SAN DIEGO - Ryan O’Hearn has a locker set up on one side of the Padres' home clubhouse and Ramón Laureano dresses across the room. The distance between them can’t interfere with how close they are as teammates.

O’Hearn and Laureano were packaged at the trade deadline for six minor league prospects headlined by left-hander Boston Bateman. They walked out of Baltimore and stepped into a pennant race.

Both players are in today’s lineup for the series opener against the Orioles at Petco Park. Manny Machado is batting third, O’Hearn fourth and Laureano fifth. Jose Iglesias, who appeared in 39 games with the club in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, is batting eighth and playing shortstop.

This is the first time that four former Orioles are in a lineup against the club since the Rangers started Mark McLemore, Rafael Palmeiro, Todd Zeile and Gregg Zaun on May 16, 1999, according to STATS.

“I’m enjoying it, it’s been good,” O’Hearn said. “It’s good guys that welcomed me in. It’s a good team. Been having fun, getting after it. Obviously, I miss the boys over there, I miss you guys, but it’s been a good move for me and I’m enjoying my time here.”

SAN DIEGO - The Orioles will stay with three catchers until infielder/outfielder Jorge Mateo is ready for reinstatement from the 60-day injured list.

Maverick Handley was recalled earlier today from Triple-A Norfolk to join Samuel Basallo and Alex Jackson. Mateo is a possibility for this weekend in Baltimore.

Colton Cowser and Ryan Mountcastle are on the bench for today’s series opener against the Padres.

Jeremiah Jackson moves from third base to right field. Dylan Carlson is in center. Samuel Basallo is the designated hitter.

Tony Mansolino is hopeful that reliever Colin Selby will be ready to come off the injured list by the middle of September.

SAN DIEGO – The Orioles expanded from 26 to 28 players this morning by reinstating reliever Albert Suárez from the 60-day injured list and recalling catcher Maverick Handley from Triple-A Norfolk.

Tyler Wells will join the team to make Tuesday’s start against the Padres.

Reliever Cody Poteet was outrighted and he elected free agency.

Suárez made one appearance in March during the opening series in Toronto before injuring his right rotator cuff. Handley hasn’t played for the Orioles since June 22 due to a concussion and wrist injury. He’s 3-for-41.

Handley gives the Orioles a third catcher with Adley Rutschman on the injured list.

SAN FRANCISCO – Kyle Bradish had designed the perfect plan. A trip to Hawaii and a marriage proposal to girlfriend Mollie Mae. The hours they’d spend relaxing on the beach, the ideal escape from life as a low-minors pitcher, and in such a romantic setting.

That is, until he saw a missed call from Angels farm director Mike LaCassa one day after slipping the ring on Mollie’s finger. The organization’s pitching coordinator tracked him down and suggested that he contact LaCassa right away. Bradish had been traded to the Orioles with three other minor leaguer pitchers for Dylan Bundy.

This wasn't part of the itinerary. 

“We were headed to the beach, had to drive back to the place we were staying,” Bradish said last week. “I forgot who called me here with the Orioles. I don’t remember if it was Mike (Elias) or somebody else. That’s kind of all I remember about it.”

A world turned upside down can scramble the mind.

SAN FRANCISCO – The first batter that Tomoyuki Sugano faced today was denied a hit on Colton Cowser’s sensational diving catch of a sinking line drive. The second batter found the solution by launching a fastball over Cowser’s head and the center field fence.

Rafael Devers gave the Giants an early lead and the Orioles unraveled in the fourth in a 13-2 loss before an announced crowd of 39,220 at Oracle Park.

The Orioles followed a 1-7 homestand by going 1-2 in San Francisco to leave their record at 61-76. They fly to San Diego for another three-game series.

Catcher Alex Jackson made his pitching debut in the eighth, walked the first two batters and allowed three runs. Third base coach Matt Williams held runners in an attempt to limit the embarrassment.

That horse already left the barn, but the gesture was appreciated.

SAN FRANCISCO – The Orioles may go in a different direction to expand their roster on Monday.

Albert Suárez is confirmed and will join the bullpen, but infielder/outfielder Jorge Mateo might have to wait a little longer.

Mateo had three hits yesterday and is 8-for-28 with Triple-A Norfolk since restarting his assignment on Aug. 20.

“Jorgie, we’re still kind of checking boxes on the rehab assignment,” said interim manager Tony Mansolino. “I think if Jorgie’s feeling great and good, in theory he’d be the guy on the position player side, but I’m not so sure it’s gonna go that way. It may take a couple more days.”

Mateo hasn’t played for the Orioles since June 6 due to left elbow inflammation following an outfield collision with Heston Kjerstad and a left hamstring strain suffered during his first rehab assignment. The Orioles hold a $5.5 million option on his contract for 2026.

SAN FRANCISCO – The Orioles go for the series win this afternoon after prevailing yesterday for the second time in 10 games.

