Beating the Braves, Morton the trade chip, and deadline prep
Good Morning Birdland,
The Orioles began the holiday weekend in fine fashion, beating the Braves 3-2 on Friday night. It was a pitching-led win. Charlie Morton turned in 5.1 really strong innings, and the trio of Andrew Kittredge, Bryan Baker, and Félix Bautista were perfect in relief. Jordan Westburg and Cedric Mullins contributed key home runs, and that was all it took to come out on top.
It would be neat to see the Orioles get closer to .500 this weekend. They have been stuck at 10-12 games under .500 for a while now. If they really want to make a postseason push, they have gotta get going (how long have we been saying that?). Sweeping the Braves would be a good step in that direction.
The starting pitching matchup later today should be advantageous for the O’s. Dean Kremer will bring his hot hand to the mound. He’s got a 1.02 ERA over his last three starts, including seven shut out innings against the Rays in his last outing. Atlanta will be trotting out a bullpen game. Aaron Bummer will start, but he has not thrown more than 2.2 innings in any one appearance this year. Maybe the Orioles can capitalize.
Links
Morton’s dominant run could make him valuable trade chip — or sway Orioles not to sell | Orioles.com
Morton is the exact kind of player that teams love to add at the deadline. He should be relatively cheap, but he brings with him oodles of experience and the potential to upgrade the back of your rotation. Then, in the playoffs, he could transition to the bullpen.
Orioles Outright Matt Bowman, Emmanuel Rivera | MLB Trade Rumors
The Orioles have retained most of the players they have DFA’d this year. That probably says something about the quality of those guys on the periphery of the roster. Then again, the difference between those players and others on the fringes around MLB probably isn’t worth worrying about.
Top 40 Trade Candidates For The 2025 Deadline | MLB Trade Rumors
Seven Orioles make the “Top 40,” although I’m not convinced they all get moved. Ramón Laureano, for example, has a cheap team option for next year. So unless the O’s get blown away by an offer, there isn’t much reason to sell.
Because You Asked – Before Sunset | Roch Kubatko
Roch answers just about every Orioles question you might have, including whether he likes Thanksgiving or Fourth of July better. That’s Orioles related, right? It truly has something for everyone.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
- Austin Hays turns 30. He patrolled the Orioles outfield for parts of seven seasons between 2017-2024. That included an all-star appearances in 2023. He was dealt to the Phillies last summer and currently plays a crucial role for the Reds.
- Jay Spurgeon is 49 today. He pitched in seven games for the 2000 Orioles.
- Alberto Castillo celebrates his 50th birthday. The southpaw was an up-and-down reliever for the Orioles from 2008-10.
- Tim Worrell is 58. The journeyman bullpen piece played in five games for the 2000 Orioles.
- The late Curt Blefary (b. 1943, d. 2001) was born on this day. He debuted with the O’s in 1965 and went on to win Rookie of the Year. The next year he won the World Series with the Orioles. He played two more seasons in Baltimore before he was traded to the Houston Astros.
- It’s a posthumous celebration for Arnie Portocarrero (b. 1931, d. 1986). He had a three-season stint in Baltimore from 1958 through ‘60.
This day in history
1969 – Dave McNally wins his 14th straight game and helps break a three-game skid for the Orioles as they beat the Tigers 9-3.