Can the Orioles make it 11 in a row while returning to division play?

Probably not a smart idea to start doubting them.

A three-game series against the Rays at Tropicana Field, where the Orioles were swept to begin the season, leads into the All-Star break, followed by four at home against the Yankees and three versus the Rays. Ten games that could provide a clearer read on the Orioles’ actual chances of staying in the wild card race.

The Orioles haven’t played an American League East team since hosting the Rays on June 19. They won that day and proceeded to go 15-6 against non-division opponents. They haven’t lost since Jorge López’s back-to-back blown saves in Minnesota.

I don’t think this is how he planned it.

CHICAGO – Outfielder Austin Hays received his surprise promotion to the majors on Sept. 5, 2017 and was in the Orioles’ lineup two nights later. He remembers the pennant race, how they were above .500 and trying to make the playoffs in back-to-back years.

There was excitement in the clubhouse, with a 71-68 record keeping them in contention. And then they lost six in a row, nine of 10 and 12 of 14.

The crash into last place was loud and violent. The final record of 75-87 causing players to book flights home rather than riding the charter to their next games.

A teardown was looming. Even uglier than the collapse that proceeded it.

Hays hasn’t known winning with the Orioles. Hasn’t been able to recognize it. They lost a team-record 115 games in 2018, leading to massive changes in the front office and manager’s office, and on the coaching staff and roster.

CHICAGO – The Orioles didn’t just move above .500 tonight. They burst through the ceiling. Plaster flying as if doing a home renovation on the road.

Seven batters came to the plate in the first inning and three scored. A ball slammed off the leg of Cubs pitcher Justin Steele. An 11-pitch at-bat concluded with a single. A double into the gap scored two runs. A single led to an error in left field that increased the lead.

Ryan Mountcastle slid across home plate as if on ice.

Doing it for one of the hottest teams in baseball.

Spenser Watkins allowed only one run in five-plus innings, the bullpen was flawless, Austin Hays collected four hits, and the Orioles recorded their third consecutive series sweep with a 7-1 victory over the Cubs before an announced crowd of 29,529 at Wrigley Field.

CHICAGO – Austin Hays is going to keep playing. He won’t ask out of the lineup and won’t make excuses.

His right wrist has been sore since he made a diving catch along the right field line at Guaranteed Rate Field and was hit by a pitch on July 4. Pain on top of pain.

Hays wasn’t in Sunday’s lineup – manager Brandon Hyde’s choice – but he’s playing right field again tonight at Wrigley Field as the Orioles conclude a two-game series.

“It feels good enough to go out there and play,” he said this afternoon. “It’s painful to do some of my drill work. I’ve had to switch up some of my routines in the cage, like my top-hand drill that I normally do, but I’m still able to swing with two hands, and it feels a lot better when I do a one-hand finish. Earlier in the year, I was doing a two-hand finish.

“I’ve had to change up a couple things, but I still feel like I’m able to go out there and compete, swing.”

CHICAGO – The Orioles are trying tonight to rise above the .500 mark for the first time since April 8, 2021.

They remain in last place in the American League East, but everyone is noticing them.

The teams above them can’t help it. The Orioles are two games behind the Blue Jays for fourth place, three behind the third-place Red Sox and 3 ½ behind the second-place Rays.

The Orioles are Rays meet in a three-game series that begins Friday night at Tropicana Field.

The Jays fired manager Charlie Montoyo earlier today.

CHICAGO – Since the 2022 Orioles are full of surprises, reaching .500 last night with just four games remaining before the break, they can’t be contained in a single article about unexpected developments. What they’ve done that pretty much blindsided me.

Yesterday, I addressed the obvious shocker of the team being only two games out of the wild card race in the American League. How I wasn’t sold on Félix Bautista’s inclusion on the opening day roster, how Jordan Lyles’ contract seemed a bit puzzling and how I assumed that Keegan Akin would be riding the Triple-A shuttle.

What else did I get wrong?

* Jorge López is an All-Star.

I thought López should stay in the bullpen, and said as much here and on the air. I thought his stuff would play at the back end, but he’d also bring value as a multi-inning reliever if manager Brandon Hyde needed him for coverage.

CHICAGO – The Orioles left Baltimore and didn’t come back down to earth.

Ivy climbs the walls here. Hot teams occasionally wilt. The Orioles lived it in the past. But they’re a stubborn bunch.

Ramón Urías hit a go-ahead, two-run homer tonight in the top of the fourth inning, Jorge Mateo also put a ball into the left field seats, Jordan Lyles recovered from another slow start, and the Orioles increased their winning streak to nine games and reached .500 with a 4-2 victory over the Cubs before an announced crowd of 31,079 at Wrigley Field.

The Orioles haven’t won nine in a row since stringing together 13 in September 1999. They haven’t posted as many victories as defeats since April 10, 2021.

They haven’t been .500 this late in a season since Sept. 9, 2017, when they were 71-71 during a six-game losing streak. They dropped nine of 10 to fall out of playoff contention.

