Mullins hit his 100th career home run in the Orioles’ historic 18-0 win over the Colorado Rockies on Saturday night, becoming just the third player in team history to hit 100 homers and steal 100 bases alongside Brady Anderson and Paul Blair.

“That’s him. That’s what we’ve seen,” interim manager Tony Mansolino said.

All 12 Orioles who entered the game recorded a hit, and six players had an extra-base hit in a drubbing of the Rockies, MLB’s worst team at 27-77. The 18-run margin is the largest shutout victory for the Orioles since the franchise moved the Baltimore in 1954 and the club’s third-biggest win overall.

Mullins, who went 2-for-3 with three RBIs, was backed by starting pitcher Trevor Rogers’ gem, Tyler O’Neill’s second consecutive game with a homer and a trio of two-RBI nights from Gunnar Henderson, Coby Mayo and Ryan O’Hearn as Baltimore pounded out 18 hits.

“Baltimore has taken my family in since the beginning. I got drafted by Baltimore and just one of those things where you just feel welcome,” Mullins said. “The engagement that I have with the fans over the course of the years has been nothing short of awesome. It’s just been fun, really fun, being here.”

A 13th-round pick in the 2015 draft, Mullins rose through the organization to make his major league debut in 2018, taking over for franchise icon Adam Jones. Mullins opened the 2019 season as the team’s starting center fielder but was demoted to Double-A after hitting .094 in 64 at-bats for Baltimore.

His story wasn’t finished, though. Mullins made the switch to become a full-time left-handed hitter in 2021 and had a career season, becoming the starting center fielder for the American League in the All-Star Game. As top prospects Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson and Jordan Westburg debuted in Baltimore following a painful rebuild, Mullins was the string between two eras of Orioles baseball.

But the outfielder never recaptured the form of his 2021 season, in which he became the first Orioles player with 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases. While he’s been a positive Wins Above Replacement player since then, his performance has dwindled.

Mullins’ expected batting average, hard-hit rate and expected slugging percentage are among the lowest in baseball this season. He has also been the worst defender in MLB, according to Fielding Bible’s Defensive Runs Saved, largely because of his below-average arm. After a hot start, the 30-year-old’s performance — and trade value — has tanked.

Baltimore (46-58) isn’t expected to net much for the outfielder by Thursday’s trade deadline. He’s on an expiring contract and has struggled recently, batting just .172 since June and .192 against right-handed pitchers this season.

But his time in Baltimore shouldn’t be forgotten. His 2021 season produced the fourth-highest WAR by an Orioles position player in the past decade, while his 14.6 WAR is tied for the third-highest among Baltimore’s position players since 2015.

Saturday was a vintage performance from the longest-tenured Oriole. His diving catch in the third inning drew a stunned reaction from Rogers, who delivered another sparkling start by allowing just one hit over seven scoreless innings.

“It was the best catch I’ve ever seen,” Rogers said. “I still have no words for you. It was unbelievable.”

Defensive metrics are low on Mullins, who has been considered among the best defensive outfielders since making his debut, but Mansolino thinks the analytics are wrong.

“The eye test doesn’t show that,” Mansolino said before the game. “When you look at the DRS — and you guys watch the games every night — it doesn’t match up with what I’m watching.”

In the fourth inning, Mullins’ sky-high home run drove in three and made him the 35th Oriole to hit the century mark. He’s the 13th MLB player to do that since 2000.

The Camden Yards crowd rewarded him with a standing ovation as a montage flashed over the video board. If that’s one of Mullins’ final moments in a ballpark he’s called home for seven years, it was a fitting ending.

Postgame analysis

Rogers continues to pitch like one of the best starters in baseball.

Nothing about the 27-year-old left-hander’s season seems fluky. He likely won’t take a 1.49 ERA into next season, but Rogers has not allowed more than three runs in a start this year. He’s pitched into the sixth inning in all of his past four outings.

Since his strong first start May 24 against the Boston Red Sox, Rogers has the third-lowest ERA in baseball among pitchers with at least 40 innings during that span; only Tarik Skubal, Paul Skenes and Matthew Boyd have been better. All three of those pitchers were All-Stars, while Skubal and Skenes started the Midsummer Classic.

“I mean, there’s always that voice in the back of my mind that’s like, ‘Maybe it’s just a fluke.’ I’ve had a lot of practice shutting that voice down and staying within my process, staying within myself,” said Rogers, who has been heavily scrutinized since being acquired at last season’s trade deadline. “On the other hand, I’ve prepared for this, these couple starts, since I got traded over here.”

The underlying metrics are encouraging, too. Rogers’ Fielding Independent Pitching — which estimates a pitcher’s performance based only on events within their control: home runs, strikeouts, walks, and hit-by-pitches — is slightly higher than his ERA at 2.97, but that doesn’t suggest that massive regression is incoming.

Rogers struck out five Rockies on Saturday and generated weak contact all evening.

What they’re saying

Mansolino on Rogers’ excellent stretch:

“That fastball plays way up. I don’t feel like we’ve seen the same [95-96 mph fastballs] that we saw the first couple of starts now that he’s on regular-like rotation work. Those [93-94 mph fastballs] play like [95-96 mph]. There’s huge extension. It’s a very attacking style on the mound. I don’t feel like he’s beating around the bush much, regardless of who’s at the plate in the lineups he’s seen the last couple of starts.

