Reviewing more questions attached to Orioles

The latest road trip began last night at Dodger Stadium, where the World Series memories for the franchise are much nicer than in Queens. The Orioles are down to two after they return next week from Denver, playing three games in Boston and Detroit and three in New York and Minnesota.

The roster is going to change multiple times to uphold the 2024 theme. It’s much too late for stability. Don't even think it.

The injured list should get a little bit lighter. An extra player and position player can be added on Sept. 1.

In the meantime, let’s check out some more lingering questions.

* How long is the leash on Burch Smith?

Manager Brandon Hyde said it again Sunday night. He likes Smith’s stuff. He expects better results.

Smith raised expectations in July by beginning his Orioles career with four scoreless outings over 4 1/3 innings, striking out six batters and walking none. In his first nine appearances, he surrendered only two earned runs and struck out 12 in 9 2/3.

The bullpen drama caught up to Smith. He’s allowed 10 runs in 8 2/3 innings in his last nine games, and the back-to-back home runs by Houston’s Alex Bregman and Yanier Díaz on consecutive pitches Sunday night raised his total to five.

FanGraphs lists Smith with one minor league option but he said that’s incorrect. He’s out of them and would have to be designated for assignment before the Orioles could send him down.

* Can Colton Cowser finish strong?

Cowser was the American League’s Rookie of the Month in April, slashed .188/.305/.275 in May and .182/.250/.429 in June, and rebounded big in July with a .329/.390/.521 line. He batted .219/.306/.418 in the first half and was hitting .298/.355/.504 in the second heading into last night.

The former first-round draft pick was leading AL rookies with 19 home runs, and ranked second in RBIs with 57, tied for second in doubles with 19, third in walks with 39 and fourth in hits with 98.

You can see where this is going.

Cowser is trying to give the Orioles back-to-back Rookies of the Year after Gunnar Henderson’s unanimous selection in 2023. Closer Gregg Olson was the organization’s last recipient in 1989.

The last American League teammates to win in consecutive years are Oakland’s Bobby Crosby and Huston Street in 2004-05.

* Can Trevor Rogers salvage the Orioles part of his 2024 season?

Rogers is supposed to be in the rotation. That was the whole point of the Marlins trade that cost the Orioles second base prospect Connor Norby and outfielder Kyle Stowers.

Stowers began last night 11-for-70 (.157) with one extra-base hit in 23 games with the Marlins, but he had six hits in his last 17 at-bats. Norby was 10-for-29 with four doubles and two home runs in his first seven games. He set a franchise record with six extra-base hits in his first six.

Rogers received four starts with the Orioles, totaled only 19 innings and was optioned with a 7.11 ERA and 1.842 WHIP. That leash seemed a little shorter than perhaps anticipated.

The first start with Triple-A Norfolk didn’t instill any confidence. Rogers allowed 10 runs and nine hits in 4 1/3 innings. Pitching coaches and instructors have a plan in place for Rogers. Maybe he’s working on some things and initial results don’t matter.

He won’t return unless they improve.

* Does Heston Kjerstad make it back in 2024?

The last update on Kjerstad revealed that he was doing some baseball activities while remaining under concussion protocol.

Kjerstad’s option to Norfolk was rescinded Aug. 7 when the Orioles placed him on the concussion injured list retroactive to Aug. 1. He needs to be cleared for games and build up his at-bats before he’s a consideration for September’s expanded roster. The Tides’ final game is on the 22^nd.

This isn’t a shoulder or elbow. The Orioles can project a late-September return for Grayson Rodriguez, Danny Coulombe and Jordan Westburg, but it isn’t the same with a concussion.

They already experienced one false start with Kjerstad.

Getting back in the box doesn’t answer the question. We don’t know whether the Orioles would make room for Kjerstad or try again next spring.

Kjerstad posted a .370 on-base percentage in 28 games. He went 7-for-16 with two doubles and two home runs in June, but was 2-for-18 after Clay Holmes drilled him on the ear flap.

* What’s next for Coby Mayo?

Mayo is an obvious candidate for the expanded roster, but it isn’t promised.

The Orioles want him to get regular at-bats again at Triple-A rather than sitting on their bench, and also to keep working on his defense at the infield corners. A run of opposing right-handed starters didn’t help his cause, but five left-handers in seven games followed that stretch.

It seemed like a nice fit for Mayo, but Ramón Urías is more trusted at third base and he also happened to get hot.

Ryan Mountcastle’s wrist injury didn’t open the door for Mayo, with utility infielder Liván Soto again getting the call. Eloy Jiménez has emerged as the primary designated hitter. Emmanual Rivera moved ahead of Mayo with his arrival last week, which led to a start at first base.

One benefit of optioning Mayo was to allow him to seal any cracks that might have formed in his confidence after a rough introduction to the majors. The hope now is that bypassing him again won't widen them.

* Is Nick Vespi staying in the organization?

There must be something about Orioles left-handers that gets them designated for assignment and clearing waivers.

Cole Irvin went through the process beginning at the trade deadline and now he’s back in the rotation. Ellicott City native Bruce Zimmermann, also known as “Baltimore native” and “Loyola Blakefield graduate,” was outrighted over the weekend.

Vespi was designated on Sunday when the Orioles claimed reliever Brooks Kriske on waivers from the Reds. Kriske was optioned.

Vespi knows all about that, having it done to him five times this season, the maximum allowed before a team must attempt to pass a player through waivers. Maybe it reduces interest in him while he’s in limbo. Or maybe there’s a team that seeks a left-handed reliever and doesn’t care about the lack of flexibility.

If the trend continues, Vespi will be reporting to Norfolk.