ARLINGTON, Texas – The Orioles made their first deadline trade today and it involves first baseman/outfielder Trey Mancini, who’s going to the Astros in exchange for multiple pitching prospects, according to an industry source.

Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias is dealing with his former organization, and the cost is the longest tenured player in the Orioles’ clubhouse and a fan favorite who didn't want to leave but understood the business.

Mancini hit an inside-the-park home run Thursday in his final at-bat as an Oriole at Camden Yards. Fans called him back onto the field, as if knowing he’d be gone by the next homestand.

The Orioles drafted Mancini in the eighth round in 2013 out of the University of Notre Dame. He reached the majors three years later and leaves the organization with a career .270/.334/.463 line in 701 games. He had 137 doubles, 11 triples, 117 home runs and 350 RBIs in 2,933 plate appearances.

Mancini emerged as the clubhouse leader and an inspiration after beating Stage 3 colon cancer, which was diagnosed in March 2020. He returned in 2021, finished as runner-up in the All-Star Home Run Derby, and won three Comeback Player of the Year awards.

The trade deadline is close enough to touch. The countdown is tracked in hours rather than weeks or months.

The Orioles aren’t expected to step back and watch other teams conduct their business. They have players that appeal to contenders. They can provide starting pitching, relievers, outfielders and infielders. They have veteran backup catchers, with Robinson Chirinos behind Adley Rutschman, Anthony Bemboom on the taxi squad and Jacob Nottingham at Triple-A Norfolk.

Make an offer.

The Orioles didn’t do much at last year’s deadline, trading minor league reliever Shawn Armstrong to the Rays and injured shortstop Freddy Galvis to the Phillies. The total return was minor league pitcher Tyler Burch and cash.

Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias wasn’t going to trade controllable relievers unless the return was strong, which kept Paul Fry and Tanner Scott in the organization. Anthony Santander was bothered most of the season by a hamstring injury, holding down his numbers and value. Trey Mancini, returning from Stage 3 colon cancer, wasn’t going anywhere.

CINCINNATI – The Orioles rallied to pull out a close game in the late innings in the series opener on Friday night and for most of today, it looked like the team might need something similar in the series finale against Cincinnati at Great American Ball Park.

They were locked in a scoreless duel with Reds top pitching prospect lefty Nick Lodolo. And then they fell behind by two runs. They would get even but they would not get their win.

Brandon Drury's 20th homer of the year was a solo shot with two outs in the eighth off the O's Félix Bautista and that lifted the Reds to a 3-2 win in the series finale.

Drury hit a 1-2 splitter that just had enough to go out in left at 372 feet to snap the 2-2 tie and give the Reds the series win.

Bautista's 1.50 ERA was among the best for relievers as he took the mound today.

CINCINNATI – The Orioles have used Cedric Mullins as a leadoff hitter this year and also Austin Hays. And today, in the series finale in Cincinnati, Trey Mancini is atop the Orioles batting order for the first time since June 29, 2018.

“He’s not your typical leadoff hitter, but we’re trying to find a little bit of a spark,” manager Brandon Hyde said during his pregame interview session. “Trey is swinging the bat better the last few days. It’s mainly about getting Mancini, (Adley) Rutschman and (Anthony) Santander as many at-bats as possible. You know hopefully, dropping some guys down a little can help get them going. But the main thing is getting those 3 guys up as many times.”

He joked he doesn’t need Mancini to try and turn on any speed batting at the top.

“I told him that even you do have an inside-the-parker, you do not have the green light,” Hyde said.

Mancini has actually batted leadoff 53 times in his career, although it’s been a while so he does have some experience there.

Ryan Mountcastle returns to the Orioles’ lineup today for the series finale in Cincinnati, attempting to bust out of a 2-for-33 slump.

Trey Mancini is leading off for the 54^th time in his career and the first since June 29, 2018 versus the Angels. Only Cedric Mullins and Austin Hays have led off this season.

Hays is batting fourth today and playing center field. Mullins isn’t in the lineup.

Mancini played in his 700th career game last night, the 41^st player in club history to reach that mark. He’s in right field today, and 6-for-14 in his last four games.

Fifty-one of Mancin's 54 games atop the order came in 2018. He did it twice in 2017.