CHICAGO – Orioles manager Brandon Hyde had two free nights in the city that he used to call home, including yesterday’s open date in the schedule that allowed him to visit with friends. Hyde left the Cubs organization after the 2018 season, packing his World Series ring from 2016 and jumping into another rebuild.

Hyde didn’t bring the bling Wrigley Field today. He won’t flash it at his players to provide more incentive and remind them what can be done on the other side of that rebuild.

“That is in a special place,” he said.

“I do think about that. I saw the (championship) flag when I walked in. I do think about that year, and really those three years – ’15, ’16 and ’17 were unbelievable. Even ’18 we were really good. Just, things happened at the end. We had an amazing run, and talked about it a little bit with Jed (Hoyer).

“That was a lot of fun. I’m really happy to be back.”  

CHICAGO – The Orioles designated left-hander Kirk McCarty for assignment today to make room for pitcher Louis Head on the 40-man roster.

Head was claimed off waivers this morning from the Marlins. The Orioles optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk.

Head has been on the injured list with a right shoulder impingement. He made a rehab appearance in the rookie-level Florida Complex League.

McCarty made one start with Norfolk and allowed three runs in four innings after the Orioles selected him off waivers from the Guardians on July 6.

Austin Hays returns to the lineup and is playing right field tonight after sitting out Sunday’s game with a sore right wrist. Anthony Santander is in left.

CHICAGO – The Orioles have claimed reliever Louis Head off waivers from the Marlins, which is going to require a corresponding move on a full 40-man roster.

Head was on an injury rehab assignment in the Florida Complex League and the Marlins appeared ready to send him to Triple-A Jacksonville. He’s been sidelined since late June with a right shoulder impingement.

Head, 32, was traded from the Rays to the Marlins in November for a player to be named later who became reliever Josh Roberson. The Indians drafted him in the 18^th round in 2012 out of Texas State University.

The major league debut didn’t arrive until last summer. Head appeared in 27 games with the Rays, including two starts, and posted a 2.31 ERA and 0.857 WHIP in 35 innings. He allowed only two home runs.

Head has appeared in 23 games with Miami and allowed 19 runs and 26 hits in 23 2/3 innings. He’s walked 11 batters and stuck out 23.

The stubborn streak in me isn’t as long as the Orioles’ winning streak, which has reached eight games. However, I can't always admit when I’m wrong.

Ignorance of the law is no excuse, but that’s another subject. Let’s stick to baseball.

I didn’t think the 2022 Orioles would be one game under .500 on July 12, that I’d wake up yesterday morning and they’d be only two out of the final wild card spot.

I predicted an improved record over last season. I said they’d be more entertaining, more enjoyable for fans based on the promotions of some top prospects.

Catcher Adley Rutschman finally made it. Outfielder Kyle Stowers had a cup of Tim Hortons coffee in Toronto as a replacement player for Anthony Santander. Grayson Rodriguez would be entrenched in the rotation and attracting larger non-giveaway crowds at Camden Yards except for a strained lat.

Twenty-two games at the lowest-level full-season affiliate were a sufficient sample size.

The Orioles didn’t need to see any more from outfielder Heston Kjerstad. There was no reason to keep him down any longer.

Kjerstad has been promoted from Single-A Delmarva to high Single-A Aberdeen, with his latest debut set for Tuesday night against Jersey Shore at Ripken Stadium.

The latest reward for a player chosen second overall in the 2020 draft out of the University of Arkansas and unable to play his first professional game until June 10 due to the pandemic, a diagnosis of myocarditis, a setback later and a hamstring injury in March shortly before spring training.

Through it all, Kjerstad somehow maintained a positive attitude and earned a bump to Aberdeen after batting .463/.551/.650 with nine doubles, two home runs, 17 RBIs and 13 walks in 98 plate appearances with the Shorebirds.

Orioles outfielder Austin Hays couldn’t reach his full potential as a baseball player until he stopped training like a football player.

To put it in simple terms.

Hays appeared in 131 games last season, easily the most of his career, but he dealt with hamstring strains and pushed through the pain of a sports hernia that required surgery on Oct. 5 in Philadelphia. He’s gotten into 80 games this year without any stops on the injured list, though a sore right wrist kept him out of the lineup yesterday, and credits the changes made in his training methods that began in 2021.

Less is more in the weight room. Also pretty simple.

Hays’ representative, Francis Marquez of The MAS+ Agency, introduced the outfielder to strength and conditioning coach Theo Aasen, who owns Optimal Athlete Kollective in Tampa. Two of Marquez’s clients, Twins catcher Gary Sánchez and Orioles minor league pitcher Ryan Watson, also have worked out with Aasen.

If Jorge López was moved to tears in May by the chance to celebrate his son Mikael’s ninth birthday during the Orioles’ road trip in Boston, sharing the joy and two cakes with teammates, imagine the powerful emotions just waiting to bubble to the surface in Los Angeles.

