The Baltimore Orioles snap their five-game losing streak but drop another series against the Cleveland Guardians. The O’s won the series finale 4-2 powered by the long ball as they hit four solo home runs. Gunnar Henderson continues his MVP-like play as he went 6-11 hitting 2 home runs and driving in 4 RBIs. This was the toughest week the Orioles have had since calling up Adley Rutchman over two years ago. The Orioles haven’t been playing the best baseball and have relied on the home run ball to produce runs. This isn’t the worst thing as the O’s lead the league in home runs and runs scored but over the losing streak, the offense struggled to produce runs. With the cold spell snapped, the Orioles will look to get back on track as they are currently one game behind the Yankees for first place in the AL East.
The Pitching Staff Needs a Break
The Orioles are almost through with the grueling month of June where they only had one rest day and it might be affecting the pitching staff. In the past series, Yennier Cano didn’t look like his usual self, allowing two earned runs on three hits in the one inning he pitched. Another person who could be affected by the fatigue is Cole Irvin. In his last out he gave up eight runs (four earned) on ten hits allowed through four innings pitched. This is the second consecutive game where Irvin didn’t get through the fifth inning. The Guardians seemed to like facing the left-handed pitching of the Orioles as Cade Povich allowed the only runs scored in the O’s 3-2 loss Monday night. Help is on the way as Dean Kremer has started his rehab assignment with the Norfolk Tides. Mike Elias may also look towards the trade market as the deadline is only a month away.
Maybe the O’s Don’t Need a Centerfielder
Cedric Mullins has turned things around mighty fast throughout the month of June. In Wednesday night’s victory, Mullins smashed a solo home run in his 2-3 batting performance. Over the last seven games, Mullins is batting .407 with an OPS of 1.185. The trade rumor has been swirling around the Orioles CF position with the team possibly targeting Luis Robert to bolster the lineup even more. Also, Colton Cowser and Jorge Mateo have logged some games in CF while Mullins has been slumping. If Mullins’ bat stays as hot as it is, Elias may look to address other needs since the outfield depth is strong with Kjerstad and Stowers being called up and down throughout the season.
Texas Standoff in Camden
The Orioles will face off against the Texas Rangers who have severely underperformed coming off their 2023 World Series victory. The Rangers are coming to Baltimore on a three-game losing streak. Toeing the slab for the O’s in game one is Cy Young hopeful Corbin Burnes. Burnes has been dominant in his outings posting a top-five ERA in the American League at 2.35. The Rangers saw the return of Max Scherzer where he pitched five innings and only allowed one hit. He will be put to the test as the Orioles are arguably the best offense in MLB. The O’s need a strong bounce-back series and this might be the best opportunity as they close out the month of June.
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