Orioles manager Brandon Hyde didn’t notice any panic inside his clubhouse this afternoon. His players behaved in the usual way, talking at their lockers, watching college football on the six televisions suspended from the ceiling, playing chess at one of the tables. Jordan Westburg grabbed a plate of food. Teammates headed outside to toss a ball.

Four losses in a row annoyed but didn’t rattle.

“I just think they’re disappointed, but they’re going to bounce back, ready to play tonight,” Hyde said before batting practice. “I haven’t sensed anything. You can hear them interacting well. We had a good hitters meeting a while ago, but we do every day. So, I think they’re ready to go.”

Grayson Rodriguez was amped, retiring the first nine batters and striking out four of six. Curtis Mead swung through a 100.1 mph fastball to end the second, the second-fastest strikeout pitch by an Orioles starter in the Statcast era. No one crossed the plate.

Gunnar Henderson was fired up, too. His first two swings of the game produced a leadoff single in the first and a 428-foot, two-run homer in the second, and he delivered a run-scoring single in the fourth. He also set one Orioles rookie record and tied a Hall of Famer on another list.

John Means is bouncing back in fine fashion after making his first start Tuesday since undergoing reconstructive elbow surgery in April 2022.

“Everything’s felt great,” he said today. “It’s felt better than it has in a while, so I’m really pleased with everything that’s going on and how I’m feeling.”

Means threw a bullpen session on Thursday, again with the desired results.

“Felt good, everything feels normal,” he said.

Staying with a six-man rotation puts Means on the mound again Monday night in Houston, where he could be pitted against veteran Justin Verlander. The teams haven't listed their starters for the three-game series.

Ryan Mountcastle remains out of the Orioles lineup tonight after leaving Wednesday’s game with discomfort in his left shoulder.

An MRI was negative and Mountcastle has progressed to taking some swings. Manager Brandon Hyde expressed his optimism again yesterday.

“It’s a lot better,” he said.

Heston Kjerstad’s first major league hit last night was a solo home run. He’s out of the lineup tonight.

Aaron Hicks is in right field and Anthony Santander is serving as the designated hitter. Austin Hays returns to the lineup in left field.

The Orioles and Rays are tied atop the American League East. The one win that the Orioles need to clinch the tiebreaker remains on hold, but their magic number to secure a playoff spot is three after the Rangers lost last night.

It’s complicated.

What’s apparent is a four-game losing streak that’s tied for the longest this season.

The Orioles also lost four in a row June 27-July 1 and won nine of their next 11, including a season-best eight-game winning streak.

Orioles batters are 6-for-59 in this series. They’ve scored six runs in the last four games.

Jordan Westburg usually wouldn’t feel a smile creasing his face after his manager removed him for a pinch-hitter. His competitive side makes it hard to accept sitting, and definitely not with a grin, whether at the beginning or in the later innings. He wants the bat in his hands. He wants a challenge, and the chance to impact a game.

There are exceptions, though, like Thursday night at Camden Yards.

Westburg was supposed to lead off the bottom of the eighth against Rays reliever Robert Stephenson, but Brandon Hyde sent up Heston Kjerstad for his major league debut. The crowd roared when he stepped out of the dugout.

There was a more reserved but approving reaction inside of it.

Westburg knew the struggles that Kjerstad endured to reach this moment. The diagnosis of myocarditis, and later a strained hamstring. More than one setback. Questions about his professional future. Worries about his long-term health.

The same organization that preaches the importance of never looking too far ahead happily spun its attention to the past before tonight’s game against the Rays.

The division race came with a pause button.

To honor Adam Jones on his official retirement after signing a one-day contract, the Orioles brought back former teammates who have experienced postseason baseball. Fan favorites from previous years.

An emotional distraction before the 2023 Orioles were stung by reality again.

The division lead is down to two percentage points. The losing streak has reached four games to match a season high. The reunion was special, but they need a reset.

Ryan Mountcastle’s health is trending in the right direction, and he could be nearing a return to the Orioles lineup.

Mountcastle exited Wednesday’s game with left shoulder discomfort but didn’t go on the injured list. He’s out of the lineup again tonight.

“Feeling even better today,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “He’s going to take some swings here coming up, so hopefully he’s available, but it’s a lot better.”