“Just a ton of confidence. There’s a ton of presence on the mound. Again, I’m going back to seeing him [as an All-Star with the Miami Marlins] in ’21. It was electric when I saw him in ’21. Maybe not the same type of velocity on the fastball in some ways, but the way the hitters swing at it, some nights it looks like it.”

By the numbers

Ten straight Baltimore batters reached base to start the seventh inning. It was nearly 11, but outfielder Colton Cowser’s fly ball was caught at the wall in center field. Henderson had two doubles in the frame, which produced nine runs.

In the eighth inning, catcher Alex Jackson crushed a solo homer off Rockies position player Kyle Farmer to cap the scoring. All of Jackson’s first seven hits with the team since being acquired midseason amid a rash of injuries have gone for extra bases.

On deck

Baltimore will look to win its first series of the second half on Sunday when it faces Colorado at 1:35 p.m. Right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano will start against Rockies left-hander Austin Gomber, whose 6.03 ERA and 0-4 record lines up with the rest of the team’s pitching staff.

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Interior defensive line

Nnamdi Madubuike

Madubuike’s pressures, sacks and run stops all regressed last season after the team awarded him a four-year, $98 million extension. But the Ravens’ most proven lineman faced a high rate of double teams and still finished top 10 among defensive tackles in sacks. He’s primed for a bounce-back season.

Travis Jones

The pass-rushing defensive tackle had his best season in Baltimore last year, tallying a career-high 35 pressures from the interior, according to Pro Football Focus. Over 65% of his snaps come in pass-rush opportunities, which is among the highest in the league for defensive tackles. He’s entering a contract year and could earn a pay raise in the offseason.

Aeneas Peebles

The Ravens wanted more pass-rushing juice from their interior linemen, which is why they selected Peebles in the sixth round of April’s draft. The Athletic’s draft expert Dane Brugler had Peebles graded as a third- or fourth-round prospect. At just 6 feet and 288 pounds, the former Virginia Tech standout’s low-center of gravity helps his pocket-pushing ability.

Broderick Washington

The Texas Tech product has been a reliable option for Baltimore since he debuted in 2020. As a rotational player, Washington is solid as a run stopper and should continue to play alongside Madubuike on early downs.

John Jenkins

After Michael Pierce’s retirement, the Ravens needed a nose tackle to replace the 355-pound veteran. Enter Jenkins. The 6-3, 327-pound lineman is entering his 13th NFL season and will be playing for his seventh team. He played a career-high 609 defensive snaps with the Las Vegas Raiders last season, but he likely won’t be asked to play that large of a role with Travis Jones in the mix.

Jayson Jones

Jones, who was rated as the No. 1 offensive tackle in Alabama as a high schooler before switching positions, committed to Oregon before transferring to Auburn. He totaled 84 total tackles including four for loss, 1 1/2 sacks and a fumble recovery over three seasons with the Tigers.

Adedayo Odeleye

From Nigeria, Odeleye played for the Houston Texans’ practice squad for two seasons. Before that, he played for the Berlin Thunder in the European League of Football.

C.J. Okoye

Another defensive lineman with Nigerian heritage, Okoye has one of the best stories on the team. He was a part of the NFL Africa camp in Ghana in 2022 and then was invited to the NFL International combine in England, where he was eventually selected to the NFL’s International Pathway Program, which allocated him to a team.

He played in the Los Angeles Chargers’ first preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams and recorded a sack in his first organized game of football. Okoye said afterwards that he didn’t know what a sack was until after the game.

Edge rushers

Odafe Oweh

Oweh added 20 pounds of muscle in the offseason to increase his power off the edge. He had a strong season last year, setting career highs in sacks and pressures as well as ranking 17th among edge rushers in pass rush win-rate, per ESPN analytics. But almost all of his pressures came with speed rushes. With plenty of young edge defenders in waiting, Oweh could price himself out of Baltimore with a strong season.

Kyle Van Noy

It’s not often that a player in his 11th season in the league has a breakout campaign, but Van Noy’s 56 pressures last season were the second most of his career. He’s reliable, can play on every down and is one of the vocal leaders on the team. The 34-year-old is a perfect fit in the edge room.

Mike Green

Green slid in the draft because of two accusations of sexual assault against him. He’s one of the most talented pass rushers in the rookie class and could make an immediate impact in Baltimore as a rotational edge rusher. Green racked up 17 sacks with Marshall in his final college season.

David Ojabo

The 2022 second-round pick hasn’t found his footing in Baltimore. He was a healthy scratch in four games last season and failed to play in more than 50% of the team’s defensive snaps in a game after Week 2. Entering a contract year, Ojabo has one more chance to make an impact with the Ravens.

Tavius Robinson

The 2023 fourth-round pick took a leap in his second season, registering 13 pressures. There is a firm belief within the Ravens’ pass rush room that Robinson is tracking toward a breakout year. Pass rush coach Chuck Smith called Robinson a “bona fide pass rusher” and John Harbaugh said that he’s established himself as a three-down player in December.

Adisa Isaac

Isaac was drafted in the third round of the 2024 draft but was limited during his first training camp and was eventually placed on the non-football injury list. He showed a lot of pass rushing juice at Penn State, which could help Baltimore.

Diwun Black

The former Florida and Temple player was unproductive in college but has some strong athletic traits. In 2021, he was the No. 1-rated junior college recruit according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.

Malik Hamm

A Baltimore native, Hamm has had some horrible injury luck. The City College graduate has suffered two season-ending knee injuries in consecutive seasons, which prevented him from potentially making the roster both years.

