It’s been said that “baseball is a game of inches.” Sometimes it’s less than that.

To hear Orioles outfielder Colton Cowser tell it, a ½ inch is making a difference for him. He cites two things that have helped turn his bat around. He is raking now with a 13-game hitting streak since the All-Star game.

A nice mental reset at the break helped and so too has using a bigger bat, one a bit heavier and one that is 34 inches. A bit longer than the 33 ½ inch model he previously used.

Going into the All-Star break, Cowser was 4-for-31 (.129) with 12 strikeouts his last 10 games.

Coming out of the break he's been on a roll and his hitting streak was extended Wednesday afternoon with a homer and single. Over the 13 games he is batting 19-for-50 which is .380/.429/.660/1.089 with two doubles, four homers and 13 RBIs.

Liván Soto finally is going to play for the Orioles in his third stint in the organization.

The circumstances, however, are crushing.

Soto will be recalled from Triple-A Norfolk for Thursday night’s series opener in Cleveland as the injury replacement for Jordan Westburg, according to an industry source.

Westburg was hit on the right-hand today by a 95.2 mph fastball from Blue Jays reliever Yerry Rodríguez in the fifth inning. X-rays revealed a fracture.

Westburg circled the bases on Jackson Holliday’s first major league home run, a grand slam onto Eutaw Street in the Orioles’ 10-4 win. Ramón Urías replaced him at third base.

For the Orioles, the high they felt of winning 10-4 today at Camden Yards as Jackson Holliday hit a grand slam to lead the O's past the Blue Jays lasted briefly. The attention immediately turned to Jordan Westburg, who was hit in the hand with a fastball.

A team that has lost pitchers Tyler Wells, John Means and Kyle Bradish for the year and hopes to get Danny Coulombe back late in the year, and recently saw Jorge Mateo also get hurt, lost infielder Westburg. He will miss significant time after getting hit in the right-hand today by a 95 mph fastball in the fifth inning from righty reliever Yerry Rodríguez. He fractured his right hand.

Westburg, who has made starts at second and third, has batted .269 with 25 doubles, five triples, 18 homers, 58 RBIs and a .815 OPS in 101 games.

“All-Star player,” said manager Brandon Hyde, who hopes Westburg can make it back before the end of the regular season. “So, injuries are a part of the game. We have to pick up the pieces for him. We’ve got to play well. He is a huge part of our lineup, our culture, really everything. He’s right in the middle of everything and so we have to have other guys kind of step up in his place and fill the void.”

During the same series when catcher James McCann was hit in the face by a pitch Monday suffering multiple nasal fractures, now the O’s lose Westburg.

On the first full day after the trade deadline, Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias expressed optimism that his roster was “fortified,” his pitching staff improved and that his team has “as good a shot as anybody.”

This morning the O’s began the process of retooling their roster after the flurry of deadline trades for the stretch run and trying to turn a recent small stretch of winning into a larger one.

With three wins in their past four games scoring 29 runs, the O’s took the field amid the Baltimore sunshine today looking for yet another American League East series win.

Ryan Mountcastle’s two-run triple to right in the last of the first got the Orioles off to a good start. They built an early 3-0 lead.

The deadline deals opened the door for Jackson Holliday’s return to this team. He electrified the crowd today when his first major league homer was a grand slam in the last of the fifth. It opened an 8-3 lead and led to a Holliday curtain call. The crowd was on its feet and roaring for Holliday, who went 2-for-34 with the Orioles in 10 April games.

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).

Trade deadlines are supposed to address questions and deficiencies with the roster for a team in buyer mode. There are always questions, however. The work gets done and explanations are sought. Why do this and that? Is the club actually better than the previous model?

And about those rumors.

Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias met with the media for about 23 minutes today in the home dugout. He’s pleased with the results, which netted starter Zach Eflin from the Rays for minor league pitcher Jackson Baumeister, infielder Mac Horvath and outfielder Matthew Etzel, reliever Seranthony Domínguez and outfielder Cristian Pache from the Phillies for outfielder Austin Hays, starter Trevor Rogers from the Marlins for second baseman Connor Norby – who was optioned to Triple-A this morning – and outfielder Kyle Stowers, outfielder Eloy Jiménez and cash from the White Sox for Triple-A Norfolk left-hander Trey McGough, outfielder Austin Slater, infielder Livan Soto and cash considerations from the Reds for cash considerations, and left-handed reliever Gregory Soto from the Phillies for Double-A pitching prospect Seth Johnson and High-A Aberdeen pitcher Moisés Chance.

According to a source, there won’t be a player-to-be-named later in the deal with Cincinnati. Straight cash.

“Trade deadline’s always tough,” Elias said. “It’s always bittersweet trading players for other players. It’s not a one-way street. You’re losing talent but you’re getting different talent that’s a different fit and more of a short-term concentration for the needs of the team. We added two starting pitchers that are going right in our rotation, we added two really hard throwers with success in the major leagues for a long time – one from the left side, one from the right side. And we added a couple of right-handed bats which were especially necessary in the outfield with Austin Hays being gone. So I think that the roster is very fortified.

Orioles infielder Jackson Holliday is back with the team today and about to play in a big league game for the first time since April 23. He said he feels more prepared this time around and his arm is fully ready after a bout with right elbow inflammation.

The 20-year-old Holliday went 2-for-34 with 18 strikeouts in 10 games in his first time in the bigs.

“Just going to enjoy it,” Holliday said this morning in the Baltimore clubhouse which gets an influx of new talent after the trade deadline. “Enjoy being here and being present. Feel like last time it was all a blur. Just glad to be up here and enjoy every moment with these guys and have fun.

“It was obviously sad to go back down. But got to go down there and make some adjustments and improve a little bit and set myself up for the second time around. Glad to be here.”

Holliday indicated the adjustments he made were minor. He told me he has not eliminated his high leg kick, which some questioned whether that would impact his ability to hit premium velocity. That part didn’t change.

The Orioles recalled Jackson Holliday this morning and he’s starting at second base to close out the series against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards.

Left-hander Gregory Soto was activated and is wearing No. 65. Catcher Blake Hunt and infielder Terrin Vavra were optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. Hunt is on the taxi squad.

Also, right-hander Levin Stoudt cleared waivers and was outrighted to Double-A Bowie.

Another slow day for the Orioles.

Holliday took ground balls at second this morning. He’s batting eighth.

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Recalled 2B/SS Jackson Holliday from Triple-A Norfolk.
• Activated LHP Gregory Soto. He will wear No. 65.
• Optioned C Blake Hunt to Triple-A Norfolk.
• Optioned INF/OF Terrin Vavra to Triple-A Norfolk.

Additionally, RHP Levi Stoudt has been outrighted to Double-A Bowie. 

In the end Garrett Crochet was not traded to the Orioles or anybody. Neither were Tarik Skubal or Blake Snell.

The O’s added four pitchers – two starters and two relievers – one each throwing left and right. But they didn't get any of the big three.

There were no blockbuster deals and no elite prospects were moved. The highest-rated prospect they traded was infielder Connor Norby, ranked No. 5 by MLBPipeline.com.

The O’s rotation, in some order, now likely consists of Corbin Burnes, Grayson Rodriguez, Zach Eflin, Dean Kremer and lefty Trevor Rogers.

The O’s added Rogers yesterday for Norby and Kyle Stowers who went to Miami where reportedly Stowers will get a lot of playing time and Norby went back to the farm to work on playing third base.

As Corbin Burnes walked to the mound tonight to begin his warmups, the Orioles were dismantling their roster at the trade deadline. He didn’t seem to notice.

A game that could determine whether the club stayed in first place or slipped into second became oddly secondary to the news.

