The Orioles are off again today before beginning a stretch of 10 games in a row, the next six at home against the Tigers and Red Sox. They’ve gone 6-0 in series openers.

If you’re wondering why the Orioles have two off-days as bookends to a two-game series in D.C., you aren’t alone. I’m sure they’d prefer having those breaks spread out.

The timing is unexpectedly good, though, with shortstop Jorge Mateo day-to-day with right hip discomfort.

Detroit won five in a row before yesterday’s loss to the Guardians. The Orioles and Tigers also meet in a four-game series at Comerica Park beginning on April 27.

This is still viewed as the “soft spot” in the schedule, which began after the Yankees left town. The Orioles won three of four from the Athletics and two of three from the White Sox, and swept the Nationals in their two-game set.

The Orioles activated Kyle Bradish from the 15-day injured list this morning and he’s starting tonight against the Nationals in D.C.

This is how it was expected to play out, with Bradish returning to the roster on his first day of eligibility.

Bradish lasted 1 2/3 innings in his season debut in Texas before Jonah Heim’s line drive slammed off his right foot. He made a rehab start at Double-A Bowie on Friday and allowed three earned runs in five innings.

Tonight marks Bradish’s first career appearance against the Nationals.

To make room for Bradish, the Orioles optioned reliever Logan Gillapsie to Triple-A Norfolk. Gillaspie appeared in eight games, tied for second on the team, and registered a 7.20 ERA and 2.200 WHIP in five innings.

The Orioles entered D.C. yesterday leading the majors with a .357 on-base percentage, and their .807 OPS ranked third. They scraped and clawed their way to a 1-0 win over the Nationals, finally able to lean more on their pitching, with starter Dean Kremer offering 6 2/3 scoreless innings.

The club's .305 on-base percentage last year ranked 22^nd, which felt like a substantial gain. A .304 OBP in 2021 was 26^th, and the Orioles were 24^th in 2019 at .310.

Dare we check 2018? Yes, and they ranked 29^th at .298.

They haven’t finished in the top 20 in a full season since winning the division in 2014, when their .311 OBP was 17^th.  The 2006 team ranked 11^th at .339, led by Miguel Tejada’s .379.

This year’s club registered its sixth highest OBP through 16 games, according to STATS. The record is .377 in 1969, followed by .374 in 2000, .367 in 1997, .366 in 2004 and .3573 in .2009 that barely edges out the 2023 Orioles.  

The Orioles posted their lineup for tonight’s series opener against the Nationals in D.C. and didn’t announce a roster move.

Ramón Urías left Chicago in concussion protocol after being hit in the head Saturday. His condition had improved the following day, and manager Brandon Hyde will provide another update later today to the assembled media.

Ryan O’Hearn is batting ninth and playing first base in another new lineup from Hyde. Ryan Mountcastle is the designated hitter.

Adam Frazier moves up to fifth in the order. Gunnar Henderson is playing third base and batting seventh.

Dean Kremer is making his fourth start tonight. He’s allowed 13 runs and 16 hits with six walks in 12 1/3 innings. He’s also surrendered five home runs.

The Orioles are in D.C. tonight for the first of two games in a “beltway rivalry” that is more hype than actual substance.

Sure, it’s fun to beat the team down the road. But players would be stretching the truth like Silly Putty if they claimed to have extra motivation. This isn’t a division series.

There isn’t much of a mailbag rivalry, either. Too one-sided over here.

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CHICAGO – Having off today allows the Orioles to reset their bullpen and provide rest that hasn’t been easy to dispense.

Manager Brandon Hyde has cringed at times while picking up the bullpen phone to get a reliever up that he wanted to avoid using. And he will draw a firm line.

Asked yesterday whether he considered using Félix Bautista for a third day in a row as the game moved into extra innings, Hyde blurted out, “Absolutely not.”

Common sense comes in handy. The season is 16 games old, Bautista got a late start in camp, and the Orioles aren’t going to risk losing their closer or anyone else to injury.

You can push a guy to a certain extent, but not over the edge.

CHICAGO – Grayson Rodriguez began making the walk from the visiting dugout to the bullpen around 3:04 p.m. local time. Dressed in the black jersey and gray road pants. Wondering what normal must feel like as a major league pitcher.

There was his unexpected debut in his home state of Texas, followed by the first chance to pitch at Camden Yards, where the team celebrated by handing out orange T-shirts to fans that welcomed him to The Show.

The White Sox didn’t offer him the same warm reception.

And they made him wait.

Following a delay of two hours and 22 minutes, Rodriguez finally was cleared beneath dark clouds that brought more rain to throw the first pitch of his third game with the Orioles. He surrendered two home runs and received one mound visit.

