O's game blog: Looking for a series win versus Toronto

The Orioles, still a work in progress with their roster after the trade deadline, take the field today with Jackson Holliday back in the lineup as they host Toronto to wrap up the four-game series.

The Orioles (64-44) lead the American League East by 1/2 game over the Yankees and by seven games over the Red Sox after last night's 6-2 win. They have taken two of three in this series, are 22-10 in division games and have scored 29 runs in winning three of the past four games.

The Orioles, now 7-6 the last 13 games, are hoping they are in the beginning stages of an extended stretch of winning as the playoff push is on now post-trade deadline.

The Orioles are 11-13 this month, so they are about to have a losing month for the first time since September of 2022. The nine consecutive winning months were the longest active streak in the majors. 

Today's roster moves included the recall of Holliday from Triple-A. In other moves, lefty Gregory Soto was activated after being acquired yesterday. In corresponding moves, catcher Blake Hunt, who was added to the active roster right before the game last night, and infielder/outfielder Terrin Vavra, who had his contract selected from the Tides yesterday, were optioned to Norfolk (Hunt stayed in Baltimore on the taxi squad).

To make room on the 40-man roster for the players acquired on Tuesday, the Orioles transferred infielder/outfielder Jorge Mateo to the 60-day Injured List (left elbow subluxation), and designated lefties Cole Irvin and Matt Krook for assignment. Additionally, right-hander Levi Stoudt was outrighted to Double-A Bowie.

Gunnar Henderson ranks third in the majors with 86 runs scored behind Yankees' Juan Soto (89) and the Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. (88). Henderson has scored five times in his last three games after not scoring in a career-high-tying seven straight games from July 20-27. He's on pace to score 130 times; only one player in team history has scored more runs in a season - Roberto Alomar, who set the team record with 132 runs in 1996. Three players in team history have led the AL in runs scored: Frank Robinson in 1966 (122), Cal Ripken, Jr. in 1983 (121), and Don Buford in 1971 (99).

Outfielder Anthony Santander has reached safely in 17 straight games, tied for the third-longest active on-base streak in MLB. The stretch is tied for the third-longest of his career, his best since a 17-gamer from June 30 to July 20 last season, and tied for the second-longest of the season by an Oriole behind only Henderson, who was on base in 36 straight from May 22 to June 29.

On the mound today, right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (12-4, 3.82 ERA) faces righty Paolo Espino (0-0, 7.71 ERA). With his 12 victories, Rodriguez is tied for the AL wins lead with Detroit's Tarik Skubal and K.C.'s Seth Lugo. Atlanta's Chris Sale is the MLB leader with 13 wins.

Rodriguez is the first Oriole to win at least 12 of his first 19 outings to begin a season since Chris Tillman in 2016 (also 12); the last Oriole to win 13 of his first 20 appearances was Tillman in the same year.