Baltimore Orioles: Computers are crashing the Birds

It’s tough for Baltimore Orioles’ fans to blame Kyle Bradish for today’s loss. Sadly, not only was it the Birds’ sixth straight loss, but it also completed a four-game sweep at the hands of Boston. Bradish’s line: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R (0 earned), 4 BB, 3 K.

Bradish pitched well enough to win – as far as four inning outings go. But he was failed by a few things. For starters, Boston fouled off pitch after pitch. Whether it was ticking a ball as it went into the catcher’s mitt, or smacking tape measure foul balls. That drive up Bradish’s pitch count big time.

And similar to other starters, it’s not Bradish’s fault that the offense isn’t clicking. There’s nothing he can do about that. One good note in that front; Christian Encarnacion-Strand gave the Orioles the lead in the first with an RBI-double. That was the Orioles’ first run since late on Thursday.

Things actually seemed to be progressing well in the second, as the O’s recorded two outs with one on. But Bradish worked around that, and induced a ground ball by Monasterio….until, his efforts were foiled. Gunnar Henderson booted the ball and the fielding error left two on and two out.

Predictably, White smacked a three-run home run in the next at-bat, giving Boston a 3-1 lead. All three of those runs are unearned. Defense has been a problem all season long. In this instance, it came from a source in Henderson from whom one might expect better. But it’s happened all year.

It’s easy to say that Bradish may have thrown a sinker that didn’t sink to White. But he was failed by the defense behind him. That’s glaring. You also might consider that catcher Adley Rutschman may have had some advance knowledge on Bradish. Or overall on the O’s in terms of pitch selection in certain situations. Another reason to never trade in the division.

One other point to that effect. The O’s had Rece Hinds (who was called up to replace Luis Robert who went to the IL before the game) for aboard with a double in the fifth. He was promptly picked off by Rutschman at second.

That’s no coincidence. Rutschman knows what the Orioles do. He’s been a part of it. He may well have known the O’s were eyeing third before the O’s did. Which is scary. Again, don’t trade in the division.

Lastly, it’s not Bradish’s fault that his mound opponent, Tolle, was outstanding. He surrendered four hits and one run. He struck out 12. For what it’s worth, the Orioles sat Samuel Basallo in three of the four games against Boston (at the beginning of the game). Against three southpaws.

Could Basallo have done any worse than what we saw out of the Oriole offense this series? Marching up is one thing. Doing it all game and every game from the get go is another. Cleveland is throwing a lefty tomorrow also, for what that’s worth.

You don’t sign Basallo to the extension to which the Orioles signed him last year only to sit him due to a computer. For all I know the results would have been worse, but at a certain point you have to play all your cards. Numbers and Sabre metrics be damned.

The Orioles either have an inability to buck the trends, or they aren’t being allowed to do so. Tolle struck out 12 – do we not think that Adley Rutschman may have told the pitching staff how Oriole bats might react to certain pitches? (The O’s struck out 17 times total today.) Tolle threw a steady diet of four-seam fastballs. And the Orioles bit every time.

On a side note, I’m convinced that there’s some algorithm which says there’s a better probability of winning if you don’t use ABS challenges. Because the Orioles seem to infernally refuse to use them. They okay the game where they flare at the umpire and indirectly question the strike zone.

Again, it would stand to reason that the algorithm says that’s better. Or the app. Everything has an app now. To be blunt, baseball is won the same way it always has been. Since the dead ball era until now. It’s timeless. It’s part of the fabric of our country. You win games the old fashion way. Not in aerospace. There’s nothing about this game that’s “aggressively modern.” Someone should understand that.

The ao’s now stay at home to open a three-game set with Cleveland at Camden Yards. Trevor Rogers gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Cleveland’s Joey Cantillo. Game time is set for just after 1:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Craig Albernaz broke the script

Chris Bassitt took the loss this evening, but in reality the Baltimore Orioles’ offense took the loss. There’s no scenario in which you can win a game while scoring zero runs. None. Bassitt’s line: 5.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 6 K.

There appears to be some sort of sudden issue with Oriole bats. The Birds just can’t get anything going over the course of the past week. It’s almost as if all of their equity was spent when Colton Cowser climbed the wall in Denver. Because not many runs have scored since then.

