The Orioles are in Williamsport, Pa. tonight for the Little League Classic and their first appearance in ESPN’s primetime game in four years.

Outfielder Yusniel Diaz has joined the team as its 27^th man, an unexpected perk considering this isn’t a doubleheader.

Diaz struck out in his major league debut on Aug. 2 after a temporary promotion at the trade deadline.

The Orioles are 2 ½ games back for the last wild card spot. The Twins are one game ahead of the Orioles, and the White Sox are a half-game behind.

There’s a traffic jam in this race.

If you’re inclined to read a little or a lot into a player’s position change, Gunnar Henderson starting at second base last night at Triple-A Norfolk is a real page turner.

Henderson made his first career starts at first base in the past two games and moved to second last night, where his only experience was one game with high Single-A Aberdeen in 2021. He played five innings but didn’t start.

What’s going on with Henderson?

The same thing that put him at first base.

The Orioles want Henderson to get comfortable on the right side of the infield and increase their options if his contract is selected, which seems like a lock. They can use his left-handed bat in multiple ways, and the roster gains more flexibility.

Unlike airline points, runs don’t carry over.

If they did, the Orioles could’ve used a few Saturday. After exploding for 15 runs in a series opening win Friday, the O’s bats went quiet in a 4-3 loss to the Red Sox in front of 34,939 on Saturday.

As has too often been the case recently, the offense waited too long to get going, failing to score off of Michael Wacha in the starter’s 5 ⅔ innings of work for Boston. A seventh-inning rally netted the Orioles just two runs, not enough to overcome what was then a 3-0 deficit.

"We had a tough time getting a rally going against (Wacha)," said manager Brandon Hyde after the game. "Good to see us make a run late like usual but just came up a run short today."

Baserunners were hard to come by for the Orioles, who collected just one walk and went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.

Leaning against the dugout wall, Brandon Hyde chomped his pink bubblegum, one hand on his hip, his eyes filled with the kind of dissatisfaction Orioles fans were used to seeing from their manager in each of his previous three seasons.

Hyde’s bullpen was floundering. His defense was breaking down. A six-run lead was slipping away like air from a balloon.

But this wasn’t like old times.

After a nightmarish top of the fifth inning for the Orioles, in which two errors were committed and five runs were scored, the team settled down, refocused and followed up with five runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. 

There would be no collapse. The O’s would cruise through the final four innings of Friday’s 15-10 win over the Red Sox.

The Orioles will try to clinch their series against the Red Sox today after moving within 1 ½ games of the last wild card spot.

They improved last night to 6-4 against the Red Sox after going 6-13 in 2021.

Michael Wacha’s reverse splits have produced a right-handed heavy lineup for the Orioles.

Austin Hays is leading off and playing left field, and Ryan McKenna is in center. Cedric Mullins is on the bench.

Also missing from the lineup are Rougned Odor and rookie Kyle Stowers. Tyler Nevin is playing third base, with Ramón Urías moving to second.  

With Ryan Ripken no longer playing baseball and venturing into the sports media world, he’s finding platforms to pass along his knowledge of the game and opinions on prospects who were teammates or simply caught his eye from the sidelines.

Ripken created a Twitter account this year and used it to announce his retirement, though he hasn’t ruled out a return to the field if the right opportunity becomes available. Cal’s son will always be an Orioles fan, and he’s enjoying their resurgence this year and presence in the wild card race.

“Let’s be honest, no one expected it this year,” he said. “It’s been cool. Happy for a lot of the guys, especially that I know.”

Shortstop Gunnar Henderson could debut this summer. He turned 21 on June 29 and is battering older Triple-A pitching.

“He was one of the guys that, when you met him, you knew he was special,” Ripken said. “Obviously, his success has been tremendous. He’s so young and he’s adjusting so quickly is what I think has been so impressive.”

Jorge Mateo leaped in the air tonight as his fly ball cleared the left field wall, pumped his fist above his head and stuck the landing.  The two runners ahead of him kept circling the bases. Mateo walked back to touch first with hands still clenched.

Every at-bat seems to matter more in a pennant race, and especially for an offense that’s sputtered in the early innings. Mateo can be forgiven for hurdling the bag after wiping out a two-run deficit.

Those same hands must have tightened in frustration before opening again for high-fives in the victory line.

The Orioles built a six-run lead and almost lost it the fifth, but they tied a season high with five homers and outlasted the Red Sox 15-10 before an announced crowd of 33,136 at Camden Yards.

The Red Sox responded to Mateo’s homer by scoring twice in their next at-bat to reclaim the lead, the Orioles got it right back on Anthony Santander’s two-run shot, and then the game veered into crazy.

Kyle Stowers is starting in right field tonight and batting fifth for the Orioles, and he’s going to play regularly against right-handed pitching. This isn’t presented as another brief look at one of their prospects.

The Orioles selected Stowers' contract today from Triple-A Norfolk, his real debut on the 40-man roster after serving as a substitute player in Toronto.