Gunnar Henderson is the designated hitter and Luis Vázquez is the shortstop. Dylan Beavers is in right field and Daniel Johnson starts in left. Ryan Mountcastle is at first base.

Tomoyuki Sugano get the start, his 26^th, to close out the month. The Orioles are 11-16 in August.

Sugano, 35, has 10 victories and is on pace to be the oldest rookie in major league history to lead his team in wins. Jim Turner holds the record with 20 in 1937 at 34 years and 58 days, per STATS.

Samuel Basallo, who’s behind the plate today, is the third-youngest catcher to homer at 21 years and 17 days. The Rangers’ Iván Rodríguez is first at 19 years and 273 days, and the Mets’ Francisco Alvarez is second at 20 years and 319 days.

SAN FRANCISCO – Ryan Mountcastle has a tendency, and at times it seems more like a devotion, to keeping it simple.

What he’s trying to do at the plate and with his season, and how he responds to questions about them. The importance of the last five weeks as he approaches his last chance at an arbitration raise – and maybe his last at-bats with the Orioles.

“I think it doesn’t really matter what point in the season it is,” he said. “Every game is important and just going out there and showing what I can do, especially this last month, month and a half.”

That’s fair.

Most of Mountcastle’s starts will come as the designated hitter, with the Orioles wanting to get an extended look at Coby Mayo at first base. That’s the position where Mountcastle earned two Gold Glove nominations.

SAN FRANCISCO – Trevor Rogers looked human on the mound this afternoon, but just for a brief moment.

The Giants’ Willy Adames barreled a fastball and deposited it into the left-center field seats with two outs in the first inning. Rogers spun part way to track it and bent at the waist. Only the third homer hit against him in 14 starts and the first since July 20 in Tampa.

As if it mattered. He calmly went back to work and the Orioles went on a power trip.

Jeremiah Jackson and Ryan Mountcastle homered in the third, Samuel Basallo belted his first in the majors, and the Orioles defeated the Giants 11-1 before an announced crowd of 37,711 at Oracle Park.

The Orioles (61-75) won for only the second time in 10 games. The Giants’ winning streak was snapped at six.

SAN FRANCISCO – The Orioles have lost eight of their last nine games, but they have left-hander Trevor Rogers on the mound this afternoon at Oracle Park.

Take the guy with the 1.40 ERA any day.

Rogers has allowed one run in each of his five starts this month totaling 35 innings. He’s struck out 36 batters.

In his final start in July, Rogers shut out the Rockies on one hit over seven innings. If he isn’t Most Valuable Oriole, he’s no worse than the runner-up.

Rogers has made three career starts against the Giants and posted a 2.63 ERA and 1.098 WHIP in 13 2/3 innings. He allowed two earned runs and three total in five innings in his only appearance in San Francisco.

SAN FRANCISCO – The Orioles are expected to add more than two players on Monday when rosters can expand to 28.

Pitcher Tyler Wells and infielder/outfielder Jorge Mateo practically are confirmed, and reliever Albert Suárez probably will join the team in San Diego, as well.

Súarez made his fifth appearance on his rehab assignment last night and fourth with Triple-A Norfolk, tossing 1 2/3 scoreless innings with a hit and strikeout at Gwinnett.  

“I think he’ll need a couple days after the outing, today and tomorrow, which lines it up for most likely Monday, given that he feels good,” said interim manager Tony Mansolino.

“Two innings, two days. Monday kind of lines up. He’s got to feel good, though.”

SAN FRANCISCO – The mailbag didn’t empty on my first attempt, so let’s try again.

Here are some leftover questions as we await the second game of the series against the Giants, with a starting time of 4:15 p.m. on the West Coast.

Which prospects recently brought up are you most surprised by with their performance, whether good or bad?
So we’re not counting Jeremiah Jackson, right? You said “prospects.” But he’s definitely a surprise. I didn’t put much stock in his Triple-A numbers. Dylan Beavers is an on-base machine, which isn’t to be confused with Vimael Machín. I just assumed that he’d start slowly like so many others, but he’s worthy of an elevated spot in the lineup – next season after he retains rookie status.

Should Ryan Mountcastle change positions, since first base is crowded with Samuel Basallo on the roster?
Mountcastle already has played four since the Orioles drafted him – shortstop, third base, left field and first base. I don’t think there are plans to put him in the five-timers club and give him a special jacket. He’s also a two-time Gold Glove finalist at first. He’s fine. The bigger question is whether the Orioles give him another raise in arbitration in his final year before free agency, and if so, how they work the lineups with Basallo, Adley Rutschman and Coby Mayo.