Manager Craig Albernaz played a role in this loss. But not in a way that one might think. With two outs in the sixth Bassitt loaded the bases, prompting Albernaz to go out to the mound – presumably to change pitchers. However Bassitt appeared to talk him out of lifting him.

To be clear, this is a case of a manager doing EXACTLY what I think a manager should be doing: going with a gut instinct. It shows feel for the game, which is something that ALL MANAGERS need to have. Again, this is something that’s IMPERATIVE in baseball.

But when Artificial Intelligence, among other computer programs, removes the need for any sort of feel for the game, you should expect that managers won’t have it. The results say that Alberbaz should have lifted Bassitt when he wanted to. Because Boston took a 2-0 lead on White’s subsequent two-RBI single.

To add insult to injury, that was a softly-hit single; not something you can predict. Boston just did what came naturally, while the Orioles either remained guided by Sabre Metrics, or overrode those Sabre Metrics in a performative manner. Either is detrimental. Neither is good.

Wong would add an RBI-single before the inning ended which rode the lead to 3-0. One inning later Kiner-Filefa’s two-RBI double extended the lead to 5-0. End of the day the big story here is that the O’s couldn’t muster a run. They loaded the bases in the eighth but Pete Alonso struck out.

I’m not sure what sort of Artificial Intelligence is being used, but it’s working to opponents’ benefit. You have to have the aforementioned feel for the game. Granted, Craig Albernaz made a gut decision in keeping Bassitt in. And I applaud him for bucking the technology. However said technology also removes the need for feel for the game – in theory. It automates everything.

Point being, many managers don’t know how to have feel for the ballgame – because Sabre metrics have removed their need to have it. Work with me here folks…perhaps if that’s a muscle that opposing teams occasionally exercised, it would come more naturally to Craig Albernaz.

By going off the script, we don’t know if Albernaz would have still lost the game – had he stayed on script. But maybe it would be easier to switch into manual mode if he were allowed to do it more often. Maybe it would work better. Interpret as you wish.

The series concludes tomorrow at Camden Yards. Kyle Bradish gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Payton Tolle. Game time is set for just after 1:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Shane Baz is snakebitten

Sometimes you have to wonder if Shane Baz of the Baltimore Orioles is snakebitten. Tonight was a typical start for him in 2026. In short, he needed to be absolutely perfect. And he was – minus one pitch. Baz’s line: 6.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 6 K.

Those are outstanding numbers. An OUTSTANDING stat line for a game. Any pitcher in baseball would take that on any given day. Heck, any manager would take that for his pitcher. It’s NOT on Baz that the O’s couldn’t get anything going offensively.

Baz gave up a solo home run to Gasper on the second pitch of the game. That’s the only mistake he made. Solo home runs aren’t supposed to hurt you. Tonight they cost Shane Baz and the Orioles the game.

On top of that, Baz picked up his teammates. Boston put two on thanks to a Jackson Holliday error in the third, but Baz got them out of it. Anytime Boston threatened, Baz (and the bullpen) pitched out of it. He made a mistake on the second pitch of the game. And it cost him and the O’s the game.

You can’t under any circumstances blame a starter for a game like this. I’ve heard people suggest that there is some culpability because a starter like Baz knows he’s got a thin margin. But…is it reasonable to expect that he has to be perfect?

On a side note, I find it strange that Samuel Basallo wasn’t in the starting lineup for the second straight day. I understand matchups, and why that’s important. But Basallo’s been a huge part of this team’s offense. They signed him to a large extension a year ago. And…the best place for him is starting a game on the bench?

The series continues tomorrow at Camden Yards. Chris Bassitt gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Sonny Gray. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Don’t trade in the division

Brandon Young pitched to a quality start. Putting the Baltimore Orioles in a spot to win last night against Boston. It’s possible that Craig Albernaz left him in a little too long. But it’s easy to second guess. Young’s line: 6.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 7 K.

Right off the bat however, the Orioles were haunted by their former all-star catcher. Adley Rutschman smacked a solo homer in the first. However the O’s battled. They tied the game at one on a sac fly-RBI by Pete Alonso in the last of the first. They would also take a brief 3-1 lead in the fourth on back-to-back homers by Luis Robert and Pete Alonso.

