Ho-Hum week for Birdland, finishing up at 3-3 since we last spoke. .500 ball is good, but given the way the Philly series in particular went down, it feels like we left some meat on the bone. That's all good now, especially to a team in the National League, but it is an ominous indicative of the issues that need to get cleaned up if this team wants to make a World Series run. Today's the day for any big news on that front too...
Until then, we'll look back at Philadelphia:
Record since Last Orioles Report: 3-3
Overall Record: 65-41
Tough Two in Philly
Gross one Tuesday night. Kyle Gibson had thrown well, allowing just two earned over six. Shintaro Fujinami followed him up, pitching two shutout innings with three strikeouts before Ryan O'Hearn put the Orioles ahead 3-2 with a long ball in the top of the eighth. Then it all fell apart.
With Felix Bautista still on ice after a busy Rays' series, Yennier Cano came in to attempt to close things out. Instead, he surrendered four hits and two runs-- not aided in any way by Jorge Mateo, who got a routine grounder stuck in his glove filling in for Gunnar at short. While a clean play wouldn't have preserved the victory, it at least would've given Baltimore an opportunity to win in extras. Instead, the Phils' took it home 4-3.
Wednesday night wasn't much better. Adley Rutschsman hit his 14th homer of the year to put the Birds up 3-0 in the top of the third before Kyle Bradish allowed four unanswered over the next two innings. Austin Hays knotted things up with a single in the top of the seventh, but it didn't last long.
Edmundo Sosa put Philly back ahead with a solo shot and Bryce Harper put the cherry on top by providing an insurance run on an RBI single a few batters later. Baltimore couldn't recover, dropping the game 6-4, as well as the road series.
Yankees in Town for Three
Friday night action in Camden Yards...and what a way to kick off a big AL East series. Grayson Rodriguez went toe to toe with Gerrit Cole, walking two and giving up three hits over 6.1 innings of scoreless work. It was the future ace Baltimore fans have hoped would be on the cusp of breaking through this season, completely shutting down the Yanks' anemic offense.
Cole was equally dominant though, also allowing three hits over seven shutout frames. The scoreboard was quiet, until the bottom of the ninth. With one out, well into the evening due to a rain delay, Anthony Santander sent the fans home with a smile, obliterating a 425' missile to right center. Playoff-like game and atmosphere in Baltimore, 1-0 win.
Let us not forget though, Aaron Judge was MVP for a reason. The big man went 3-5 with a 442 foot bomb that chased away a thoroughly ineffective Tyler Wells, helping spark a decisive New York victory. Cole Irvin got smacked around in relief too, allowing four runs and five hits in just an inning and a third. Hoping that's just a speed bump, because he'd been alright out of the pen recently. 8-3 Bombers in the hot summer sun.
Sunday Night Baseball, an honor we Orioles fans are not too familiar with! What a better way to kick it off than by scoring six runs before Luis Severino could record an out. The kind of ass kicking you love to see. Santander and O'Hearn had RBI doubles before Adam Frazier hit a three run homer to really blow things open. Then Ramon Urias struck out. Adley added on one with a single later in the first to put the O's up 7-0 going into the second.
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| Photo: USA Today |
Dean was a little shakier than preferred, particularly against a weak New York lineup. He only allowed three runs, but gave up seven hits and two walks, seemingly always finding himself in a bit of a jam. After 4+, Hyde pulled him during what should've been a lay up decision. The bullpen held serve though in a 9-3 dub and series win.
Game One North of the Border
Got a little sketchy at the end Monday night. Baltimore kicked off the game with a two-RBI Ryan Mountcastle double in the first. They'd quickly build this lead up to four, with a dinger from Gunnar and a sacrifice fly from Mountcastle two innings later. Kyle Gibson navigated six workmanlike frames, giving up just two runs on five hits, a modest form many are hoping he can return to.
Then it was time to play bullpen roulette; three unreasonably tense innings with a three run lead. Danny Coulombe allowed two base runners before recording an out in the seventh, followed by Yennier Cano, who gave up a solo homer and two walks in four batters faced. The kid's getting tired out there, it's apparent.
Luckily, Felix Bautista is a freak and was able to eat the final five outs. It took a miraculous diving catch from Austin Hays with runners on first and second in the ninth to preserve the 4-2 lead, but those are plays great players make. And that's exactly what Austin's been this season. Orioles win game one in Toronto.
