburg probably will start at third base on most nights. Jackson Holliday is practically locked into second base.

There will be exceptions, of course, like Westburg serving as the designated hitter tonight and Urías occupying the bottom of the order. Interim manager Tony Mansolino won’t bury him. And they showed in loud fashion that they can co-exist.

“Urie will get plenty of time and at-bats,” Mansolino said Tuesday afternoon, “and it will be a really good role for him going forward, too.”

Zach Eflin doesn’t know if he’ll be with the club past the trade deadline. Pending free agents are likely on the table if the Orioles are defined sellers. But Urías and Eflin are living in the present and they were major contributors to a 10-1 win over the Tigers at Camden Yards.

Eflin held the Tigers to one run in 6 2/3 innings, and Urías gave him a lead in the third with a two-run homer. The Orioles put the game out of reach with a seven-run eighth that included Westburg’s second homer in two nights, a three-run shot off Beau Briske.

Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino said he’s “hopeful” that Grayson Rodriguez pitches this season, which must suffice as the latest update on the projected No. 2 starter.

Information on Rodriguez isn’t plentiful. The right-hander hasn’t talked to the local media since a March exhibition game in Fort Myers.

Rodriguez is going through a throwing progression and he’s doing “great,” according to Mansolino. Rodriguez hasn’t made a major league appearance since July 31 due to a right lat/teres strain that kept him out of the Wild Card series. He went on the 15-day injured list in spring training with discomfort in his elbow/triceps area but was moved to the 60-day IL with another right lat strain.

“He’s progressing as expected right now,” Mansolino added. “It’s not something we want to put deadlines on by any means. … There’s not always an exact script for every individual injury. We have human beings involved, so we’re very careful. And I know it probably frustrates you guys at times, but we’re very careful of not trying to set expectations through the media, but we also don’t do it privately.

“It’s not something we’re saying like, ‘You’ve got to be ready by this day.’ There’s usually kind of a list of options with some of these guys coming up and if they hit these checkpoints and it goes well. (Colton) Cowser probably expedited his process maybe by a day because he hit the checkpoints quicker, and there’s other scenarios of maybe it lasting a day longer. So we’re trying not to put too much pressure on these guys. I think that’s fair, right? It’s not a public thing. It's just dealing with injured players and understanding that we probably don’t know how every injury is going to heal.”

Rodriguez’s throwing is assumed to be on flat ground, but that information isn’t readily available.

“The exact specifics I can’t get into,” Mansolino said, “but he’s throwing, he’s progressing as expected.”

Even the injury has led to some confusion, with the lat listed as the reason for the 60-day stint.

“He probably needs to speak to that specifically,” Mansolino said. “I don’t feel comfortable answering that question. But I would say he never fully came back from the elbow, so it’s probably something, even if it is healed fully, which is might be, I’m sure it’s something that we’re conscious of as he builds himself back up to being a major league pitcher.”

Charlie Morton stays in the rotation and makes a start in the weekend series against the Angels at Camden Yards. No move back to the bullpen.

Infielder Luis Vázquez is waiting to make his Orioles debut after having his contract selected yesterday. He appeared in 11 games with the Cubs last summer and went 1-for-12.

Vázquez hit .280/.345/.447 in 37 games with Norfolk to position himself for a promotion. He first got noticed in spring training with a 325 average, 10 RBIs and .788 OPS in 21 games.

“I feel like I was able to make a really good impression during spring, which I think matters a lot, and I think thanks to that, I’m able to be here now,” he said via interpreter Brandon Quinones.

“Everyone knows that this is what I wanted. I’ve been playing the way I want to, and being up here in the big leagues is what I wanted, so I feel like I’ve been able to do just that and play really well.”

Former Orioles infielder Ryan Flaherty, now the Cubs' bench coach, phoned Mansolino and offered a strong endorsement of Vázquez. The Orioles acquired the infielder for cash considerations over the winter.

Flaherty “told me this might be the greatest shortstop he’s ever seen in person,” Mansolino recalled. “So coming into spring training, I trust Ryan and what he says, and what I saw was a really good shortstop. A really good defender. Talented, gifted, comfortable with the glove on his hand. A guy that probably hasn’t hit a ton in the minor leagues coming into this, but you look at his Norfolk numbers and the reports coming from Feddy (manager Tim Federowicz) down in Norfolk and kind of what he’s saying about him, there’s a lot to like.”