Kaimon Rucker

Rucker signed with the team as an undrafted free agent out of North Carolina. He has some bend and was named second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference in 2023.

Linebackers

Roquan Smith

The unquestioned stalwart of the Ravens’ defense, Smith led the team in tackles (154) and wore the green dot as the on-field communicator. But it was also a down season by his standards. PFF ranked Smith as just the 86th best linebacker in the NFL last season with a mark of 65.2. Through his first nine games, he had only one tackle for loss, no sacks or quarterback hits, and three pass breakups. Smith acknowledged that his play last year did not match his goals, and he said that health and covering for others’ mistakes were the main reasons. Expect a bounce-back year for the 2018 first-round pick.

Trenton Simpson

After Patrick Queen left last offseason, Simpson was expected to be a breakout candidate. Instead, his snaps completely dwindled after the midway point of the season and he was benched. But with Malik Harrison and Chris Board departing in free agency, Harbaugh said that Simpson is the first in line to fill the void. It’s a big season ahead for the former Clemson star.

Teddye Buchanan

The fourth-round rookie led California in tackles and stops for loss in his final college season. A former high school quarterback, the 6-2, 235-pound Buchanan can be a strong depth piece and also play on special teams in his first season.

Jay Higgins IV

Cut from the mold of old-school Iowa linebackers, Higgins was the Big Ten Linebacker of the Year in 2024. He racked up 341 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles with the Hawkeyes, but the 6-2, 232-pound Higgins does not have great lateral movement and struggled in zone coverage in college. He’s on the roster bubble and seems like a strong candidate for the practice squad.

Chandler Martin

Martin transferred from East Tennessee State to Memphis and was named first-team All-American Athletic Conference. He had eight tackles, 2 1/2 tackles for loss, a sack and a fumble recovery in the Tigers’ win over Florida State.

Jake Hummel

Hummel set the Rams’ record for preseason tackles in 2022 and played for the team for three seasons. The 6-1, 227-pound linebacker was a special teams standout, making eight tackles in 2024 and blocking a punt that led to a touchdown.

William Kwenkeu

Baltimore signed Kwenkeu to its practice squad in 2024, adding training camp depth at a thin position.

Cornerbacks

Nate Wiggins

There weren’t many rookie cornerbacks better than Wiggins last year. The 2024 first-round pick had 13 passes defensed and allowed a 47.8% completion rate when targeted, according to Next Gen Stats. If he becomes a true No. 1 boundary corner, the Ravens’ secondary has the potential to be the best in the NFL.

Jaire Alexander

After quarterback Lamar Jackson advocated for the team to sign his former college teammate, the Ravens added him just days later. The former Green Bay Packers star has been one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL since entering the league, and he’s got a chance to reestablish himself as a premier player. If Alexander is healthy, he’s a home run addition by general manager Eric DeCosta.

Marlon Humphrey

The longest tenured Ravens defender had one of the best seasons of his career last year. He’s thrived since moving to the nickel spot, which should continue this year with Alexander and Wiggins playing on the outside. Humphrey spoke this offseason about wanting Baltimore’s defense to return to the premiere defenses of the 2000s and how much time he’s spent in the facility.

Jalyn Armour-Davis

Armour-Davis has been impressive in offseason practices, often manning a starting outside cornerback position. Entering his fourth season in the league, the Alabama product could be the Ravens’ top cornerback reserve. He also has the ability to play safety.

Chidobe Awuzie

Awuzie had one of the worst seasons of his career last year, according to PFF. He played in only eight games for the Titans, who released him just one-year into his three-year, $36 million contract. As a backup with positional versatility, the 30-year-old Awuzie has a chance to be a versatile depth piece.

Bilhal Kone

The rookie’s story is filled with perseverance. He grew up in poverty, lost his younger brother to cancer and had to move away from his family. Kone led Western Michigan in passes defended each of the past two years and was ranked as the No. 14 cornerback in the 2024 class, according to The Athletic. He’ll be competing against fellow rookie Robert Longerbeam and 2024 fourth-round pick T.J. Tampa to make the 53-man roster.

T.J. Tampa

Tampa was viewed as a draft steal in the 2024 class, but he did not make an impact as a rookie. The former Iowa State star did make a plethora of excellent plays during OTAs, including an interception during a red zone drill. The 6-1, 199-pound defensive back needs his strong play to continue in training camp to beat out Armour-Davis or the pair of rookies.

Robert Longerbeam

The other sixth-round rookie cornerback, Longerbeam was a three-year starter at Rutgers who led the team in passes defended in three of the past four seasons. He ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine but is only 175 pounds.

Reuben Lowery

It will be tough for an undrafted rookie to make the team in a crowded secondary, but Lowery seems to have the best chance. The 5-foot-9, 204-pound corner from Chattanooga is small but extremely physical.

Keyon Martin

Another sub-6-foot cornerback, Martin is an undrafted rookie out of Louisiana. He ran a 4.38-second 40-yard dash at his pro day.

Marquise Robinson

Robinson transferred from South Alabama to Arkansas and registered seven pass breakups with the Razorbacks. He started in eight games and will be battling for a spot on the practice squad.

Safety

Kyle Hamilton

One of the NFL’s top safeties since entering the league, Hamilton is a true wildcard. But after the Ravens’ secondary struggled mightily at the beginning of the 2024 season, he shifted to a different role. He played as the deep safety more than 50% of the time over the second half of the season, a 32% increase from the beginning of the year. But with Malaki Starks expected to fill the free safety slot, Hamilton can return to being the game-wrecking chess piece who plays all over the defense.

