‘Huge Shock’: Orioles All-Star Playing Through Injury

In what has become a recent trend of dismal hitting performances for the Orioles, yesterday’s effort stood out as one of the worst. The team was shut out by five Rays pitchers, managing just five singles, with no extra-base hits. They walked three times and struck out 11, going 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. The eighth inning was particularly embarrassing as three consecutive batters struck out with two runners on base. Alex Church’s recap provides more details on the Orioles’ offensive struggles.

Unfortunately, this is nothing new. The Orioles have scored only four runs in their last four games and have been limited to three or fewer runs in 10 of their last 17 outings. Their offense briefly came alive against the Rockies and White Sox, scoring 39 runs in six games, but overall, the slump has persisted through much of the second half of the season.

Nearly every player in the lineup is in a slump, and many have been struggling for a while. Jackson Holliday, after a power surge in early August, has reverted to his April form, slashing .145/.206/.210 over his last 19 games. Key left-handers Colton Cowser and Ryan O’Hearn have also been underperforming, with OPSes in the low .600s over the past two weeks.

 

 

Most concerning is Adley Rutschman, whose extended struggles hit a new low yesterday with an 0-for-3, two-strikeout game. He’s now hitting below .200 in the second half of the season, with just two home runs in 41 games, a far cry from the player who revitalized the Orioles in 2022 and became a two-time All-Star. Some fans speculate he’s been playing through an injury, which might explain his drop in performance. If not, the alternative—that he’s fully healthy and has simply lost his hitting ability—is too concerning to consider.

On the bright side, the Orioles didn’t lose ground in the AL East race, thanks to a Yankees loss to the Cubs. The Orioles remain a half-game behind New York. They kick off a six-game road trip tonight at Fenway Park, while the Yankees begin a seven-game homestand against the Royals. On paper, the Orioles seem to have the easier matchup, but it won’t matter much unless they can turn around their offensive woes quickly.