OAKLAND – An opposing right-handed pitcher today will cause Orioles manager Brandon Hyde and his staff to dig through the stats packets and check the splits before posting the lineup. It isn’t as simple as loading up on left-handed hitters.

Hyde sat Colton Cowser and Heston Kjerstad yesterday against Athletics right-hander Luis Medina. Austin Hays played left field, as he did the previous night. But he was matched against left-hander Hogan Harris in the series opener.

Hays doubled twice and singled for his second three-hit game of the season. He singled and doubled yesterday and had a sacrifice fly.

Medina’s splits are pronounced and reversed, with right-handers before yesterday slashing .295/.357/.459 and left-handers slashing .214/.323/.286. Within all of the minuscule sample sizes, Hays was 1-for-1 with a double against him lifetime.

Managers love lineup questions a little less than media members love asking them, but Hyde offered a solid explanation before yesterday’s game.

OAKLAND – Cade Povich issued two walks in the first inning and took one of his own.

Brent Rooker, the third batter faced, made loud contact on a cutter that traveled 414 feet to the seats above the out-of-town scoreboard in left field. The ball was in flight as Povich drifted toward the third base line, his head turned in the direction of the landing spot.

The rookie had to watch. He didn’t have to stand on the mound to do it.

He’d leave it for good the next inning.

Max Schuemann also hit a three-run homer after the first two Oakland batters reached in the second. A walk and bloop single followed and Povich was removed from the game, his worst outing in the majors leading to the Orioles’ 19-8 loss before an announced crowd of 8,526 that witnessed five home runs from their team.

OAKLAND – Austin Hays gets another start in left field this afternoon after collecting three hits last night on his 29^th birthday. He’s matched up against Athletics right-hander Luis Medina.

Colton Cowser is on the bench. Cedric Mullins starts in center field, Ryan O’Hearn is in right and Anthony Santander is the designated hitter.

Ramón Urías starts at third base, with Jordan Westburg shifting to second and Jorge Mateo going to the bench.

Ryan Mountcastle moves down to sixth in the order.

Left-hander Cade Povich makes his sixth major league start. He’s allowed six runs in his last five outings to match the total in his debut.

OAKLAND – A home run and walk in the first inning last night and a leadoff single and an error in the second threatened to detonate Albert Suárez’s start.

A runner stood on third base with one out. With his typical calm demeanor, Suárez struck out the next two batters to escape the jam and retired 12 in a row and 17 of his last 20.

Suárez allowed two runs in six-plus innings, and Orioles starters have surrendered only four in the last 23 1/3.

The Orioles began the series ranked first in the American League and second in the majors with a 3.42 ERA. Their 3.28 rotation ERA also was first and second, respectively.

They held those spots after last night’s 3-2 win at Oakland Coliseum, the staff at 3.40 and rotation still 3.28. The starters have allowed two earned runs or fewer in eight of the last nine games.

OAKLAND – Orioles manager Brandon Hyde grew up in Santa Rosa, about an hour away from the Oakland Coliseum. He attended games with his father and friends, recounting those days as some of his fondest memories. Rickey Henderson stole bases at a record pace. Dennis Eckersley closed out games. The Bash Brothers hit tape-measure home runs and slammed their suspiciously massive forearms in celebration.

“There was some really good baseball being played here for a long time,” Hyde said, “and some great, great teams that played here.”

Not anymore.

The last-place Athletics are moving to Las Vegas but will relocate to Sacramento for the next three seasons until their new home is ready. The Orioles are making their final stop here. They might get a little sentimental during batting practice, but that’s it.

They’d like to put a bow on a sweep and offer it as a going-away present.

OAKLAND – The Orioles moved their West Coast trip to Oakland for a three-game series before the Athletics relocate to Sacramento next year.

Ryan Mountcastle is in the lineup tonight and batting third. Adley Rutschman is the designated hitter.

Colton Cowser is in center field, with Austin Hays in left and Anthony Santander in right. Jorge Mateo remains at second base, with Jordan Westburg at third.

Albert Suárez stays in the rotation while Cole Irvin moves to the bullpen. Suárez has registered a 2.43 ERA and 1.247 WHIP in 17 games (10 starts). He tossed four relief innings against the Athletics in April and allowed four runs and seven hits with six strikeouts. Seth Brown homered.

In three career appearances against Oakland, Suárez has allowed nine runs and 15 hits in 12 2/3 innings.

SEATTLE – Craig Kimbrel wasn’t available to pitch yesterday in Seattle after making back-to-back appearances. He walked a tightrope the first night and tied the Mariners in knots the next.

The results remain positive.

Kimbrel has surrendered only one earned run in his last 19 innings, a stretch that began after his horrendous outing in D.C. that cost him the closer’s job for a brief spell. He had eight saves at that point and earned his 21^st Wednesday after retiring the side in order with two strikeouts and a popup in foul territory.