Do you have any preferences for any of the rumored expansion cities? Guess one has to be on the West Coast?
Not sure I’m caught up on the rumors. Salt Lake City and Nashville? I saw the USA Today report last month that those cities are targeted. Bring back Montreal so I can finally make a trip. The Expos had the undisputed worst ballpark in the majors and every beat writer circled those dates on the calendar. Had nothing to do with Olympic Stadium. It was all about the city, which, as the backup on the beat, I never got to experience. Delmarva would be ideal because I could stay with my mom.

SAN FRANCISCO – Dean Kremer had the Giants beating the ball into the ground tonight in the first inning.

That’s usually good.

Six of the first seven batters reached base after the Orioles took an early lead. The Giants kept finding holes in the infield and kept forcing Kremer to throw pitches until his count reached 39.

He would have been excused for also throwing a fit.

Bad luck led to bad results and harder contact, and the Orioles began their West Coast trip with a sloppy 15-8 loss before an announced sellout crowd of 40,043 at Oracle Park.

SAN FRANCISCO – The six-man rotation will be complete next week with Tyler Wells’ reinstatement from the injured list.

Wells will start in San Diego in his first major league appearance since April 12, 2024. He underwent elbow ligament reconstructive surgery two months later and just completed his rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk.

Because he pitched on Wednesday, Wells won’t be available to the Orioles during their series in San Francisco. He could start Monday or wait until Tuesday with extra rest.

The Orioles will finalize their starters by Sunday.

“Which day, I don’t know,” said interim manager Tony Mansolino. “You guys can probably do the math, take a look and have a good estimate. But it will be one of those three games.”

SAN FRANCISCO – Orioles infielder Vimael Machín is staying in the organization.

Machín cleared outright waivers today and accepted an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk.

The Orioles designated Machín for assignment on Wednesday and selected Emmanuel Rivera’s contract from Norfolk.

Machín went 1-for-11 with a home run in his first major league action since 2022. He’s hitting .285/.344/.470 with 25 doubles, two triples, 15 home runs and 70 RBIs in 107 games with the Tides.

Reliever Matt Bowman was designated for assignment on Tuesday and reliever Roansy Contreras yesterday. The club hasn't announced the outcome of those transactions. 

Rather than subject my mailbag to another West Coast flight and jet lag, I decided to dump some of its contents back home and travel light.

Carry on.

This is the latest sequel to the beloved 2008 original, which set box office records. It isn’t streaming anywhere, but I am … usually around 3 or 4 a.m.

If I did any editing, I’m keeping it to myself. No grand announcements about clarity, length, style or brevity. Sorry to cheat you out of that thrill.

Also, a reminder that my mailbag gets your mailbag in the camel clutch and won’t let go until it submits. Especially on hump day.

The business side of baseball reared up and bit reliever Roansy Contreras earlier today with news that the Orioles designated him for assignment to make room for right-hander Shawn Dubin.

Contreras finally got the call this week and made his Orioles debut last night, tossing 4 1/3 scoreless innings behind opener Dietrich Enns. He’s out of minor league options and would need to pass through waivers before the Orioles could outright him.

“Those are tough decisions,” said interim manager Tony Mansolino. “There was a lot of time spent on that, trying to figure out what the right thing to do was. We’ve got a lot of smart people who are looking at a lot of different type of information and trying to make the best decision they can.

“The coach in me wants him to get claimed because we want our players to play in the major leagues and get opportunities. The Baltimore Oriole in me wants him to get through and go unclaimed and be back in the fold for us.”

Dubin will be in the bullpen today.

Reliever Shawn Dubin has reported to the Orioles after a waiver claim from the Astros earlier this week. Roansy Contreras was designated for assignment to make room for him on the active roster.

The 40-man roster has 39 players.

Tough business. Contreras tossed 4 1/3 scoreless relief innings last night in his Orioles debut and is in limbo this morning.

"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,” he said last night. “So I'm very thankful for them.”

Contreras was the 65^th player used by the Orioles this season. Dubin can become the 66^th. Tyler Wells will be reinstated from the 60-day injured list when rosters expand and can become the 67^th if someone doesn’t beat him to it.

The expanded roster next month also lengthens the rotation to include a sixth starter, right-hander Tyler Wells, who pitched last night for Triple-A Norfolk on his rehab assignment and allowed two runs in 6 1/3 innings.

He’s stretched out to 90 pitches. Turn him loose.

The Orioles will ride with Wells, Trevor Rogers, Kyle Bradish, Dean Kremer, Tomoyuki Sugano and Cade Povich. They apparently won’t deviate from the plan unless there’s an injury. Extra rest for everyone.

Brandon Young didn’t want to go on an extended break, but he’ll have to settle for his 12 major league starts this season and flirting with perfection in Houston. The final count shows more lows than highs, which explains his 6.24 ERA and 1.543 WHIP, but also the valuable experience and exposure that can elevate his game in 2026.

Interim manager Tony Mansolino said Young got “a lot” out of his time with the Orioles, which was cut short by a strained left hamstring.

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."