Malaki Starks

The prized first-round pick of the Ravens’ draft class, Starks has immediately assumed a starting spot during offseason practices. He’s mature, ball-savvy and communicative for a rookie. The Georgia product could be in the mix for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Beau Brade

Brade was one of the top stories during last year’s camp, making the roster as an undrafted free agent out of Maryland. The second-year player from River Hill is battling for the third safety position with Sanoussi Kane. Brade played in the box at Maryland and is a downhill, physical safety who typically defends the run well.

Sanoussi Kane

Kane has a strong athletic profile, running a 4.52-second 40-yard dash at 210 pounds. The Ravens picked him in the seventh round in 2024 and he will compete with Brade for the third safety role.

Desmond Igbinosun

A physical safety, the 6-2, 223-pound Igbinosun totaled 186 tackles at Rutgers. He set the team record for tackles for loss in a Big Ten game with four against Michigan State.

Keondre Jackson

An undrafted rookie from Illinois State, Jackson was named to the Senior Bowl after earning FCS All-American honors. He’s got a strong chance to make the practice squad.

Ar’Darius Washington

Washington’s Achilles tendon injury will likely hold him out for the entirety of the regular season.

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Quarterback

Lamar Jackson

One of the NFL’s biggest stars keeps finding new sources of motivation. Jackson was ranked as the league’s No. 4 quarterback in ESPN’s poll of NFL executives, coaches and scouts, behind the Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow. The 28-year-old veteran is coming off a record season, albeit without an NFL Most Valuable Player Award. He was ranked as the most efficient quarterback in the NFL, both by expected points added and yards per attempt. Jackson threw 41 touchdown passes to just four interceptions, becoming the only quarterback in league history with those numbers. Baltimore’s Super Bowl hopes ultimately rest on his shoulders.

Cooper Rush

Rush signed a two-year deal worth up to $12.2 million this offseason, giving the Ravens their most proven backup in years. Despite looking mediocre in voluntary offseason practices, the 31-year-old Rush went 9-5 as a starter with the Dallas Cowboys and has the trust of offensive coordinator Todd Monken.

Devin Leary

The former Kentucky quarterback is aiming to potentially make the practice squad or the 53-man roster. The NFL allows teams to elevate a third quarterback from the practice squad for games, but that player would count against the game-day roster limit.

Running back

Derrick Henry

His 2024 season was perhaps the most impressive of his career, as “King Henry” converted his 20.4 touches per game into 2,114 combined rushing and receiving yards and 18 touchdowns. That earned him a two-year, $30 million extension in the offseason, and he should continue to get heavy usage. How the Ravens balance the 31-year-old’s workload with other talented running backs, including Keaton Mitchell in his return from injury, will be a storyline to watch.

Justice Hill

The Oklahoma State product has carved out a nice role in Baltimore as RB2. Hill was the Ravens’ best receiving back last season, catching 42 passes for 383 yards, both career highs. His usage could shrink with Mitchell returning, but Jackson trusts the 27-year-old out of the backfield.

Keaton Mitchell

After suffering a devastating knee injury in December 2023, Mitchell, 23, is looking to return to form as both a running back and potentially the Ravens’ kick returner. Mitchell reached 22.4 mph during an offseason workout inside the team’s practice facility, which is faster than his reported speed before the injury. “He looks way better than he did at the end of last season, just as far as movement,” coach John Harbaugh said. “I have hopes for him. I expect him to be really good.”

Rasheen Ali

A fourth-round draft pick in 2024, Ali was a nonfactor last season. He played in just six games, recording 10 carries. The former Marshall standout has some juice, and his draft pedigree puts him squarely on the roster bubble. But with Henry and Hill entrenched in their roles, and Mitchell coming back, Ali’s chances are slim.

Marcus Major

The 24-year-old rookie signed as an undrafted free agent out of Minnesota after playing five seasons at Oklahoma. He’s squarely fifth on the depth chart.

Wide receiver

Zay Flowers

The Ravens’ No. 1 wideout missed last season’s playoff game against the Buffalo Bills, an underrated aspect of the loss. Flowers took a massive leap in his second season. The 24-year-old made the Pro Bowl, led the team in catches (74) and receiving yards (1,059) and was 16th in the NFL in yards per route run at 2.25. Baltimore wants to involve the third-year star even more: he had five or fewer targets in five games and had less than 50 receiving yards in eight regular-season contests. “We’ve just got to get him the ball more,” Monken said. “He’s an unbelievable football player. He’s not only an outside receiver that has elite route-running skills, but he’s unbelievable with the ball in his hands.”

Rashod Bateman

Bateman earned his third multiyear contract with the Ravens, becoming the first wideout in the team’s history to do so. Finally healthy, the 25-year-old was second in the league with one or more steps of separation while getting open, picked up 39 first downs, forced 10 missed tackles and had 26 catches of 15-plus yards, according to Pro Football Focus. If he can avoid the injury issues that have plagued his career, Bateman is a perfect complement to Flowers as the Ravens’ No. 2 receiver.

DeAndre Hopkins

Perhaps the biggest offseason addition on offense, the 33-year-old Hopkins is looking for a Super Bowl ring in Baltimore. While not the receiver he once was, the five-time All-Pro is still a big outside target who can allow for Flowers and Bateman to shift into the slot. Expect modest numbers but valuable contributions from the veteran this season.

