ARLINGTON, Texas – Another check on the trade interest generated by the Orioles still finds teams targeting their bullpen and All-Star first baseman Ryan O’Hearn. Nothing has changed or should be deemed as surprising.

Any club in the market for relievers is keeping tabs on Seranthony Domínguez, Gregory Soto and Andrew Kittredge. The $9 million option on Kittredge’s contract could be a deterrent in some organizations or bring appeal due to the controllability.

I had one scout suggest that the cost might be too rich for his team’s ownership, but that certainly won’t be true with others.

I’ve also heard Keegan Akin’s name come up with a few teams. He’s got another year of arbitration eligibility and can be used in long relief and as an opener.

Akin surrendered a game-tying three-run homer to Adolis García in the 10^th inning Monday night and went on the 15-day injured list yesterday with shoulder inflammation. He’s allowed four earned runs and five total with nine hits in his last four appearances covering 4 1/3 innings and has raised his ERA from 2.67 to 3.32.

ARLINGTON, Texas – The Orioles made another series of roster moves today and celebrated Ryan O’Hearn’s election to the All-Star Game. They addressed their latest injury and dodged a more serious one. And they hoped that, at some point in the 2025 season, they might jump off the wave that lifts and dumps them.  

They had another splashdown tonight at Globe Life Field.

Marcus Semien hit a three-run homer off Tomoyuki Sugano in the third inning, and the lead grew, along with the right-hander’s slump, in a 6-0 loss to the Rangers.

Ezequiel Duran’s two-run single in the fourth and Corey Seager’s leadoff homer in the fifth pushed Sugano further into the deep end, and the Orioles couldn’t rescue him. They need to find some answers.

The impressive beginning to Sugano’s major league career has given way to a stretch of 22 earned runs (23 total) and 40 hits allowed over 22 1/3 innings in five outings. His ERA is 4.44.

ARLINGTON, Texas – The voting is done. The results are in. And Ryan O’Hearn will get less time to rest at the All-Star break.

He couldn’t be happier.

O’Hearn finished first at designated hitter for the American League by receiving 78 percent of the votes, placing ahead of the Yankees’ Ben Rice. He won the Phase 1 balloting to reach the two-man final and held his ground.  

Second baseball Jackson Holliday finished behind the Tigers’ Gleyber Torres but still can make the team as a backup.

Pitchers and reserves, totaling 23 for each league, are determined through a combination of “Player Ballot” choices and selections coming from the commissioner’s office. The rest of the rosters will be announced Sunday at 5 p.m. on ESPN.

ARLINGTON, Texas – Gary Sánchez stays in the Orioles lineup tonight after being hit on the finger last night in the eighth inning.

The X-rays must have come back negative because Sánchez is the designated hitter. Jacob Stallings makes his first start with the Orioles.

Jordan Westburg is out of the lineup for a fifth consecutive day due to soreness in his left index finger.

Ramón Laureano is playing right field and batting second. Ryan O’Hearn is the first baseman and cleanup hitter. Coby Mayo is on the bench.

On a busy day, the Orioles also signed infielder/outfielder Jose Barrero to a minor league contract.

ARLINGTON, Texas – The Orioles conclude their series against the Rangers tonight after another round of roster moves, the latest aimed at reshuffling the bullpen.

Yennier Cano has returned from Triple-A Norfolk and left-hander Keegan Akin goes on the 15-day injured list with left shoulder inflammation. The Orioles selected Corbin Martin’s contract from Norfolk and designated Matt Bowman for assignment again.

Cano was optioned June 22 after posting a 4.73 ERA and 1.388 WHIP in 32 appearances. He pitched twice for Norfolk and allowed one run in two innings.

Akin surrendered a game-tying, three-run homer to Adolis García in the 10^th inning Monday. He allowed four earned runs and five total with nine hits in his last four outings over 4 1/3 innings.

Martin hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2022 with the Diamondbacks. The Orioles claimed him on waivers from the Brewers in May 2024 and he has 5.29 ERA in 29 appearances with the Tides.