“Stowers is going to see quite a bit of action in the outfield,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “Every day we’ll look at matchups. It’s good to get guys off their feet, also. We’re in late August and just try to rotate those guys around as much as possible.”

Asked about the timing of Stowers’ arrival, Hyde said, “Just feel like he’s ready to contribute for us. He’s had a nice year in Triple-A and we’re excited about his future, and looking forward to watching him play up here.”

The Orioles have wanted more hitting from the left side, and the upcoming slate of games magnifies the importance.

The Orioles made a series of roster moves this afternoon, selecting outfielder Kyle Stowers’ contract from Triple-A Norfolk and recalling infielder Richie Martin and left-hander Nick Vespi.

Outfielder Brett Phillips was designated for assignment, infielder/outfielder Terrin Vavra went on the paternity list, and reliever Logan Gillaspie was optioned to Norfolk.

Stowers made his major league debut in June while the Orioles were in Toronto, serving as a substitute player due to Anthony Santander’s previous vaccination status, and he went 1-for-7 with a double, RBI and four strikeouts. He’s batting .264/.357/.527 with 29 doubles, three triples, 19 home runs, 78 RBIs, 45 walks and 104 strikeouts in 407 plate appearances with Norfolk.

MLBPipeline.com ranks Stowers as the No. 9 prospect in the system, and Baseball America has him 11th. He leads the organization in home runs and RBIs, and is tied with infielder Jordan Westburg for first in doubles.

Phillips, acquired from the Rays at the trade deadline for cash considerations, was 2-for-17 with two doubles and nine strikeouts.

Terrin Vavra didn’t work out at first base yesterday, his early reps coming in right field before playing his first major league game on that side. Infield instructor Tony Mansolino might get his pupil back on Friday. Other lessons waiting for the rookie.

The Orioles came to Vavra last week with the idea of shifting some of his work to first base. The initial set of ground balls were hit Sunday morning at Tropicana Field, and the club has integrated cutoffs, relays, double plays, bunt plays, pickoffs and short hops.  

“Just trying to familiarize me with it in the event that there’s an opportunity and be ready for it,” Vavra said.

“The game’s the game. It’s just where you’re standing out there. There’s little things that come with time and experience playing each position, but I like to think that I can handle the situation pretty good and give my best effort and do a pretty good job anywhere.”

Trey Mancini’s trade to the Astros has caused the Orioles to sort through their options, and creating new ones, in case of injury.

The Orioles are in a pennant race and the offense has a disturbing tendency to slow to a crawl.

No baserunners for eight innings Sunday in St. Petersburg, Fla., none for six innings yesterday in Toronto. Two runs total in the losses.

Cedric Mullins had the first Orioles hit this afternoon with a two-out triple in the third inning, and Cubs starter Adrian Sampson didn’t allow another until Austin Hays doubled with one out in the fifth and was thrown out at the plate.

The pressure on the starters and bullpen intensifies. Austin Voth tossed six scoreless innings yesterday, and Spenser Watkins blanked the Cubs today for 5 1/3 before Willson Contreras homered.

Contreras homered again off Joey Krehbiel in the eighth inning, and the Orioles were on the verge of being shut out for the eighth time this season. They took advantage of two walks in the bottom half to score twice, but the Cubs held on for a 3-2 win before an announced crowd of 19,454 at Camden Yards.

Rookie Terrin Vavra is making his fourth start in the outfield this afternoon, and his first in right.

Vavra keeps moving around, with three starts in left field and two at second base. He’s served as the designated hitter in six games.

The Orioles like his versatility, but also want his bat in the lineup. Vavra is slashing .297/.391/.378 with a double, triple, seven RBIs and seven walks in 46 plate appearances.

“He’s been out there a couple times. Not right field here, obviously, but in the outfield. I thought he’s looked comfortable, did a nice job,” said manager Brandon Hyde.

“We have some really good outfielders that, I’ve taken him out with a lead to get guys with some more experience out there. That might happen again. But he’s going to at least get some at-bats in and get some work out there. I know he feels comfortable, so excited to have him be so versatile and do a lot of things for us.”

The Orioles return home today after going 3-4 on their three-city road trip.

Yesterday’s 6-1 loss in Toronto left the Orioles 1 ½ games back for the third wild card spot. The Twins moved past them and are one game behind.

Today’s game is a makeup from a June 8 rainout. The Orioles won the previous night 9-3.

Terrin Vavra is in right field today, with Anthony Santander used again as the designated hitter.

Ramón Urías is batting fifth and playing third base. Adley Rutschman is behind the plate.

While the Orioles keep working out Terrin Vavra at first base before games, the drills beginning Sunday at Tropicana Field, they’ve got shortstop Gunnar Henderson doing the same with Triple-A Norfolk. Taking ground balls, making throws from a new angle.

Henderson is expected to receive some starts at first base this week, perhaps today against the Durham Bulls at Harbor Park.