Tylan Wallace

Wallace has never had more than 15 receptions, 200 yards or two touchdowns in a season, but he’s tied for the longest-tenured receiver on the team and can play in a pinch. The 26-year-old former Oklahoma State star brings punt returning experience, including a game-winning touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams in 2023, and could be the Ravens’ best option at that spot.

Devontez Walker

Walker, 24, played in just 11 games as a rookie and recorded one catch for a touchdown but has looked improved this offseason. He’s got the frame (6-1, 200 pounds) and speed (4.36 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine) to be a depth piece and should make the roster.

LaJohntay Wester

The lightest player on the offense (170 pounds), Wester has a chance to make the roster on special teams. He’s a dynamic athlete, showcasing a ton of wiggle during OTAs. He took the majority of reps at punt returner during practices. His punt return average was 12 yards and his kick return average was 15 yards during his lone season at Colorado.

Anthony Miller

Miller made a spectacular one-handed catch during offseason practices, but the 30-year-old veteran is a known commodity at this point of his career. He’s played just two games over the past three seasons, both with the Ravens.

Malik Cunningham

Cunningham has one of the most interesting stories on the team. He was selected in the 2023 USFL draft, although he chose to bypass the regular season and signed an undrafted contract with the New England Patriots as a quarterback. The Ravens reunited him with Jackson, his former college teammate at Louisville, in 2024 and transitioned him back to wide receiver. The 26-year-old signed a reserve/future contract with the team in February.

Keith Kirkwood

Another big body, Kirkwood has been in the league since 2018. The Ravens signed the 30-year-old to the practice squad during training camp in 2024 and he seems destined for a similar role in 2025.

Xavier Guillroy

The undrafted free agent out of Arizona State recorded 43 catches for 565 yards and six touchdowns in two seasons with the Sun Devils. He posted a 39-inch vertical jump at his pro day, which could make for fun training camp catches.

Dayton Wade

Wade, a former Ole Miss standout, is a shifty athlete who is expected to back up Wester and Flowers during training camp.

Jahmal Banks

The 6-4, 220-pound Banks starred at St. Frances and then at Nebraska, where he led the Cornhuskers with 587 receiving yards in 2024.

Tight end

Mark Andrews

Jackson publicly defended one of his closest teammates after Andrews received harsh criticism for his crucial playoff drop against the Bills. With a lengthy injury history, the 30-year-old veteran can’t be expected to play a full season. But when he’s on the field, Andrews is one of the league’s most consistent tight ends, finishing top 10 in yards, touchdowns and average depth of target at the position last year.

Isaiah Likely

The 2022 fourth-rounder keeps improving. Likely’s six touchdowns were eighth in the league at his position and his yards per route run ranked top 15 among NFL tight ends. With another offseason, could this be the season the 25-year-old surpasses Andrews in the pecking order?

Charlie Kolar

Kolar, 26, is one of the best third tight ends in the game. He’s a strong blocker and should continue to get on the field in heavy packages and near the red zone.

Sam Pitz

Beyond the top three, the depth chart is unsettled. The undrafted free agent out of the University of Minnesota Duluth is a camp body with strong blocking experience.

Zaire Mitchell-Paden

The 25-year-old Rockville native was signed to the team’s practice squad in October but did not appear in a game.

Patrick Ricard

A fullback, Ricard is the embodiment of the Ravens culture. The front office, coaches and teammates love him and he’s entering his eighth season with Baltimore.

Offensive line

Ronnie Stanley

The 31-year-old left tackle made his second career Pro Bowl in 2024, which earned him a three-year, $60 million extension this offseason. Stanley is the longest tenured Raven and started all 17 games for the first time in his career last season. He did earn a career-high four holding penalties, which was a part of a larger penalty issue.

Andrew Vorhees

Vorhees, 26, is competing for the left guard spot, Harbaugh said. The Ravens scooped up the USC graduate in the seventh round of the 2023 draft and he started three games for them last season. After tearing his ACL in the predraft process, he looked fully healthy this offseason.

Tyler Linderbaum 

With Lions center Frank Ragnow retiring this offseason, Linderbaum has a claim as the best center in the NFL. The 25-year-old has not allowed a sack since his rookie year, according to PFF, and was graded as the fourth-best run blocker at the position last season.

Daniel Faalele

Once the NFL’s heaviest player, the 370-pound Faalele was the 70th-rated guard last season, according to PFF.

Roger Rosengarten

Another young offensive lineman, Rosengarten was excellent as a rookie last year. He was named to the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie team in 2024 and started 16 games at right tackle.

Ben Cleveland

The 26-year-old guard signed a one-year deal worth $1.17 million this offseason even after his playing time significantly dwindled. He played just 49 offensive snaps last year, the lowest of his career. Cleveland was cited for a DUI in Georgia over the offseason.

Emery Jones Jr.

The rookie has not practiced this offseason with a shoulder injury and Harbaugh said that he’s not expected to be ready for the start of training camp. Even if he were able to return, it’s difficult to imagine Jones earning the opportunity to start with such little practice time.

Joe Noteboom

A strong veteran signing, Noteboom started almost half of his games in his seven seasons with the Los Angeles Rams. The 30-year-old can play both tackle positions and has experience at guard. He’s the likely backup tackle to Rosengarten or Stanley.

Carson Vinson

The fifth-round rookie out of Alabama A&M impressed at the NFL scouting combine with his agility. The only HBCU draftee in 2025, Vinson has an opportunity to make a mark with Jones out.