The bullpen and defense are attracting the bulk of the credit for the Orioles’ turnaround in 2022. There’s also the timely hitting. The energy and confidence, which builds with each victory, that allows them to overcome deficit after deficit. Ingredients in a winning stew.

As the beat writers have learned, you can’t “write from the top” anymore after the Orioles fall behind early.

(They should have stuck to that strategy last night instead of scoring twice in the first inning. If it ain’t broke …)

The delete button is worn out. Paragraphs highlighted and blown out, statistics and records updated in the reverse.

To minimize Brandon Hyde’s impact as manager and leader would be the same kind of mistake.

CINCINNATI – After getting his 2022 big league season off to a great start, O’s right-hander Dean Kremer has hit a bump in the road. And tonight, his road got really rocky in the last of the fourth.

Leadoff hitter Jonathan India smoked a two-run homer just over the left field wall to highlight a three-run Reds fourth and they went on to beat the Orioles 8-2 at Great American Ball Park. That evens this series at a win each heading into Sunday’s rubber match game.

The Orioles led 2-0 in the first and 2-1 when the Reds came up in the fourth. Then Cincinnati batters started to produce some loud contact off Kremer, who had allowed four hits through three. With one out, Nick Senzel doubled to left, a two-bagger that was 101 mph off the bat. Then right fielder Jake Fraley dumped a single into left for a 2-2 tie. One out later, India’s seventh homer made it a 4-2 lead. He hit a 1-2 pitch, a 93 mph four-seamer, 366 feet and it just got out. Brandon Drury’s 108 mph double followed, but he was stranded when Tommy Pham grounded out.

The loud contact continued in the Reds fifth when Joey Votto led off with his 10^th homer (exit velocity of 108 mph) and it became a 5-2 game. After a one-out single, Kremer was lifted.

Then it got weird.

CINCINNATI – Ryan Mountcastle, who went 0-for-4 with a sac fly in the ninth inning Friday night, is not in tonight’s starting lineup for the Orioles, getting a rest day. At least to start. But manager Brandon Hyde hinted during his pregame media session that there could be something else contributing to Mountcastle’s absence from tonight’s lineup.

“He’s banged up,” said Hyde. “We’re getting to that point now where, he’s got lot of at-bats, lot of games under these guys’ belts, and he’s pretty banged up. Just want to give him a day and hopefully he’s available off the bench today.”

When asked whether Mountcastle is just dealing with “bumps and bruises” or anything more significant, Hyde said “bumps and bruises.”

Mountcastle has just two hits his last 31 at-bats over his past eight games. He has not homered his last 19 games. In 22 games this month he is batting .191/.231/.298/.528. and that is after he posted a robust OPS of .959 in June.

Hyde also today had an update on right-hander Tyler Wells, who went on the injured list after his last start, Wednesday against the Rays, when he gave up four runs over 4 1/3 innings.

The Orioles are two games above .500 and two behind the Rays for the final wild card spot as they continue their series tonight against the Reds in Cincinnati.

They’ve won four of their last five games, 16 of 21, 21 of 31 and 27 of 41. They’re 16-7 this month. And the schedule remains favorable with an upcoming trip to Arlington, Texas, and a home series against the Pirates.

The Orioles haven’t been above .500 after 100 games since 2016, though the 2017 team exceeded it in August and September before fading.

Last night marked their 23^rd comeback win of the season.

They won’t stop.

The enormous improvements in the bullpen, with manager Brandon Hyde finally able to trust the unit in any situation, ranks No. 1 on the list of reasons why the Orioles are so much better in 2022. However, the tightened defense also has earned props.

The Orioles began last night’s game in Cincinnati ranked fourth in the majors with 45 defensive runs saved per Sports Info Solutions.

How does that compare to the recent past?

Hold onto your bucket hats.

They were 24th with -30 DRS in 2021, tied for 16th with one DRS in the shortened 2020 season, were 28^th with -53 DRS in 2019, and were 28^th with -42 DRS in 2018.

CINCINNATI – It was another night of good Orioles pitching, but the Birds eventually needed someone to come up with a clutch hit. Tied 2-2 in the ninth tonight, center fielder Cedric Mullins delivered the needed hit.

