Gunnar Henderson batted cleanup last night, relinquishing the leadoff spot to Jordan Westburg in a right-handed heavy order. Cedric Mullins stayed in center field, but Jorge Mateo played second base instead of Jackson Holliday. Ramón Urías, batting .343 with a .410 on-base percentage, sat on the bench.

A decision also was made to withhold Heston Kjerstad against Guardians left-hander Logan Allen and put right-handed hitting Ramón Laureano in left field.

The Orioles played their 16^th game and used a 15^th different lineup. They could blow past the 144 last season.

The evolution of settling on a lineup has carried the process well beyond a manager sitting in his office with the card, a pencil and a hunch. Analytics are a major factor, of course. Where haven’t they infiltrated the sport? And it’s become more of a group effort.

“I am not involved with lineups,” executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias said yesterday.

A roller up the third base line griped the chalk for a single. The wind carried a fly ball off the out-of-town scoreboard in right field for a triple. Ryan Mountcastle leaped for a high chopper that nicked the top of his mitt for a single.

Steven Kwan’s fly ball down the right field line in the fifth inning sneaked inside the foul pole for a two-run homer, another break for the Guardians and another swig of frustration for an Orioles team that’s guzzling it lately.

Charlie Morton couldn’t maintain early momentum and left-hander Logan Allen held the Orioles to two hits in 5 2/3 scoreless innings in Cleveland’s 6-3 victory before an announced crowd of 14,293 at Camden Yards.

The Orioles (6-10) are four games below .500 for the first time since July 7, 2022. They didn’t have a hit until Cedric Mullins led off the fifth with a single. They didn’t have a run until Mullins homered off reliever Joey Cantillo in the seventh.

Gunnar Henderson and Mountcastle doubled off Cade Smith with two outs in the eighth, the latter at 109.4 mph, and Gary Sánchez singled to reduce the lead to 6-3. The Orioles were 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position Sunday and 0-for-5 tonight before a rally that came too late.

Questions about contract extensions for young players are posed to Elias each time that he speaks to the media. And he’s always provided the stock answer about how it isn’t beneficial for either side to share details and possibly damage the agents’ trust.

The Orioles are the only team in the majors since 2019 that hasn’t signed a player to an extension of four-plus guaranteed years. They aren’t short on candidates with high draft picks Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday, Jordan Westburg and Colton Cowser on the roster. And they’re under new ownership since billionaire David Rubenstein purchased the team.

“I’m aware of what’s going on and I’m aware of the conversation around us. I guess I’ll be a little more revelatory than I have been,” Elias said.

It wouldn’t be a typical scrum today.

“This is something we’re working on,” Elias said. “There’s guys on this team that we would like to have on this team longer than they’re currently slated for. It’s not a point-and-shoot thing. It’s case by case. There’s different players, different skill levels, different representatives, different philosophies around how to handle players at different age levels. We’ve got some really good ones, and on top of that, we’ve had a very recent ownership change after a kind of protracted thing during a rebuild.

Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias sat on the dugout bench this afternoon, media crowded around him, and held a piece of paper that he referred to as his “crib notes.”

To memorize the injuries and updates would require a special skill that’s rare in baseball circles, though the Orioles keep testing their front office and manager.

Elias covered 11 players, including a pair of minor leaguers. The injured list has no limits. The same must apply to the Orioles’ collective patience.

Zach Eflin
“He continues to feel really good after coming out and hitting the IL with what we hope is a very mild lat strain. He’s going to start playing catch in a few days. We’ll have to see how that goes and kind of take it from there. But so far encouraging with the way he’s felt since being injured and I’m hopeful at this point that his stay on the IL will be measured more in weeks than in months. But again, kind of see how he responds. He’s starting to play catch.”

Grayson Rodriguez
“Recuperating from the sore tricep/elbow injury that he had in spring training. He’s thrown two bullpens now. His most recent one had off-speed pitches, spins as we say, and he’s got another bullpen day after tomorrow. So far he is tolerating everything well physically, so that’s good news, but we still have a lot ahead of us in terms of bullpens, buildup, live BP, ultimately rehab assignment, and I’m not ready to assign a timetable to his recovery yet. I know that he’s doing everything he can to strengthen up and get back to help the team as soon as possible, but we’re not at the point yet of kind of ballparking when that’s going to be. But he continues to feel pretty good.”