Garrett Dellinger

The Ravens loaded up in the trenches during the draft. The LSU graduate played left tackle, left guard and center during his time with the Tigers and that positional versatility enhances his chances to make the roster.

Nick Samac

The center did not appear in any games in 2024 and should be in a battle for a backup role. He does have a year in the system, which should give him an advantage over other options.

Darrian Dalcourt

Dalcourt starred at St. Frances and committed to Alabama as a four-star recruit. He started 16 games at center for the Crimson Tide and signed as an undrafted free agent in 2024.

Jared Penning

Penning, the younger brother of 2022 first-round pick and current New Orleans Saints tackle Trevor Penning, was a standout at Northern Illinois.

Corey Bullock

The Maryland graduate transferred to the Terps for the final season of his college career. He was the only steady force amid a shaky offensive line and signed as an undrafted free agent with the Ravens.

Gerad Lichtenhan

The Oregon State left tackle was the Offensive Lineman of the Year in the two-team Pac-12 Conference and played in the East-West Shrine Bowl. He earned an 81.8 overall grade from PFF and committed just one penalty while giving up two sacks.

Reid Holskey

Holskey started 44 games at Miami (Ohio) and was named first-team All-MAC in 2024.

Ozzie Hutchinson

Hutchinson was named All-Coastal Athletic Association last fall despite playing just six games because of injuries.

Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230.

Kickers Tyler Loop and John Hoyland, along with punter Jordan Stout and long snapper Nick Moore, work off to the side during most team drills, practicing different variations of kicks. They will then join the team for simulated attempts.

Both kickers were solid during Wednesday’s first glimpse in Owings Mills. The two combined to go 9-for-10 on field goal attempts, with Hoyland’s final kick being the only miss of the day. Loop made kicks from 34, 36, 32, 27 and 30 yards. Hoyland converted his opportunities from 37, 27, 32 and 37 yards, while he missed a 40-yarder.

Expect the competition to continue well into training camp, as the Ravens are hoping to see how the specialists perform in high-pressure, game-like situations. That includes simulated drills, end-of-practice kicks and potentially preseason games.

Coach John Harbaugh compared kicking with golf and said that kickers should look at their attempts through a process-based lens. If they made a good kick, but it sailed wide, that’s fine. If they struck the ball poorly, but it went through the uprights, what adjustments can they make?

The Ravens are aiming to replace longtime kicker Justin Tucker, who was released by the team and subsequently suspended by the NFL for the first 10 weeks of the season for violating the league’s personal conduct policy after more than a dozen female massage therapists accused Tucker of inappropriate sexual behavior at several Baltimore-area spas and wellness centers. Tucker, who went undrafted out of Texas, made 89.1% of his field goal attempts in 13 seasons with Baltimore, making him the most accurate kicker in NFL history. Loop was the first kicker drafted in the team’s history and was the second specialist to come off the board in April.

“We felt like he was the best kicker. It made sense for us to take him,” general manager Eric DeCosta said after the draft.

Loop had one of the strongest legs in the class and made several 60-yard field goals during voluntary offseason practices. He finished his Arizona career with a program-record 83.75% success rate on field goal attempts, including a 62-yarder that set a school record.

However, drafted kickers tend to be hit-or-miss in their rookie seasons. The Bengals’ Evan McPherson became one of the NFL’s top specialists in his first season, drilling several game-winning field goals in Cincinnati’s run to the Super Bowl in 2022. He tied Adam Vinatieri for the most field goals made in a single postseason with 14.

But others have struggled. New England Patriots draft pick Chad Ryland, a former Maryland standout, made just 64% of his kicks in his 2023 rookie campaign and was released the following year. Cleveland Browns kicker Cade York was also cut after converting only 75% of his field goal attempts in his 2022 rookie season.

Since 2016, drafted kickers have made an average of 81.22% of their field goal attempts during their rookie season. But more than half of the kickers drafted in the past decade were on a new team in their second NFL season.

The Ravens added Hoyland, an undrafted free agent, in the offseason to compete with Loop. Hoyland is Wyoming’s all-time leading scorer and converted 15 of 19 field goal attempts in his final season. While his leg is not as strong as Loop’s, he still made several 50-plus-yard field goals in college.

The most likely outcome is that Loop wins the job. He has the college pedigree, the front office invested a draft pick in him and he’s outpaced Hoyland in practices so far. But the competition isn’t decided yet.

Whichever kicker performs better in practice and preseason games will likely be the replacement to one of the franchise’s most reliable players.

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From taking solo Metro rides at 12 years old to reaching a top-five junior world ranking, Kudla appeared set on a path to tennis stardom. But in a sport that places immense pressure on rising talents, his career ultimately left him with lingering regrets.

“I definitely have plenty of things that I wish would’ve gone differently,” Kudla, 32, said. “I don’t really believe in having no regrets in a career, I just feel like you can learn from a lot of those into the next chapter.”

Kudla no longer has strong ties to Ukraine — he was born there but moved to Virginia when he was an infant — and considers himself fully American. He views the war between Russia and Ukraine through the eyes of an outsider.

Tennis wasn’t popular in Ukraine, and Kudla’s parents spoke no English when they moved their family to the United States. But Nikita, Kudla’s older brother, played, and Denis started at 7 years old.

“[I started] truly probably just as an accident,” Kudla said. “At the park, there were some guys that just loved it that were regulars and they happened to see that I had some talent, and everything just fell in place.”