Mullins produced a two-run single to center to break a 2-2 tie and lift the Orioles to a road-trip opening 6-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds in the series opener in front of 23,658 at Great American Ball Park.

"I give a lot of credit to our guys throwing and keeping us in games," said Mullins. "You know we had a rough start and Tony came up big to tie the game and I was able to pick up a big hit late. I think it is a matter of staying focused and believing somone will come through."

The O’s were 0-for-9 on the night with runners in scoring position until Mullins drove in his 41^st and 42^nd RBIs. Righty Buck Farmer was on the mound for Cincinnati to start the ninth in the tie game and walked Ramón Urías. Ryan McKenna pinch ran and scampered to third on a double into the right-field corner by Rougned Odor.

Then after a shallow fly out by Jorge Mateo, Mullins, who was 0-for-4 on the night, singled on a first-pitch changeup. The O's then got some good fortune. Trey Mancini's grounder up the middle hit the second-base bag and went for an RBI single to make it a 5-2 lead.

CINCINNATI – As the Orioles begin their latest road trip and look to move two games over the .500 mark tonight, they turn to right-hander Kyle Bradish to make his first big league start in over a month.

Bradish (1-4, 7.38 ERA) rejoins the rotation tonight, coming off the injured list after dealing with right shoulder inflammation. Tonight he makes his first start for the Orioles since allowing six runs in 4 1/3 innings on June 18 versus Tampa Bay.

Bradish, who is 1-0 with a 3.09 ERA in two interleague starts, made two rehab outings for Double-A Bowie on July 9 and 14 and pitched eight scoreless allowing just one hit. Last Sunday, in a rehab start for Triple-A Norfolk at Durham, he gave up two runs and four hits over 4 2/3 innings.

In those games Bradish threw 36, 66 and 80 pitches.

“Kyle had his last rehab start a few days ago," manager Brandon Hyde said today in the O's dugout. "He feels well, it went good. We have a need in our rotation right now and it allows us to push back Dean (Kremer) a day which I think is a positive. Hopefully Kyle can come back up here in the big leagues and work ahead in the count and throw strikes. We love his stuff and his stuff definitely plays up here. Now it’s about working ahead in the count.”

With the trade speculation engulfing Trey Mancini, the Orioles’ lineup for tonight’s series opener in Cincinnati includes him serving as the designated hitter.

Mancini is batting third behind catcher Adley Rutschman.

Rutschman has walked in six straight games, tied with Houston's Yordan Álvarez for the longest active streak in the majors.

Anthony Santander is batting cleanup and playing right field. Austin Hays is in left.

The infield includes Ramón Urías at third base and Rougned Odor at second.

The Orioles are bringing back Kyle Bradish for their 26-man roster and their rotation.

Bradish has been recalled from Triple-A Norfolk, with reliever Logan Gillaspie optioned after one day in the bullpen. The rookie right-hander starts tonight in Cincinnati after three injury rehab appearances in the minors.

Right shoulder inflammation landed Bradish on the 15-year injured list. He pitched twice with Double-A Bowie and once with Norfolk, and he’s on regular rest tonight.

Dean Kremer is pushed back to Saturday and Austin Voth to Sunday.

Bradish is 1-4 with a 7.38 ERA and 1.770 WHIP in 10 starts. He hasn’t pitched for the Orioles since allowing six runs and 11 hits in 4 1/3 innings against the Rays on June 18. He also surrendered one of his 11 home runs.

When Orioles’ area scout Brandon Verley says there’s “definitely room for growth” with 13^th-round draft pick Jared Beck, he’s speaking about the development as a pitcher. By no means is he suggesting that Beck could become taller.

Sure, it’s possible. But Beck is probably done at 7-feet, a height that’s never been listed on a major league roster.

Verley, whose scouting territory moved to south Florida in 2020, believes that Beck is capable of improving on tools that got him noticed as a senior at Saint Leo University and enticed the Orioles into selecting him on the third day. He signed his professional contract on Tuesday.

“I know there’s never been a guy like him to make it,” said Verley, previously the Orioles’ Northwest scout who tracked catcher Adley Rutschman in 2019. “I’m hoping that he’s going to continue to project and get better. Guys just figure things out and they get better, and it could happen, really, at any time. And for him, it happened before it was too late, which is great.”