Jordan Westburg is leading off tonight and playing third base as the Orioles begin their series against the Guardians.

The lineup is heavy in right-handed bats against Guardians left-hander Logan Allen.

Gary Sánchez is catching, with Adley Rutschman serving as designated hitter. Ramón Laureano is in left field and Jorge Mateo is playing second base.

Gunnar Henderson slides down to the cleanup spot. Cedric Mullins is in center field and batting seventh as the other left-handed bat.

Jackson Holliday, Heston Kjerstad and Ryan O’Hearn go to the bench. Ramón Urías also is out of the lineup.

The Orioles optioned reliever Colin Selby to Triple-A Norfolk today and activated pitcher Scott Blewett, who was claimed on waivers yesterday from the Twins.

Selby allowed two runs and three hits in his only inning in Arizona after the Orioles recalled him Wednesday as the roster replacement for Zach Eflin, who’s on the injured list with a right lat strain.

Blewett, who turned 29 five days ago, was designated for assignment again on Saturday after the Twins selected his contract earlier in the week and he allowed one run with five strikeouts and no walks in 4 2/3 innings. He’s made 19 relief appearances in the majors and posted a 2.18 ERA in 33 innings.

Blewett is wearing No. 67.

The Orioles signed catcher Chadwick Tromp to a minor league deal on Sunday. They faced him a few times in spring training with the Braves.

The Orioles are in the midst of their longest homestand of the season with the Guardians, the second of three opponents, visiting Camden Yards tonight for a three-game series. Cleveland is 8-7 but only 3-6 on the road.

The latest off-day arrived with the Orioles still in search of their first series and back-to-back wins. They’re batting .235/.302/.383 for a .685 OPS that ranked 18^th in the majors yesterday, 66 runs scored that ranked 13^th and 116 hits that were 16th. The offense can be described as “mid.”

Perhaps a better word is “inconsistent,” with enough ups and downs to cause nausea.

The bats really can’t be blamed for Sunday’s 7-6 loss to the Blue Jays except for the inability to bring home the automatic runner in the 10^th inning. The sport is set up now for one run to score in extras, with the burden placed on teams to do more. The Orioles got Jordan Westburg to third base on a ground ball and struck out twice.

The first eight losses this season occurred with the offense producing two, one, zero, four, two, one, three and zero runs. Six should be sufficient, but the bullpen allowed three in the eighth with the Orioles ahead 6-3.

The Orioles apparently are making an adjustment to their pitching staff.

Scott Blewett was claimed on waivers today from the Twins and is expected to report to the club this week, perhaps by Tuesday night’s series opener against the Guardians at Camden Yards.

Left-hander Luis González, a surprise addition to the 40-man roster in November, was designated for assignment to clear room for Blewett.

Blewett has made 19 relief appearances in the majors from 2020-25, with no appearances in 2022-23, and posted a 2.18 ERA in 33 innings. He debuted with the Royals and signed twice with Minnesota as a free agent last year after they outrighted him off the 40-man roster. He’s out of minor league options, so today’s move would impact the Orioles’ roster unless they attempt to sneak him through waivers.

A corresponding move otherwise is pending.

An immediate take from yesterday’s 7-6, 10-inning loss to the Blue Jays is how reliever Jeff Hoffman should remember that the Orioles make another trip to Toronto and his team makes another trip to Baltimore. Be careful with that pucker or risk getting punched in the mouth. But there’s more.

Manager Brandon Hyde downplayed the latest short outing from a starter, pointing out how he handled them differently the past few games after an off-day and rainout, and with another break in the schedule today. But the bullpen is passing the baton too much, finally losing its grip yesterday in Toronto’s three-run eighth. The rotation needs to consume more innings, plain and simple.

Zach Eflin is on the injured list after going six innings in each of his three starts and posting a 3.00 ERA. He’s a huge loss for however long that it lasts.

Charlie Morton starts Tuesday night’s series opener against the Guardians at Camden Yards. He’s due like one of those bills from the record company that used to promise free albums if you returned their card by the deadline. Anyone with me here?

Morton has allowed four runs in 3 1/3 innings, five runs in five innings and four runs in five innings for a total of only 13 1/3.

