The theory that last night’s incident in the ninth inning that emptied both dugouts and bullpens and eventually sent Heston Kjerstad to the seven-day concussion injured list would light a fuse under the Orioles was doused pretty early this afternoon.

The anger lingers but so do the problems that made a first-place lead practically vanish.

Grayson Rodriguez’s streak of quality starts was over by the first inning, with three of the Yankees’ four runs scoring on Austin Wells’ two-out homer to the flag court. Juan Soto and Aaron Judge hit back-to-back homers in the fifth, and the Orioles lost again, 6-1, before an announced sellout crowd of 44,018 at Camden Yards.

The Orioles hadn’t dropped a division series in the last 22, going 16-0-6, but they’re staggering to the All-Star break. They’ve lost 13 of their last 21 games to lower their record to 57-38 and they’ll need a victory Sunday to avoid back-to-back sweeps.

The five-game losing streak matches their season high and they lead the Yankees by mere percentage points.

The Orioles tweaked the bullpen again this afternoon.

Right-hander Vinny Nittoli had his contract selected from Triple-A Norfolk and rookie starter Cade Povich was optioned after last night’s game.

Left-hander Danny Coulombe was transferred to the 60-day injured list to make room on the 40-man roster.

Nittoli allowed one run and struck out four batters in three innings with Norfolk. The Orioles signed him to a minor league contract on July 2 after the Cubs designated him for assignment.

Nittoli appeared in seven games with the Athletics this season and allowed two runs in eight innings. He appeared in one game with the Mariners in 2021, two with the Phillies in 2022 and three with the Mets last summer. He’s registered a career 3.07 ERA in 14 2/3 innings.

Heston Kjerstad is in today’s lineup for the Orioles after being hit on the helmet last night by a 96.8 mph sinker from Clay Holmes. Kjerstad underwent testing for a concussion but is fine.

We’ll find out later whether there’s any carryover from the dugout-clearing incident. Manager Brandon Hyde and others, including bench coach Fredi González, had to be restrained. Hyde was ejected.

The Yankees lead the majors with 62 hit batters.

Holmes wasn’t trying to hit anyone. He had back-to-back poor outings against the Orioles in the Bronx, allowing four runs (three earned) in two innings. He wanted three outs last night, the save, and to get out of the rain. But there’s friction between these clubs and it boiled over.

“The movement wasn’t my normal sinker,” Holmes said afterward. “Just kind of pulled it.”

Gunnar Henderson is following a tough act in the Home Run Derby.

Adley Rutschman didn’t advance past the first round last summer, but he hit 20 homers left-handed and seven more right-handed in the 30-second bonus round. Henderson will stick with the left side. Seems almost boring by comparison, but this is no time to experiment.

Rutschman brought the added storyline of playing at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, the ballpark he attended as a kid growing up in Sherwood, Oregon. And his father, Randy, pitched to him, providing a sentimental angle.

ESPN and the rest of the media ate it up. Had to loosen their belts.

Chicago’s Luis Robert Jr. moved on to the second round by hitting 28 home runs. However, a format change this year doesn’t pit two players against each other. The strict tournament style is gone.

Cade Povich brings a certain level of curiosity into tonight’s start against the Yankees.

Specifically, how will the rookie respond to his worst outing in the majors, when he failed to retire a batter in the second inning in Oakland and was charged with eight runs.

Povich has surrendered six runs in the first inning and six more in the second over his six starts. Three runs scored in the first in his last outing and the Athletics tacked on seven more in the second, with Dillon Tate unable to stop the bleeding.

So yes, manager Brandon Hyde is curious about tonight.

“I think we’re going to find out in the first inning,” Hyde said. “His first innings have been a little rocky, where he has a tough time kind of finding his command. So hopefully tonight he finds that command early.

The Orioles hold a two-game advantage over the Yankees in the American League East and they begin a weekend series tonight that leads into the break. They haven’t lost a division series in the last 22.

They haven't scored in the last 24 innings.

Heston Kjerstad is in left field and Cedric Mullins is in center. Colton Cowser is on the bench again.

Jordan Westburg is at second base. Ryan O'Hearn is the designated hitter.

Ryan Mountcastle is batting seventh.

The amount of Orioles All-Star snubs is shrinking.

The bucket isn’t empty.

Perhaps the more egregious omission is closer Craig Kimbrel, whose 23 saves already match last year’s total with the Phillies and are one more than in 2022 with the Dodgers. His ERA is down to 2.10 with a 0.903 ERA in 38 appearances. He’s allowed one earned run in his last 21 innings.

Infielder Jordan Westburg and outfielder Anthony Santander are injury replacements and first-timers to give the Orioles five All-Stars. Gunnar Henderson is the starting shortstop. Adley Rutschman is the starting catcher. Corbin Burnes was selected to the pitching staff and could start if he accepts the invitation.

Kimbrel is a nine-time All-Star who didn’t pack his bags for Arlington, Texas. He was surrounded by assumptions, though. The overall body of work and extended stretch of success following a brief demotion from the closer’s role seemed to make him a lock.

