Good morning Birdland,
Leave it to the 2026 Orioles to make a pitcher with an ERA near seven look like an all-star. Look, Zack Littel has been in the majors for nearly a decade and has put together multiple solid seasons. He’s not a random Triple-A arm making a spot start. But 2026 has been a struggle for him. The opener of this series with the Nationals seemed like an opportunity for the Orioles to score some runs. Instead, Littel shut the lineup down for five innings, and they couldn’t do much of anything
against any of the Nationals pitchers until the ninth inning.
Given how poorly the Orioles hit all game, they were fortunate to have a chance so late in the game. They even had their best hitter, Adley Rutschman, at the plate with the bases loaded. They could have taken the lead outright. But it wasn’t to be. Rutschman got down in the count and was then struck out on a half-swing to end the game.
It was an appropriate conclusion to a bad day for the Orioles. A few hours earlier it had been announced that Jordan Westburg had undergone Tommy John surgery and was out for the year. This wasn’t necessarily a surprise at this point. The news trickling out about his rehab had all been bad. But it is still disappointing, and it gives the Orioles fewer viable options to solve their broken offense.
The decision to get Jackson Holliday involved at third base probably had a lot to do with the fact that the Orioles already knew Westburg’s elbow was not getting better. The team also can’t love what they have seen from Coby Mayo. The decision to get Jackson Holliday involved at third base probably had a lot to do with the fact that the Orioles already knew Westburg’s elbow was not getting better. The team also can’t love what they have seen from Coby Mayo. But they have to figure something out at the hot corner. Weston Wilson probably isn’t the solution. But they have to figure something out at the hot corner.
Just add it to the list of things with this team that have not gone according to Mike Elias’ plan in 2026. Some of it is bad luck, like the injuries to Westburg, Holliday, and Zach Eflin. But a lot more of it comes down to poor planning or bad development. The O’s President of Baseball Operations had better hope his roster magical starts playing well, or it’s going to be a long summer for him and his staff.
Links
Orioles infielder Jordan Westburg undergoes season-ending elbow surgery | The Baltimore Banner
Here’s more about Westburg’s surgery. It always felt like the Orioles weren’t going to have the third baseman in 2026, but because they opted for rehab over surgery for the last three months, the injury may now impact the 2027 season. It’s understandable. No one wants to get surgery if they can avoid it. Unfortunately, Westburg could not avoid it.
Orioles Acquire Eduarniel Núñez, Designate Christian Roa | MLB Trade Rumors
You have to be a sicko to know who either of these players are at this point in their careers. The Orioles swapped one righty for another. Núñez is a 26 years old and made his big league debut last year. He walks a lot of hitters, and his limited MLB experience has not gone well. Clearly, the Orioles like him a bit more than Roa, who could stick around the organization if he gets through waivers.
Leftovers for breakfast | Roch Kubatko
Quotes from Elias abound in this one. He even says that the team is looking in to what might be causing the continued onslaught of injuries that have plagued the Orioles for several seasons now. Any ideas?
Mayo shows potential with bat, glove while re-adjusting to hot corner | Orioles.com
Mayo has popped on occasion. That’s great. But the team needs some level of consistency. The answer could be to platoon him with Holliday since he does have an .874 OPS against lefties this year, but a lowly .411 OPS against righties.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
- Luis Sardiñas turns 33 today. He appeared in eight games for the Orioles as an infield option in 2018.
- Dietrich Enns is 35 years old. The lefty came out of nowhere to be a viable member of the Orioles bullpen in 2025, and has continued to do so in 2026.
- Ivanon Coffie is 49. His only MLB experience came as a utility infielder with the 2000 Orioles.
- The late Dave Philley (b. 1920, d. 2012) was born on this day. He had an 18-season career, which included parts of the 1960 and ‘61 campaigns in Baltimore.
This day in O’s history
1984 – The Orioles release legendary pitcher Jim Palmer, who began the season 0-3 with a 9.17 ERA. He is asked to retire and accept a job with the organization, but he declines, hoping to find a roster sport elsewhere.
1999 – The Orioles crush the Rangers 16-5. Mike Bordick leads the team with four hits, and Albert Belle smacks two home runs.
2017 – Chris Davis hits two extra-inning home runs to lift the Orioles to a 13-11 win over the Tigers. The O’s had blown a 7-1 lead and needed a Mark Trumbo homer with two outs in the ninth inning to even get to extras in the first place.