Farm Report
-Joey Ortiz belongs on a major league field. I don't know if it'll be for Baltimore, but the kid has nothing left to prove at AAA. He went 12-26 in Norfolk's series vs. Nashville, adding a home run and eight RBI
-Huge weeks for Connor Norby and Heston Kjerstad. Norby stroked 11 hits and drove in three, while Heston had five extra base knocks, including two dingers. The Tides' are ridiculously stacked offensively
-Chayce McDermott had a spectacular relief appearance on Thursday, striking out seven while allowing just two hits and two walks in five shut out innings
-Strong couple of showings by Greg Cullen for the Baysox, going 5-14 at the plate with a home run and four RBI
-Nice weekend for Donta' Williams, hitting two two-run bombs against Somerset
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| Photo: Patrick Cavey |
-Alex Pham is having a special season. He gave up just one earned in five frames of action Thursday, lowering his ERA at Bowie to a scant 1.44. On the season, he's 3-3 with a 2.12 ERA, sub-1 WHIP and 31.5 K%
-Max Wagner posted a 4-4 day on Thursday, the night after launching his tenth long ball of 2023
-Fellow 2022 draftee Dylan Beavers continued his scorching July, going 7-15 with two runs batted in this most recent week. He ripped an eye-catching .397/4/18 this month, his best thus far as a pro
-Jared Beck showed out well Wednesday, giving up one earned run in four innings of work. The only hit he allowed was a solo shot
-For those keeping track at home, Brandon Lloyd's scoreless streak ended on Thursday after 23 innings spanning six appearances
-Samuel Basallo went 5-13 at the plate last week for Delmarva, with three of the hits going for extra bases. He showed great plate discipline by collecting six walks on the series too, raising his OBP to .384 on the year and .444 in July. The organization deservedly promoted him yesterday, reuniting him with Creed Willems in Aberdeen
-Trendon Craig and Stiven Acevedo each collected six hits against the Cannon Ballers. They've become consistent contributors for this offense
-Luis De Leon stayed sharp for Delmarva, picking up his first win after five innings of relief work Tuesday. The twenty year old allowed just one walk in his five scoreless innings, striking out eight in the process. He's currently rocking a 0.00 ERA and .063 BAA at Class-A
Concluding Thoughts
Tyler Wells demotion to Bowie seemed a bit extreme, but he was rocking a 6.43 ERA during the month of July-- a far cry from where he'd been in the first half of the year. Word on the street is that he's going to be "deloaded" back to a long relief/bullpen role. It should be a change he can thrive with, not facing the lineup more than once and possibly adding a little velocity.
It also signals to me that they're probably eyeing a starter over the next eight hours or so before the trade deadline. Grayson is locked in for the rest of the season at this point in the rotation, Irvin should be set in the pen and DL Hall is hopefully working his way back to some level of relevance-- but is still currently at the Florida Complex. Some reinforcements have to come from the outside. Jordan Montgomery was one I was really hopeful for, hate seeing him in Texas.
Another bullpen arm absolutely needs to be in play too, this week has made that vehemently clear. Fujinami does strengthen the group, albeit with plenty of volatility. Love the fire he pitches with though. Having Wells acclimate to the new role would be beneficial too. But Felix is the only truly trustworthy arm in the pen right now, which is not a way we can go into a serious postseason run.
Blake Snell and Josh Hader would've been great, but now appear to be off the market with San Diego suddenly playing alright, reducing an already small list of quality sellers.
Is Justin Verlander in play? The man knows his way around a World Series. Mitch Keller is an intriguing young arm, as is his teammate David Bednar. Curious what a blockbuster for the two would cost Baltimore. Is Dylan Cease our future ace? Maybe a reunion with Eduardo Rodriguez.
So many questions, hoping for some exciting news today that doesn't burn down the farm. Like Elias said in his press conference the other day: he does believe the team as currently constructed can win the whole thing. A sentiment that feels a bit rah-rah, but the proof is there. They're tied for the second most wins in the whole league, they've been incredibly consistent all season and they're young.
To take it a step further, I'd say only Atlanta's been better all season, per the eye test. The Rays are basically .500 since May, the Dodgers are banged up, Houston hasn't clicked yet. Texas scares me a little, especially with their recent spending spree, but we know they love to choke in October, so we'll cross that bridge when we get there. Why couldn't these Orioles conquer a mightily imperfect MLB?
All that being said, let's go get some help. Stay tuned y'all, August is upon us!
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@Choppinglines
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