A pitcher with long limbs making a tremendous jump during his two seasons at Saint Leo after transferring from Illinois State.

Trey Mancini stood at his locker this morning and packed his folded clothes in a duffle bag for the trip to Cincinnati, where the Orioles begin their next road trip. He’s going to board the team charter. But his eventual destination is unknown.

Fans at Camden Yards stood to applaud Mancini again before his first at-bat, knowing that he could be traded by Tuesday’s deadline. They’ve seen the schedule. They know that the Orioles don’t return home until Aug. 5.  

The response from Mancini was a line drive single into left field, his third hit since entering last night’s game in an 0-for-26 slump. Nothing emotional in the batter’s box. Just his usual professional approach.

Mancini batted in the eighth after Austin Hays doubled in a 3-0 win over the Rays, and of course, it had to be dramatic. A fly ball to right field off former Orioles reliever Shawn Armstrong that hit Josh Lowe in the face, Mancini rounding the bases for his 10^th home run and first career inside-the-park, the place erupting.

The first inside-the-park homer by the Orioles since Hays on Aug. 11, 2020 in Philadelphia. Robert Andino had the last one in Baltimore, on Sept. 26, 2011.

The Orioles placed starter Tyler Wells on the 15-day injured list this morning with lower left side discomfort. Wells is undergoing further testing today, which should provide a more specific diagnosis.

Wells’ placement on the IL was anticipated. The exact nature of the injury remains unknown beyond the pain he experienced last night in his side and lower back.

A slider thrown down and away to Tampa Bay’s Yandy Díaz to begin an at-bat in the fifth inning led to Wells’ departure from a 6-4, 10-inning loss.

The Orioles need a starter for Monday in Texas. They optioned left-hander Nick Vespi after last night’s game and recalled relievers Logan Gillaspie and Beau Sulser from Triple-A Norfolk this morning.

Nothing that solves the Monday riddle.

Austin Hays remains in the Orioles’ lineup this afternoon after being hit last night on the right wrist. He’s leading off and playing left field, with Cedric Mullins on the bench.

Hays has the wrist wrapped but said the ball caught muscle instead of bone. A bit lower than the last time he was drilled by a slider.

Robinson Chirinos is catching. Adley Rutschman is on the bench.

Tyler Nevin is the third baseman and Ryan McKenna is in center field.

Jordan Lyles has started twice against the Rays this season and allowed 11 runs and 13 hits in 7 2/3 innings.

Shortstop Jackson Holliday signed his first professional contract yesterday, the $8.19 million bonus setting a record for a high school selection. A big-time perk for going one/one.

Holliday hasn’t made an extravagant purchase or drawn up a shopping list. He smiled about it yesterday, one of those moments that reminded you of his youth, that he’s still a kid.

“I already got a car,” he said, “so nothing yet.”

He has plenty of time. And a family that’s instilled the right values.

Holliday never thought about doing something else with his life, to pursue a different dream, and there are witnesses to it in his household. Never a time when he wanted to ditch the sport that his father, Matt, played in the majors for 15 seasons.

Tyler Wells has been on strict pitch and innings counts this season, the Orioles wanting to get him through a full season as a starter without shutting him down. Push him a little in a start, then pull him back. Provide rest where it can be found.

They didn’t want an injury to factor into his usage, but it happened tonight.

Wells threw a slider down and away to Tampa Bay’s Yandy Díaz to begin the at-bat with one out in the fifth inning, twisted his torso slightly, grimaced and bent at the waist. Rougned Odor put an arm around his shoulder as manager Brandon Hyde, pitching coach Chris Holt and head athletic trainer Brian Ebel rushed to the mound.

The club announced that Wells experienced lower back discomfort. The Orioles received 4 2/3 scoreless innings from the bullpen in regulation but lost 6-4 after the Rays scored twice in the 10th.

Jorge Mateo hit a game-tying home run off Colin Poche with one out in the ninth inning. Adley Rutschman walked with two outs and Trey Mancini singled off Poche, who surrendered Ramón Urías’ go-ahead, two-run homer last night in the eighth. Anthony Santander struck out.