The intermission has concluded.
Tonight marks the Orioles’ return to action, commencing a three-game set against the Houston Astros, currently residing in last place with an 11-18 record overall and a dismal 3-10 on the road in the American League.
Is their skipper’s position secure?
According to a Sunday morning report in The Athletic, General Manager Dana Brown publicly affirmed his trust in Joe Espada. Brown attributed the team’s struggles to a league-high 15 players on the injured list and pitching performance that “hasn’t been up to par.”
“We’re issuing too many walks,” Brown stated. “I cannot begin to fault Joe when we are issuing an abundance of walks and dealing with numerous injuries.”
In the past two years, Espada’s brother-in-law, Brandon Hyde, and Red Sox manager Alex Cora were both fired during their teams’ visits to Baltimore. Espada, however, is likely to survive. Nevertheless, the Orioles aim to capitalize on the Astros’ struggles while also recovering from dropping two out of three games against Boston.
The scheduled day off could provide a crucial reset.
This break also allowed for contemplation on the subsequent points:
*Taylor Ward was anticipated to be among the club’s top home run hitters, potentially trailing or leading the Polar Bear. He recorded 25 homers with the Angels in 2024 and a personal best of 36 last season, achieving a .228/.317/.475 slash line across 157 contests.
“Taylor Ward presents many admirable qualities,” stated Mike Elias, president of baseball operations, last November. “He is, in fact, an individual we have pursued for at least a couple of seasons due to his profile — his significant right-handed power.
“He was an excellent match for our team, and there was a scarcity of powerful right-handed hitters available on the market this year.”
While power was the primary focus when acquiring Ward, he has only managed one home run in 28 games, which didn’t occur until April 19 in Cleveland. Nonetheless, Ward currently tops the team’s qualified hitters in several categories: 34 hits, 13 doubles, a .312 batting average, a .424 on-base percentage, an .883 OPS, and 21 walks.
“He approaches every single at-bat with professionalism,” remarked manager Craig Albernaz. “He never slacks off during an at-bat or on any pitch. It feels like every time he steps up, it’s either a 2-2 or 3-2 count. He truly battles the pitcher. The score or situation is irrelevant to him. He demonstrates an excellent game plan at the plate, refrains from chasing pitches, and compels pitchers to throw strikes. His capacity to hit line drives across the entire field is a testament to his skill.
“For me, personally, it’s a sheer delight to watch him bat.”
Despite 2,833 plate appearances during his time with the Angels, Ward never achieved a four-hit performance. With the Orioles, he has already accomplished this feat three times.
“I derive significant satisfaction from it,” Ward commented last week when queried about his on-base ability. “I believe that focusing on quality pitches and diligently practicing in the batting cage naturally yields results. It’s rewarding to witness my efforts translating into success.
“Undoubtedly, I’m exercising greater selectivity. I feel I am actively searching for specific pitch locations. I’m also comfortable falling behind in counts and, well, simply trusting my approach. I believe there’s been a subtle shift; I’m a bit more patient and currently have increased confidence in my abilities.”
*Confidence in Pete Alonso remains unshaken, with no one questioning whether he will buckle down and begin to hit effectively.
Alonso is putting in considerable effort but seeing minimal results. Through 28 games, he holds a .196/.301/.336 slash line, including six doubles, three home runs, 10 RBIs, 15 walks, and 32 strikeouts. Despite his reputation for hitting left-handed pitching well, he is 4-for-30 with no home runs against them.
His frustration is evident in his demeanor as he moves through the clubhouse, a stark contrast to his disposition during spring training.
Historically, Alonso boasts a .261/.354/.516 career slash line in March/April. During his last season with the Mets, he posted an impressive .343/.474/.657 with 11 doubles, seven home runs, 28 RBIs, 23 walks, and 20 strikeouts over the initial 31 games. He had anticipated a significantly quicker start this year.
“This performance falls below my expectations,” he stated. “In terms of outcomes, yes, it’s unacceptable for me, and I am committed to improving.
“I understand that when I fail to produce in crucial situations with runners on base, it negatively impacts the team. I will improve. I feel disappointed. Many people have faith in me, and I have faith in myself, yet I’m not achieving results. I will. I just haven’t yet. But I will.”
Alonso made this promise on April 10th. Since then, he has compiled a 12-for-56 (.214) record, including a 1-for-13 showing in the recent Red Sox series.
“It appears he’s attempting to manage too many variables in his pre-pitch routine, which isn’t inherently negative,” Albernaz commented last month. “However, it also seems he’s somewhat deliberating in that aspect. It’s not an issue with his swing itself, but rather with the pitches he chooses to attack and those he lets pass by.”
The most favorable outcomes are still anticipated. For a team that hasn’t exceeded a .500 winning percentage since April 14, nor climbed more than two games above it throughout the season, this improvement is urgently required.
*Coby Mayo was absent from Sunday’s starting lineup facing Red Sox left-hander Connelly Early. Blaze Alexander filled in at third base until Colton Cowser pinch-hit for him in the eighth inning, singling and subsequently scoring.
Across Mayo’s previous four starts, he has amassed a 5-for-15 record, including three home runs and seven RBIs. Two three-run blasts in Kansas City covered distances of 439 and 452 feet. His double on Saturday registered an exit velocity of 112.8 mph, while a lineout to center field was clocked at 104.2 mph.
Significant improvement is needed to achieve satisfactory statistics. Mayo’s current slash line through 23 games is .188/.273/.362. Alexander, in 22 games, is hitting .172/.238/.190 with a single RBI. Westburg’s 2026 debut is not imminent. Consequently, this represents Mayo’s opportunity for more consistent playing time.
Will he be able to seize this chance completely?
Albernaz believes that a refined approach, guided by the club, will prove highly beneficial.
A strategy effective for one batter might prove counterproductive for another. Customization offers a superior fit compared to a generic approach.
“When I was a developing player, coaches often advised, ‘You want to let the ball travel, let the ball get deep.’ Early this season, when Coby was struggling, he attempted to follow this advice, but from our viewpoint, that clashes with Coby’s strengths,” Albernaz explained.
“When Coby is performing optimally, he is making contact with the ball out in front of the plate. He can extend on those low changeups and make contact early; that aligns with his swing mechanics and allows him to generate maximum bat speed. We are witnessing this now as he makes front-of-the-plate contact, evident in his two home runs in Kansas City and the one on Friday night. For me, it’s simply Coby being himself.
“As we discuss with all our players, we simply want Coby to embrace his own style. When Coby is performing well, he’s hitting the ball out in front. Therefore, we intend to continue guiding him in that particular direction.”
It is also noteworthy that Mayo consistently engages in early defensive drills at third base, mirroring his practice at first base last summer.
*Samuel Basallo’s statistics are trending upward. His batting average has climbed to .233, his on-base percentage to .325, and his slugging percentage to .452.
Basallo’s five home runs place him in a tie with Jeremiah Jackson for second-most on the squad, trailing only Gunnar Henderson’s nine. Over his most recent four games where he had an at-bat, the rookie backstop has gone 9-for-16, including a double and two home runs. His Friday night 111 mph line drive, struck at a 20-degree launch angle, soared 395 feet, clearing the right-center field fence. Sunday’s home run appeared to be an effortless swing, yet the ball traveled 392 feet to right field at 101.5 mph.
“He possesses the most absurd power I have ever witnessed,” Henderson remarked.
*On April 15, Jackson maintained a .340/.345/.604 batting line, having gone 12-for-25 over his preceding six games. Since that time, he has recorded hits in six additional contests, highlighted by a three-run home run in Cleveland, but his current slash line stands at .270/.290/.461.
Jackson has gone 5-for-29 subsequent to his home run at Progressive Field. He is currently a daily fixture at second base.
Perhaps the day of rest will re-energize him. Alternatively, we might witness Blaze Alexander receiving some starts at second base to slightly reduce Jackson’s workload. This is simply a development to monitor as the Orioles conclude their homestand and embark on road trips to New York and Miami.
*In this three-game series, the Orioles will confront Houston Astros right-handed pitchers Kai-Wei Teng, Peter Lambert, and Lance McCullers Jr.
This aligns more with expectations.
They did not encounter a left-handed pitcher until Arizona’s Eduardo Rodríguez in their 18th game. They hold an 0-6 record against southpaws, though this cohort notably features Cleveland’s Parker Messick, who held them hitless for eight innings, as well as Boston’s Garrett Crochet and Early.
If we are to fixate on limited data sets, the Orioles maintain a .222 batting average with a .687 OPS when facing left-handed pitching.
“The left-handers we’ve encountered have been among the league’s elite,” stated Henderson, who notably hit a home run off Early. “We are confident in our ability to hit them. It merely comes down to executing.”
*Mustard has yet to secure a victory in a hot dog race at Camden Yards this season.
Why is this not receiving more widespread attention?
Ketchup secured its eighth win on Sunday, placing first, with Relish following with seven victories. Mustard, typically a strong contender, has yet to win.
Observations: Trace Bright of Double-A Chesapeake earned the distinction of Eastern League’s Pitcher of the Week. Across two starts, Bright surrendered only one run and one hit while recording 15 strikeouts over eight innings.
Bright withdrew from his initial start due to some back discomfort.
Yeiber Cartaya from High-A Frederick was recognized as the South Atlantic League’s Pitcher of the Week.
Cartaya appeared in two relief outings, pitching eight shutout innings, allowing two hits, and striking out 14 batters.