But two innings later Boston began working their way back. And again it began with Rutschman, who smacked a second solo home run. Kiner-Filefa’s RBI-single in the seventh tied the game at three. Incidentally, that came with two out and a two-strike count – again.

Boston would take the lead at 5-3 in the seventh on a two-run homer by Sogard. A solo shot by Anthony in the ninth gave them some insurance. And it’s a good thing for their sake that they got that, because Christian Encarnacion-Strand smacked a two-run homer in the last of the ninth. But it wasn’t enough, and the Birds fell 6-5.

The glaring thing isn’t the two-run home run by Sogard. It’s the two solo shots by Rutschman. They say solo home runs don’t hurt you. But this season the Orioles have made a career out of being hurt by them in one way or another.

The first home run was on the second pitch of the at-bat. The second one was on the first pitch. Both were in the same location – up and in. If there’s anyone who knows what the technology or AI that the Orioles use in terms of pitching, it’s their former All-Star catcher.

Make no mistake, he didn’t guess on those pitches. He didn’t see a pitch he liked, and went for it. He knew what was coming.

All the more reason not to have traded inside the division. Now to be clear, the Orioles got a haul for Rutschman. Nobody’s disputing that. But a team that was seeing Rutschman 12 or 13 times a year was willing to give up what they gave up to get him. AND they can now use him AGAINST the Orioles. Never trade to a division foe; no matter how good the deal looks on paper. That’s old school thinking – as in, pre-sabre metrics. And make no mistake that it’s still correct.

The series continues this evening at Camden Yards. Shane Baz gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Ranger Suarez. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

Baltimore Orioles victimized by seventh inning homer

Kyle Bradish had his struggles last night in Colorado, but he also put the Baltimore Orioles in a spot to win. He labored through five tough innings, minimizing the damage as best he could. Bradish’s line: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 4 K.

Bradish was tripped up by the same thing which has haunted the Orioles all season. He recorded two quick outs in the last of the second, and then allowed Colorado to rally. Amador’s solo home run gave Colorado a 1-0 lead. That homer also came on a two-strike count, again which has haunted Oriole pitching all season.

On another two-strike count in the next at-bat, Veen would triple. The play was reviewed as a possible home run, but upheld as a triple, But Vern would score on an RBI-single by McCarthy – also on a two-strike count.

Again, two out or two strike rallies have plagued the Birds all season. It’s almost uncanny how opponents seem to be at their best with their backs against the wall in a count or in the inning. Odds are it’s coincidental. But it’s also a trend.

One inning later the O’s put runners at the corners with one down. Gunnar Henderson tapped a tight grounder down the first base line, beginning a double-play. However the runner from third scored before the 1-6-1 double-play could be completed.

That cut the Colorado lead to 2-1. You hate to end the inning, however in a playoff chase either the score 2-0, you take that. The Birds would tie it in the seventh on Jackson Holliday’s solo home run.

However the seventh was also where the game got away. Runfield’s rwo-run homer in the bottom of the inning sent Colorado off to a 4-2 win, evening the series. It came off of Luis De Leon, who was called up to the majors earlier in the day. It was his big league debut.

Obviously the Orioles promoted him for a reason. But you do have to question using a young guy in his major league debut in high leverage – both in a game as well as in the season. Second-guessing is easy, however it just seems that a moment like that is best suited for someone with experience.

The series concludes today at Coors Field. Trevor Rogers gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Colorado’s Tomoyuki Sugano. Game time is set for 3:10 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Mile High Orioles Magic

Despite a rain storm, the Baltimore Orioles have made it back to .500. Case Povich was called back up to the big leagues to make the start last night, and lasted five solid innings. Povich’s line: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 4 K.

Povich allowed a run in the fourth, but limited the damage. With two outs, Beck smacked an RBI-single. That also left two runners in scoring position, and on top of that Povich walked the next batter. However he induced a fly out to end the inning, and the Orioles only surrendered the one run.

But they quickly got it back. Samuel Basallo’s RBI-double in the fifth tied the game at one. Povich probably could have gone deeper than five innings, however a driving Denver rain storm inducing a rain delay of over an hour and a half intervened. Unfortunate, but needless to say Povich put the team in a spot to win.