Ryan Mountcastle’s fly ball with two outs in the fourth inning fell in front of charging Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki for a soft double. The Orioles had their first baserunner. They got a body in scoring position.

Newly appointed All-Star Anthony Santander swung at the next pitch and grounded out to extend the club’s scoreless streak to 19 innings and its struggles with RISP to whatever level is beyond frustrating.

Albert Suárez tried to keep the game close, but a four-run deficit in the fifth felt insurmountable with the offense stuck in neutral.

Cubs left-hander Justin Steele tossed seven scoreless innings on only 70 pitches and the Orioles lost 8-0 before an announced crowd of 22,685 at Camden Yards, the first time they were swept at home since Aug. 27-29, 2021 against the Rays.

The Orioles were outscored 21-2 in the series and haven’t plated a run in their last 24 innings. They were shut out in back-to-back games for the first time in three years. And they’ve got the Yankees this weekend.

Make that five All-Star representatives for the Orioles.

Outfielder Anthony Santander has made the American League club as an injury replacement for Houston’s Kyle Tucker. He'll also head out early to Arlington, Texas.

Santander joins starters Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman, pitcher Corbin Burnes and infielder Jordan Westburg. This is the highest total for the Orioles since 2016 with Manny Machado, Matt Wieters, Mark Trumbo, Zack Britton and Brad Brach. They had four representatives last year in Seattle.

The honor for Santander comes in his free agency year and seven seasons after his major league debut as a Rule 5 pick from Single-A Lynchburg in Cleveland’s organization.

Santander goes into tonight’s game batting .233/.298/.492 with 15 doubles, a triple, 23 home runs and 57 RBIs in 366 plate appearances, and he’s playing an exceptional right field. He was a finalist on the ballot but finished one spot behind the starters.

The Orioles acquired right-hander Colin Selby, 26, from the Royals today for cash considerations and optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk. Kyle Bradish was moved to the 60-day injured list to make room on a full 40-man roster.

Selby, a Virginia native, made two relief appearances with the Royals and allowed two earned runs (three total) in three innings. He appeared in 21 games with the Pirates last season, making five starts, and had a 9.00 ERA and 1.833 WHIP in 24 innings.

He’s averaged 5.7 walks and 10 strikeouts per nine innings in the majors.

Austin Hays remains in left field, as the Orioles try to avoid being swept by the Cubs in their three-game series.

Hays is slashing .340/.379/.574 (32-for-94) with 13 doubles, three home runs, 12 RBIs, three walks, four hit-by-pitches and 14 runs in 35 games since returning from the injured list on May 13.

An adjustment to the Orioles’ bullpen seemed inevitable.

The move came early this afternoon.

Dillon Tate was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk and right-handed reliever Burch Smith had his contract selected from the Tides.

Smith will wear No. 40. Tate will try to fix whatever’s wrong.

Tate has made three appearances this month and given up runs in each game – four over two innings against the Athletics and two over two innings in back-to-back outings against the Cubs. He surrendered 11 hits. His ERA has climbed from 3.38 to 4.59.

The latest heat advisory mentions how mailbags could go up in flames and to keep them indoors. I’m not taking any chances.

It’s my responsibility to empty mine and save the neighborhood from total destruction.

You ask, I answer, and yada, yada, yada.

If you ever catch me editing for clarity, length or style, drag me in an alley and have me beaten.

Also, my mailbag competes in the Home Run Derby and yours just has the runs.

Jordan Westburg knew that the local media was hovering around his locker after last night’s game. Notepads, recorders, cameras, microphones. All of them waiting for the player who found out about his All-Star selection earlier in the day and homered in his first at-bat. He was an obvious interview.

The scrum moved on from starting pitcher Dean Kremer, but Westburg first had to attend an All-Star meeting with teammates joining him in Arlington, Texas. It couldn’t be avoided.

All part of a whirlwind day that included phone calls to wife Anna Claire and his parents.

Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson, the first two draft picks under executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias, are starting at catcher and shortstop, respectively, for the American League. Corbin Burnes could be the starting pitcher working on an extra day of rest. That announcement is pending.

Rutschman was the backup catcher in last year’s Midsummer Classic in Seattle and participated in the Home Run Derby. He’s the veteran among the position players.

Jordan Westburg took the high road earlier today. Then, he put a fastball on a flight to the seats near the bullpen area.

This is how you celebrate your selection to the All-Star Game. By hitting like one again.

The Orioles didn’t exhibit the same timing. They followed the news of Westburg’s late inclusion as an injury replacement by committing two errors in the third inning that led to a pair of unearned runs against Dean Kremer, who walked three batters by the third, surrendered two homers by the fourth and lacked the sharpness of his previous start.

The Cubs scored in each of the first four innings, Kremer was gone by the fifth and the Orioles lost the series opener 9-2 before an announced crowd of 30,373 at Camden Yards.

