The mailbag didn’t make it any further than the first leg of the road trip. Given the rash of injuries, just be glad that it didn’t strain a muscle. Or get a rash.

The Orioles are playing the Braves in Atlanta and I’m sorting through the latest round of questions. You ask, I try to answer, and we have another sequel to the beloved 2008 original.

I don’t care about clarity, length, style or brevity, but I do care about Beavers, and young Dylan gets some attention today.

Also, my mailbag is an All-Star and your mailbag has its insurance coverage dropped by Allstate.  

What happened to Emmanuel Rivera?
Rivera cleared outright waivers again and accepted an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk. Again. Wash, rinse ... you know the drill.

ATLANTA – Nothing says Fourth of July quite like baseball. The home team even wore red white and blue. 

The home fans just went home blue, though, as the Orioles did their best USA impression to take down the guys wearing red, 3-2. Luckily, the Braves didn’t have to wear red coats in the Atlanta heat. 

The headliners of tonight’s contest, outside of the fireworks show, included the returning Jordan Westburg and Tyler O’Neill, who combined to reach base five times tonight. 

"Yeah, I think two of the three runs, right?" interim manager Tony Mansolino said after the game. "TO (O'Neill) led off the inning with a single then came around on the home run by Ced (Cedric Mullins) and then Westy with the big home run there to get us on the board."

Westburg’s return to the lineup started off on the right note with an infield single. Gunnar Henderson followed with a double down the line to put the O’s in business, but Ryan O’Hearn and Ramón Laureano couldn’t capitalize. 

ATLANTA – Two big bats are back for the O’s brigade. 

After scoring just two total runs in their last two games, notably against Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi, it’s an offense that could use a boost of momentum. Tonight in Atlanta, the Orioles are hoping to get it. 

For the first time in a week, Jordan Westburg gets the start at third base. Westburg had missed the last five games with an injury to his left index finger, the same injury that kept him out for a short stretch two weeks ago. 

“Obviously, we kind of had to sit on that for the week,” interim manager Tony Mansolino said before the game. “Is he at 100 percent? Probably not, but I think it’s probably close.”

Westburg could bring some new habits upon returning, too. 

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• RHP Matt Bowman has cleared outright waivers and accepted an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk.
• INF Emmanuel Rivera has cleared outright waivers and accepted an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk.

The Orioles have made the following roster move:

• Reinstated OF Tyler O’Neill (left shoulder impingement) from the 10-day Injured List.

Tyler O’Neill was reinstated from the injured list earlier today, giving the Orioles their projected starting outfield with Cedric Mullins and Colton Cowser.

O’Neill has appeared in only 24 games this season due to neck inflammation and a left shoulder impingement. His last at-bat in the majors was May 15.

During his absence, O’Neill remained stuck in 1-for-23 and 2-for-38 slumps. His last home run was hit April 13.

The Orioles optioned Dylan Carlson after Wednesday's game in Texas in anticipation of O'Neill's return.

O’Neill is expected to be in the lineup tonight, as the Orioles begin a three-game series against the Braves in Atlanta.

Tony Mansolino delivered the news Wednesday afternoon, first on the lineup posted and then in his daily dugout media session. The interim manager was given the freedom to write in Gary Sánchez’s name. Among another flurry of Orioles roster moves, an activity that qualifies as cardio on this team, they wouldn’t need a sixth catcher this season.

Not yet, anyway. It would be dumb to think that only five players will wear the tools of ignorance.

The Orioles broke camp with the expected pairing of Sánchez and Adley Rutschman. The competitions didn’t spill behind the plate. Only an injury would disrupt the duo.

And then, it happened. Again and again.

Sánchez went on the IL April 29 with right wrist inflammation. Maverick Handley was involved in a home plate collision June 22 in New York and remains on the concussion list. Handley was recalled because Rutschman strained his oblique the previous day during batting practice.

The Orioles have made the following roster move:

• Optioned OF Dylan Carlson to Triple-A Norfolk after yesterday’s game.