The only blown save came in New York on June 19, but he struck out Gleyber Torres to carry the game into the 10^th inning and got the win.

What is behind the turnaround?

SEATTLE – The Orioles couldn’t let a sleeping offense lie.

Bryan Baker loaded the bases in the seventh inning with the score tied, Keegan Akin entered with two outs and the Mariners’ J.P. Crawford doubled to right-center field to plate three runs. Mitch Garver followed with a homer.

A crowd that kept verbalizing its annoyance with Seattle’s silent bats finally had reason to erupt.

Corbin Burnes’ latest quality start and Gunnar Henderson’s flirtation with the cycle were sidenotes to the Orioles’ failure to complete the sweep, losing a lead and ultimately the game, 7-3, before an announced crowd of 32,347 at T-Mobile Park

The Yankees lost again today to keep the Orioles (55-32) two games ahead in the division.

SEATTLE – Ryan Mountcastle is out of the Orioles lineup this afternoon in the series finale in Seattle after returning to it last night.

Adley Rutschman also is on the bench, as the Orioles go for the sweep.

Heston Kjerstad is batting second and serving as the designated hitter.

Colton Cowser is in left field. Jordan Westburg is at third base, with Jorge Mateo at second.

Corbin Burnes seeks his 14^th quality start. He faced the Mariners on May 19 and allowed an unearned run with 11 strikeouts in six innings.

SEATTLE – The math leaves two possible outcomes for Orioles ace Corbin Burnes.

If Burnes starts every fifth day heading into the break, beginning this afternoon against the Mariners, his turn falls on July 14 against the Yankees at Camden Yards. An important 11:35 a.m. game between the top two teams in the division to finish the first half.

If Burnes is on the mound every fifth game, with extra rest coming from Monday’s open date on the schedule, he’d be available to pitch in the All-Star Game on July 16.

He’d be available to start for the first time.

Burnes hasn’t paused to think about it. He’s preoccupied with wife Brooke giving birth to twin girls Charlotte and Harper early Friday morning in Arizona. Burnes is a tired dad working on six days’ rest this afternoon following last Thursday’s outing at Camden Yards.

SEATTLE – The hugs and handshakes earlier today for the two All-Star starters with the Orioles told only half the story. There also were sympathy and words of encouragement for four finalists who didn’t make it.

Four guys with concrete cases for inclusion as reserves. An entire clubhouse vouches for them.

Ryan O’Hearn maintained his billing as a professional hitter with an opposite-field, two-run double in the third inning to break a scoreless tie. O’Hearn came home on Ryan Mountcastle’s single in his return to the lineup after an undisclosed illness. Mountcastle held at third base on Anthony Santander’s double at 106.3 mph off the bat.

O’Hearn was halfway to the cycle in the fifth after his home run to right field. If it looks like a statement game and sounds like a statement game, perhaps it is unintentionally.

Mariners right-hander Logan Gilbert had a 0.881 WHIP before tonight that ranked as the lowest in the majors. He registered five quality starts last month and walked only one batter in 35 2/3 innings. But the Orioles took a patient approach, played small ball until O’Hearn deviated from the script, and won 4-1 before an announced crowd of 37,998 at T-Mobile Park.

SEATTLE - For the first time in 10 years, the Orioles will have multiple players starting in the All-Star Game.

The 2014 club won the division. The 2024 Orioles are in first place and eyeing a World Series title.

Gunnar Henderson won the American League shortstop balloting over the Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. by receiving 65 percent of the votes. Catcher Adley Rutschman finished ahead of Kansas City’s Salvador Perez with 70 percent.

Henderson’s 26 home runs and 6.2 WAR rank second in the majors and he’s first in runs scored with 74. He’s batting .288/.383/.600 with 17 doubles, four triples, 58 RBIs and 46 walks in 84 games. He’s also stolen 13 bases in 14 attempts.

"I'm very humbled and blessed to be the starter. It's awesome being able to be do this my second full year," Henderson said.

SEATTLE – The Orioles reinstated Dean Kremer from the 15-day injured list his afternoon and optioned left-handed reliever Nick Vespi to Triple-A Norfolk in a corresponding move. Kremer starts tonight versus the Mariners.

Kremer made three rehab starts after recovering from a right triceps strain. He hasn’t pitched for the Orioles since May 20 in St. Louis. His last appearance with Triple-A Norfolk came June 27.

The rotation needs Kremer, whose posted a 4.32 ERA and 1.120 WHIP in nine games.

Kyle Bradish, John Means and Tyler Wells underwent elbow surgeries that keep them sidelined throughout the remainder of the 2024 season. They also won’t be available at the beginning of 2025.

Means is a pending free agent.

SEATTLE – The news yesterday that Double-A Bowie catcher Samuel Basallo was selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game stirred up further discussion about his standing in the Orioles organization. Specifically, how long he’ll be in it. How long he should be in it.