Ryan O’Hearn is playing first base again tonight and Heston Kjerstad is making his first major league start as the designated hitter.

Closer Félix Bautista also has avoided the injured list after suffering a slight tear in the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow exactly three weeks ago.

The pressure is building on the Orioles to hold onto their division lead, which is down to one game after last night’s 4-3 loss to the Rays.

Both teams have 91 wins. Tampa Bay has lost two more games.

The Orioles have lost three in a row, their longest streak since dropping four straight June 27-July 1.

Heston Kjerstad is making his first major league start, serving as designated hitter.

Ryan Mountcastle remains out of the lineup.

Orioles' right-hander Kyle Bradish was asked last night for his opinion on how he pitched.

“Indifferent,” was his immediate response.

Couldn’t feel that way about everything that happened prior to the game.

The anticipation over Ryan Mountcastle’s MRI results. The predicted roster move that turned into multiple moves and caught many of us by surprise. The observations and lessons learned.

Don’t always trust body language and somber tones.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde faced redundancy before the Rays.

More questions about the magnitude of the series. How his players would handle it, how he’d handle it.

“I just want our guys to enjoy it,” Hyde said during his daily media session. “This is what you play for all year. Play meaningful games in September. It’s something you always talk about.

“I really want our guys to just relax and enjoy all the moments.”

The fun times began with Cedric Mullins’ running, diving catch in right-center field to rob Taylor Walls in the second inning and likely save a run. They accelerated with Ryan O’Hearn’s leadoff homer in the bottom half and Gunnar Henderson’s 26^th in the fourth.

The grimacing from Orioles' first baseman Ryan Mountcastle last night, followed by his removal from the game and somber tone at his locker, hinted at a serious injury to his left shoulder. He felt and heard a pop. The pain wouldn’t subside. He fidgeted at first base. Bad body language for anyone who can interpret.

The mood within the organization has taken a drastic turn. Smiles and signs of relief.

Manager Brandon Hyde said the Orioles received “great news” on Mountcastle’s MRI this morning. An expected trip to the injured list was scrubbed.

“He’s feeling a lot better,” Hyde said. “The imaging was all positive, so he’s just day-to-day-right now.”

Mountcastle has left shoulder soreness, but it didn’t remove him from the active roster.

Stoked. Excited. Relieved.

Heston Kjerstad summed up his emotions after getting the news last night that the Orioles wanted him in Baltimore. He isn’t in tonight’s lineup, but he reached the majors in his first full professional season.

The wheels were in motion after Ryan Mountcastle injured his left shoulder while fouling off a pitch. Triple-A Norfolk manager Buck Britton pulled Kjerstad from the game after two plate appearances.

“For precautionary or whatever,” Kjerstad said, “and then postgame Buck let me know that I was getting called up.”

Kjerstad called his parents, Dave and Jody, and his siblings. They'll be part of his cheering section tonight at Camden Yards.

The Orioles must proceed through their important four-game series and the ensuing days without their closer and, for now, their starting first baseman. But how long?

Félix Bautista is on the injured list with a slight tear of his ulnar collateral ligament – he’s playing catch on flat ground while the team determines whether he can pitch again this year - but Ryan Mountcastle didn’t join him today.

Mountcastle injured his left shoulder last night and underwent an MRI, but outfielder Heston Kjerstad, the second-overall pick in the 2022 draft and one of the top prospects in baseball, had his contract selected from Triple-A Norfolk and Ryan McKenna was optioned. Mountcastle stays on the active roster and perhaps retains his day-to-day status.

Infielder Terrin Vavra was recalled from Norfolk and transferred to the 60-day injured list to make room for Kjerstad on the 40-man roster. Vavra has a shoulder strain and receives his major league salary and service time.

Also, reliever Bryan Baker was recalled from Norfolk and left-hander Nick Vespi was optioned for a fifth time. Vespi can’t be optioned again without passing through waivers.

Now, it gets real.

Or real important. And really hard.

The other games counted, of course, but the Orioles are set to play four against the Rays beginning tonight at Camden Yards. The team that’s two behind them in the division race. The team with the same lengthy stubborn streak, refusing to let injuries and other impactful issues break its spirit and damage postseason aspirations.