ARLINGTON, Texas – Another check on the trade interest generated by the Orioles still finds teams targeting their bullpen and All-Star first baseman Ryan O’Hearn. Nothing has changed or should be deemed as surprising.

Any club in the market for relievers is keeping tabs on Seranthony Domínguez, Gregory Soto and Andrew Kittredge. The $9 million option on Kittredge’s contract could be a deterrent in some organizations or bring appeal due to the controllability.

I had one scout suggest that the cost might be too rich for his team’s ownership, but that certainly won’t be true with others.

I’ve also heard Keegan Akin’s name come up with a few teams. He’s got another year of arbitration eligibility and can be used in long relief and as an opener.

Akin surrendered a game-tying three-run homer to Adolis García in the 10^th inning Monday night and went on the 15-day injured list yesterday with shoulder inflammation. He’s allowed four earned runs and five total with nine hits in his last four appearances covering 4 1/3 innings and has raised his ERA from 2.67 to 3.32.

ARLINGTON, Texas – The Orioles made another series of roster moves today and celebrated Ryan O’Hearn’s election to the All-Star Game. They addressed their latest injury and dodged a more serious one. And they hoped that, at some point in the 2025 season, they might jump off the wave that lifts and dumps them.  

They had another splashdown tonight at Globe Life Field.

Marcus Semien hit a three-run homer off Tomoyuki Sugano in the third inning, and the lead grew, along with the right-hander’s slump, in a 6-0 loss to the Rangers.

Ezequiel Duran’s two-run single in the fourth and Corey Seager’s leadoff homer in the fifth pushed Sugano further into the deep end, and the Orioles couldn’t rescue him. They need to find some answers.

The impressive beginning to Sugano’s major league career has given way to a stretch of 22 earned runs (23 total) and 40 hits allowed over 22 1/3 innings in five outings. His ERA is 4.44.

ARLINGTON, Texas – The voting is done. The results are in. And Ryan O’Hearn will get less time to rest at the All-Star break.

He couldn’t be happier.

O’Hearn finished first at designated hitter for the American League by receiving 78 percent of the votes, placing ahead of the Yankees’ Ben Rice. He won the Phase 1 balloting to reach the two-man final and held his ground.  

Second baseball Jackson Holliday finished behind the Tigers’ Gleyber Torres but still can make the team as a backup.

Pitchers and reserves, totaling 23 for each league, are determined through a combination of “Player Ballot” choices and selections coming from the commissioner’s office. The rest of the rosters will be announced Sunday at 5 p.m. on ESPN.

ARLINGTON, Texas – Gary Sánchez stays in the Orioles lineup tonight after being hit on the finger last night in the eighth inning.

The X-rays must have come back negative because Sánchez is the designated hitter. Jacob Stallings makes his first start with the Orioles.

Jordan Westburg is out of the lineup for a fifth consecutive day due to soreness in his left index finger.

Ramón Laureano is playing right field and batting second. Ryan O’Hearn is the first baseman and cleanup hitter. Coby Mayo is on the bench.

On a busy day, the Orioles also signed infielder/outfielder Jose Barrero to a minor league contract.

The Orioles have made the following roster move:

• Agreed to terms on a 2025 minor league contract with INF/OF Jose Barrero.

ARLINGTON, Texas – The Orioles conclude their series against the Rangers tonight after another round of roster moves, the latest aimed at reshuffling the bullpen.

Yennier Cano has returned from Triple-A Norfolk and left-hander Keegan Akin goes on the 15-day injured list with left shoulder inflammation. The Orioles selected Corbin Martin’s contract from Norfolk and designated Matt Bowman for assignment again.

Cano was optioned June 22 after posting a 4.73 ERA and 1.388 WHIP in 32 appearances. He pitched twice for Norfolk and allowed one run in two innings.

Akin surrendered a game-tying, three-run homer to Adolis García in the 10^th inning Monday. He allowed four earned runs and five total with nine hits in his last four outings over 4 1/3 innings.

Martin hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2022 with the Diamondbacks. The Orioles claimed him on waivers from the Brewers in May 2024 and he has 5.29 ERA in 29 appearances with the Tides.