To get Henderson comfortable at the position would assist the Orioles with roster flexibility if his contract is selected. They’re searching for left-handed options, particularly as injury insurance.

Henderson has started at shortstop and third base as a professional and played five innings at second base last summer with Single-A Aberdeen.  First base is new to him.

This doesn’t signal that Henderson definitely is coming up in 2022. It’s a daily conversation within the organization, and the strikeouts – 62 compared to 32 walks in 53 games with Norfolk before last night – offer a reason to wait.

TORONTO - Brandon Hyde surely didn’t want to make two treks to the mound in the seventh inning. But he had little choice.

Relievers Joey Krehbiel and Cionel Pérez had allowed five consecutive batters to reach base, and the game that had seemed winnable moments ago was slipping away at a frightening pace.

After starter Austin Voth befuddled the Blue Jays over six shutout innings, the Orioles bullpen crumbled in a 6-1 loss in the series finale Wednesday afternoon in Toronto.

"You win two out of three, it’s tough to be disappointed," said Hyde of the three-game series. "You lose the third one after winning the first two, that’s when it’s disappointing. You split the first two and win the third, everyone’s celebrating. Happy with the series win, unhappy we couldn’t finish it off today."

Orioles relievers had combined to throw 6 ⅓ scoreless innings through the first two games of the series. But the group came crashing back down to earth in a disastrous seventh inning that saw three pitchers used, eight Blue Jays reach base and six runs come across the plate.

TORONTO - The most important individual result from Dean Kremer’s stellar start against the Blue Jays on Tuesday wasn’t one of his six strikeouts. Nor was it a bases-loaded double play ball off the bat of Matt Chapman in the third inning.

It was the plate appearance before that, a five-pitch walk to Alejandro Kirk that set up that inning-ending double play. It was the only free pass issued by Kremer all night.

It showed the young righty knew who to attack and who to avoid, a recent point of emphasis from manager Brandon Hyde. 

“A handful of starts ago (Hyde) brought a couple of us starters into the office (to say), ‘Ok, where do we go from here now?’” said Kremer after tossing seven innings of two-run ball last night. “(It’s) another stepping stone in our development. We had a meeting about that, kind of realizing situation and who’s at the plate, where you can attack the lineup you’re facing.”

With the Orioles trailing by two runs, a base empty and one out, Kremer pitched around Kirk, avoiding the All-Star catcher in favor of Chapman, who hasn’t hit righties as well this season and is batting just .152 in the month of August.

The Orioles will attempt to sweep the Blue Jays this afternoon, winning five straight games against their division rivals and perhaps take sole possession of the third wild card spot.

They would move past Toronto for third place in the American League East.

To review: the Orioles have won 10 of the last 14 games, 12 of 18 and 26 of 37. They’re 25-27 against division opponents after going 20-56 last season.

A victory today would move the Orioles seven games above .500 for the first time since May 22, 2017. They’ve been six over on three occasions this season.

Adley Rutschman and Terrin Vavra are on the bench today.

Two straight losses to the Rays and a pending trip to Toronto were supposed to finally break the Orioles. The skeptics keep circling the dates for the club’s demise. Waiting for players to start turning into pumpkins.

Well, here they are, a half-game behind the Blue Jays for the last wild card spot and having a chance at a sweep.

The Orioles have won five consecutive games against the Jays in the same season for the first time since 1994. They won a road series against them for the first time since July 2019.

They totaled five wins over the Jays in 2021, one fewer than this year.

Overall, the Orioles have won 10 of the last 14 games, 12 of 18 and 26 of 37. They’re 25-27 against division opponents after going 20-56 last season.

TORONTO - Alek Manoah was feeling himself.

The imposing righty skipped off the mound, his 6-foot-6, 285-pound frame floating over the infield grass. He had just picked up his seventh strikeout by getting Ramón Urías swinging on a fastball up and in, capping off his fourth consecutive shutout inning to open the game.

Things were going well.

By the end of his evening, Manoah was plodding slowly toward the third base dugout, having surrendered a two-run lead, while still responsible for the two runners on base in a brutal sixth inning.

Things had gone poorly.

TORONTO - Speed. Positional versatility. Microwavable offense. These are the qualities teams usually seek in a fourth outfielder.

Ryan McKenna certainly checks all those boxes. But what has made the 25-year-old such a crucial component of an Orioles team that sits just 1 ½ games out of a wild card spot has been the outfielder’s eagerness to deliver anytime, anywhere.

“When he’s not in the lineup, he’s always got his helmet ready, he’s got his glove ready, he understands his role when he’s not in there, and he’s following along,” said manager Brandon Hyde before Tuesday’s game. “He’s supporting the whole time he’s in the dugout.

“You pull for guys like that. You pull for ultimate teammates like that.”

McKenna’s contributions have become especially important as everyday outfielder Austin Hays has struggled. Hays is out of the lineup Tuesday against the Blue Jays, while McKenna, who collected the first three-hit game of his career last night, gets the start in right field.