He didn’t play the sport solely as a hobby, though. Kudla’s mother picked him up early from school in Virginia and drove him to practices at the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park. At 12, he started lugging a school backpack and tennis bag onto his hour-long metro ride during rush hour.

“Being barely able to hold the top rail … it was definitely a grind at times,” Kudla said.

Those practices paid off. He turned professional at a young age despite significant interest from colleges as the No. 2-ranked senior in the country. Kudla was viewed as part of the next great wave of American tennis players.

But while he played more than 15 years on the tour, Kudla’s career never reached the heights so many experts envisioned. He never crossed into the top 50 of the world rankings, never won an ATP title and finished with a 72-132 singles record.

Kudla retired at the beginning of this year and quickly turned to coaching. He’s now coaching fellow American, No. 74-ranked Reilly Opelka. The two have already enjoyed success as a partnership; Opelka defeated 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in the Brisbane quarterfinals.

“Everything’s right at the front of his mind; he knows a lot about the guys that I’ll be competing against,” Opelka said. “He still hits the ball great, so it’s really great having a sparring partner.”

Opelka defeated Murphy Cassone on Monday to move into the second round of the Mubadala Citi DC Open. He’ll face No. 8 seed Daniil Medvedev on Wednesday. Kudla and Opelka don’t talk much during the match — Opelka prefers it that way — and Kudla’s had to adjust to the natural stubbornness that he once had as an athlete. He’s just viewing it from a coaching perspective now.

Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230.

The Orioles finished the first half 43-52, only one game closer to a playoff spot than they were May 17 when they fired former manager Brandon Hyde. How did the Orioles get here after lofty preseason goals? The Baltimore Sun looked at five key stats that defined the first half of the team’s season and three numbers that could define the second half.

Five key first-half numbers

10 shutouts

Last season, the Orioles were held scoreless just nine times. They’ve scored zero runs in 10 games at the midway point this year, a drastic regression. That’s tied for the third-most in MLB, behind two of the league’s worst offenses, the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cleveland Guardians.

While plenty of criticism has been levied at the pitching, Baltimore’s hitting has drastically regressed. The team’s batting average, on-base percentage, slugging and OPS have all regressed by more than 10 points.

3,513 plate appearances, second lowest in the league

Another indictment of the offense. Baltimore has averaged just over four plate appearances per inning, which is good for the second-worst mark in the majors, behind only Cleveland.

Some contributing factors: the Orioles have walked just 264 times (third worst in MLB) and have grounded into 67 double plays (seventh worst in baseball). If a team doesn’t get on base efficiently and makes extra outs, it’s going to get fewer cracks at the plate.

Over 300 games missed by hitters with injuries

Every team suffers injuries during a 162-game season, but Baltimore’s been hit harder than most. The Orioles currently have 14 players on the injured list and at least 23 players have spent time on the IL this season.

Hitters have experienced the worst sting. Key contributors like catcher Adley Rutschman, first baseman Ryan Mountcastle, third baseman Jordan Westburg, outfielder Cedric Mullins and outfielder Colton Cowser have all spent time on the IL this season.

132 home runs allowed

While the Orioles’ pitching staff has improved recently, it’s still giving up the long ball almost more than anybody in baseball. Only the Athletics have surrendered more home runs this season.

That’s the main factor contributing to one of the league’s worst ERA’s. If Baltimore can figure out how to limit opponents’ power, they could have a stronger second half on the mound.

Only seven teams are nine games below .500

The trade deadline is approaching rapidly, and the Orioles are one of the few teams in baseball squarely in selling position. Executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias said that the team was trending toward dealing off players at the deadline and started that process by trading relief pitcher Bryan Baker to the Tampa Bay Rays.

The good news for Baltimore is that it could have higher leverage over any trade partners. With so many teams hovering around the playoff chase, losing teams will be able to upcharge for any pieces that could help buyers. The Orioles have some of the most talent among the sellers of the deadline, as first baseman Ryan O’Hearn, Mullins, closer Félix Bautista, right-hander Charlie Morton, right-hander Seranthony Domínguez and others could be on new teams in the second half of the season.

Three stats to watch in the second half

31.2 average age of pitchers

The second-oldest pitching staff in baseball is likely going to be much younger after the deadline. Right-hander Kyle Bradish should return in the second half and right-hander Grayson Rodriguez could also potentially come back from injury.

Morton and Tomoyuki Sugano could also be traded, and other veterans could be shipped off as well. Expect young pitchers such as Brandon Young, Grant Wolfram and others to get more opportunities as the season goes on.

43.2% hard hit rate

Despite the poor numbers, the underlying statistics suggest that Baltimore’s offense could surge in the second half of the season. The Orioles’ hard-hit rate is fourth in MLB, trailing only the New York Yankees, the New York Mets and the Boston Red Sox.

With one of the top barrel rates and exit velocities in baseball, the offensive output should climb.

.515 combined winning percentage of remaining schedule

For anybody hoping for a playoff push, this number is a sobering reminder. The Orioles’ remaining schedule is among the most difficult in the league, as they will play the fourth-hardest slate in the second half.

Baltimore has been above average against winning teams, but it still has to play the Yankees, the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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Anderson Childers, a police officer and father of three children, was vacationing at Pawleys Island when another family got caught in a rip current. Childers’ family told WCBD in Charleston, South Carolina, that a woman asked him to help the distressed swimmers and he helped save the group.

Childers and another man rushed to help the family. However, Childers never returned to shore. He got caught in a rip current and his body was recovered 90 minutes later, according to Pawleys Island police. There have been five drownings on the island since June 2023, and this was the second in the past month, according to Pawleys Island officials.

