The Orioles kicked off the 2026 season with a new slogan: "Fly Different." But if Saturday’s game against the Twins is any indication, they’re still finding their wings. The O’s fell 4-1, marking their first loss of the season, and it’s clear they have some work to do to live up to their new mantra.
The real story of the game was the Orioles' struggle at the plate. They struck out 16 times, doubling their strikeout count from Opening Day.
Despite out-hitting the Twins 5-4, the O’s managed just one hit with runners in scoring position and left 11 men stranded. The top seven spots in the lineup combined for a single hit, making it a tough day to snag a win.
Kyle Bradish took the mound for the Orioles, hoping to recapture the form he showed before his Tommy John surgery. Unfortunately, he couldn’t complete five innings in his season debut.
As the game progressed, Bradish lost command of his fastball and seemed to lose some velocity. A two-run homer from the Twins' #8 hitter, Royce Lewis, encapsulated his struggles, providing the decisive runs of the game.
Bradish also allowed an unearned run, which wasn’t entirely on him. It began with Byron Buxton beating out an infield single after a replay review overturned the initial out call.
Buxton then advanced on a fly ball and scored on a throwing error by Adley Rutschman, who attempted a pickoff at second but hit Buxton’s helmet instead. This sequence erased the Orioles’ early 1-0 lead, which they had secured with back-to-back hits from Colton Cowser and Jeremiah Jackson.
While the Orioles’ offense struggled on Opening Day against a strong pitcher like Joe Ryan, Saturday’s performance was harder to excuse. Minnesota’s Taj Bradley, with a career ERA of 4.86, was on the mound, and although the Orioles pushed his pitch count, they couldn’t capitalize, striking out nine times and chasing him after just 4.1 innings. The Twins' bullpen took over, and the Orioles managed only two more hits for the rest of the game.
On a brighter note, reliever Anthony Nunez made an impressive major league debut. Acquired from the Mets last July, Nunez pitched two perfect innings and struck out three batters, hinting at a promising future in higher-leverage situations.
Earlier on Saturday, the Orioles announced Shane Baz’s contract extension, which was a moment of excitement for the team. However, the loss was a reminder of the struggles they’ve faced since the 2024 All-Star Break.
It’s early in the season, and while this game stings, it’s just one of 162. The Orioles have a chance to clinch the series on Sunday, with Baz making his first start since the extension.
A strong performance from him and a more productive offense against Twins' starter Bailey Ober could set a positive tone moving forward. And hey, at least they’re not the Giants, who started their season with back-to-back shutouts.