Good morning Birdland,
You would have thought that Colton Cowser’s catch in Colorado a few days ago would have been the exact kind of jet fuel the Orioles needed to really go on a run and take the AL’s final wild card for themselves. Instead, they have now lost four in a row since that moment and have fallen to three games out of the playoff picture. They have just 20 games left to make up the ground, and the odds that they manage to do it aren’t great.
Losses like last night’s 1-0 defeat at the hands
of the Red Sox are so demoralizing. Shane Baz was about as good as you could have asked. He gave up one run, a solo homer in the very first inning. And the bullpen was great behind him. But the Orioles offense did absolutely nothing. That sort of summary is all too familiar at this point.
They collected six hits, all singles, and one walk. They managed to create just three at-bats with a runner in scoring position. In those situations, they were hitless. Blaze Alexander alone was responsible for three of the team’s hits. The rest of the lineup was a combined 3-for-27 with a walk and four strikeouts. Ugh.
Alexander did create a bit of a spark in the eighth inning, when he started jawing with Trevor Story after attempting to break up a double play. The argument emptied the bullpens and the benches. While Alexander was being pulled from the interaction he started throwing his hands up in the air to encourage the home crowd to start cheering. It did create a buzz, but the Orioles did nothing with it.
That is the sort of fire that this Orioles team could use more of. And Alexander should have the latitude to make it happen. He has been the team’s best contact hitter pretty much all season long, and has picked right back up where he left when he hit the IL back in July. If the Orioles are going to make the postseason this year, they need to get hot right now. Maybe Alexander’s energy helps them do that.
This four-game set will continue on Saturday night in Baltimore. Chris Bassitt (6-4, 4.97) has the first pitch at 7:05. He will be opposed by Sonny Gray (16-4, 2.82 ERA).
Links
Blaze’s fire empties benches, but can’t spark slumping Orioles | Orioles.com
I will be honest that I was not a huge fan of the move for Alexander, but it has been a nice bit of business. If he finishes the season as this type of hitter (127 OPS+), then I think the Orioles need to find an everyday role for him somewhere on the diamond in 2027. If he can settle into a position, we might see his defensive metrics bounce back as well.
Sanders finds much in common with father, leftovers on Baz | Roch Kubatko
The O’s might have found themselves something with Cam Sanders. As explained here, he has the background of his dad being a big leaguer, which may have helped him navigate some early-career struggles. The talent is obvious. He has certainly pitched well enough to be considered for the 2027 Orioles bullpen. Whether he can duplicate what he has done to this point with the Birds moving forward is something else.
Diamondbacks To Activate Corbin Burnes On Tuesday | MLB Trade Rumors
Not really Orioles related anymore, but it can be fun to keep tabs on old friends. Burnes hasn’t pitched in a big league game since last June. On top of the Tommy John he also suffered a teres major strain, which elongated his rehab. The Diamondbacks only gave him one minor league start, which last two innings at the end of August. He will essentially continue his rehab at the major league level, tossing around 60 pitches for Arizona on Tuesday. The team is half of a game out of the NL’s final wild card spot.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
- Calvin Maduro turns 52 today. He pitched in parts of three seasons with the Orioles from 2000 through 2002.
- Jimmy Haynes is 54 years old. His career began in Baltimore, where he appeared in two seasons with the Orioles from 1995-96. The following season he was traded to the Athletics for outfielder Gerónimo Berroa.
- The late Tom Patton (b. 1939, d. 2025) was born on this day. He pitched in one MLB game, which came with the Orioles in 1957.
This day in O’s history
1995 – Cal Ripken Jr. ties Lou Gehrig by appearing in his 2,130th consecutive game. The Orioles beat the Angels 8-0 as Scott Erickson tosses a complete game and Ripken has three hits.
2010 – The Orioles beat the Rays 8-7 despite allowing four home runs. Corey Patterson leads the O’s lineup with a homer of his own and three rBI.
