With the Orioles losing a second straight series by dropping two of three games to Atlanta as next week’s trade deadline looms, I’ve offered a dozen thoughts, each in 50 words or less:
1. Baltimore went 22-for-107 (.206) overall and 4-for-27 with runners in scoring position in a series that included two one-run losses in extra innings. This middling offense and young core on which success was supposed to be built remain the biggest reasons this team is under .500. So many squandered opportunities.
2. The defense proved very consequential throughout the weekend as Jackson Holliday’s ugly throwing error proved costly Friday and shoddy outfield defense cost the Orioles two runs in Sunday’s loss. Atlanta’s poor fielding played a major role in Baltimore’s lone victory. Defense matters.
3. There’s only so much planning for being without your two standout catchers simultaneously, but Chadwick Tromp and Sam Huff have gone a combined 1-for-24 since injuries to Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo. Atlanta willingly put the winning run in scoring position just to face Huff in Sunday’s 11th inning. Ouch.
4. Craig Albernaz drew criticism Friday for pulling Trevor Rogers after 88 pitches and pitching to Matt Olson in the 10th, but pinch-hitting Coby Mayo for Tromp against a right-hander was arguably worse. Mayo can’t hit right-handers, and that left no alternative for Huff batting in the 10th — against a lefty.
5. There aren’t many good lineup options as Gunnar Henderson continues to headline the list of disappointments on this club, but I liked trying Dylan Beavers in the leadoff spot for a different look. He had three hits and three walks over the weekend and drove in the game-winning run Saturday.
6. Though many would have predicted the Orioles being a sub-.500 team if you’d told them in March that Brandon Young would make 17 starts to this point, they improved to 14-3 in games he’s pitched. This flawed club warrants so much frustration, but Young remains a fantastic success story.
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7. In contrast, the Orioles fell to 6-15 in games started by Shane Baz, who wasn’t at his best despite receiving no favors from Colton Cowser and Beavers in the outfield. Baz has allowed 10 unearned runs this season, and Baltimore has surrendered a league-worst 65 unearned runs in 2026.
8. Albernaz continues showing confidence in Rico Garcia, who surrendered a game-tying eighth-inning home run on back-to-back nights. I understand hoping to get the 32-year-old back to where he was over the season’s first two months, but he owns a 6.27 ERA with seven homers allowed over his last 20 appearances.
9. Pete Alonso being doubled off first base on Henderson’s line drive in Sunday’s 10th inning was a brutal development, but it hardly topped my list of things going wrong over the weekend. Still, Alonso fell on the sword and took the blame. “This was on me — big time.” Admirable.
10. Who would have guessed Christian Encarnacion-Strand being the Orioles’ best hitter since the All-Star break? That’s both a compliment to him for seizing the opportunity stemming from Blaze Alexander’s injury and an indictment of the regulars not pulling their weight when this team needs every win it can get.
11. Albert Suarez tossed two scoreless innings as part of Sunday’s strong effort from the bullpen in the wake of Baz failing to complete five innings for only the third time all season. Incredibly, Suarez hadn’t pitched since July 8, which really speaks to how good the rotation has been.
12. Much like they did immediately after Mike Elias’ buyer proclamation in late June, the Orioles flopped with a series loss after David Rubenstein expressed great faith in Elias. “We couldn’t be more pleased. We’ve had some injuries, but that’s not Mike’s fault.” The Orioles are 168-188 since June 20, 2024.
