So, this being an Elias production, of course his allegedly-potent lineup crapped out, struck out and lost, 3-2, carved up by Littell for five innings in his best start by far since September 2024. The Nats, who were supposed to be the worst team in baseball, are flirting with .500 while Elias\u2019s haphazard roster, that he had the guts to claim would contend – HYPER, fell to 20-25. They mustered two hits against the Nats starter, and the jewels of Elias\u2019s never-ending rebuild<\/a> – HYPER Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman, struck out in critical junctures; Rutschman with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s tough to come through with two-out hits,\u201d is what Orioles rookie skipper Craig Albernaz mustered after another toothless display, having you believe as such against a starter who went beyond five innings once this season (when he gave up six earned runs<\/p>\n The manager\u2019s usually pablum followed an afternoon in which Elias alleged the organization was surprised that third-baseman Jordan Westburg would require Tommy John surgery despite his prolonged absence with a lingering an serious UCL injury. Their best homegrown hitter with men on base will come back at some point in 2027<\/a>, while Elias, who is infatuated with tinkering with his prospects and thwarting their development by throwing too many positions at them, said he’ll keep experimenting with injured Jackson Holliday at third in the minors. Of course, Holliday has yet to prove he is a decent at second base yet, but madmen love their madness. <\/p>\n Oh what a day in Birdland.<\/p>\n The Orioles created very little traffic for Littell despite him specializing in it with a WHIP of 1.500. They had two on in the fifth when walk-specialist Taylor Ward (who entered the at bat four-for-eight against Littell with two homers) grounded out. They had runners on second and third in the seventh against lefty reliever Andrew Alvarez and he got Henderson (.655 OPS) to chase strike three and Rutschman capped off their pathetic night at the plate with the bases-loaded strikeout.<\/p>\n They did walk five times \u2026 but struck out 10, something they have made a habit of, especially against the lowest-wrung of starting pitching in the business.<\/p>\n Another Baz Meatball<\/p>\n As for Baz, he is a plow-horse who carries a perfect frame, capable of throwing 100 pitches every five days. But he doesn\u2019t get as much swing-and-miss as his stuff would suggest, he is in the hands of an organization that has a horrific record of maximizing pitching assets and he continues to serve up home run balls in key junctures,<\/p>\n Daylen Lile owned him Friday, with a double and a two-run homer. Baz sports a 5.28 ERA, and has already allowed six home runs after surrendering an alarming 26 last season. It should surprise no one he is carrying the most inflated ERA of his career, and if the pitching-savvy Rays couldn\u2019t make him a useful arm, only a fool would think Elias could.<\/p>\n
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