As time passed, the importance of the outcome came back into focus. Burnes remains the undisputed ace, notching his 18^th quality start in a 6-2 victory over the Blue Jays before an announced crowd of 21,710 at Camden Yards.

Anthony Santander belted his 31^st home run, a solo shot onto the top of the grounds crew shed in the fifth, Ramón Urías homered and had an RBI single and infield hit while unsure how the next few days will impact his status, and the Orioles improved to 64-44. They remain a half-game ahead of the Yankees.

Burnes was charged with two runs and four hits with three walks and seven strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings. Cionel Pérez let an inherited runner score in the seventh.

The roster reshaping by the Orioles isn’t over.

No. 1 prospect Jackson Holliday is headed to Baltimore, multiple sources have confirmed. He could join the active roster before Wednesday afternoon’s game against the Blue Jays or accompany the team to Cleveland before he’s officially recalled.

Holliday was removed from tonight’s lineup, as MASNsports.com reported earlier, following the Connor Norby trade that also sent outfielder Kyle Stowers to the Marlins in exchange for left-hander Trevor Rogers.

This will be Holliday’s second stint in the majors. An unpopular camp cut, Holliday had his contract selected on April 10 and he went 2-for-34 with 18 strikeouts before the Orioles optioned him April 26.

Holliday missed almost two weeks with right elbow inflammation and was eased back into action as the designated hitter before returning to second base. He’s batting .271/.431/.477 with 25 doubles, 10 home runs, 38 RBIs, 75 walks and 77 strikeouts in 73 games.

The Orioles today announced that they have acquired left-handed pitcher GREGORY SOTO from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for right-handed pitcher SETH JOHNSON and minor league right-handed pitcher MOISÉS CHACE. 

Soto, 29, is 2-4 with a 4.08 ERA (16 ER/35.1 IP) with 36 hits (2 HR), 19 total runs allowed, six hit-by-pitches, 20 walks (2 IBB), and 44 strikeouts in 43 games, all in relief, for the Phillies. His 97.7 mph average fastball velocity ranks in the top four percent of MLB, per Statcast. Soto has made at least 60 appearances each season since the start of 2021 and made the National League All-Star team in 2021 and 2022. He was acquired by Philadelphia, along with infielder Kody Clemens, from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for outfielder Matt Vierling, infielder Nick Maton, and catcher Donny Sands on January 7, 2023. Soto, a native of Haina, Dominican Republic, originally joined the Tigers after signing as an international free agent in December 2012.

Johnson, 25, went 0-6 with a 2.63 ERA (19 ER/65.0 IP) with 51 hits (5 HR), 24 total runs, 35 walks, and 61 strikeouts in 18 games, all starts, with Double-A Bowie this season. At the time of the move, he was ranked as the No. 8 Orioles prospect and No. 3 O’s pitching prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. He was acquired by the Orioles from the Tampa Bay Rays as part of a three-team, five-player trade with the Houston Astros that included infielder/outfielder Trey Mancini on August 1, 2022. Johnson was originally selected by Tampa Bay in the Competitive Balance A Round (40^th overall) of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft out of Campbell University (NC).

Chace, 21, held a 2-2 record with a 3.46 ERA (20 ER/52.0 IP) with 37 hits (5 HR), 22 total runs, six hit-by-pitches, 30 walks, and 76 strikeouts in 17 games (9 GS) with High-A Aberdeen this season. A native of La Guaira, Venezuela, Chace was signed by the Orioles on July 2, 2019, as a minor league free agent.

Soto has not yet reported.

The Orioles today announced that they have acquired outfielder ELOY JIMÉNEZ and cash considerations from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for minor league left-handed pitcher TREY McGOUGH. 

