Some issues crop up as O's have lost three of four

If we are taking a big picture view, the Orioles are tied for first place and they have a 4-3 start. A winning overall start against Boston and New York. They'd likely take that record in every seven-game sample against those clubs.

But since the club's 3-0 start in Boston, where they scored 18 runs, they have hit less and won less. They've allowed seven runs in three of the four games, going 1-3 since the first Boston series. They lost the home opener 7-3 yesterday to Boston and those last three losses have come by 16 total runs.

So yes, some warts are showing up.

Let's take a look.

The strikeouts are mounting: Since they fanned just seven times in the season-opener, the O's have struck out 11 or more times in each game since. They set a major league record yesterday with a fifth consecutive game of 13 or more strikeouts. They have struck out 73 times in that five-game run and 91 for the year.

Yes that is way, way too many, stated Captain Obvious.

But how to fix it? Lineup changes? Call-ups from the farm?

No, it's way too soon for any of that. No reason to panic yet. The Orioles are expanding the zone and big league pitchers are noticing. If you swing at pitches that are not strikes, they will keep throwing you such pitches. Easy to sit on the couch and say they should stop chasing pitches. And major league pitchers are trained to throw strike-to-ball to induce hitters to chase.

But they've got to get pitchers back in the strike zone and stop helping them. Since the O's scored 11 runs in the series finale at Boston, they've scored nine runs on 20 hits in the last four games. They went 13-for-40 (.325) with runners in scoring position in Boston. But they have gone 1-for-15 (.067) with RISP since that series.

Time to get that turned around starting on Saturday night.

Mountcastle's struggles on defense: Before the home opener, manager Brandon Hyde expressed confidence in Ryan Mountcastle in left field. He couldn't make the catch in New York Wednesday on that hard-hit liner off the bat of Gary Sánchez.

"I thought the (Sánchez) ball came off hot, it's windy. It hooked. I think that was lack of experience, honestly," Hyde said after the game via Zoom. "... And I think we all have to remember that Ryan has not played much outfield. He did a nice job for the 30-plus games he was out there last year. He was still a convert from last year, but it's still going to be a new position. He's going to make mistakes in the outfield. We're OK with that. We're going to be patient with him. He works his rear end off prior to games and he did that in spring training.

"I wanted to put him back out there in the outfield (yesterday). Because I want him to feel that we have confidence in him. I know Fredi (Gonzalez, O's coach) talked to him on the plane and I mentioned something to him. 'Keep your head up, this won't be the last mistake you make in the outfield. It was not an easy play anyway. Just continue to do what you're doing.' He's going to be fine."

We do have to remember that Mountcastle held his own out there last year and he is still learning the position. We also have to remember he homered to score two of the three runs they got yesterday. Yes, he looked tentative going after both a bloop single to left and a line RBI single later in the sixth inning Thursday. He made a throwing error.

Sure, he's going to spend some time this year as a designated hitter, but he also is going to get many more chances in left. The team, of course, will continue to show confidence in him and he has to both learn from and then flush bad plays on defense. Has to put it behind him and make the next play.

The Orioles hope to get Austin Hays back when his time on the injured list is up and no doubt the outfield defense is stronger with Cedric Mullins flanked by Hays and Anthony Santander.

Speaking of Mullins, in addition to his .448 hitting start, he continues to run balls down in center field. It's Paul Blair-like the way he gracefully runs to the baseball and outruns the baseball making catch after catch.

Trey's ovation: He got a huge ovation during the pregame ceremony and again when he batted in the first inning. Trey Mancini was back on the field at Camden Yards and it was awesome to see. Baltimore loves the guy and Baltimore fans finally got their chance to cheer him after fans in Florida and on the road trip got a chance.

"It was amazing," Mancini said of the ovations from the Oriole Park fans. "I think it's well-documented at this point what I went through and what it took to get back playing and it was nothing short of what I expected. We have the best fans in baseball here and no matter what, they love us, and that showed today and meant the world to me. Even though it was like 25 percent capacity, it felt like a full stadium out there and I have goosebumps thinking about it still.

"I had to fight back tears there when I got that first ovation. That's probably what will stay with me the most."

For more on Mancini's day, click here.

The Orioles are off today and back at it on Saturday night against the Red Sox with lefty Bruce Zimmermann on the mound.

Welcome home, @TreyMancini 🧡#F16HT pic.twitter.com/nxFwljpga4

-- Baltimore Orioles 😷 (@Orioles) April 8, 2021