The Yankees still trail the Orioles (57-34) by three games after losing to the Rays.

Orioles ace Corbin Burnes could have started tonight on regular rest and faced the Yankees Sunday in the last game before the All-Star break. Instead, he follows Dean Kremer on Wednesday and is available to pitch Tuesday for the American League.

The Orioles hold a three-game lead over the Yankees going into tonight, adding to the importance of the weekend series.

“We put a lot into it and got input from everybody,” manager Brandon Hyde said this afternoon. “We just came down to the conclusion of let’s keep him on regular rest. It’s going to be so important for us to have him in the second half.

“Hopefully, he’s going to start the All-Star Game. We’ll see what happens there. But we need him for the second half, so we decided to keep him on regular (turn).”

Burnes hasn’t confirmed whether he’s attending the All-Star Game following the birth of twin daughters. He wanted to discuss it with his wife Brooke.

Heston Kjerstad is starting again in left field tonight as the Orioles begin their three-game home series against the Cubs.

Cedric Mullins is in center field and Anthony Santander is in right.

Ramón Urías is the third baseman, with Jordan Westburg at second.

Per STATS, the Orioles have three of the 20 qualified major league hitters with a .500-plus slugging percentage – Westburg, Santander and Gunnar Henderson. This would be the fifth time the Orioles have had three qualified players slug .500 or better at the All-Star break, including four in 1996 and 2005 and three in 1969 and 2016.

Henderson is the fourth shortstop to reach 50 extra-base hits before the All-Star break, joining Francisco Lindor (55) in 2018, Miguel Tejada (53) in 2005 and Trevor Story (52) in 2018.

Refresh my memory, please. Is the All-Star break the official or unofficial halfway point of the season? Because you also have the 81-game mark, which is mathematically halfway. It’s so confusing.

But not as much as Craig Kimbrel’s exclusion from the Midsummer Classic.

Yeah, we’re going back to that topic before tonight’s series opener against the Cubs at Camden Yards.

The commissioner’s office and player balloting are responsible for selecting pitchers and reserves for the American League and National League.

If we’re ranking snubs, Kimbrel is No. 1. No one else in the home clubhouse tonight has a bigger beef. Maybe he’s OK with it after nine previous selections. More time at home with the family, a chance to rest up before resuming the season July 19 in the same location as the All-Star Game.

OAKLAND – Former Orioles manager Buck Showalter used to warn that he didn’t want to hear about a problem unless you had a solution. The first part is easy. Don’t point it out and offer nothing more than the obvious.

The bullpen over the course of the entire 2024 season hasn’t qualified as a major issue, but losing left-hander Danny Coulombe increased the urgency to make at least one trade.

Craig Kimbrel burst past his slump and has allowed only one earned run in his last 21 innings. Save after save after save, some less dramatic than others. And he's an absolute All-Star snub.

Yennier Cano is a weapon on most nights but doesn’t seem quite like the All-Star model from 2023. No one was beating that drum this month, but he struck out two batters yesterday in a scoreless eighth and has a 2.89 ERA.

I think most teams would take that.

OAKLAND – The Orioles’ two All-Star starters made the first two outs today, with Gunnar Henderson grounding out and Adley Rutschman flying out. Anthony Santander followed with a home run. Ryan O’Hearn and Jordan Westburg singled, and they scored on Heston Kjerstad’s three-run shot.

A day after surrendering 19 runs in a blowout loss, the Orioles pounced and vented early, leading from the beginning in a 6-3 win over the Athletics in their final game at Oakland Coliseum. And a few All-Star omissions – some might say snubs - couldn’t be silenced.

Santander’s homer off Mitch Spence raised his total to 23, tied for fourth in the majors as the ball landed in the right field seats. He was a finalist in voting for American League outfielders, missed by one spot and didn’t get selected as a reserve.

O’Hearn was a finalist at designated hitter, missing election by four percent of the votes. Jordan Westburg was a finalist at third base. They’re also staying home barring a late substitution.

Corbin Burnes brought the total number of Orioles to three with his fourth selection in a row. That was the cutoff.

OAKLAND – The Orioles found out today that only one other player from the club that’s tied for the best record in the American League has been chosen for the All-Star Game.

If anyone else goes to Arlington, Texas, it will be as a late substitute.

Corbin Burnes made his fourth All-Star team in a row after going 9-3 with a 2.32 ERA, 1.021 WHIP and 14 quality starts in 18 outings. He didn’t appear in the last two games and must decide whether to leave his wife Brooke and their twin daughters. He rejoined the club in Seattle after going on the paternity list.

“Still going to have that conversation with my wife,” he said. “Obviously, just found out a little bit ago. She's already told me to go. So I'll see what the final decision is in the next day or so. But if I do go, definitely honored to be a part of it.

“It's a fun week. It's kind of one of those you never know when it's going to be your last. So I understand my wife's sentiments on me having to go to the game. We'll see what happens, but definitely just an honor to be selected.”