With each passing start, Trevor Rogers offers further confirmation that what he’s doing isn’t a fluke. He isn’t going to fall apart at the baseball seams. This is how he pitches.
He can't control the bullpen, which stumbled again, but he can put his trust in a young hitter to make the mishap irrelevant.
Rogers completed seven innings again tonight and allowed only one run, and Jackson Holliday doubled with two outs in the ninth to score Dylan Carlson and give the Orioles their first walk-off win, 4-3, over the Mariners before an announced crowd of 17,290 at Camden Yards.
Carlson, who had two hits after ending an 0-for-35 slump last night, singled off Matt Brash with two outs and raced home on Holliday's first career walk-off. The Orioles were the last team in the majors to get one, and it came from Holliday, who was 5-for-41 this month before pulling a slider down the right field line.
"I knew he had a really good slider," said Holliday, who almost had his jersey torn off by teammates during the celebration. "Honestly, just trying to hit another line drive, hit a barrel. But I was kind of looking for that pitch and just trying to get it in a good spot to do something with and was able to do that.
PHILADELPHIA – The Orioles hadn’t scored in 18 innings and their No. 5 hitter today didn’t produce an extra-base hit or RBI in his first 17 major league plate appearances. The batter behind him began the day with a .213 average and was 2-for-23 since a three-hit game in Baltimore. But post-deadline baseball is meant to provide opportunities with the hope that some wins are attached.
Jeremiah Jackson broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning with a double down the left field line off Ranger Suárez and Coby Mayo followed with a big-boy three-run homer in a 5-1 victory over the Phillies that prevented a sweep at Citizens Bank Park.
Trevor Rogers had traffic every inning but held the Phillies to one run through the sixth, and the Orioles improved to 52-63 overall and 2-4 on their road trip. They’re off Thursday and host the Athletics over the weekend.
"It feels great," said interim manager Tony Mansolino. "You walk in here against this team, especially after getting your teeth kicked in for two nights, it’s easy to lay down at a 12:35 game when you’ve got Ranger Suárez on the mound in Philadelphia with kind of the momentum they have and the lack thereof that we have. For the boys to go out there and do what they did, awesome."
Gunnar Henderson began the fourth with an opposite-field single and Adley Rutschman beat out a grounder that deflected off Suárez’s glove. Jackson gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead and Mayo padded it with authority, blistering a first-pitch changeup 421 feet to left field at 108.5 mph.
PHILADELPHIA – Vimael Machín has joined the Orioles on the medical taxi squad with Tyler O’Neill’s status uncertain.
O’Neill exited last night’s game in the sixth inning with right wrist soreness. X-rays were negative.
Machín can stay with the Orioles for 24 hours without having his contract selected. He hasn’t played in the majors since 2022 with the Athletics.
Machín was removed from last night’s game at Triple-A Norfolk after one at-bat. He’s hitting .294 with an .835 OPS, 22 doubles, two triples, 15 home runs and 69 RBIs in 97 games with the Tides.
Neither team has posted its lineup for today’s series finales. The Orioles are 1-4 since the trade deadline and have lost five of six games overall.
CHICAGO – The message from interim manager Tony Mansolino and the players remaining in the Orioles clubhouse is clear: Yes, the trade deadline may have shaken things up, but the goal of winning a baseball game each day remains the same.
The Orioles, with their young core still in place, believe they still have the talent to do just that. The names on the lineup card, particularly in the middle, have changed a bit, and Mansolino will need to get creative with a bullpen missing many of its established arms.
But as Mansolino said pregame, there’s no time for licking wounds. There’s baseball to be played out in Chicago.
Trevor Rogers was more than up to the challenge. The O's offense, though, couldn't find a rhythm in a 1-0 loss to the Cubs.
The lefty tossed the first complete-game loss for the Orioles since Chris Tillman did it back in 2013.
The Orioles filled the remaining openings on their roster this morning by selecting the contract of outfielder Jordyn Adams from Triple-A Norfolk and infielder Terrin Vavra from Double-A Chesapeake and recalling infielder Luis Vázquez from Norfolk.
The trio joins infielder Jeremiah Jackson and reliever Yaramil Hiraldo, who were recalled last night.
Ryan O’Hearn, Cedric Mullins and Ramón Laureano will be by their absences from today’s lineup against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Jordan Westburg has nine hits and seven runs scored over his last three games. He's likely the starting third baseman.
Left-hander Trevor Rogers has registered a 1.49 ERA and 0.786 WHIP in eight starts.
The trade deadline can’t touch Trevor Rogers and Tyler O’Neill. They aren’t on expiring contracts. They aren’t expected to go anywhere except on the team charter.