Coby Mayo walked to begin the seventh – and for the record, it was a 3-2 count and he was called out on strikes. But he challenged the pitch, and it was overturned. Two additional walks would load the bases. Colton Cowser at first appeared to ground into an inning-ending double-play. However on review…he was safe at first. A run scored, and the Orioles were riding a mile high with a 2-1 lead.

Yet the greatest threat to that lead was the last pitch of the game. Colorado led off the ninth with a double, and later in the inning with two outs McCarthy sent a deep shot to center. Folks to be clear, it was destined to be a walk off two-run homer. And it wasn’t going to be close…until it was.

Colton Cowser tracked the ball, leapt at the wall, and…brought the ball back into the field of play. The ball was over the wall. Colorado had basically won the game. But Cowser’s Mile High Magic not only robbed them of a home run, but it closed out a win for the Birds. A win that has them officially back at .500 on August 31st/September 1st (due to the rain delay, the game ended after midnight).

The series continues this evening at Coors Field. Kyle Bradish gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Colorado’s Gabriel Hughes. Game time is set for 8:40 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: That Gunnar guy

As often as Baltimore Orioles’ starters have pitched to quality starts this year only to lose, maybe it was time for the ball to fall the other way for once. Chris Bassitt probably didn’t deserve to be the winning pitcher in Sacramento today. But he was – by default. Bassitt’s line: 5.0 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 4 K.

Gunnar Henderson put the Athletics on notice early with a solo home run in the first. But the A’s weren’t going quietly this afternoon. Butler’s two-RBI double gave them a 2-1 lead. Before the O’s really got things going, the A’s extended the lead to 5-1 by the end of the third.

Yet as quickly as things fell apart, things were different. Pete Alonso and Henderson singled to start the fourth. That brought Coby Mayo to the plate, and with one swing he changed the trajectory of the ballgame. His three-run homer cut the lead to 5-4.

One inning later the O’s put two on with two out. Gunnar Henderson strode back to the plate. You could argue it’s moments like these which speak to Gunnar’s value to the organization. Because his three-run homer gave the Birds a 7-5 lead.

Pete Alonso led off the eighth getting hit in the head. He was removed, and manager Craig Albernaz said after the game that he would be fine. But in that sequence, Henderson came back up to bat. And his RBI-triple extended the lead to 8-5

The bullpen closed out an 8-5 win, and a sweep of the A’s in Sacramento. The Birds now sit one game under .500. More importantly, only one game back of Cleveland for the final Wild Card spot.

The O’s now head to Denver to open a three-game set against Colorado at Coors Field tomorrow night. The Orioles’ starter is TBD, but Colorado will throw Tanner Gordon. Game time is set for 8:40 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Late night Mayo

The Baltimore Orioles sent Brandon Young to the mound late last night in game one of three against the Athletics in Sacramento. AndYoung didn’t disappoint, pitching to a quality start. Yojng’s line: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 4 K.

The O’s struck first, with Dylan Beavers driving in a run in the second with an RBI-single. Carlos Narvaez would later reach on a fielding error, extending the lead to 2-0. That inning began with a walk to Coby Mayo to lead off the inning. Nothing good happens after a walk – unless you’re the team at bat.

Young pitched valiantly, only surrendering a solo home run in the last of the seventh. Craig Alberbaz pulled him after that, however that cost Young the win. Rico Garcia allowed a HBP and a single, followed by a sacrifice bunt. That put two runners in scoring position, and the Athletics immediately took advantage. Butler’s RBI-single tied the game at two.

Luckily for the O’s, the second runner was out at home plate. So the game was still tied, however the O’s did surrender the lead. Then or at all.

The game went to extra innings, and the Birds immediately took advantage of the ghost runner. The Athletics wanted nothing to do with Pete Alonso, so they intentionally walked him in the top of the tenth. However Coby Mayo’s run-scoring single gave the O’s a 3-2 lead. Christian Encarnacion-Strand would immediately follow with an RBI-single To pad the lead at 4-2.

And it’s a good thing he did, as Gelof’s run-scoring single in the last of the tenth cut the lead to 4-3. But that was the best that the Athletics could muster, sending the Birds to a 4-3 victory. The Orioles now stand two games out of a postseason spot.

The series continues tonight at Suter Health Park. Shane Baz gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by the Athletics’ Jack Perkins. Game time is set for just after 10 PM.

