Adley Rutschman’s return sparked a 16-hit O’s explosion against the first-place Blue Jays.
Good morning, Camden Chatters.
So, where have these Orioles been all year?
Last night’s 11-4 win over Toronto was a tantalizing glimpse into a wonderful parallel universe in which the Birds’ 2025 season didn’t instantly go haywire, the team wasn’t wrecked by injuries and underperformance, and they’d be regularly beating up on opposing pitchers with a lineup full of All-Stars. It’s the kind of performance the Orioles envisioned they’d be having on the reg. That obviously hasn’t come close to materializing, but we can still enjoy one fun night whenever we get it. Check out Stacey’s recap for all the lovely details.
Adley Rutschman’s return from a month-long stay on the injured list seemed to transform the lineup. Adley smacked three hits from the cleanup spot, part of a 16-hit, 11-run Orioles attack in which nearly every O’s hitter contributed. It was one of the Birds’ strongest looking lineups of the year, and it didn’t even include the guy who had homered in three straight games (Tyler O’Neill).
This was the Orioles’ second offensive explosion in the last three days, along with their 18-0 demolition of the Rockies on Saturday. But that was, you know, the Rockies, so it comes with an asterisk. But the O’s accomplished last night’s hitting assault against a Blue Jays team that entered the night with the best record in baseball, making it all the more impressive.
Rutschman seems to be the bellwether of this Orioles team. When he’s performing well, the O’s win a lot of games; when he’s struggling, the team stinks. So if last night was any indication, we could be seeing some good stuff from Adley — and the Orioles — for the rest of the year. It’s too late to salvage the 2025 campaign, but a strong performance by the Birds in the season’s final months could give them some positive momentum heading into 2026.
Links
Orioles hit four home runs and bullpen provides 4 2/3 scoreless innings in 11-4 win (updated) – Blog
Imagine I had told you in spring training that the Orioles would have a game in July in which their relief pitchers were Corbin Martin, Colin Selby, Grant Wolfram, and Kade Strowd? I don’t think I even knew that at least two of those people existed.
Orioles closer Félix Bautista (shoulder) to ‘be out a while’ – The Baltimore Sun
This is no surprise, but it’s a real bummer for Félix. Just get fully healthy and don’t try to rush back. A last-place team doesn’t urgently need a closer.
Would Orioles consider qualifying offers for Eflin, Mullins and O’Hearn? | MAILBAG – BaltimoreBaseball.com
I’d consider it for O’Hearn. Not so much for Eflin and Mullins, unless they turn their seasons around in the next two months. But since they’re all likely to be traded this week, it’s probably — as Joey Tribbiani would say — a moo point.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! I regret to inform you that not a single Orioles player in history was born on July 29. But there will be one player at Camden Yards today celebrating a birthday: Blue Jays infielder Will Wagner turns 27, two days after his dad Billy was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Pretty good week for Will.
The Orioles have made a bunch of trades on this date in history, none more prominent than in 1988, when they dealt veteran starter Mike Boddicker to the Red Sox for prospects Brady Anderson and Curt Schilling. I’d say the O’s handily won that trade, even though they foolishly traded Schilling before he became a Hall of Fame-caliber pitcher. Anderson had a superb 14-year career in an Orioles uniform and is the Birds’ all-time leader in stolen bases (307).
Other trades the O’s have made on July 29 include reacquiring Hall of Famer Harold Baines in 1997, and also trading Baines away (along with Charles Johnson and Mike Timlin) in the 2000 fire sale.
And on this date in 2010, the Orioles made the excellent decision to hire veteran skipper Buck Showalter as their new manager. Buck went on to helm the club for nine years, returning the Orioles to prominence after their 14-year streak of losing seasons.
Random Orioles game of the day
On July 29, 2019, the Orioles lost to the Padres in San Diego, 8-1. Starter David Hess gave up five runs in 4.2 innings and Dillon Tate another three runs in the seventh, each giving up a dinger to Eric Hosmer, while former Oriole Manny Machado — just over one year after the O’s had traded him — collected three hits for the Pads. Shockingly, an O’s lineup that included the likes of Stevie Wilkerson, Jace Peterson, Hanser Alberto, and Chance Sisco couldn’t manage any offense against three Padres pitchers. The loss dropped the Orioles to 35-71.