Jiménez (pronounced eh-LOY he-MEN-ehz), 27, is slashing .240/.297/.345 (55-for-229) with nine doubles, five home runs, 18 runs scored, 16 RBI, 18 walks (1 IBB), one hit-by-pitch, and three stolen bases in 65 games for the White Sox this season. All but one of his starts have been as the designated hitter, with his lone game in the outfield coming on May 19. He’s batting .304/.360/.370 (14-for-46) with three doubles against left-handed pitching this year. Jiménez won a Silver Slugger in 2020 and finished fourth in the American League Rookie of the Year voting in 2019. He was acquired by Chicago-AL along with Dylan Cease and two others from Chicago-NL in exchange for José Quintana on July 13, 2017. Jiménez was originally signed by the Cubs as an international free agent on August 1, 2013, out of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He signed a six-year contract with the White Sox before making his MLB debut in March 2019. That contract includes club options in 2025 and 2026.

McGough, 26, is 2-0 with a 1.99 ERA (12 ER/54.1 IP) with 33 hits (2 HR), 14 total runs, one hit-by-pitch, 21 walks, and 55 strikeouts in 28 games, all relief appearances, between Triple-A Norfolk and Double-A Bowie this year. He was taken by the Orioles in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 Draft from the Pittsburgh Pirates on December 7, 2022. McGough was originally selected by Pittsburgh in the 24^th round of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft out of Mount St. Mary’s University (PA).

Jiménez has not yet reported.

The Orioles today announced that they have acquired outfielder AUSTIN SLATER, infielder LIVAN SOTO, and cash considerations from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for cash considerations or a player to be named later.

Slater, 31, is batting .185/.308/.222 (20-for-108) with one double, one home run, 14 runs scored, 12 RBI, 18 walks, and three hit-by-pitches in 51 games (29 starts) between the San Francisco Giants and Cincinnati Reds this season. He was acquired by Cincinnati from San Francisco on July 7. Since the start of 2021, Slater has made 206 appearances off the bench, 41 more than any other player in the big leagues during that time. Slater was originally selected by the Giants in the eighth round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of The Bolles School (FL).

Soto, 24, went 0-for-3 in one start for the Reds on June 26, 2024, his lone MLB appearance this season. He had been designated for assignment by Cincinnati earlier today. Soto was claimed by Baltimore on February 8 and was in camp with the Orioles until being designated for assignment on February 16, again claimed by the club on April 11, and then claimed by the Reds on April 19 after being designated for assignment by Baltimore on April 16. He’s appeared in 23 career MLB games, with 18 of them as a member of the Los Angeles Angels in 2022. Soto was originally signed by the Atlanta Braves as an international free agent out of Valencia, Venezuela in July 2016.

To make room on the 40-man roster, the Orioles transferred infielder/outfielder JORGE MATEO to the 60-day Injured List (left elbow subluxation) and designated left-handed pitcher MATT KROOK for assignment. Slater has not yet reported and Soto has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Recalled C Blake Hunt from Triple-A Norfolk. He will wear No. 81 and his first appearance will be his MLB debut.
• Designated LHP Cole Irvin for assignment.

The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 39 players.

The Orioles and Blue Jays play the third game of their four-game series tonight after splitting a doubleheader Monday. The Orioles won the opener 11-5 and lost the nightcap 8-4.

The Orioles (63-44) lead the American League East, but now just by a half-game over the Yankees, who have won their past three games. The Orioles have not been in second place since June 26. They would be tonight with a loss and another Yankees win.

While the Orioles are 3-3 their past six games, in longer stretches they have lost six of their past nine, 12 of 19 and 13 of the last 21 games.

Since June 21 when they began a series where they would be swept in Houston, the Orioles are 14-19 with a -42 run differential. In those 33 games, they have a team ERA of 5.37 allowing a team batting average to opponents of .270 with an .800 OPS in that span. Opponents are scoring 4.5 runs per game with 48 home runs in this stretch.

After the doubleheader, the O’s have now allowed five or more runs in eight straight games, seven times allowing six or more. In the eight games, they have allowed 91 hits with a 5.45 team ERA.