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Recalled RHP Yennier Cano from Triple-A Norfolk.
• Selected the contract of RHP Corbin Martin from Triple-A Norfolk. He will wear No. 48.
• Placed LHP Keegan Akin (left shoulder inflammation) on the 15-day Injured List, retroactive to July 1.
• Designated RHP Matt Bowman for assignment.

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

ARLINGTON, Texas – The Orioles got rid of any no-hit talk tonight with Cedric Mullins’ leadoff bunt single in the top of the third inning. Jacob deGrom, the two-time Cy Young winner, wouldn’t make another run at baseball history.

Getting a run against him figured to be the more daunting task.

Gary Sánchez made sure that Gunnar Henderson wouldn’t be stranded in the fourth, barreling a 99.4 mph fastball with two outs and clearing the left field fence. Forget the shutout, too. But there wasn’t much else that the Orioles could do.

deGrom held them to two runs in six innings, and the Rangers scored three times against rookie Brandon Young in the third and twice against Matt Bowman in the fifth and sixth to set up a 10-2 victory over the Orioles before an announced crowd of 30,933 at Globe Life Field.

The rubber game is Wednesday night and the Orioles are 4-10 in those scenarios. Their overall record is 37-48.

ARLINGTON, Fla. – What Ramón Laureano is doing wasn’t necessarily part of the original plan.

The Orioles signed Laureano late by offseason standards, agreeing to a $4 million deal on Feb. 4 that included a $6.5 million option. The Astros traded him in November 2017, the Guardians selected him on waivers in August 2023 and released him the following year, and the Braves let him become a free agent in November. His career wasn’t on the upswing.

Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias appeared set with position players and most certainly outfielders after signing Tyler O’Neill to a three-year, $49.5 million contract and promising many more at-bats for Heston Kjerstad. He also brought in Dylan Carlson a week ahead of Laureano for $975,000.

Carlson had three minor league options. Laureano had none. But Elias wanted to make the Orioles more competitive against left-handed pitching and also provide the manager with more freedom to maneuver outfielders for defensive purposes, and Laureano was packing a cannon for an arm. He earned the nickname “Laser Ramón,” a stroke of brilliance to professional wrestling fans, due to arm strength that ranked in the 89^th percentile in baseball.

Elias also had a history with Laureano, who was drafted by the Astros in 2014.

ARLINGTON, Texas – The Orioles won’t have Jorge Mateo on their roster for an extended stretch and could be without him for the remainder of the season.

Mateo suffered a “moderate” hamstring strain Sunday with Triple-A Norfolk, according to interim manager Tony Mansolino, and is projected to miss eight-to-12 weeks.

The past two summers have brought terrible health news to Mateo, who underwent reconstructive left elbow surgery in 2024 and didn’t play after July 23. Mateo went on the injured list this year retroactive to June 7 with left elbow inflammation resulting from an outfield collision with Heston Kjerstad.

Mateo strained his hamstring while running to first base during his rehab assignment. He was 6-for-13 with a home run for the Tides, and the Orioles held hopes of adding his speed and defensive versatility before the break.

The bat never heated up for Mateo, who slashed .180/.231/.279 in 32 games. The projected length of his absence matches the one given to first baseman Ryan Mountcastle, who sustained a Grade 2 hamstring strain. Mountcastle’s IL stint was retroactive to May 31.

ARLINGTON, Texas – Jordan Westburg is out of the lineup tonight for the fourth consecutive game with a sore left index finger.

Westburg could be available to pinch-hit, but the Orioles don’t want to risk worsening his condition. They also are hesitant to put him on the injured list. So, he sits.

Ramón Laureano is batting second as the designated hitter. Gary Sánchez is catching.

Dylan Carlson, recalled earlier today, is in right field and batting ninth.

Charlie Morton is playing long toss in the outfield to test his right elbow.

The Orioles have made the following roster move:

• RHP Kyle Tyler elected free agency in lieu of accepting an outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk.