Good morning, Camden Chatters.
Is it just me, or are the Orioles suddenly kind of fun to watch? The weekend call-ups of Dylan Beavers and Samuel Basallo, of course, go a long way to increasing the Birds’ entertainment value, but the rest of the team is playing some decent baseball lately, too. They’ve now won back-to-back series against two teams currently in playoff position, the Mariners and Astros.
The Orioles’ series in Houston was particularly impressive. They outplayed a first-place Astros club on the road while welcoming Beavers and Basallo to the majors, both of whom immediately contributed (two hits for Beavers, a two-run single for Basallo). They outscored the Astros, 23-5, and could well have swept the series if they had managed just one hit in their 14 at-bats with runners in scoring position on Saturday. Starters Brandon Young and Dean Kremer both dazzled, with 15 scoreless innings combined. And the O’s offense erupted, capping off the series win with a 12-0 beatdown yesterday. Check out Stacey’s recap for the lovely details.
With no playoff hopes of their own to play for, the Orioles can at least have some fun trying to ruin other teams’ seasons. They did the Astros a solid when they took two of three from the Mariners, then immediately returned the favor to Seattle with their series win in Houston, keeping the teams separated by one game atop the AL West. The Orioles’ next 10 games will also come against probable playoff teams: four more against the Astros, sandwiched between six against the Red Sox, who are currently clinging to a slight lead for the second wild card spot. The O’s can inject a lot more chaos into the postseason race if they continue their winning ways for the next week and a half.
And no, that doesn’t make it any easier to swallow that it’s mid-August and the Orioles have nothing else to do but play spoiler. It’s been a lousy season, no doubt about it. But if the O’s keep playing good baseball — especially Basallo, Beavers, and the other key members of the homegrown core — then we’ll start to feel a lot better about their chances of competing in 2026.
Basallo (MLB’s No. 8 prospect) debuts for O’s — after his dad broke the news – MLB.com
The Orioles adorably had Samuel Basallo’s dad be the one to tell him he was getting called up. I kind of think this is how it should always be done.
Orioles road to the show: Samuel Basallo has arrived. Here’s how he got here. – The Baltimore Sun
A retrospective of Basallo’s young career up to this point. Spoiler alert: he’s good at baseball.
This is what I’m saying. The Orioles look like a good team right now. Where’s that been all year?
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Two former Orioles were born on this day: right-hander Josh Rupe (43) and the late infielder Bob Kennedy (b. 1920, d. 2005).
On this date in 1965, Brooks Robinson grounded into a triple play for the third time in his career, tying the major league record held by George Sisler. Robinson finished his career with four triple plays to set a dubious MLB mark.
And on this day in 2017, Manny Machado had the game of his life, crushing three home runs — including a walkoff grand slam — to almost single-handedly defeat the Angels, 9-7. Machado drove in seven of the Orioles’ runs, hitting a three-run homer in the third and a solo shot in the fifth before his bases-loaded game-ender against Keynan Middleton in the ninth. Machado’s three dingers, along with solo shots by Mark Trumbo and Caleb Joseph, helped the O’s overcome a five-homer attack by the Angels.
Random Orioles game of the day
On Aug. 18, 2021, the Orioles suffered their 14th straight loss, 8-4, to the Rays. The O’s took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first but it was all downhill from there, as Tampa Bay tallied eight runs against starter Spenser Watkins and relievers Paul Fry and César Valdez. Ryan Mountcastle hit his 20th homer of the year, and Cedric Mullins bashed his 21st on his way to a 30-30 season, but it wasn’t enough. The Birds’ losing streak would eventually reach 19 in a row before they snapped it a week later.