With about 15 minutes until the trade deadline, Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias found his right-handed hitting outfielder to check another box.

The Orioles are trading for White Sox outfielder Eloy Jiménez, with Triple-A reliever Trey McGough leaving the organization in return, according to an industry source.

Jiménez missed a month of the season with a hamstring injury and has appeared in 65 games, batting .240/.297/.345 with nine doubles, five home runs and 16 RBIs. He’s a career .270/.321/.469 hitter in six seasons since his debut in 2019. He finished fourth in American League Rookie of the Year voting after hitting 31 home runs.

The following season brought a Silver Slugger Award during the COVID year.

The Orioles are inheriting the remainder of Jiménez’s $13 million salary. The contract includes club options for 2025 at $16.5 million and 2026 at $18.5 million with a pair of $3 million buyouts.

The Orioles announced today’s trade, with second baseman Connor Norby and outfielder Kyle Stowers going to the Marlins for starting pitcher Trevor Rogers.

Rogers posted a 4.53 ERA and 1.528 WHIP this season in 21 games but has a 3.32 ERA in his last eight starts. He's under team control through 2026.

“It’s a left-handed starter,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “I haven’t talked with Mike (Elias) much about it at this point just because he’s still working really hard and it happened not that long ago, but from what I do know, he’s a guy that’s had nine or 10 really good starts his last times out, and always looking for starting pitching and hopefully he can help us down the stretch.”

Hyde isn’t ready to discuss his rotation or bullpen until the 6 p.m. deadline. He kept reminding the media about it.

Albert Suárez could shift to the 'pen with the rotation filled by Rogers, Corbin Burnes, Grayson Rodriguez, Zach Eflin and Dean Kremer. Triple-A Norfolk pitchers Cade Povich and Chayce McDermott could be used in relief down the road.

ORIOLES ACQUIRE TREVOR ROGERS FROM THE MIAMI MARLINS IN EXCHANGE FOR CONNOR NORBY AND KYLE STOWERS

The Orioles today announced that they have acquired left-handed pitcher TREVOR ROGERS from the Miami Marlins in exchange for infielder/outfielder CONNOR NORBY and outfielder KYLE STOWERS.

Rogers, 26, is 2-9 with a 4.53 ERA (53 ER/105.1 IP) with 115 hits (12 HR), 58 total runs allowed, 46 walks (2 IBB), three hit batters, and 85 strikeouts in 21 starts with the Marlins this season. In nine starts since June 9, he’s posted a 3.17 ERA (17 ER/48.1 IP) while surrendering two runs or fewer in eight of those games. He was a 2021 National League All-Star after pitching to a 2.31 ERA (26 ER/101.1 IP) in 18 starts before the break and finished second in the NL Rookie of the Year voting behind Cincinnati’s Jonathan India. He was selected by Miami in the first round (13^th overall) of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft out of Carlsbad (NM) High School.

Norby, 24, is slashing .188/.188/.406 (6-for-32) with one double, two home runs, three runs scored, and three RBI in nine games with the Orioles this season. He made his MLB debut on June 3 at Toronto and hit his first career home run off Blue Jays righty Nate Pearson the next day. Norby is ranked the No. 5 O’s prospect and No. 9 overall second base prospect by MLB Pipeline. He was selected by Baltimore in the second round (41^st overall) of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft out of East Carolina University (NC).

Stowers, 26, batted .306/.297/.500 (11-for-36) with four doubles, one home run, three runs scored, and nine RBI in 19 games with Baltimore this year. He made his MLB debut on June 13, 2022, and hit his first big league homer on August 25, 2022, off Liam Hendriks, a game-tying solo blast with two outs in the ninth inning. Stowers was the Brooks Robinson Minor League Co-Player of the Year (with Adley Rutschman) in 2021. He was selected by Baltimore in the Competitive Balance Round B (71^st overall) of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft out of Stanford University (CA).