CHICAGO – Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said infielder Ramón Urías is much better today after being hit on the left side of his head yesterday by a 96.2 mph sinker.

Urías is in concussion protocol, but the club is waiting on a roster decision.

“It’s a head contusion,” Hyde said. “We’re still doing some further testing, but woke up feeling a lot better, and we feel great about that.”

The ball nailed Urías behind the ear and sent him sprawling to the dirt. He was able to walk off the field under his own power with Hyde and assistant athletic trainer Mark Shires.

“He’s got a pretty big bruise and welt,” Hyde said.

CHICAGO – Orioles infielder Ramón Urías remains in concussion protocol, making him off-limits to the media. He was in the clubhouse this morning, but he’s out of the lineup for the series finale against the White Sox in rainy and windy Chicago.

There’s no sign of infielder Joey Ortiz or a roster move. The Orioles could wait through Monday’s off-day to make their decision.

Manager Brandon Hyde will provide more information during his media session.

Gunnar Henderson is the third baseman today and Adam Frazier is playing second base. Terrin Vavra is in right field.

Anthony Santander is serving as the designated hitter.

CHICAGO – The Orioles could be on the verge of making another roster move.

Infielder Joey Ortiz was in Triple-A Norfolk’s lineup last night as the shortstop and cleanup hitter in Nashville, but the Orioles had him removed as a precaution while infielder Ramón Urías remains in concussion protocol and is assessed by doctors.

Ortiz is on the 40-man roster and a logical replacement if Urías, who has a .388 on-base percentage in 13 games, goes on the seven-day injured list. The organization’s No. 7 prospect might be making his major league debut at some point.

Not the way that the Orioles wanted it to happen.

Urías was drilled on the left side of the head by Kendall Graveman, who lost control of a 96.2 mph sinker. It takes guts to stand at the plate against the White Sox, who have walked 19 batters in the series and clearly are at a loss to command the baseball.

CHICAGO - Anthony Santander had identified the issue. He didn’t need more video of his at-bats, though he was willing to keep studying to confirm what he knew.

Santander said this morning that he wasn’t seeing the ball well because he’s late on pitches. Manager Brandon Hyde said he’d like Santander to be a little more on time. They could agree, both on the problem and the supreme confidence that it would subside.

Hyde batted Santander cleanup again today in a 7-6, 10-inning loss to the White Sox. Santander began the day with three hits in his last 35 at-bats, was 0-for-2 against Michael Kopech to strand three runners, and led off the sixth with a game-tying home run.

On a 94 mph fastball.  

The bat speed back to its prime.

CHICAGO – The Orioles received positive news on Kyle Bradish’s rehab start last night at Double-A Bowie.

His right foot felt good.

The rest is just numbers, some more favorable than others.

Bradish threw 82 pitches in five innings, so he’s stretched out. He allowed four runs (three earned) and three hits with one walk, five strikeouts and a home run. All of Akron’s scoring came in the fourth.

The Orioles could activate Bradish from the 15-day injured list on Wednesday and give him the start in D.C.

CHICAGO – Adley Rutschman is the designated hitter this afternoon against the White Sox, as the Orioles try to guarantee another series win.

Rutschman ranks second in the American League and third in the majors with a .492 on-base percentage. He’s sixth in the majors with a 1.134 OPS.

Ryan Mountcastle’s 19 RBIs continue to lead the majors.

Gunnar Henderson’s 21 strikeouts are tied for most in the American League, but his 12 walks tie Rutschman for first in the AL.  He’s out of the lineup today.

Kyle Gibson is the first Orioles pitcher in modern franchise history to make three starts in his first three appearances with his new team and win each decision. He has a 3.44 ERA and 1.145 WHIP in 18 1/3 innings.

CHICAGO – Starter Tyler Wells referred to Adley Rutschman last night as “Superman” after the young catcher cleared the bases with a double in the seventh inning that gave the Orioles a lead. The latest hero turn following Thursday afternoon’s walk-off home run.

However, it’s the activity on the basepaths that’s transforming the Orioles into the men of steal.

They almost went the entire game last night without a stolen base, but Cedric Mullins and Ryan Mountcastle swiped bags in the ninth to raise the club’s total to 21 and keep it tied with the Guardians for most in the majors.

Mullins dived into second to beat Yasmani Grandal's throw after a leadoff single. Mountcastle had it much easier after reaching on a fielder’s choice and breaking with two outs. Barely got noticed.

The Orioles have been thrown out once, on a strikeout-caught stealing with Rutschman running on the pitch. Maybe that’s his Kryptonite.

CHICAGO – However the Orioles construct their starting rotation, Tyler Wells should have his own room.

