With the Orioles splitting their abbreviated two-game set with Toronto to finish the weekend at 6-9, I’ve offered a dozen thoughts, each in 50 words or less:
1. Though Sunday’s loss was deflating, it marked the first time Baltimore used the same lineup in consecutive games this season. I don’t obsess over lineup construction beyond wanting the best hitters at the top, but finding at-bats for the likes of Ramon Laureano and Jorge Mateo just isn’t a priority.
2. The weekend brought the first home run of the season for both Heston Kjerstad and Ryan Mountcastle. It was good to see Kjerstad unleash some pull-side power while Mountcastle used the friendlier left-field wall to end a 42-game homer drought that went back to July 29 of last year.
3. Gunnar Henderson had his first three-hit game of the season Sunday and is tied for the best hard-hit percentage in the majors among those with 30 plate appearances, per Statcast. In other words, it’s only a matter of time before the overall numbers rise.
4. It hasn’t been a great week for Baltimore’s lefty relievers. Gregory Soto and Keegan Akin allowing as many runs (four) as outs recorded Sunday was one thing, but the struggling Cionel Perez didn’t even appear in back-to-back one-run games. Meanwhile, Danny Coulombe is up to seven scoreless outings with Minnesota.
5. While Felix Bautista didn’t want to walk the potential tying and go-ahead runs on Saturday, seeing him pitch out of trouble to record his first save since Aug. 24, 2023 was gratifying. Of course, not having him available on Sunday reminded that he’s not all the way back yet.
6. Since homering three times in the first three games in Toronto, Jordan Westburg is 6-for-39 with no extra-base hits. We know he sat out a couple games with what’s been described as a nagging upper-body issue, so you wonder if that’s hindering him at the plate.
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7. Jackson Holliday is hitless in his last 17 at-bats since a three-hit day in Kansas City. He’s cut down on his strikeout rate from last season, but the 21-year-old has only one walk in 48 plate appearances despite an improved chase rate. That said, he just needs to keep playing.
8. Even with a six-pitch assortment, Tomoyuki Sugano has just five strikeouts and 16 swinging strikes over three starts covering 14 innings. He’s going to struggle to succeed without pinpoint command, and that hasn’t been there consistently thus far.
9. While Anthony Santander received the ovations he deserved and hit his first long ball as a Blue Jay Saturday, Tyler O’Neill homered for the first time since Opening Day on Sunday. Ideally, you’d rest O’Neill a little more, but Colton Cowser’s absence complicates that. O’Neill’s swinging the bat well though.
10. The Orioles squandered opportunities to add to their lead and eventually blew it Sunday, but home plate umpire John Bacon did them no favors, especially in the early innings. Brandon Hyde took exception and was ejected for arguing on behalf of Westburg, who appreciated his manager having his back.
11. Kyle Gibson needs more time at Norfolk, but Andrew Kittredge and Kyle Bradish both completed their first bullpen sessions on Saturday. Kittredge appears to be ahead of schedule returning from knee injury while Bradish returning at some point in the second half remains a real possibility. That’d sure be fun.
12. It’s been 10 months since Baltimore took series from Philadelphia and the Yankees to improve to 49-25, which was 2024’s high-water mark. Including October, the Orioles have gone 48-57 since then. With so many pitchers sidelined, treading water might be the best anyone can expect in the short term.