Cedric Mullins is a pending free agent and could be moved. Fans seem to be cheering him a little louder these days. Twice tonight, for sure.
The Orioles didn’t make any deals and all three players, controllable and vulnerable, stepped up in an 18-0 thrashing of the Rockies, which set the club record for largest shutout win. The previous mark was 17-0 against the White Sox on July 27, 1969.
Rogers allowed one hit over seven scoreless innings, retiring 20 of 22 batters. O’Neill hit his second homer in two nights, a two-run shot off Colorado starter Antonio Senzatela, and reached base four times. Mullins made a spectacular diving catch and belted a three-run homer. And the Orioles evened the series before an announced crowd of 20,188 at Camden Yards.
Thirteen batters came to the plate in a nine-run seventh, with Gunnar Henderson doubling twice and driving in two and Coby Mayo contributing a walk and two-run double off the bench, and the Orioles improved to 46-58. Kyle Farmer went from designated hitter to emergency pitcher in the eighth and Alex Jackson greeted him with a pinch-hit homer.
The Orioles returned to having eight relievers in their bullpen today by optioning infielder Jeremiah Jackson and recalling right-hander Yaramil Hiraldo.
Hiraldo made his major league debut on May 27 against the Cardinals and tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings in his lone appearance.
Grant Wolfram remains the only left-hander in the ‘pen, but interim manager Tony Mansolino expects Keegan Akin to be reinstated from the injured list on Monday. Akin is pitching again tonight with Triple-A Norfolk.
Ryan O’Hearn is back at first base tonight and Coby Mayo heads to the bench after homering last night.
O’Hearn turns 32 today. He could become the third Oriole to homer on his birthday in the last 10 years after Ramón Urias last summer and Matt Wieters in 2016.
TAMPA – The Orioles took a quick lead again this afternoon with Jackson Holliday’s leadoff home run. They built on it in the third inning with Alex Jackson’s first homer since last July. They keep playing to win, as reflected by the lineups, but there’s no escaping the reality of their situation.
Today’s 5-3 victory over the Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field featured a 2-hour, 36-minute rain delay – longest of the season - prevented a sweep and left the Orioles 10 games below .500 at 44-54. They’re playing four this week in Cleveland before returning home. And each day that passes makes them wonder how much the clubhouse will change.
If it’s a distraction, the Orioles pushed it aside today. They led 4-0 by the third on Henderson’s 109.2 mph, two-run double off Ryan Pepiot. The only losses came later in the inning when plate umpire James Hoye ejected Ramón Laureano and interim manager Tony Mansolino.
Laureano thought he checked his swing on a strikeout, flung his helmet and protective padding at home plate and was tossed. Mansolino picked up the argument after Laureano walked away and received his first career major league ejection.
Ramón Urias entered the game at first base and Ryan O’Hearn moved to right field.
Trevor Rogers sat at his locker early this afternoon with headphones on and his mind seemingly clear. Facing the Marlins for the first time didn’t tie his emotions in knots. He churned on the inside but played it straight.
Rogers grabbed his glove, headed to the bullpen to warm up and strung together another terrific outing. What he lacked was support from his bullpen. He wasn’t consumed with revenge. He just needed to be rewarded.
Gregory Soto let an inherited runner score after Rogers exited with two outs in the seventh, Seranthony Domínguez gave up an RBI single to pinch-hitter Jesús Sánchez in the eighth, and the Marlins broke it open with four runs off Scott Blewett in the ninth in a 6-0 victory over the Orioles before announced crowd of 34,332 at Camden Yards.
Among the failings for the Orioles (43-51) was the attempt to move six games below .500 for the first time since May 3, but they can still win their third series in a row for the first time this season.
Rogers carried a shutout bid into the seventh after tossing 6 2/3 scoreless in his previous start. Dane Myers singled with two outs and Rogers left to a standing ovation, touching the bill of his cap as he approached the first base line. Soto hit Kyle Stowers and Derek Hill singled into left field to break a scoreless tie. Hill was tagged in a rundown.
Zach Eflin begins his injury rehab assignment Sunday at Double-A Chesapeake, as he works to return from lower back discomfort. Eflin will face hitters in Florida next Friday and “should be ready to go,” according to interim manager Tony Mansolino.
Cade Povich, recovered from left hip inflammation, starts Sunday at High-A Aberdeen and will pitch again next Saturday before the Orioles consider reinstating him.
First baseman Ryan Mountcastle will accompany the team to Tampa after the break and report to Norfolk on July 22, as he recovers from a Grade 2 right hamstring strain. He’s eligible to be reinstated from the 60-day injured list on July 30.
“He’s starting to look pretty good,” Mansolino said. “We’re getting excited about him.”