ARLINGTON, Texas – The Orioles got rid of any no-hit talk tonight with Cedric Mullins’ leadoff bunt single in the top of the third inning. Jacob deGrom, the two-time Cy Young winner, wouldn’t make another run at baseball history.

Getting a run against him figured to be the more daunting task.

Gary Sánchez made sure that Gunnar Henderson wouldn’t be stranded in the fourth, barreling a 99.4 mph fastball with two outs and clearing the left field fence. Forget the shutout, too. But there wasn’t much else that the Orioles could do.

deGrom held them to two runs in six innings, and the Rangers scored three times against rookie Brandon Young in the third and twice against Matt Bowman in the fifth and sixth to set up a 10-2 victory over the Orioles before an announced crowd of 30,933 at Globe Life Field.

The rubber game is Wednesday night and the Orioles are 4-10 in those scenarios. Their overall record is 37-48.

ARLINGTON, Fla. – What Ramón Laureano is doing wasn’t necessarily part of the original plan.

The Orioles signed Laureano late by offseason standards, agreeing to a $4 million deal on Feb. 4 that included a $6.5 million option. The Astros traded him in November 2017, the Guardians selected him on waivers in August 2023 and released him the following year, and the Braves let him become a free agent in November. His career wasn’t on the upswing.

Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias appeared set with position players and most certainly outfielders after signing Tyler O’Neill to a three-year, $49.5 million contract and promising many more at-bats for Heston Kjerstad. He also brought in Dylan Carlson a week ahead of Laureano for $975,000.

Carlson had three minor league options. Laureano had none. But Elias wanted to make the Orioles more competitive against left-handed pitching and also provide the manager with more freedom to maneuver outfielders for defensive purposes, and Laureano was packing a cannon for an arm. He earned the nickname “Laser Ramón,” a stroke of brilliance to professional wrestling fans, due to arm strength that ranked in the 89^th percentile in baseball.

Elias also had a history with Laureano, who was drafted by the Astros in 2014.

ARLINGTON, Texas – The Orioles won’t have Jorge Mateo on their roster for an extended stretch and could be without him for the remainder of the season.

Mateo suffered a “moderate” hamstring strain Sunday with Triple-A Norfolk, according to interim manager Tony Mansolino, and is projected to miss eight-to-12 weeks.

The past two summers have brought terrible health news to Mateo, who underwent reconstructive left elbow surgery in 2024 and didn’t play after July 23. Mateo went on the injured list this year retroactive to June 7 with left elbow inflammation resulting from an outfield collision with Heston Kjerstad.

Mateo strained his hamstring while running to first base during his rehab assignment. He was 6-for-13 with a home run for the Tides, and the Orioles held hopes of adding his speed and defensive versatility before the break.

The bat never heated up for Mateo, who slashed .180/.231/.279 in 32 games. The projected length of his absence matches the one given to first baseman Ryan Mountcastle, who sustained a Grade 2 hamstring strain. Mountcastle’s IL stint was retroactive to May 31.

ARLINGTON, Texas – Jordan Westburg is out of the lineup tonight for the fourth consecutive game with a sore left index finger.

Westburg could be available to pinch-hit, but the Orioles don’t want to risk worsening his condition. They also are hesitant to put him on the injured list. So, he sits.

Ramón Laureano is batting second as the designated hitter. Gary Sánchez is catching.

Dylan Carlson, recalled earlier today, is in right field and batting ninth.

Charlie Morton is playing long toss in the outfield to test his right elbow.

ARLINGTON, Texas – The Orioles have made another series of roster moves because it’s 2025.

Catcher Chadwick Tromp went on the injured list today with a lower back strain and Jacob Stallings had his contract selected from Triple-A Norfolk. Outfielder Dylan Carlson was recalled and infielder Emmanuel Rivera was designated for assignment.

Tromp left last night’s game in the third after injuring his back on a swing. He’s 3-for-16 with a double and home run with the Orioles.