The Orioles signed left-hander Sayer Diederich, 24, to a minor league contract, according to their transactions page. He pitched in 2024 for the independent Billings Mustangs and hadn’t been with an affiliated team.

Ryan O’Hearn is at first base tonight against Tigers right-hander Casey Mize. Jordan Westburg is the designated hitter, Cedric Mullins is in center field and Colton Cowser moves to left.

For the Orioles

Jackson Holliday 2B
Adley Rutschman C
Gunnar Henderson SS
Ryan O’Hearn 1B
Jordan Westburg DH
Colton Cowser LF
Ramón Laureano RF
Cedric Mullins CF
Ramón Urías 3B

Zach Eflin RHP

For the Tigers

Parker Meadows CF
Gleyber Torres 2B
Kerry Carpenter DH
Riley Greene LF
Spencer Torkelson 1B
Wenceel Pérez RF
Colt Keith 3B
Jake Rogers C
Zach McKinstry SS

Casey Mize RHP

The Orioles are renovating and relocating the Jim Henneman Press Box for the 2026 season, using the current space for a new premium club section behind home plate.

The club section will accommodate a capacity of 380 members as part of the upgrades to Camden Yards set in motion since the Orioles reached agreement with the Maryland Stadium Authority on a new lease.

The MSA approved a $600 million bond program to that will be used for additional improvements. Other renovations on the horizon include an improved sound system, larger scoreboard and video board, and new control room.

The team’s press release today details perks of the club section and describes it as an immersive indoor-outdoor experience that will feature “the best views in Oriole Park and include VIP parking, a private entrance, and a rotating upscale menu and beverage program.”

Construction is scheduled to begin following the 2025 season and will be operational for 2026. Fans can follow along with all the ballpark renovations at Orioles.com/OrioleParkUpgrades, and the Orioles encourage them to sign up to be on the priority list at Orioles.com/premiumclub.

Cade Povich put his hands on his head as Colton Cowser scaled the center field fence. A spectacular catch would limit the damage in the fifth inning and make it easier for the Orioles to rally. Having the ball fall on the other side would hasten his departure and complicate a comeback attempt.

Cowser landed on the track without the ball. Spencer Torkelson circled the bases with a 419-foot home run. And Povich was gone after one more batter.

A winning West Coast road trip was followed tonight by a 5-3 loss to the Tigers before an announced crowd of 20,291 at Camden Yards. The Orioles are 13 games below .500 again, with the return of a couple more injured players unable to provide a needed spark against the best team in baseball.

Povich was done after Zach McKinstry’s triple. He allowed five runs and nine hits with one walk and six strikeouts. The start drained him of 98 pitches and raised his ERA to 5.46.

Jordan Westburg marked his return from the injured list with a leadoff homer off Will Vest in the ninth, his first since April 19, but the next three batters were retired.

To reduce the deficit faced by the Orioles in the division and in the Wild Card standings, they always believed that they’d need to cut back on the number of players on their injured list.

They won’t pin every problem on their health, but it’s conspired against them again in 2025.

The IL count was down to eight with infielder Jordan Westburg and center fielder Cedric Mullins returning to the active roster earlier today. It grew to nine by tonight’s first pitch with the inclusion of infielder Jorge Mateo, who is bothered by left elbow inflammation. Mateo’s IL assignment is backdated to Saturday.

The Orioles selected the contract of infielder Luis Vázquez, who appeared in 11 games with the Cubs last season and was slashing .280/.345/.447 in 37 games with Triple-A Norfolk. He was a spring training standout with his .325 average, 10 RBIs and .788 OPS in 21 games.

Mateo’s experienced discomfort in the elbow since his May 31 collision with Heston Kjerstad, who was optioned earlier today. Their arms slammed together in right-center field and Mateo took the brunt of it, on the elbow that underwent reconstructive surgery last season.

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Selected the contract of INF Luis Vázquez from Triple-A Norfolk. He will wear No. 52.
• Placed INF/OF Jorge Mateo (left elbow inflammation) on the 10-day Injured List, retroactive to June 7.
• RHP Matt Bowman has cleared outright waivers and accepted an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk.