The Orioles returned to their clubhouse last night with their magic number at four to clinch the first playoff birth since 2016. That’s the immediate task, and it could be done in a few days.

An Orioles win reduces the number by one. And so on. That’s the simplest math in an otherwise complicated equation, which induces headaches when also factoring in other teams like the Rangers and Mariners.

Ryan Mountcastle drew a painful walk tonight in the bottom of the first inning.

Losing him could severely hurt the Orioles.

Mountcastle fouled off a sinker from Cardinals' starter Drew Rom to leave the count 2-2, took two pitches out of the strike zone and headed to first base. He was grimacing and rotating his left arm as if experiencing shoulder discomfort.

Head athletic trainer Brian Ebel and manager Brandon Hyde checked on Mountcastle, who swung the arm back and forth and stayed in the game. But the pain was lingering.

He paced after every pitch in the top of the second, rubbed the shoulder, rotated his arm a few more times and at least twice removed the mitt. He followed Ebel down the dugout tunnel, but returned to the field in the top of the third.

The Orioles didn’t send down left-hander Cole Irvin again today based on poor evaluations of his performance. Circumstances beyond his control removed him from the active roster and the clubhouse.

Irvin was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk, with Nick Vespi recalled again.

“Because of the six-man rotation right now, as well as, the last four or five starts have been short, so our bullpen has taken a heavy load, that whole Boston series and the first game here against St. Louis,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “We just felt like we needed a bullpen arm.”

Irvin has been optioned three times. He could return again but must stay in the minors for a minimum of 15 days unless replacing an injured player.

“We’ll see,” Hyde said.

Jordan Westburg stays in the Orioles lineup tonight and is batting fifth against left-hander Drew Rom.

James McCann is catching again, with Adley Rutschman serving as designated hitter. Gunnar Henderson is playing third base and Jorge Mateo is the shortstop.

Aaron Hicks is in center field, with Cedric Mullins on the bench.

For the Orioles
Adley Rutschman DH
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
Anthony Santander RF
Austin Hays LF
Jordan Westburg 2B
Gunnar Henderson 3B
Aaron Hicks CF
James McCann C
Jorge Mateo SS

Kyle Gibson RHP

Nick Vespi is back in the majors.

The Orioles recalled Vespi this morning from Triple-A Norfolk and optioned Cole Irvin in a swap of left-handed relievers.

Irvin was removed from the rotation to create a spot for John Means. He tossed two scoreless innings last night and threw 32 pitches, pushing back his availability with the second-place Rays coming to town Thursday to begin a crucial four-game series.

This is Irvin’s third time being optioned this season. Vespi is a real pro.

The Orioles optioned Vespi for a fourth time on Aug. 24. He can be sent down one more time without the Orioles having to expose him to waivers.

The morning of April 13, 2022, began in normal fashion, with a phone call to wish my mother a Happy Birthday and probably a few complaints about anything to anyone within earshot. Staying on brand. The Orioles were hosting the Brewers after losing four of their first five games. The announced crowd was 12,704.

John Means was making his second start, with none of us knowing it would be his last until Sept. 12, 2023 – when I turned 60 years old.

What is it about birthdays in my family?

Anthony Bemboom caught Means, with starter Robinson Chirinos entering late after Ryan McKenna pinch-ran. Adley Rutschman wouldn’t arrive for a month.

Rougned Odor played second base and Kelvin Gutiérrez pinch-hit for him. Gunnar Henderson wouldn’t debut until Aug. 31. Jordan Westburg didn’t play his first major league game until June 26, 2023.

John Means came out of the dugout first tonight, the honor bestowed upon the starter, the one-time ace. The September addition who hadn’t pitched since April 13, 2022.

Means received a loud ovation during introductions, with many fans standing to cheer him. It happened again after he reached the mound and heard his name on the public address system.

The enthusiasm over his return wouldn’t die. Paul Goldschmidt’s two-out home run in the first inning only impacted the score.

Means also surrendered a bases-empty, two-strike homer to Towson University’s Richie Palacios in the fourth in a 5-2 loss to the Cardinals before an announced crowd of 15,526 at Camden Yards. He allowed three runs and four hits in five innings, with no walks and one strikeout.

He’s back. That’s a win for the 91-53 Orioles, who remain three games ahead of the Rays, that might impact the division race on another night.