We should pause that topic and mention how he’s a deserving choice as the No. 2 prospect in a stacked farm system and 12^th in baseball, per MLB Pipeline’s newest rankings. He’s batting .279 with a .798 OPS, 14 doubles, 11 home runs and 34 RBIs in 69 games, and he had a double and run scored last night in Bowie’s 3-0 win over Richmond.

He’s a real weapon behind the plate, too.

Basallo has endured some health setbacks along the way, the most serious a stress fracture in his right elbow that limited his work in spring training and confined him to serving as designated hitter until April 30. The Futures Game assignment is a nice reward for his talent and perseverance.

Can he co-exist with Adley Rutschman on an Orioles roster, perhaps by 2025? Yes he can. James McCann gets plenty of work behind the plate with Rutschman’s rest consisting of DH duty. Basallo can do that and also play first base. It’s feasible. Why fight it?

SEATTLE – No team in baseball had a lower batting average or fewer hits before tonight than the Mariners. They scored the fourth-fewest number of runs. The pitching staff held opponents to the lowest average, but the offense sputtered and stalled while a division lead shrank like cotton.

Exposure to a hot starter wasn’t going to make the situation more comfortable.

Grayson Rodriguez followed his seven-inning, two-run outing against the Guardians by tossing 6 1/3 scoreless in the Orioles’ 2-0 victory before an announced crowd of 36,173 at T-Mobile Park.

The Yankees lost to the Reds earlier today, giving the Orioles a one-game lead in the American League East.

Anthony Santander broke a scoreless tie with an RBI single in the fourth inning, and the Orioles (54-31) delivered a nice bounce back after Sunday night’s 11-2 loss to the Rangers on ESPN. They’ve won five of six and posted their seventh shutout.

SEATTLE – Ryan Mountcastle is taking ground balls at first base during batting practice and might be available to play tonight.

Mountcastle hasn’t been in the lineup for the past three games.

“He’s still a little bit under the weather,” said manager Brandon Hyde.

“Hopefully he feels well enough to come off the bench and hopefully feeling a little bit better every day.”

Ryan O'Hearn gets another start at first base, which puts Heston Kjerstad in the designated hitter spot against Mariners right-hander George Kirby.

SEATTLE – Ryan Mountcastle is out of the Orioles lineup tonight for the third game in a row.

Mountcastle was used as a pinch-hitter Saturday. Manager Brandon Hyde told the media Sunday night that Mountcastle was “under the weather.”

Heston Kjerstad is the designated hitter. Colton Cowser is in left field and Cedric Mullins is in center.

Jorge Mateo is the second baseman, with Jordan Westburg at third.

Gunnar Henderson’s on-base streak ended Sunday at 36 games. He struck out four times.

SEATTLE – Danny Coulombe hasn’t thrown a pitch for the Orioles since June 8. He faced six batters at Tropicana Field, retired all of them and struck out the side in the eighth inning. Five straight scoreless appearances lowered his ERA to 2.42.

Talk of a possible berth in the All-Star Game sounded legit.

Out of the many losses to the roster due to injuries and surgeries, Coulombe’s stings as much as any. It isn’t a knockout punch, but it can stagger a team.

Rather than feel around for the mouthpiece on hands and knees, manager Brandon Hyde keeps hunting for ways to compensate in close games.

Bring up Coulombe’s name to people in the industry, as I did again over the weekend, and they tend to cringe, shake or tilt back their heads and convey just how badly it hurts the club. As if Coulombe is the one guy who has a lower profile but a higher impact because of the clutch outs he gets – and doing it more than every fifth or sixth day.

SEATTLE – Gunnar Henderson confirmed last night on ESPN that he’s participating in the Home Run Derby on July 15 in Arlington, Texas. Now he’s waiting to learn whether he’s starting at shortstop for the American League.

His chances look pretty good.

Henderson has received 67 percent of the votes in the Phase 2 update to maintain his lead over the Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr.

Balloting concludes at noon Wednesday, with starters announced at 7 p.m. on ESPN. Complete rosters will be shared on Sunday.

Adley Rutschman also is lined up to start. He’s received 72 percent of the votes to lead Kansas City’s Salvador Perez, an eight-time All-Star.

Connor Norby has stepped inside the Camden Yards home clubhouse a few times this season without actually being on the active roster.

At least catcher David Bañuelos had his contract selected twice before the Orioles outrighted him.

Norby was optioned June 11 after the Orioles returned from St. Petersburg, Fla. He got to Baltimore, had a locker set up and waited downstairs to claim his bags and head back to Triple-A. Jorge Mateo’s reinstatement from the concussion injured list cost him a spot.

Just enough time for Norby to take some photos of his uniforms and leave major league life.

The Orioles put Norby on the 24-hour taxi squad Saturday while waiting to find out whether infielder Jordan Westburg or outfielder Austin Hays, both bothered by knee soreness, would go on the injured list. Westburg returned to the lineup, Hays started yesterday in left field, and Norby vanished again.