Hello, friends.
We were right on the verge of the Orioles really kicking us in the teeth there, weren’t we? If they followed up on sweeping the Rays by losing the first three games to the Blue Jays all in extremely excruciating fashion, that would have started to feel like the season was over again. No way they could come back from that, could they? Then, another miracle comeback and they managed a 6-5 walkoff win over the Blue Jays. Check out Andrea’s recap of the game for more of the lovely totals.
It’s extra fun that the Orioles pulled off the bulk of the rally against Jeff Hoffman, the reliever who went out of his way to beef with them not long ago. This was probably because the Orioles backed out of signing him to a contract two offseasons previously over medical concerns. In some ways, that attempted contract is another indictment of Mike Elias’s free agent judgment. Hoffman has largely stunk with the Jays, a 4.44 ERA not counting yesterday’s disaster.
The Orioles still need to find a way to win today in order to salvage a series split. That would have been a decent outcome even before the series began, and after the way the first two games went it feels essential in some ways, for the team to show that they can pick themselves back up after a pair of morale-draining (at least for many fans) losses.
Don’t forget that this is a weird start time game of 12:15. That’s because this one will be on the streamer Peacock. If you don’t subscribe, tough luck! You can’t watch the Orioles today. Maybe you can still get the radio broadcast. Kyle Bradish is set to start for the Orioles, with righty Spencer Miles starting for the Jays. Miles has been used mostly in relief but it’s been a 3+ inning bulk role, so they might be looking to use him for starter-ish innings instead of merely as an opener.
This team has its share of problems. It has also shown that, at least on the basis of a game or three here and there, it can overcome enough of its problems to win. Can they manage this consistently enough to ascend closer than two games back in the wild card race? That’s the question that stands before them until they either win enough to answer yes or lose enough to make it clear that the answer is no. Although many of their losses have made it feel like the answer must be no, so far they have done just enough to hang around on the periphery.
I think we can all agree we haven’t seen the best possible version of these guys. There’s just no guarantee the best version will ever show up or stay for long if it does.
Orioles stuff you might have missed
Orioles rotation must show more than flashes (The Baltimore Sun)
The jumping-off point for this article was specifically Trevor Rogers’s start from Friday’s game. You could just as easily make the same comment about the offense and the bullpen. And also the defense, which hasn’t even really shown flashes.
Brandon Young’s new splitter grip: From drawing board to the mound in just days (Steve on Baseball)
This is a free one on Steve Melewski’s Substack. It’s a little early to say that Young’s new splitter grip is a definite improvement, but the initial results have been encouraging.
Updating on Helsley and Cano (School of Roch)
The closer will be starting a rehab assignment soon. It won’t fix all of the Orioles problems to have him back. It should help stabilize the bullpen a bit. Hopefully! As for Cano, he doesn’t think there’s anything lingering from Wednesday.
Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries
In their 59th game of the 2025 season, the Orioles beat the Mariners, 5-1, to raise their record to 23-36 for the season. This was the fourth straight win in what ended up being a six game winning streak. Tomoyuki Sugano allowed one run in seven innings, and for the hitters, Adley Rutschman led the way with three hits and two runs scored. The Orioles are four wins ahead of those guys. It would be nicer if that was more like seven or eight. Hopefully they get to that point eventually.
There are a few former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 2024-25 pitcher Matt Bowman, 1988-92 outfielder Joe Orsulak, and 1976-86 pitcher Tippy Martinez. Today is Martinez’s 76th birthday, so an extra happy birthday to him.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you as well! Your birthday buddies for today include: poet Walt Whitman (1819), actor Clint Eastwood (1930), Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham (1948), and rapper DMC (1964).
On this day in history…
In 1669, notable historical diarist Samuel Pepys ceased keeping his diary, claiming his eyesight had grown too poor – though Pepys lived until 1703. His diary is famous for chronicling both the Great Fire of London and the Great Plague of London.
In 1889, a dam failed near Johnstown, Pennsylvania, leading to the deaths of over 2,200 people as the water raced down through the town.
In 1921, white supremacists in Tulsa, Oklahoma began a two-day terror campaign that killed at least 39 Black people and destroyed what was, at the time one of the wealthiest Black communities in the country, dubbed “Black Wall Street.”
In 2005, an article in Vanity Fair revealed the identity of Watergate’s “Deep Throat” – W. Mark Felt, who at the time of Watergate was Deputy Director of the FBI.
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And that’s the way it is in Birdland on May 31. Have a safe Sunday. Go O’s!
