Happy Tuesday, Camden Chatters! Did you enjoy the off day? After two losses to the Red Sox, including one absolute beatdown, it was nice to get away from baseball for a day.
After losing the series to the last-place Red Sox, the Orioles welcome the last-place Astros to town for a three-game series starting tonight. The AL West is a wild place early on, with the Athletics leading the division while the Astros flounder in the basement at 11-18. Wouldn’t it be hilarious if the Athletics made the postseason
and they had to play in that little ballpark in Sacramento?
Anyway, the Astros are coming to town and it would behoove them to win the series. It’s their third straight series against last-place teams, and so far they have gone just 3-3 in that span. After this series, the Orioles go on to play some decent teams. That includes six games out of 12 against the Yankees. Through 28 games, the Yankees are averaging over five runs per game. They are only giving up an average of 3.5. So suffice it to say, banking a few wins against the Astros would be a good idea.
I haven’t given up on the Orioles being a good team this year. It’s not even May, after all. But the ongoing issues with the starting rotation make it tough for me to see a good way forward without pretty much all of those guys turning it around. Brandon Young can’t be the best starter, y’all. That is unacceptable. It’ll be Shane Baz, Chris Bassitt, and Young starting in this series. Get hyped, I guess.
There were a few things to enjoy in the series against the Red Sox. Samuel Basallo, for one. Basallo played in two of the games over the weekend and he went 6-for-9 with two home runs and a double. That will play. Basallo’s bat speed is impressive and the ball seems to just jump off his bat. We’ve known he’s talented and now it’s really exciting to see it start to play out.
Basallo’s catching counterpart, veteran Adley Rutschman, has also been a joy to watch this year. It’s too bad those guys share a position. Adley just had two homers and six RBI in Friday’s game, no big deal. He was on base in each game of the series.
I am tempted to get frustrated with the offense as we watch Pete Alonso continue to struggle. Gunnar Henderson has been great in some games and infuriating in others. Coby Mayo has failed to make the most of his chances (although he has looked better later). But it’s still a fun offense. Dylan Beavers has shown promise. Taylor Ward has been awesome. Jeremiah Jackson continues to surprise. And Leody Taveras has contributed way more than I expected.
So I think I’ll try not to be frustrated by the offense. I will definitely save that emotion for the pitching. Because ugh.
Links
Advanced approach leading to early results for top-pick Irish – MASN Sports
The team in Frederick is very exciting this year, and Ike Irish is one of the main reasons why
Orioles know seasons aren’t won or lost in 1st month – Baltimore Baseball
Rich Dubroff takes a look at the first month of the 2026 season. In this story, Pete Alonso says that other than the hitting and pitching, they’ve been playing good baseball. Ok.
In Taylor Ward, Orioles rookie Dylan Beavers sees much worth emulating – The Baltimore Banner
If Beavers wants to be a doubling and walking machine like 2026 Ward, that sounds all right to me.
Birthdays and History
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You have five Orioles birthday buddies, including Jackie Brandt, who played for the Orioles from 1960-65. Brandt appeared in 802 games with the Orioles with an OPS+ of 103. In his time in Baltimore, Brandt mostly played center field but also put in time in the corner outfield spots and even a had a few games at third and first base. Today he celebrates his 92nd birthday.
Also born on this day are pitchers Jim Miller (44), Sean Douglass (47), Jimmy Myers (57), and Jim Poole (b. 1966, d. 2023). Poole was a lefty relief pitcher who was on the team in my formative baseball years, 1991-1994. He passed away from ALS at the age of 57.
On this day in 1988, the Orioles lost their 21st consecutive game to start the season. Good news, on April 29, 1988, they won.
In 2000, the Orioles came back from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Rangers, 4-3. They walked off in the ninth inning in an unusual fashion. Cal Ripken started the inning with a single, Will Clark doubled, then Rangers pitcher Jeff Zimmerman balked in the winning run. A walk-off balk.
One year ago today, the Orioles defeated the Yankees by a score of 4-3. The Orioles took a four-run lead early in the game on a Ramon Laureano RBI double and a Ryan O’Hearn three-run homer. Yennier Cano and Gregory Soto tried to blow it with three runs allowed late in the game, but Félix Bautista shut the door to preserve the win. Tomoyuki Sugano got the win with five shutout innings.