Bench coach Robinson Chirinos made his managerial debut this afternoon after Brandon Hyde was ejected. Ryan Mountcastle lined a ball over the left field wall that used to torment him. Tyler O’Neill almost nailed Mr. Splash with his home run into the Bird Bath section. Gunnar Henderson showed signs of busting out of his slump with three hits in the first four innings. The bullpen couldn’t hold a three-run lead in the eighth, and the Orioles stranded the winning run at second base in the ninth.

Peel back the many layers and the Orioles still don't have a series win.

The Orioles couldn't score in the bottom of the 10th inning, leaving Jordan Westburg at third base, and the Blue Jays prevailed 7-6 before an announced crowd of 27,193 at Kids Opening Day at Camden Yards.

Myles Straw's infield hit off Matt Bowman scored automatic runner Andrés Giménez. Bowman left two on base, but Ramón Laureano took a called third strike from Jeff Hoffman for the final out of the day. Hoffman blew a kiss toward the Orioles' dugout, his response to the contract offer reportedly rescinded after his physical due to concerns about his shoulder. The Braves did the same and he signed with the Blue Jays for $33 million over three years.

"When I'm thinking about the games before the games are being played and stuff, yeah, obviously that's definitely in my head. But once I'm in the game, in the moment, I'm focused on making pitches," Hoffman told reporters outside the visiting clubhouse.

The Orioles have posted the same lineup in back-to-back days for the first time this season.

Heston Kjerstad gets another start in left field after hitting his first home run yesterday. Ryan O'Hearn is the designated hitter.

Ryan Mountcastle is batting eighth again, followed by Jackson Holliday.

The rainout pushed back Cade Povich’s start to today. He’s allowed four earned runs and seven total in 10 1/3 innings in his two outings.

Povich faced the Blue Jays twice last season and went 0-2 with an 8.38 ERA and 2.172 WHIP in 9 2/3 innings. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was 4-for-5 with two doubles and a home run.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde remained confident that the offense was going to erupt. The power would return and the runs would come in bunches. He just couldn’t predict when it would happen.

He needed it fast.

Thirteen Orioles came to the plate yesterday against Toronto starter Bowden Francis and 13 were retired. The scoreless streak had reached 15 innings. Fans were panicked, impatient, livid. And those were the tamer reactions.

Cedric Mullins walked with one out in the fifth inning and the ballpark erupted. Finally, a baserunner. Finally, a pulse.

Heston Kjerstad came to the plate with two outs and parked a 79.9 mph splitter over the center field fence for his first home run. He was in the lineup again with Colton Cowser on the injured list and he’s getting the at-bats that had come only in spurts.

The Orioles brought back their hydration station today, hoping to finally need it.

They weren’t hitting home runs. They weren’t doing much scoring. The first 13 batters were retired this afternoon. The dugout hoses were more decorative than functional.

And then, in a flash, they had a purpose again.

Heston Kjerstad cleared the center field fence in the fifth against Blue Jays starter Bowden Francis after Cedric Mullins walked. Adley Rutschman barreled a sinker with two outs in the sixth, took a couple steps and flipped his bat. The game was tied and Camden Yards was loud.

Mullins gave the Orioles a lead with a two-run double in the inning and the Orioles tied the club record with five double plays turned in a 5-4 victory before an announced crowd of 22,130.

The Orioles haven’t confirmed their rotation plans beyond left-hander Cade Povich on Sunday. However, the need for a fifth starter next Saturday apparently won’t tempt them to call up Kyle Gibson.

Gibson has made one start with Triple-A Norfolk and allowed one run in 3 1/3 innings.

“He’s gonna need a little more time,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “Down the road a little bit.”

Hyde added that the Orioles want to get through Monday’s off-day before setting the rotation for the next two home series.

“We’re talking about a lot of things,” he said. “Povich tomorrow and then clear some things out.”

Tomoyuki Sugano will be decked out in the all-orange uniform, last worn by the Orioles on Aug. 13, 2010, for today’s home debut against the Blue Jays.

Sugano faced the Blue Jays in his first major league game and allowed two runs in four innings before exiting with cramping in both hands. He held the Royals to one run in 5 1/3 innings in his next start.

Heston Kjerstad is in left field and Ryan Mountcastle is batting eighth. Ryan O’Hearn is the designated hitter.

Jordan Westburg is batting cleanup again and playing third base. Jackson Holliday is at second.

