Baltimore Orioles

Trevor Rogers put forth a strong start in his latest effort against the Braves, giving weight to his case to be the next O’s starter to be paid.

Mike Elias has gotten heat for the Orioles’ decline since a highlight 2023 season. But team owner David Rubenstein says he’s pleased with his performance as the team trails in the wild-card race.

The 22-year-old, drafted No. 19 overall last year, has performed at a high level for Frederick, hitting .286 with a .915 on-base-plus-slugging percentage.

At 18, Eric Booth Jr. recently signed for $7.32 million, and the center fielder is already ranked as Baltimore’s top prospect, according to Baseball America, without having picked up a bat in the minors.

Henderson has appeared too tightly wound at times, as though the weight of the world is on his shoulders.

With nine games to play ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline, Baltimore is three games behind Boston for the last wild-card spot.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand was the offensive force for a team with little bite, collecing three hits.

“A lot of good, a lot of random stuff: concussion, ankle and this,” Rutschman said of his season thus far. “It’s been a fun year, but also it’s just frustrating to spend any time not playing.”

The massive deadline teardown looks a year later to have been plenty worth it for the Orioles. The players acquired this time last year added quality and depth to their farm system.

Boston finally took the lead for good in their 6-5 victory when Caleb Durbin walloped a solo homer off right-hander Tyler Wells in the eighth inning.

Baltimore announced Rutschman’s trip to the injured list Monday, a few hours before the club begins a critical series against the red-hot Red Sox.

For the first time in a long time, it feels as if the Orioles are firmly heading in the right direction.

“If you want to go to college and chase a career, I’m in full support of that,” the Orioles’ Chris Bassitt said. “But the reality of why this is going in place is nothing to do with that.”

Baltimore is riding a seven-game win streak.

Rutschman is batting .251 with eight home runs and 47 RBIs in 67 games this season. He was named to his third American League All-Star team.

Brandon Young (8-2) allowed five hits and one walk while striking out seven in seven innings.

Baltimore’s winning streak is its longest since May 30-June 5, 2025.

“We have believed strongly in Kyle since he first joined the organization as a minor leaguer in 2019,” president of baseball operations Mike Elias said in a statement.

The Orioles’ bullpen pitched five scoreless innings, allowing only two hits, in the series opener at Houston.