The Orioles are trying to turn a strong Saturday into a statement Sunday.
After winning their third straight game, Baltimore moved within two games of the final wild card spot and kept itself squarely in the playoff mix as the first half winds down. The timing matters, too: one more win today would give the Orioles four in a row on the final day of the season’s “first half,” and that would feel like a sign from above.
Saturday’s victory was one of the clearest wins they’ve put together this season. Kyle Bradish handled the mound work, and he did it without his best stuff. The offense did the rest, blasting four home runs and scoring five of its six runs on those long balls.
That kind of performance is exactly why there’s still a case to be made that this team has more in it. The first half has been uneven, and the Orioles have spent plenty of time looking like a club that has left wins on the table. Even so, they remain in the hunt, and it’s not hard to argue that better baseball could still be ahead.
That leaves the front office in an interesting spot with the trade deadline approaching. Mike Elias and the Orioles have enough reason to believe in this group to consider outside help, but not enough to pretend the answer is obvious. The pressure is on across the board - players, coaches, and especially the decision makers in the warehouse - because the team only needs a small hint that October is realistic.
For now, Baltimore has at least given itself that. A four-game winning streak today would be a welcome way to close the first half, and it would keep the conversation about an aggressive deadline very much alive.
Elsewhere around the organization, the draft brought a wave of positive reaction. The Orioles selected several young players they appear excited about, and the early returns suggest solid value.
They also mixed ages and positions well, something they haven’t always done. More picks are coming today, and while those selections may not generate the same buzz, later rounds often end up shaping the overall quality of a draft.
There was also encouraging news on the pitching side. Ryan Helsley avoided surgery on his elbow, which is a big break for both him and the Orioles.
The right-hander has a player option for 2027, and right now it looks like he’ll pick it up. Even better, there’s still a chance he can pitch through the issue and maybe join Félix Bautista at the back of the bullpen.
The outlook is less positive for Keegan Akin, who now sounds like he is heading for Tommy John.
Baltimore also activated Yaramil Hiraldo from the 60-day injured list, a move that adds bullpen depth down in Norfolk. With Helsley and Akin both out for a while, the Orioles need arms available, even if fans would rather not see Hiraldo in key situations in Baltimore.
And while it’s too early to call the draft a success or failure, the reaction to Day 1 has been strong. The process has drawn praise, and that matters even if it’s not the final word.
FanGraphs currently gives the Orioles an 18.1 percent chance to make the playoffs. Considering how rough they’ve looked in stretches over the last few months, that’s not nothing. The American League being so mediocre overall helps keep the door open.
On this day in Orioles history, Mike Cuellar threw a complete game three-hitter to beat the Red Sox 4-0 in 1969, with Tony Conigliaro collecting all three Boston hits. In 2022, the Orioles beat the Cubs 4-2 at Wrigley Field for their ninth straight win, reaching .500 for the first time all season. And in 2024, benches cleared after Heston Kjerstad was hit in the head by Clay Holmes, with Brandon Hyde needing to be restrained by Austin Wells after taking exception to something from the Yankees dugout.
Happy birthday to the late Jack Harshman, born on this day in 1927. He pitched parts of two seasons for Baltimore from 1958-59 and posted a 3.55 ERA over 283.2 innings.
In Other News...
Orioles Make Troubling Pitching Move As Keegan Akin Situation Deepens
The Orioles added another arm to the organization on Monday, acquiring right-hander Cam Sanders from the Pirates for cash considerations and sending him to Triple-A Norfolk. Sanders had been designated for assignment by Pittsburgh, and Baltimore is giving itself a little extra depth in the system at a time when the pitching staff is getting stretched.
The more pressing issue is Keegan Akin, who was moved to the 60-day injured list because of an elbow injury. He is scheduled for a medical evaluation that will help determine the next step, and for an Orioles club already trying to manage its pitching depth, the situation adds another layer of uncertainty to a bullpen that could use some stability. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Writer Just Put A Stunning Timeline On Samuel Basallo
Samuel Basallo has given the Orioles plenty to dream on already, and the appeal is obvious every time the 21-year-old catcher gets into one of his power swings. He has 16 home runs in 301 plate appearances, and his advanced power numbers back up what the eye test says: when he connects, the ball leaves in a hurry. Basallo has also talked openly about wanting to become an All-Star someday, which fits the way the organization has started to view him as more than just a promising bat.
The next step is less about raw talent than about the everyday grind that comes with becoming a lineup fixture. Basallo is still working through pitch selection and the defensive side of the position, but the trust around him is growing as he keeps showing he can handle bigger moments. Baltimore does not need to decide his ceiling right now, only whether his recent surge is the start of something much larger, and that is where the intrigue really begins. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Fans Have Seen This Mike Elias Pattern Far Too Often
For Orioles fans, the frustration is starting to feel familiar in a way that is hard to ignore. Since Mike Elias took over in 2019, Baltimore has too often been stuck in the same place at the same point on the calendar, rarely above .500 by the 95-game mark and usually hanging near the bottom of the AL East while the rest of the division pulls away.
The larger concern is not just where this season sits now, but how closely it fits the pattern that has followed Elias from the start. Baltimore has not finished a year with more than 78 wins under his watch, and even with the organization trying to build around a young core, the margin for error keeps shrinking as injuries pile up and the standings tighten. [Read more 🡒]