With the Orioles losing their first home series of the season to Boston to fall to 3-4, I’ve offered a dozen thoughts, each in 50 words or less:
1. Allowing three two-run home runs in one afternoon isn’t a winning recipe, but Baltimore wasn’t built to win scoring a total of four runs over the last two games either. The Orioles have plated 29 runs in three wins and just seven over four defeats. The offense has been choppy.
2. Charlie Morton showed better stuff with 10 strikeouts and 16 swinging strikes in his second start, but he missed badly on each of the two homers surrendered. He finished Thursday striking out the side against the middle of Boston’s order, but a 9.72 ERA through two starts speaks for itself.
3. Hitting in the top spot for the first time since Sept. 29, 2023, Cedric Mullins recorded his 17th career leadoff homer, reached two other times, and stole a base. Even with Gunnar Henderson returning, do you consider keeping the red-hot Mullins atop the order against right-handers and batting Henderson third?
4. With Colton Cowser out at least six weeks, Heston Kjerstad needs to take advantage of increased playing time in a pivotal season for the 26-year-old. In two starts against Boston, Kjerstad went 2-for-6 with three strikeouts and what proved to be a key RBI late in Monday’s 8-5 win.
5. On Wednesday, Garrett Crochet reminded what it’s like having an ace as he dominated Baltimore over a career-high eight shutout innings a day after signing a $170 million extension. Considering his injury history and relatively abrupt transition to starting last year, the risk is obvious, but the talent is indisputable.
6. On the other side, there were just a few pitches Zach Eflin would have wanted back over six innings of three-run ball. He’s responsible for the Orioles’ only two quality starts so far and has allowed three runs or fewer in 12 straight outings. Not dominant, but very dependable.
7. Evaluating the work of Cade Povich since last September, I see the makings of a good pitcher as he battled nerves to strike out eight in the home opener, but better pitch efficiency is a must. Still, this rotation just has way too many ifs, buts, and maybes right now.
8. Alex Bregman showed why he might have been the AL East’s best offseason acquisition with his long home run off Morton in the first inning and an RBI double in the ninth to seal the series win for Boston. I suspect he’ll enjoy taking aim at the Green Monster too.
9. Jackson Holliday has gone 7-for-23 to begin the season with six hits going up the middle or to the opposite field. He’s also handled shortstop well, but I’m looking forward to seeing him be able to settle in at second base. The 21-year-old has looked much more comfortable overall.
10. Bryan Baker has tossed 4 2/3 scoreless innings with seven strikeouts so far. He’s had good stretches in the past, but his overall stuff looks better with an impressive changeup and more movement on a fastball that’s never lacked velocity. It’s about consistency now.
11. After plenty of offseason chatter about Baltimore’s right-hander hitters benefiting from the shorter left-field wall, the Red Sox were the ones to take advantage as three of their four homers in the series wouldn’t have cleared the previous dimensions. All that empty space doesn’t look particularly good either.
12. Though under .500 for the first time since starting 4-5 two seasons ago, the Orioles will get a boost to open a six-game road trip with Henderson’s return in Kansas City. The Red Sox looked the part of a club that’s closed the gap considerably from last season.