Mountcastle is 5-for-7 with two doubles and two home runs against Blue Jays right-hander Bowden Francis. Gunnar Henderson is 2-for-5 with a double.

A reset is nice, but the Orioles are ready to start playing again after an off-day and rainout.

The forecast was miserable last night and left the club with no choice except to reschedule. The extended break should end today.

The Orioles keep attracting more questions only 13 games into the season. Here are three random selections:

What’s happening with the rotation?

Only two starters were confirmed for the Blue Jays series and they won’t need a third. Tomoyuki Sugano is pushed back to today, decked out in an all-orange uniform, and Cade Povich is moved to Sunday, a spot that was listed as TBA.

Orioles fans must wait to finally watch Tomoyuki Sugano pitch on his home mound.

Tonight’s game against the Blue Jays has been postponed due to rain and will be made up as part of a split-admission doubleheader on Tuesday, July 29 at 12:35 p.m. The second game will begin as scheduled at 6:35 p.m.

Gates for game one will open at 11:35 a.m. and gates for the nightcap will open at 5:35 p.m. MASN will broadcast both games.

Fans with tickets for tonight will receive their same seat for game one of the doubleheader. Tickets for the originally scheduled July 29 game at 6:35 p.m. are still valid for that night. 

The first 10,000 fans attending the 12:35 p.m. game on July 29 will receive the clear stadium bag giveaway.

The Orioles are home for only their second series at Camden Yards. They don't hit the road again until April 22 in D.C., which barely counts.

Hitting the baseball is more important to them. They've scored nine runs in their last four games and six in their last four losses.

The mailbag has avoided any serious tears and mild strains. It helps to dig out some leftovers before the extra weight creates holes in the bottom.

You asked and I answered, and I treated editing the same way that I avoided those jelly-filled chocolates in a Whitman's sampler.

Any Kyle Gibson updates?
Gibson made his first start yesterday with Triple-A Norfolk and threw 47 pitches in 3 1/3 innings. That’s four “ups” for Gibson, who allowed one run and three hits with no walks and four strikeouts. The innings and number of pitches were the most important components. He’ll attempt to increase both in his next start, and the Orioles can decide how much longer he needs to stay down there.

The Orioles need a reset, which makes the timing ideal for today’s break in the schedule.

They’ve fallen three games below .500 for the first time since being 41-44 on July 8, 2022. Top two starters Zach Eflin and Grayson Rodriguez are on the 15-day injured list. Reliever Albert Suárez is on the 60-day injured list. Shortstop Gunnar Henderson has returned, but outfielder Colton Cowser could miss a few months with a fractured left thumb. Jordan Westburg was out of the lineup yesterday for a second time due to being “banged up” in the upper body - some “minor, nagging things,” per manager Brandon Hyde.

The health issues won’t totally fade during an off-day, but the Orioles overcame them in 2024 to make the playoffs again. They need to clear their heads, hopefully stay away from social media and remember that no one is running away with the division. They’re 13 games into 162.

The lineup looks better on paper than what’s happening on the field. They’ve scored 12, nine, eight, eight and five runs in five wins, but two, one, zero, four, two, one, three and zero in eight losses. They were held to four hits yesterday and their .373 slugging percentage and .682 OPS ranked 17^th in the majors.

Henderson will get hot. He’s only 4-for-25 with 10 strikeouts in six games. But should the Orioles keep cranking out different versions of the lineup or should regulars be planted in the same spots to see whether the consistency enables them to flourish?

The Orioles placed starter Zach Eflin on the 15-day injured list with a right lat strain and recalled reliever Colin Selby, who was on the taxi squad last night in Arizona.

Eflin has made three quality starts in his three outings this season and allowed six runs in 18 innings.

Two off-days could prevent the Orioles from needing a fifth starter until April 19. They currently have nine relievers on their roster.

Heston Kjerstad remains in left field today for the finale of the two-city road trip. Ryan O’Hearn is the designated hitter, with Ryan Mountcastle at first base. Ramón Urías is playing third base and Jackson Holliday is at second, which puts Jordan Westburg on the bench.

Dean Kremer makes his third start after allowing seven earned runs (eight total) and 13 hits in 9 2/3 innings. Right-handers are hitting .318/.333/.364 against him and left-handers are hitting .300/.333/.450.