Good morning, Camden Chatters.
After a breather yesterday, the Orioles now face a stretch of 13 straight games before their next scheduled off day, starting a six-game homestand tonight before going on the road for seven. By the time the O’s next get a break, we’ll know a lot more about this team and what direction they’re potentially headed this year. Will they stabilize and play the kind of baseball that we hope they’re capable of, or will their deficiencies short-circuit their chances of taking
a step forward?
One unit that could use some improvement is the offense. The high-profile offseason additions of Pete Alonso and Taylor Ward, and the promise of a full season of Samuel Basallo and Dylan Beavers, teased the possibility of a high-octane O’s lineup that could outlast opponents in slugfests. It hasn’t quite turned out that way. The Orioles currently rank in the bottom third of the league in runs scored, and they’ve scored two or fewer in exactly half of their games this season. Too often they’ve gone silent seemingly for days at a time.
Not all O’s hitters are struggling. Ward has been a doubles machine atop the lineup, Adley Rutschman has been solid, and Gunnar Henderson began heating up against the White Sox. Alonso is ice cold, and not in the good Polar Bear way, but his track record suggests he’ll turn things around.
The obvious problem is that some of the young, homegrown players that the O’s were counting on as contributors simply aren’t delivering. Colton Cowser (.497 OPS) is now in the second year of his extended funk, and unlike last season he can’t blame injuries. He remains frustratingly unable to hit anything but a fastball, and pitchers aren’t going to change their tactics against him until he does. Samuel Basallo, expected to be a cornerstone of the offense for the next eight years, is struggling to hit the ball hard or even make contact, batting .167/.265/.267 with 13 strikeouts in 34 PAs.
But to me the biggest disappointment so far is Coby Mayo. I was convinced after his September surge last season — and his scalding spring training this year — that 2026 would be a breakout offensive season for Mayo. I suppose it could still be, but he’s got a big hole to dig out of. Mayo (.133/.278/.167) looks lost at the plate through his first 10 games, nothing like the top-notch hitting prospect who tore up the minor leagues. As much as I didn’t like the idea of installing him as the regular third baseman because of his shoddy defensive reputation, I at least looked forward to seeing his bat in the lineup every day. And yet now you could make the argument that his bat has been worse than his glove. It’s been a big ol’ mess for Mayo, who is biffing his big opportunity.
How will the Orioles deal with their holes in the lineup? There’s no easy answer. In a perfect world, they could send guys like Mayo, Basallo, and maybe even Cowser to the minor leagues to try to straighten themselves out. But these are players in which the O’s have invested a lot of development time — and salary, in Basallo’s case — and it’s unlikely the club would pull the plug on them so early in the season. They’ll get more time to try to turn things around, especially since the Orioles don’t exactly have a stable of productive, MLB-ready hitters to replace them (aside from the rehabbing Jackson Holliday, who isn’t exactly tearing up Triple-A with a .466 OPS in nine games). For now, that trio might see their playing time wane — particularly Cowser, in favor of Beavers or Leody Taveras — but the more drastic decisions might have to wait.
Let’s remember: it’s still early. Just because some of these guys are struggling now doesn’t mean their seasons are over, much less their careers. But I’d feel a lot better if they’re start hitting soon.
Links
Some observations through 12 games of Orioles’ season – School of Roch
One tidbit from Roch Kubatko’s latest: Shane Baz’s ERA increased overnight when an error in his last start was retroactively changed to a hit. It was Baz’s own error, so I feel like he should’ve gotten the choice to keep it that way.
Rico Garcia on his time with the Orioles, WBC, success with bases loaded – BaltimoreBaseball.com
Rico Garcia is fast becoming one of my favorite Orioles. Of course, now that I say that, he’ll get torched in his next five outings and DFA’d.
Re-Re-Reexamining Trevor Rogers on the Cusp of Acehood – FanGraphs
Orioles fans are mad at FanGraphs’ Michael Baumann for saying that Trevor Rogers isn’t quite an ace. Here he does his best to explain himself.
O’s City Connects 2.0 a nod to Camden Yards’ charms – MLB.com
If you say so. I for one don’t see a Boog’s BBQ patch on the uniforms.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You share your day with six former Orioles, including Orioles Hall of Famer Mike Devereaux, who turns 63. Devo was a staple in center field for the last few years of the Memorial Stadium era and the first few of the Camden Yards era, hitting 94 homers of his own while memorably robbing some from opposing hitters.
Other former Orioles born on April 10 are 2025 right-hander Scott Blewett (30), 2013 outfielder Chris Dickerson (44), 1999-2000 righty Alberto Reyes (56), 1985-87 outfielder Lee Lacy (78), and righty Wes Stock, who played for the Orioles from 1959-64. Stock turns 92 years young today, so a special happy birthday shout-out to him.
Random Orioles game of the day
It’s a two-for-one. The random number generator spat out 1982, and the O’s played a doubleheader on this date that year. It was just their second and third games of the season after playing Opening Day five days earlier. In Game 1 of the twin bill, the O’s were blanked by the Red Sox, 2-0. Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley went the distance for Boston, scattering six hits and striking out six, while Jim Rice’s two-run single in the top of the third provided all the game’s offense. Scott McGregor threw a complete game in a losing effort for Baltimore.
The O’s settled the score in the nightcap by beating the Sox, 5-3. Hall of Famer Eddie Murray went 3-for-5 and drove in three, and second baseman Rich Dauer added three hits as well, as the O’s came back from an early 2-0 deficit. Murray totaled five hits in the doubleheader. Dennis Martinez worked the first 7.2 innings for the Orioles in Game 2, and Sammy Stewart overcame three walks to record the last four outs from the Birds’ bullpen.