Adley Rutschman (oblique) and Maverick Handley (concussion) also are on the injured list, and the Orioles signed Stallings a week ago to provide depth. He’s spent parts of six seasons with the Pirates, two with the Marlins and two with the Rockies and is a career .143/.217/.179 hitter in 561 games.

Stallings, 35, went 4-for-10 with two RBIs in three games with Norfolk. He’s wearing No. 25.

ARLINGTON, Texas – Jordan Westburg isn’t going to let a sore finger keep him from playing.

He’s got time for the pain.

The chance to be 100 percent starts to fade as a season gains momentum. For Westburg, the usual aches are accompanied by a sprained left index finger that flared again Friday night after he dived into second base and jammed it on a first-inning double.

Westburg’s day-to-day status has stretched to three missed games, and he could remain on the bench tonight. He didn’t pinch-hit last night despite the craziness of losing the designated hitter. He’s going to hit in the cage before interim manager Tony Mansolino makes a decision.

There’s no chance that it completely heals as long as Westburg is swinging a bat and making starts at second and third base, but there’s no alternative. He isn’t shutting down. What the hand needs will be ignored.

ARLINGTON, Texas – The Orioles might run out of catchers before they run out of time to convince the front office that they can contend in 2025.

A 10-6 win over the Rangers tonight at Globe Life Field featured another impressive start from Trevor Rogers, though falling short of his previous gem, and an emergency that also forced him to bat.

There also was a bouncing ball to follow that cracked a late lead, Gunnar Henderson's left-on-left, two-run homer against Robert Garcia in the 10th, Colton Cowser's 425-foot blast off Shawn Armstrong, and Adolis García’s 417-foot, three-run shot to left off Keegan Akin in the bottom of the 10th – accompanied by bat flip, scream and flex.

Luis Vázquez, batting in the pitcher's spot, delivered a go-ahead single off Hoby Milner in the 11th for his second major league hit, Ramón Laureano drove in a run with his third double and fourth hit, and Henderson followed with a two-run double. Akin was credited with the win after Andrew Kittredge retired the side in order.

File this one under more season insanity for the Orioles.

ARLINGTON, Texas – The injury updates for the Orioles create a health spray chart.

The bad news today seemed to override the good.

* Zach Eflin was placed on the 15-day injured list this afternoon, as expected, with tightness in his lower back.

* Brandon Young was recalled, as expected, but he’s starting Tuesday night against the Rangers because Charlie Morton has a mild case of tendinitis in his right elbow. Morton is pushed back to Friday night in Atlanta.

* Jordan Westburg could be available tonight after hitting in the cage earlier today to test his sore left index finger. The club is hoping that Westburg returns to the lineup Tuesday or Wednesday.

ARLINGTON, Texas – The Orioles haven’t announced a roster move this afternoon, which at least temporarily keeps starter Zach Eflin active while he’s dealing with lower back tightness.

Update: The Orioles just put Eflin on the IL, and Brandon Young was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk. Young is eligible because he’s replacing an injured player.

Eflin lasted one inning Saturday after the discomfort surfaced in the bullpen. He tried to pitch through it and allowed four runs.

Eflin missed a month earlier this season with a lat strain.

Left-hander Trevor Rogers is facing the Rangers again tonight after shutting them out on three hits over eight innings in his last outing at Camden Yards. He’s made three starts for the Orioles and allowed three runs in 16 2/3 innings, with three walks and 13 strikeouts.

Moving Tony Mansolino into the manager’s office on an interim basis didn’t provide a permanent solution to the Orioles’ issues in 2025.

That’s a huge ask.

However, the club is 21-19 since he replaced Brandon Hyde, and most of the improvement is credited to an uptick in starting pitching and in health. The early record assuredly would have been better if the Orioles hadn’t failed in those areas. But nothing is sustainable this year except for the setbacks.

