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 have made the following roster moves:

• Activated RHP Scott Blewett. He will wear No. 67.
• Optioned RHP Colin Selby to Triple-A Norfolk.

Takes of all temperatures are flown about a variety of Orioles spaces. 

But one take should be freezing cold: this team sure knows how to draft. 

The minor league season is underway, and there are plenty of outstanding performances to highlight. The Orioles are in the midst of a long homestand, so let’s take some time to take a look down on the farm. 

The 2024 Draft Class 

The Orioles held the 22nd overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, their lowest first-round draft pick since 2016. With that choice, they selected Vance Honeycutt, an outfielder out of North Carolina. After a rocky start to his pro career, Honeycutt has started the 2025 season firing on all cylinders down in Aberdeen, to the tune of a .310/.487/.517/1.004 slash line. He does have 13 strikeouts through nine games, but he also leads the team in walks with nine. 

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Claimed RHP Scott Blewett off waivers from the Minnesota Twins. He has not yet reported.
• Designated LHP Luis González for assignment.

The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 40 players.

You could pinpoint it.

An Orioles crowd donning orange had waited all day for the feeling to return: The feeling of the 2023 ballclub. The feeling that no lead was insurmountable, no deficit was too great. The energy and excitement of one of the best, young teams in baseball. 

Heston Kjerstad’s two-run home run to cut Toronto’s lead to one brought a hushed optimism to the fifth inning. A hope too delicate to hold onto for fear of its fickleness. 

Yes, we’re 14 games into the season. And no, a loss to the Blue Jays on a Saturday in early April would not have dashed the dreams of the 2025 campaign. But it felt as if Baltimore was on the wrong end of a slippery slope, and each scoreless inning a stumble. 

One swing flipped that feeling on its head.

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 Baltimore Orioles today announced that DARLINE LLAMAS LLOPIS will join the organization as the Chief Financial Officer, overseeing all budgeting, financial planning, and payroll for the club.

“Darline’s experience spans a wide range of industries and sports, arming her with the knowledge and skill that’ll support our growing business operation,” shared CATIE GRIGGS, Orioles President of Business Operations. “I look forward to working with Darline and the rest of our leadership team as we continue to strengthen our financial strategy and drive growth.”

“Joining the storied Orioles organization during such a transformative time is a dream come true,” shared Llamas Llopis.

Prior to joining the Orioles, Llamas Llopis spent four seasons with the Miami Dolphins, Hard Rock Stadium, and the F1 Miami Grand Prix as Vice President of Finance and Retail. In this capacity, she managed the finance, accounting, payroll, account payables, procurement, and merchandise operations for the team.

She also previously served for four years as the Director of Finance and Controller at the Los Angeles Rams. Llamas Llopis started her career in public accounting with Ernst & Young and PricewaterhouseCoopers as a member of the Commercial Real Estate practice.

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?

PHOENIX – Ahead of Zac Gallen’s start for the Diamondbacks on Monday, Brandon Hyde described this series as “a test” for his Orioles lineup from a discipline standpoint. Baltimore couldn’t chase off the edges, or they’d be in for a long start to the week. 

On Monday, the O’s passed that test with flying colors. 

Gallen was knocked out of the game after 4 ⅔ innings, seven hits, four walks and five earned runs. He only struck out two after striking out 13 Bronx Bombers in his previous outing. Hyde called the performance “some of our best at-bats of the year.” 

In the first inning of Tuesday’s game, it seemed like much of the same. After two early runs off Merrill Kelly, the Birds seemed to be rolling. But the right-hander found a groove and 17 consecutive Orioles went hitless after Cedric Mullins’ two-run single in the first. 

So, in Game 2, the offense didn’t get the best grade with three runs on the board in a loss. 

PHOENIX – The Orioles have had key injuries just about everywhere. 

Superstar Gunnar Henderson is gearing up to play just his sixth game of the season and has not yet overlapped with Rookie of the Year runner-up Colton Cowser. Jordan Westburg has been dealing with minor injuries and has been given some days off. 

Amid some challenges in finding a rhythm, the lineup has remained solid, posting the seventh-best batting average and fifth-best OPS in the American League. Keeping the ebbs and flows to a minimum remains a hurdle. 

A starting rotation that was supposed to feature Zach Eflin and Grayson Rodriguez now features neither after Eflin’s injury Monday evening. The right-hander now hits the 15-day injured list with a right lat strain, but manager Brandon Hyde did note today that Eflin “feels really good right now.”

Despite Eflin’s excellence, the rotation’s 5.34 ERA through a dozen games is just 12th best in the AL, and their .291 batting average against is fourth-highest. 

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Recalled RHP Colin Selby from Triple-A Norfolk.
• Placed RHP Zach Eflin (right lat strain) on the 15-day Injured List, retroactive to April 8.

HOMESTAND HIGHLIGHTS

Friday, April 11

First Pitch: Akim Duchard, father of the late Akim Duchard-Davis

Giveaway: Clear Stadium Bag