Never mind the early talk of piggybacking or maybe sending him down to start in the minors. Demolish it and move on to the next project.

While Kyle Bradish pitched tonight at Double-A Bowie on his injury rehab assignment, Wells cemented his role with the Orioles by recording an out in the sixth inning. By providing more length than others before appearing to tire.

The bar has been lowered a bit, but that’s the material that the Orioles are working with this month.

There wouldn’t be another out for Wells, who left after 5 1/3 with the White Sox scoring twice in the inning. Mike Baumann issued a walk to load the bases before stranding the runners with a pair of strikeouts, Yennier Cano escaped a jam that he inherited, and the Orioles took advantage of Chicago’s wild streaks by scoring four times in the seventh to win 6-3 in the opening game of the series.

CHICAGO – The Orioles aren’t sharing their rotation plans beyond their series with the White Sox that begins tonight. However, Kyle Bradish seems certain to jump into it after tonight’s rehab start at Double-A Bowie, likely taking the ball Wednesday against the Nationals in D.C. on the day that he’s eligible to return from the injured list.

“We’re just going to get through this weekend,” said manager Brandon Hyde, “and I’ll let you guys know on Sunday.”

Off-days on Monday and Thursday would allow Hyde to tweak the rotation, but the club is likely to keep its starters in turn and stay with a five-man setup.

Cole Irvin is excluded, of course, after the Orioles optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk following yesterday’s game at Camden Yards.

The decision was made to get Irvin on track and also rescue an exhausted bullpen. One struggling starter would be easier to carry if the others routinely were pitching deeper into games.

CHICAGO – Anthony Santander has returned to the Orioles lineup, serving as designated hitter tonight, after missing the last two games with back soreness.

Gunnar Henderson is the shortstop, Ramón Urías is the third baseman, and Terrin Vavra is in right field.

Ryan Mountcastle is batting .458/.581/.875 (11-for-24) with one double, three home runs, five RBIs, seven runs scored and seven walks during a seven-game hitting streak.

Mountcastle is first in the American League and tied with the Mets’ Pete Alonso for the major league lead with six home runs. His 19 RBIs are tops in the majors.

The Orioles haven’t been charged with an error in seven consecutive games after committing seven in the first six, the longest active streak per STATS. However, there have been mental lapses that don’t show up in the stat sheet.

CHICAGO – The Orioles have announced their series of roster moves leading into tonight’s game against the White Sox.

Left-hander Cole Irvin was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk following yesterday’s 8-7 walk-off win over the Athletics. Left-handed reliever Keegan Akin was placed on the paternity list.

A taxed bullpen is adding right-handers Spenser Watkins and Yennier Cano from the Tides.

Irvin hasn’t gone beyond 4 2/3 innings in his three starts since the Orioles acquired him from the Athletics in a January trade, and he’s allowed 15 runs and 17 hits with eight walks in 12 2/3 innings.

"I had a really good work week this week, so I felt really good coming in," Irvin said after his ERA yesterday rose to 10.66. "Small adjustments. I'm just shooting myself in the foot - walks, hit-by-pitches, bad pitches in bad locations that I know not to go to. It's small stuff that I really need to continue to clean up.

The return of Kyle Bradish to the Orioles rotation becomes more of a reality with tonight’s injury rehab start at Double-A Bowie.

Bradish is expecting to be one-and-done in the minors. Build up his pitch count in a low-pressure environment, make certain that his right foot can withstand the workload, and wait for the roster move.

“I’m very excited,” Bradish said yesterday morning. “Felt like I still haven’t thrown since spring training. Yeah, very excited. Hopefully, it all goes well and be back out there next week.”

The days are favoring Bradish, who’s eligible to return Wednesday night in D.C. He’d be on regular rest. But the Orioles are off Monday and Thursday and could mess a little with the rotation.

Bradish has thrown two full bullpen sessions and one touch-and-feel. He thinks one rehab game is sufficient.

The Orioles are making changes to their rotation and bullpen following their walk-off win this afternoon against the Athletics.

According to multiple sources, left-hander Cole Irvin has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk after starting today and lasting only four innings. Left-handed reliever Keegan Akin is going on paternity leave.

In corresponding moves, the Orioles are recalling pitchers Spenser Watkins and Yennier Canó.

Irvin came to the Orioles in a Jan. 26 trade that sent minor league shortstop prospect Darell Hernaiz to the Athletics. He’s made three starts and allowed 15 runs and 17 hits with eight walks and 13 strikeouts in 12 2/3 innings.

None of the three starts have lasted more than 4 2/3 innings. Only Kyle Gibson (twice) and Tyler Wells have recorded an out in the sixth inning this season.