Baltimore Orioles saved by the “Strand’s of time”

Kyle Bradish had to grind for the Baltimore Orioles last night. On paper it should have been easy to at least qualify for the win with a seven-run lead. But sometimes things happen. Whether they’re fair or foul. Bradish’s line: 4.1 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 2 BB, 4 K.

The O’s picked up where they left off Tuesday night. Christian Encarnacion-Strand’s RBI-single gave them a 1-0 lead in the first inning. But that turned into an onslaught in a sense. Dylan Beavers followed suit with another RBI-single, and Leody Taveras cleareded the bases with a three-run home run.

Bradish struggled himself in the first inning. He got out of it without surrendering a run, but he put a couple of runners on before retiring the side. Maybe that foreshadowed later,

But the O’s kept going offensively. Pete Alonso smacked a two-run home run in the top of the second. That ran the lead to 7-0. One would think that would be enough in a sense. But the baseball God’s don’t always agree. St. Louis would get one back in their half of that frame with a solo home run by Gorman.

Bradish would record one out in the fifth before running into trouble. He would load the bases, and then give up a two-RBI single to Burrleson. Walker would add an RBI-double…but with a small twist.

It was a chopper down the third base line. It was ruled fair by the third base umpire. It was borderline, needless to say. But the umpire called it fair well before the ball would have gone over (or missed the bag). That’s not a reviewable play.

That led to a two-RBI double by Church. Suddenly that seven-run lead was only 7-6. After Bradish left the game, Church would proceed to steal third base. He would later score on a sac-fly RBI, and suddenly we were tied at seven.

You never want to be on the south end of a big comeback like that. But this is baseball. Sometimes these things happen. And it remained tied until the almost end.

Samuel Basallo led off the ninth the a single. He was immediately pulled for pinch-runner Luis Vasquez (who replaced Tyler O’Neill when he was sent to the IL earlier in the day). Vasquez would go to second on a wild pitch, bringing Christian Encarnacion-Strand to the plate.

Encarnacion-Strand has really stepped up with all the injuries. He’s been a godsend for this team both in the field, as well as at the plate. And he proved it again late, as his RBI-double scored Vasquez, sending the Orioles to an 8-7 win.

It’s easy to say that it should have never come to that – fair or foul. But games like that happen in baseball. And end of the day, the O’s scratched out a win. That shouldn’t be taken lightly no matter how it went down.

The series concludes this afternoon at Busch Stadium. Trevor Rogers gets the start for the O’s, and his mound opponent is yet to be determined. Game time is set for 2:15 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Eight-run 5th seals it for the former Browns

The Baltimore Orioles were the St. Louis Browns until 1953. After that season, the franchise moved to Baltimore and became the Orioles – keeping the now iconic Orange & Black color scheme. Fast forward to August of 2026, and Chris Bassitt was on the mound as the franchise returned to St. Louis as the Orioles. Bassitt’s line: 6.2 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 5 K.

To be blunt, this was a rout. The O’s set the tone with a three-run homer from Pete Alonso in the third inning, and a solo shot from Christian Encarnacion-Strand later in the frame. St. Louis made a slight attempt to fight back in the fourth with a solo homer by Church. Then the fifth inning happened.

Coby Mayo extended the lead to 5-1 with an RBI-single. Christian Encarnacion-Strand’s two-RBI single later in the inning brought it to 7-1. After the Orioles reloaded the bases, Dylan Beavers walked in another run.

And we went on. When the smoke cleared, the Baltimore Orioles, the former St. Louis Browns, or whatever you wanted to call them…the team wearing Orange & Black, were winning 13-1. St. Louis brought in a position player to pitch before it ended.

Pete Alonso asked for out of the lineup after the fifth inning. Alonso’s been slightly injured for awhile, yet he still produced. You have to hope it’s nothing serious and nothing lingering. In short, you have to hope it’s Alonso seeing the scoreboard and reading the writing on the wall.

Chris Bassitt played as big a role as anyone. He kept pitching and saved the bullpen – after a 37 minute fifth inning where he was on the bench. The Orioles also drove a stake through the St. Louis bullpen, setting up the rest of the series nicely.

The series continues tomorrow at Busch Stadium. Kyle Bradish gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by St. Louis’ Michael McGreevey. Game time is set for 7:45 PM.