The Orioles head into the All-Star break riding a little momentum, and they earned every bit of it. Over the weekend, they swept the Kansas City Royals and strung together four straight wins for the first time this season. Now comes a few days off - with the exception of Adley Rutschman - before the Orioles try to keep the good stretch going when they return.
Sunday’s win had plenty going on at the plate. Gunnar Henderson collected three hits, Samuel Basallo and Leody Taveras each went deep, and Blaze Alexander reached base three times.
The final trip, though, came on a hit-by-pitch that broke his left hand. Alexander seemed to know immediately that something was wrong, and he went after pitcher Lucas Erceg after the play.
It’s a brutal blow for both Alexander and the Orioles. He has been one of the team’s best players this year and is in the middle of a career season. There isn’t a timeline yet for how long he’ll be out, but he won’t need surgery.
While Baltimore was finishing off the Royals, the draft was unfolding too. The Orioles used their first pick on Eric Booth, a high school outfielder from Mississippi. Mark spent the weekend tracking the draft, so the full draft list and a recap of the class are already available.
The Orioles also had two players in the Futures Game over the weekend: Ike Irish and Joseph Dzierwa. Dzierwa got only one batter, which was a rough break.
FanGraphs offered blurbs on the Orioles’ first three selections in the 2026 MLB Draft - Eric Booth, Ty Head, and Dominic Voegele - and was especially high on Ty Head, who entered the draft ranked 16th.
On the birthday front, Orioles fans have three names to note today. Pat Rapp turns 59; he spent 10 years in the majors and made 30 starts for Baltimore in 2000.
Fritz Dorish, born in 1921 and deceased in 2000, was a relief pitcher for the Orioles in 1955. And Mark Brown turns 67 today - not the Mark Brown who writes Orioles content every day, but the former Oriole who appeared in nine games for the 1984 club.
There’s also a little Orioles history tied to this date. In 1962, Baltimore beat Cleveland 10-3 behind home runs from Boog Powell and Brooks Robinson, plus four doubles from Charlie Lau and a win for Steve Barber, who worked 6.2 innings.
In 1991, the Orioles threw a combined no-hitter in a 2-0 win over the A’s. Bob Milacki, Mike Flanagan, Mark Williamson, and Gregg Olson handled the job, though Milacki had to leave after being hit on the hand by a line drive. Baltimore scored on an RBI single from Chris Hoiles and a Mike Devereaux homer.
In 2019, the Orioles sent Andrew Cashner to the Red Sox for two minor leaguers. Cashner had been solid for Baltimore and then struggled badly in Boston.
And in 2022, the Orioles beat the Cubs 7-1 for their 10th straight win. That run moved them from 35-44 to 45-44 and cut their deficit from 23 games out of first place to 17.5 games out. They were still in last place, but it was a lot of fun.
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 🡒]