With the Orioles taking two out of three from Minnesota to secure their first series win of the 2026 season, I’ve offered a dozen thoughts, each in 50 words or less:
1. Every area of the game had its share of challenges over the weekend, but the first series victory didn’t come until mid-April last season. The Orioles may not have done much to ease concerns about their defense or bullpen, but a laborious series win is a series win nonetheless.
2. Prior to Sunday’s fourth inning when Tyler O’Neill clubbed a three-run homer to cut into a 4-0 deficit, the Orioles lineup had begun the season 11-for-70 with 25 strikeouts and two extra-base hits. The shadows in Saturday’s late afternoon start certainly didn’t help, but the bats finally came alive.
3. We braced for how the ABS challenge system would impact the game, and Sunday brought 10 pitch challenges with seven being overturned. Teams that are strategic and players who are unemotional about challenging will gain a real edge. I’m a fan so far. The aesthetics can be pretty crazy too.
4. Who would have imagined a pitcher tapping his cap would spark a manager ejection? Ryan Helsley indeed challenged in time, but his double-tap motion reminded of confusion over a punt returner’s occasional not-so-clear signal for a fair catch. Kevin Brown’s line about Derek Shelton “arguing with the robots” was hilarious.
5. Other than Helsley for saves, how Craig Albernaz will deploy the bullpen is anyone’s guess right now, especially after Tyler Wells struggled in Sunday’s eighth inning. Major credit to Rico Garcia and Yennier Cano for strikeouts that stranded the bases loaded in the seventh and eighth respectively. Little came easy.
6. It wasn’t a long ball, but Pete Alonso’s soft single to right put the Orioles ahead in the seventh and qualified for his first memorable moment at the plate. His willingness to go the other way is a refreshing approach you’d like to see his new teammates adopt when necessary.
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7. On the heels of signing a five-year, $68 million extension, Shane Baz would have preferred a better debut for his new club, but he regrouped nicely from a four-run second inning to pitch into the sixth and give his lineup a chance to come back. Shaky fastball command hurt him.
8. A Royce Lewis two-run homer handed Kyle Bradish the loss on a cold Saturday, but his velocity dipping late in the outing is worth monitoring. Pitching coach Drew French reiterated the club’s need to be careful with someone who’s logged just 76 major league innings since 2023.
9. Few would have predicted Coby Mayo being the defensive bright spot in the first series of the season, but he played with confidence at third base. He also added an insurance run with his RBI single in the seventh inning of Sunday’s win.
10. There was intrigue in seeing Dylan Beavers make his first major league start in center on Sunday, but losing a ball in the sun was just one of a few defensive miscues for Baltimore. Beavers made up for it with a go-ahead two-run double with two outs in the sixth.
11. I’m a proponent of giving Adley Rutschman full days off when he’s not catching and fewer starts as the DH, but he delivered a pinch-hit RBI double in the seventh and made a successful challenge to wipe out a walk in the ninth. He’s had quality at-bats to begin 2026.
12. The most interesting development of the weekend may have been a very impressive debut for rookie right-hander Anthony Nunez, who struck out three over two perfect innings in Saturday’s 4-1 loss. His sweeper and changeup give him serious pitches against hitters from either side of the plate.
