Taking another look back at Orioles' squandered lead and loss

An immediate take from yesterday’s 7-6, 10-inning loss to the Blue Jays is how reliever Jeff Hoffman should remember that the Orioles make another trip to Toronto and his team makes another trip to Baltimore. Be careful with that pucker or risk getting punched in the mouth. But there’s more.

Manager Brandon Hyde downplayed the latest short outing from a starter, pointing out how he handled them differently the past few games after an off-day and rainout, and with another break in the schedule today. But the bullpen is passing the baton too much, finally losing its grip yesterday in Toronto’s three-run eighth. The rotation needs to consume more innings, plain and simple.

Zach Eflin is on the injured list after going six innings in each of his three starts and posting a 3.00 ERA. He’s a huge loss for however long that it lasts.

Charlie Morton starts Tuesday night’s series opener against the Guardians at Camden Yards. He’s due like one of those bills from the record company that used to promise free albums if you returned their card by the deadline. Anyone with me here?

Morton has allowed four runs in 3 1/3 innings, five runs in five innings and four runs in five innings for a total of only 13 1/3.

“He has a pretty good feel for what’s working, what’s not, what he needs to get better at,” Hyde said. “We have a great pitching room, some really good coaches in there that are breaking down stuff with him, as well. He’s very open to looking into his outing and seeing what he can improve on.”

Morton isn’t alone in his early struggles. Dean Kremer starts Wednesday and he’s posted an 8.16 ERA in three starts covering 14 1/3 innings. He’s gone 5 1/3, 4 1/3 and 4 2/3, and his 13 earned runs were tied for third in the majors yesterday. His 21 hits were tied for third in the American League.

Ahead of him was Cade Povich with 24, tying the left-hander with Toronto’s José Berríos for first. Povich was removed yesterday after 4 2/3 innings. Povich joined Eflin in his previous outing as the only Orioles starters to complete the sixth after going 4 1/3 in the home opener.

Tomoyuki Sugano, who starts Thursday, lasted four innings in his major league debut before exiting with hand cramps. He’s also gone 5 1/3 and 4 2/3.

Pitching coach Drew French likes how Sugano’s fastball plays up.

“I think guys expect him to control the bottom of the zone a lot, so I think there’s some effectiveness when he’s able to elevate purposefully and with quality reps to quality locations,” French said.

“He threw some really nice four-seams (in Kansas City) and I think guys are really gonna have to respect the split. And I think their eyes are gonna be down a bit hunting that, whether it’s to swing or to take it. His ability to throw quality, uncomfortable pitches at the top and close to these guys is something that’s gonna be something that’s valuable for him.”

The Orioles could choose a bullpen game Saturday when a fifth starter is needed or promote a pitcher from Triple-A Norfolk, with Brandon Young a possibility. Young hadn’t allowed an earned run in 11 1/3 innings before Game 1 of Saturday’s doubleheader against Gwinnett, when he surrendered five over five innings but walked none and struck out six.

The rotation has registered a 5.30 ERA that’s 29^th in the majors behind the Yankees’ 5.40. Their 74 2/3 innings are 27^th. The bullpen had a rare slippage yesterday with four earned runs and five total, and its 3.58 ERA ranks 12^th. Seranthony Domínguez still hasn’t permitted a run after his 1 1/3 scoreless yesterday, but Gregory Soto, the fourth of six relievers used, was charged with his first three in the eighth inning.

The clanking of baton hitting ground reverberated throughout the ballpark.

Yennier Cano hasn’t allowed a run but he let an inherited runner score after replacing Soto. Matt Bowman took the loss in the 10^th with the automatic runner scoring.

Félix Bautista isn’t cleared to pitch on back-to-back days. He isn’t working more than one inning. His return is fantastic news but how he must be handled early on is unfortunate. It can influence outcomes.

The Orioles used the same lineup in consecutive games for the first time. They went 1-1 with it and will try something different Tuesday with the Guardians starting left-hander Logan Allen.

Gunnar Henderson had his first three-hit game since Sept. 25 at Yankee Stadium. He could be heating up.

Jackson Holliday might sit Tuesday with a southpaw on the mound, allowing Ramón Urías or Jorge Mateo to start. Holliday is in an 0-for-17 slump since his three-hit game in Kansas City.

Ryan Mountcastle’s home run was his first since July 29, 2024 against the Blue Jays, snapping a career-long 41-game drought.

Down on the farm, Triple-A Norfolk’s Coby Mayo homered again yesterday to give him three and he reached base five times to run his streak to nine consecutive plate appearances. His average is up to .245 and his OPS to .861.

Jud Fabian hit his fifth home run but is batting .216 with a .298 on-base percentage.

Cody Poteet is laboring since the Orioles acquired him from the Cubs for cash considerations. He allowed five runs and eight hits yesterday in two innings and has a 16.20 ERA in three appearances.