The rotation had produced only two quality starts in the last 16 games before Dean Kremer’s seven scoreless innings yesterday. The injured list is growing again, with starter Zach Eflin likely to join it a second time later today with lower back tightness. But the Orioles took two of three games from a Rays team that's challenging for first place in the American League East.

Mansolino was a popular coach on the staff and he remains that way in a new role unexpectedly thrust upon him.

Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino hung the label of “day game Deano” on his starting pitcher this afternoon, though Kremer’s splits in reality are slightly better at night.

Mansolino turned out to be correct, whether by accident or some sort of premonition.

Kremer shut out the Rays on three hits over seven innings and the Orioles claimed the series with a crisp 5-1 victory before an announced crowd of 19,226 at Camden Yards.

The homestand ends with the Orioles splitting six games to leave their overall record at 36-47. They’ve gone 15-11 this month and are 20-13 since Game 2 on May 24.

"Every divisional series win is beneficial and advantageous down the road," Kremer said. "If we get into a spot where we’re competing for a Wild Card spot, we get to hold it over their head down the stretch. So it’s big winning all of our divisional games."

The Orioles are losing another starting pitcher.

Zach Eflin is trending toward the injured list in the next 24 hours, according to interim manager Tony Mansolino. Eflin exited yesterday’s game after one inning with lower back tightness that he felt in the bullpen, and his condition didn’t improve this morning.

This would be Eflin’s second trip to the IL. He’s made only 12 starts and posted a 5.95 ERA and 1.435 WHIP in 62 innings.

“At that point, depending on how today goes, we’ll make the next move in accordance with that,” Mansolino said.

The Orioles could recall Brandon Young after optioning him on Friday.

The Orioles made another roster move this morning, which is becoming part of their daily routine.

Matt Bowman has his contract selected from Triple-A Norfolk and Kade Strowd was optioned to provide a fresh arm for the bullpen.

Luis F. Castillo was reinstated from the minor league seven-day injured list and designated for assignment.

Bowman has a 4.57 ERA in 18 games with the Orioles. Strowd made back-to-back appearances this weekend and allowed one run in 3 1/3 innings.

The Orioles acquired Castillo from the Mariners on May 8 for cash considerations. He made two appearances with the Florida Complex League team and allowed one run in 2 2/3 innings.

The unsettled status of the Orioles’ rotation broadened yesterday with Zach Eflin’s lower back tightness and disappearance after only one inning. The series against the Rays concludes today with Dean Kremer starting, and the current roster has Trevor Rogers, Charlie Morton and Tomoyuki Sugano lined up for the Rangers series in Arlington.

Eflin’s availability for his next start is up in the air, and likely to land before Jonathan Aranda’s home run ball. His turn arrives on the off-day and he could pitch Friday night in Atlanta if healthy. A trip to the injured list, and it’s premature to speculate, could return Brandon Young to the majors. He must stay down a minimum 15 days unless replacing an injured player.

Off-days Thursday and July 7 could prompt the Orioles to stick with a temporary four-man arrangement.

The next call isn’t going to left-hander Cade Povich.

Povich is eligible to return on Tuesday but the Orioles want to give him more work on his injury rehab assignment. He started for Triple-A Norfolk Thursday and allowed three earned runs and five total with seven hits, one walk and three strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings. He threw 75 pitches

Zach Eflin’s attempts at a bounce back started with a thud.

Tampa Bay leadoff hitter Josh Lowe doubled in the first inning and chugged home on Brandon Lowe’s single. The throw enabled the runner to move into scoring position, but it didn’t matter.  Jonathan Aranda homered with one out, Junior Caminero and Jake Mangum singled, and a fielder’s choice gave the Rays a quick four-run lead.

The Orioles didn’t have another comeback at the ready. They didn’t have Eflin by the second inning.

Eflin threw 28 pitches and came out of the game with lower back tightness, replaced by Scott Blewett in an 11-3 loss to the Rays before an announced crowd of 30,491 at sunny Camden Yards.

Ramón Laureano hit his 10^th home run in the ninth after Coby Mayo singled, but quiet bats had influenced the outcome.