Adley Rutschman took batting practice today from both sides of the plate to test his left oblique strain and will catch Kyle Bradish for two innings next Saturday in Florida.
The Orioles haven’t announced their starters for the weekend series against the Marlins that closes out the first half, but interim manager Tony Mansolino confirmed that rookie Brandon Young gets the ball on Sunday, and left-hander Trevor Rogers is certain to face his former team the previous afternoon.
This will be a first for Rogers, taken by Miami with the 13th-overall pick in the 2017 draft out of Carlsbad High School in New Mexico.
The Marlins dealt him to the Orioles at last year’s deadline for prospects Kyle Stowers and Connor Norby, who make their respective returns to Camden Yards this weekend. Stowers arrives as a first-time All-Star. Rogers was optioned after only four starts, against the Guardians, Blue Jays, Nationals and Mets. His five starts this year, spread out between May 24 and Sunday, came against the Red Sox, Rays, Rangers twice and Braves.
“It’s gonna be a little strange,” Rogers said earlier this week. “That’s the only team I was with for seven years and they gave me a shot, so I’ll always be thankful for them. A lot of memories, a lot of good teammates over there, a lot of good people over there. So I’m excited to see those people.”
Rogers was an All-Star and Rookie of the Year runner-up to the Reds’ Jonathan India in 2021, the height of a career that dropped him on his head – and down to Triple-A Norfolk after the trade.
The All-Star Game is a week from today, which is the unofficial halfway point of the season.
The Orioles are playing their 90th game tonight, against the Mets at Camden Yards, to begin their last homestand before the break. They can move eight below .500 for the first time since May 6.
Four days off before another trip to Tampa present an opportunity to process everything that’s happened and wonder exactly how they got to this point. How so many surprises attached to one team like barnacles.
* Rather than challenge for a division title, the Orioles are stuck in last place.
* Their two best starters are Trevor Rogers and Charlie Morton.
ATLANTA – The last time the Orioles swept an opponent, Trevor Rogers was still pitching for Triple-A Norfolk.
At the time, Rogers had just one big league start in 2025. It came against the Red Sox in late May, with 6 ⅓ innings of shutout baseball.
Who knew if the lefty could make that dominant start a habit?
He’s done just that, and today, he led the Orioles to a sweep of the Atlanta Braves. Today, the O’s came out on top 2-1.
Rogers was dominant throughout the contest, with the Braves’ first runner in scoring position coming in the bottom of the fifth inning. He struck out six and induced weak contact, of both the ground ball and fly out varieties.
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 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.
The Orioles’ strategy for beating the heat wasn’t sustainable, but they had a solid plan for winning a game.
How does a team prepare for a first-pitch temperature of 100 degrees?
“By being inside,” said interim manager Tony Mansolino.
The Orioles didn’t hit this afternoon or plan on taking batting practice before the next two games. But they eventually had to face the oppressive conditions, as well as the Rangers, and try to rebound from back-to-back losses in the Bronx.
The option to not hit would be lifted at 6:35 p.m. and Jackson Holliday went to work by driving in the Orioles' first four runs to support Trevor Rogers, who kept his cool with eight magnificent, scoreless innings in a 6-0 victory before an announced crowd of 13,929 at Camden Yards.
Infielder Jordan Westburg remains out of the Orioles lineup for tonight’s series opener against the Rangers at steamy Camden Yards.
Westburg is day-to-day with a sprained left index finger.
Gary Sánchez is the designated hitter and batting fourth. That’s sort of like getting a break.
Coby Mayo is starting at first base.
Ramón Laureano is batting second for the first time this season.
TAMPA – Eight runs on seven hits.
That was the line for the Baltimore Orioles tonight in the second inning alone.
Twelve runs on 18 hits.
That was the line for the Tampa Bay Rays tonight in innings three through seven.
It culminated in a 12-8 Orioles loss, a tale of two games that the Orioles found themselves on the wrong end of. A contest that had the makings of a blowout still resulted in a victory with a comfortable margin, but not for the team that had an 8-0 advantage after two.
The Orioles have more mound decisions on their plate.
They needed a starter for tonight and must remove a reliever to fit him onto the roster. Trevor Rogers will go from taxi squad to active roster after his 6 1/3 scoreless innings against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. And Grant Wolfram could be one-and-done after the Orioles recalled him yesterday to replace Colin Selby, who was one-and-done.
Interim manager Tony Mansolino didn’t confirm Rogers’ start during his pregame session with the assembled media in Tampa, but he said, “We’re excited to kind of get him in here tomorrow.”
The food room? The showers?
He’s going to be on the mound and trying not to stand in a puddle of sweat. The heat seems intense. Dean Kremer’s skin had the shine of a glazed donut last night. He looked like he collided with the Exxon Valdez.