López was chosen today as the Orioles’ representative at the All-Star Game on July 19 at Dodger Stadium, and it’s going to be another family affair.

The closer earned his first honor at age 29 by posting a 1.74 ERA and 0.968 WHIP in 41 1/3 innings and notching 16 saves in his first season in the role. A starter turned reliever turned ninth inning specialist whose career is soaring in the other direction since the Royals designated him for assignment and the Orioles made the waiver claim in August 2020.

“It’s so special,” López said. “As a ballplayer, there’s expectations every day. Just win. And to add this to my career and my family is huge.”

López is the first Orioles reliever chosen since Zack Britton and Brad Brach in 2016, also the last time that the team had multiple selections.

The Orioles aren’t going to run the table in 2022. They have 75 games left in the season. A streaking club inevitably hits a rough patch. But it’s going to take tremendous force to slow it down.

An early deficit is treated like a pesky fly. Just swat it away.

The first 10 batters fail to reach base today, and the Orioles respond by sending nine to the plate in the fourth inning, scoring four runs and luring the Angels into a pitching change. And the good times keep rolling at Camden Yards.

Austin Voth worked five effective innings, Ramón Urías drove in three runs, and the Orioles capitalized on sloppy play by the Angels to extend their winning streak to eight games with a 9-5 victory before an announced crowd of 19,521.

The Orioles are 43-44, one game below .500 for the first time since losing on opening day. They swept a homestand of seven games for the first time since 2004.

Austin Hays is out of the Orioles’ lineup today while dealing with some lingering soreness in his right wrist.

Hays landed on the wrist while making a diving catch on the right field line in Chicago and was hit by a pitch in the same area. He’s kept playing, but has three hits in his last 38 at-bats over 10 games.

The lineup for Tuesday’s series-opening game against the Cubs at Wrigley Field is expected to include Hays.

“Off-day before an off-day, so we’re giving him a couple days off,” said manager Brandon Hyde.

“I give him a lot of credit. He’s been playing hurt and playing banged up, and this is just to give him a little bit of a breather.”

The Orioles selected the contract of reliever Rico Garcia this morning and optioned left-hander Bruce Zimmermann to Triple-A Norfolk.

Zimmermann threw a scoreless relief inning yesterday.

Reliever Travis Lakins Sr. was transferred to the 60-day injured list to make room for Garcia on the 40-man roster.

Also, reliever Marcos Diplán cleared outright waivers and was assigned to Norfolk.

Garcia, who’s wearing No. 63, has made two appearances with the Orioles as a replacement player in Toronto and allowed one run in three innings.

The trade deadline seems to be bringing a higher level of angst than usual in Baltimore. The growing possibility, or maybe likelihood, that the very popular, productive and inspirational Trey Mancini is dealt. That other veterans are moved, just as the Orioles are playing winning baseball again, and in wildly entertaining style. Just as the dugout energy has returned, for the first time under Brandon Hyde’s tenure as manager.

But the deadline is Aug. 2. Today is another important date, because the rest of the All-Stars are announced beyond the starters in both leagues.

The Orioles haven’t had multiple representatives since 2016 with Manny Machado, Mark Trumbo, Matt Wieters, Zack Britton and Brad Brach, and it would be surprising if the solo streak ended today.

There are more deserving candidates this summer, but the Orioles remain a last-place club trying to shed its losing reputation, and an industry perception, at least in some corners, of irrelevance.

Pay close attention and you’ll find reasons why the industry needs to reset.

The amateur draft begins in eight days. The trade deadline doesn’t arrive until next month. However, there’s no way to avoid having them intersect with the Orioles.

The upcoming selections won’t influence deals made, but media available with executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias earlier today guaranteed that both subjects would collide.

Elias isn’t going to show his hand, whether it’s about the first overall selection or how moves could short circuit the positive energy flowing inside the clubhouse.

On the latter topic, the Orioles have multiple trade chips and don’t intend to stray from the intended rebuild plan. They won’t mortgage the future in 2022. It’s obvious, however Elias responds.

“First of all, with this late draft, it slows down the industry’s attention on the trade deadline,” he said. “But I think that in this job, everything that I do or that we do has tradeoffs, and all I can say is, we do everything from a very global, a very thoughtful perspective about what is the right thing to do for the health of the Orioles’ franchise. And all that’s being taken into consideration for the draft, but also the trade deadline coming up.

The Orioles are putting left-hander Bruce Zimmermann in the bullpen to provide a long relief option rather than an immediate return to the rotation.

Zimmermann was recalled this morning from Triple-A Norfolk. He can back up Dean Kremer this afternoon, or whenever the weather allows first pitch, or Austin Voth on Sunday.

“Our bullpen’s pretty taxed,” said manager Brandon Hyde, “and to have somebody be able to give multiple innings out of the bullpen we felt was important right now.”

Zimmermann allowed three runs in seven innings in his last start with Triple-A Norfolk.

“He had a really nice start his last time out,” Hyde said. “He’s fully rested and ready to give us as many innings as needed.”