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."

The Orioles will switch to a six-man rotation after Tyler Wells is placed on the expanded roster next month.

Wells will become part of a unit that includes Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, Dean Kremer, Tomoyuki Sugano and Cade Povich. The Orioles chose to start Wells rather than move him to the bullpen.

“If everybody can stay healthy, that would be great,” said interim manager Tony Mansolino.

“It’s good. It gives Dean an extra day, it gives Tomo an extra day. Nobody will pitch on regular rest the rest of the year.”

Bradish responded favorably to his first start beyond an injury rehab assignment last night since June 2024.

The Orioles are tampering with their roster again, with two more players coming in and two more going out.

Roansy Contreras was activated from the taxi squad and had his contract selected from Triple-A Norfolk, and he’ll work in bulk relief tonight, his first major league appearance since Sept. 29, 2024 with the Angels. He posted a 3.73 ERA in 28 appearances (14 starts) with Norfolk.

Infielder Emmanuel Rivera also had his contract selected.

To create room, the Orioles optioned Yaramil Hiraldo, who was charged with three runs last night in 1 1/3 innings and has a 5.65 ERA in 12 games, and they designated infielder Vimael Machín for assignment. They also transferred pitcher Brandon Young (hamstring) to the 60-day injured list, which ends his season.

Contreras will be the 64^th player used by the Orioles this season, two more than the franchise record set in 2021.

Kyle Bradish has stopped by the Camden Yards clubhouse in between rehab starts, but yesterday was different.

Teammates looked across the room and saw their starting pitcher.

They waited a long time for it.

Bradish made his return from elbow reconstructive surgery and struck out 10 batters in six innings. He allowed a pair of solo home runs among his four hits, and he didn’t issue a walk. The sinker was on point.

Having Bradish on the roster again is exactly what this club needs, no matter the outcome.

Kyle Bradish remembered his move. The pinpoint control was evident before his first pitch.

Bradish led the Orioles onto the field tonight, turned sideways as he jumped over the first base line and pounded his fist into his glove after landing. He was starting a major league game for the first time in 438 days, and fans didn’t let the moment pass without an ovation.

The Red Sox deviated a little from their assigned parts in the feel-good story of the returning ace who made it through elbow surgery and an extensive rehab. Bradish struck out eight batters over the first four innings but also surrendered a pair of leadoff home runs.

The velocity was good. The arm was healthy. The rotation immediately got better, for this year and in 2026. Nothing else mattered as much.

Bradish completed six innings on 81 pitches and struck out 10 in the Orioles’ 5-0 loss before an announced crowd of 14,776 at Camden Yards. He allowed two runs and four hits and didn’t issue a walk.

The Orioles summoned right-hander Roansy Contreras from Triple-A Norfolk today and placed him on the taxi squad.

The visit will last more than 24 hours.

Interim manager Tony Mansolino needs a starter for Wednesday night and said Contreras is going to pitch “a good amount.” The exact role is undetermined, but another roster move is lurking.

Contreras could start or work in bulk relief behind an opener.

“A lot will kind of depend on how we go through today,” Mansolino said.

Another bullpen move is coming for the Orioles.

The club announced today that it claimed right-hander Shawn Dubin on waivers from the Astros. He hasn’t reported.

Dubin, 29, made 23 appearances this season and posted a 5.61 ERA and 1.481 WHIP in 25 2/3 innings. Three of his last four outings came against the Orioles, when he allowed nine runs in four innings. His ERA was 1.33 on June 20 and he didn’t pitch again for Houston until Aug. 12.

The Astros designated Dubin for assignment on Saturday. He’s out of minor league options and has registered a 4.95 ERA and 1.550 WHIP in 57 games over three seasons.

The Orioles already have used a franchise-record 63 players this season. The old record was 62 in 2021.

The Orioles will begin the 2026 season at home for the second time in three seasons after five consecutive road openers.

Major League Baseball released the schedules earlier today and the Orioles host the Twins on March 26. The teams get an off-day and play two more games before the Rangers arrive for three.

The first road trip takes the Orioles to Pittsburgh from April 3-5 and Chicago to face the White Sox from April 6-8.

The All-Star break is July 13-16, followed by road games in Houston and Boston.

The Orioles end the season in New York again, with the final game played on Sept. 27. The last homestand brings the Brewers and Blue Jays to Baltimore.