The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 39 players.

Today the Orioles unveiled the 10^th installation in the Birdland Murals series, powered by PNC, a vibrant and meaningful piece by celebrated Baltimore artist KID BALLOON. This year’s mural is proudly displayed by Gate C inside Oriole Park. This installation continues the Orioles' and PNC Bank’s shared commitment to investing in Baltimore through art, culture, and meaningful community engagement.

“We are excited and proud to unveil the latest installment of the Birdland Murals powered by PNC,” said LAURA GAMBLE, PNC regional president for Greater Maryland. “PNC has a long history of investing in the arts in Baltimore. This new work by Kid Balloon is sure to delight ballpark visitors at every home game.”

Positioned where thousands of fans pass through on game days, the mural will serve as a photo-worthy backdrop, a vibrant welcome, and a lasting tribute to Baltimore’s artistic energy. The Birdland Murals series, powered by PNC, began in 2019 and currently features nine murals, seven of which can be found throughout Oriole Park, one on the west side of the Baltimore Convention Center, and the other in the Waverly community of Baltimore. As The Ballpark That Forever Changed Baseball™, Oriole Park blends historic charm with modern design, and this latest Birdland Mural adds to its legacy as a cultural hub for the city.

Kid Balloon, a multidisciplinary visual artist from Baltimore, is known for his bold, community-driven work that spans fine arts painting, graphic design, fashion, event planning, and creative direction. The name "Kid Balloon" reflects a central theme in his work: the uplifting power of joy. Selected for the Birdland Mural Series for both his deep ties to the city and his commitment to making art accessible, Kid Balloon uses creativity to reflect and elevate the communities that shaped him. His vibrant, message-driven style can be seen across Baltimore and beyond, through collaborations with BTST Cares, Digital Footprint, Hotel Revival, Broccoli City Festival, DTLR, Timberland, CIAA, Hennessy, Baltimore City Hall, and more. Whether working with students on school murals or creating large-scale public pieces, Kid Balloon brings a vibrant, feel-good energy to every project, reminding us that art, like a balloon, can rise above and bring people together.

“The Birdland Murals series allows us to use the power of public art to honor Baltimore’s rich identity,” said KERRY R. WATSON, JR., Orioles Executive Vice President of Public Affairs. “Kid Balloon’s work is a brilliant reminder of what happens when we give our artists space to lead. When nurtured by their community, artists can create work that is thoughtful, vibrant, and deeply rooted in the city’s creative spirit. We’re honored to provide a platform for local artists to share their vision with fans and families alike.”

The Orioles gave Heston Kjerstad plenty of chances in their lineup and outfield before the next round of players returning from the injured list finally forced a move. He was optioned today to Triple-A Norfolk, with a specific plan that interim manager Tony Mansolino referenced but didn’t detail.

Kjerstad hit .192 with five doubles, two triples, four home runs, 19 RBIs, six walks, 45 strikeouts and a .566 OPS in 54 games. He also had some mishaps in right field, and he wasn’t in the lineup for the three-game series in Sacramento.

“We saw it more as an opportunity to make some adjustments and make some changes,” Mansolino said. “I think what we didn’t want to do is just say, ‘Hey, go get ‘em.’ That’s obviously not the right message when a guy struggles here as talented as Hess and as good as this kid is, can be. There’s something that we’re missing, right?

“I think we’ve seen a lot of examples of really good players who at some point get optioned back out and they kind of show back up with a vengeance and become the players that they’re supposed to be. So I think as you talk to Hess you explain that, and he was great, he understood. Obviously disappointed to get sent out, but a lot of self-awareness and a lot of understanding that this is probably more an opportunity than anything else.”

Mansolino said it’s the “whole game” that Kjerstad will focus on after going back down.

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Reinstated OF Cedric Mullins (right hamstring strain) from the 10-day Injured List.
• Reinstated INF Jordan Westburg (left hamstring strain) from the 10-day Injured List.
• Optioned OF Heston Kjerstad to Triple-A Norfolk.
• Designated INF Emmanuel Rivera for assignment.
• OF Jordyn Adams cleared outright waivers and has been assigned to Triple-A Norfolk.

The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 38 players.