Gunnar Henderson looked every bit like the player the Orioles have been waiting for on Friday night.
Baltimore’s shortstop carried the offense at Tropicana Field, going 4-for-4 and powering the Orioles to a 6-5 win over the Rays in the series opener. Henderson mixed in two singles, a double and a two-run homer, and his blast in the eighth inning put the game away.
It was the kind of night that cut through a rough stretch. Henderson entered Tuesday hitting .212 with a .675 OPS over 118 games, a line that didn’t match the impact he’d shown as one of the American League’s best from 2023-25.
But over the last several days, he’s started to look dangerous again. He homered Tuesday in a 3-for-5 showing during Baltimore’s 5-2 win over the Twins, coming up a triple short of the cycle, then drew two walks in Wednesday’s 7-5 loss at Minnesota.
After Thursday’s off-day, he turned in his second four-hit game of the season and his first since May 17 at Washington. That performance also helped the Orioles halt Tampa Bay’s nine-game winning streak.
Baltimore got other timely production too. Colton Cowser homered, and Dylan Beavers delivered a pinch-hit two-run single in the seventh to give the Orioles a 4-2 lead. Henderson then added the exclamation point an inning later, launching a Statcast-projected 400-foot shot for his 20th homer of the year and stretching the margin to 6-2.
The Orioles also made a notable lineup adjustment with Henderson. He hit fifth, marking the first time this season he had batted below third.
Baltimore loaded the top of the order with right-handed hitters against Tampa Bay opener Steven Matz, including Pete Alonso, who hit leadoff for the first time in his MLB career. That shuffle bumped Henderson down a spot.
It was the first time Henderson had hit lower than fourth in the Orioles’ lineup since Sept. 28, 2023, when he batted sixth in a 2-0 win over the Red Sox.
The win moved Baltimore to 59-63, and the timing mattered. The Orioles are in the middle of a crowded AL Wild Card race, and Friday was the first game of 10 straight against the Rays and Yankees, the top two teams in the AL.
In Other News...
Orioles Suddenly Have A Pete Alonso Concern They Cant Ignore
Pete Alonsos health is suddenly worth watching in a way the Orioles did not need right now. During the 10th inning against the Rays, Alonso felt a cramp in his right calf, a minor-sounding issue that still landed with extra weight because Baltimore is leaning on every available edge as it tries to keep its wildcard push moving. Alonso brushed it off afterward, saying he has played through worse and feels fine, but anytime a key bat draws even a brief concern, the ripple effect is immediate.
The broader context is what makes this one linger. Alonso has played in 537 straight games, the second-longest active streak in the majors, and that kind of durability has been part of his value all along. He also said he expects to play in the next game, with a possible move to designated hitter, but the Orioles can only hope this stays a one-night scare rather than the kind of issue that starts affecting the stretch run. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Wild Card Push Suddenly Has A Catching Twist To Watch
As the Orioles keep pressing toward a Wild Card spot, the injury report is starting to look more like a depth chart again. A handful of players are moving through rehab work, and catcher Samuel Basallo is among the latest to edge back into the picture as Baltimore tries to keep its roster options open for the stretch run. Utility player Blaze Alexander is also getting closer to a rehab assignment after a hand fracture, while right-hander Twine Palmer has already been reinstated from the injured list and has been pitching well at High-A Frederick.
The timing matters because the Orioles have had to navigate October aspirations with constant roster churn, and catching is one area worth watching as the calendar turns. Basallos return path adds another layer to a group that has already been waiting on multiple injured pieces, and the next steps in Norfolk will tell Baltimore a lot about how soon that mix can start helping again. For a team trying to stay in the Wild Card chase, even the rehab assignments carry real weight. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Fans Are Split On Gunnar Henderson For One Painful Reason
A recent poll of 271 Orioles fans showed just how uneasy the mood has become around Gunnar Henderson. The reaction was nearly split down the middle, but a slight majority said they do not believe he will get back to being a good player for Baltimore, which is a striking sign of how quickly confidence can wobble when a young cornerstone goes through a rough stretch.
The Orioles still seem to be in wait-and-see mode with Henderson, hoping the bat and overall performance rebound before the concern hardens into something bigger. For a player who has been central to the clubs future plans, the current uncertainty is what makes this such a painful conversation for the fan base, especially with no immediate signs yet that the slump has turned the corner. [Read more 🡒]