Childers had reportedly saved lives previously. He received the Cobb County Police Department Life Saving award in 2012, according to WCBD.

The Orioles signed Childers out of Georgia State in 2009. He grew up in Kennesaw, Georgia, a hot spot for baseball talent. At Georgia State, he became the school’s all-time leader in walks (120). He played the second-most games in the school’s history, and his 209 hits are tied for sixth all-time.

The second baseman and shortstop played in Baltimore’s farm system from 2009 to 2010. He appeared in 40 games in the Gulf Coast League, batting .213.

Childers, also known as Chase, retired from baseball and became a police officer for the Cobb County Police Department in Georgia. He and his family frequently visited Pawleys Island, which is approximately 25 miles south of Myrtle Beach.

“Chase was a truly selfless individual, always prioritizing the safety of others above his own. Without hesitation, he would leap into action whenever someone was in need, ready to tackle any challenge that came his way,” his family said in a statement to WCBD. “To his family and all who knew him, he will forever be remembered as a hero.”

A GoFundMe has raised more than $126,000 as of Thursday afternoon, and the money will be used to support Childers’ wife, Nataley, and his children.

Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230.

The Mubadala Citi DC Open will return to the Rock Creek Park Tennis Center, a 7,500-seat facility in the Northwest section of Washington that is also the permanent home of the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation.

Here is what you need to know about the tournament that opens Saturday and ends on Sunday, July 27:

What is the Mubadala Citi DC Open?

The tournament was co-founded by John A. Harris, Donald Dell, founder of ProServ International, and Arthur Ashe, a Hall of Famer and five-time Grand Slam champion in singles and doubles.

What was once known as the Washington Open on the men’s side was first held in 1969, and the tournament was expanded to include women in 2011. The event was held on clay courts until 1986, when the surface was switched to hard courts.

Andre Agassi owns the record for most DC Open crowns with five (1990, 1991, 1995, 1998 and 1999). Past champions include Jimmy Connors, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Andy Roddick, and Venus and Serena Williams.

What is the DC Open schedule?

Details on matches for qualifying weekend and the main draw were not yet known. Qualifying weekend takes place this Saturday and Sunday, and the main draw starts Monday and runs through Sunday, July 27.

The gates at Rock Creek Tennis Center will open to fans at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, 10:30 a.m. Monday through next Thursday, and 11:30 a.m. Friday, July 25 through Sunday, July 27. Fans who have tickets to matches later on Friday and Saturday will be asked to enter at 4 p.m.

All ticket sales are final, and there are no refunds or exchanges if inclement weather moves into the area and impacts matches.

For those who can’t attend matches in-person, the DC Open will be broadcast on the Tennis Channel and TC Plus.

Where is the DC Open?

The Rock Creek Park Tennis Center is located at 5220 16th Street NW in Washington. The North Covered Box Seats, Stadium Pavilion and Hospitality Suites are the only covered sections inside Stadium Court.

Parking is available, but limited for fans who do not have a parking pass. The closest Metro station to the center is the Van Ness-UDC stop on the Red Line, which is about a five-minute walk away from the tennis venue. Fans are encouraged to access the shuttle service from several designated parking lots.

Only clear bags not exceeding 12 inches by 12 inches by 6 inches, handbags not exceeding 8 inches by 5 inches by 1 inch, and fanny packs not exceeding 8 inches by 5 inches will be permitted inside the facility. Backpacks are prohibited.

One unopened, see-through plastic bottle of water up to 33.5 ounces is allowed per person. If the bottle is not see-through, one empty water container up to 33.5 ounces is admissible. Food and drinks are available for purchase.

Who will play in the DC Open?

Half of the top-10 male players in the world are scheduled to play. That group is headed by No. 4 Taylor Fritz, a finalist in last year’s U.S. Open and a semifinalist in last weekend’s Wimbledon, and includes No. 7 and two-time Grand Slam semifinalist Lorenzo Musetti, No. 8 and three-time major quarterfinalist Holger Rune, No. 9 and two-time Grand Slam semifinalist Ben Shelton, and No. 10 and 10-time major quarterfinalist Andrey Rublev.

The star-studded field also boasts No. 11 and two-time U.S. Open semifinalist Frances Tiafoe, who grew up in nearby Hyattsville, No. 12 and five-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist Alex de Minaur, No. 14 and 2021 U.S. Open titlist Daniil Medvedev, No. 16 and 2023 Australian Open semifinalist Tommy Paul, and No. 17 Jakub Mensik. Tiafoe and Shelton plan to pair up in doubles.

The women’s draw is led by No. 4 and 2024 U.S. Open semifinalist Jessica Pegula, No. 6 and Olympic gold medalist Qinwen Zheng, No. 7 and 2025 Wimbledon finalist Amanda Anisimova, and No. 11 and 2024 U.S. Open semifinalist Emma Navarro.

That side also boasts several Grand Slam champions. Naomi Osaka captured titles at the 2018 and 2020 U.S. Open and the 2019 and 2021 Australian Open, Elena Rybakina won the crown at the 2022 Wimbledon, Emma Raducanu took home the title at the 2021 U.S. Open, and Sofia Kenin collected the crown at the 2020 Australian Open.

A pair of fan favorites are also expected to take the court. Venus Williams, the 45-year-old seven-time major champion, accepted a wildcard and will participate in her first competitive match in 16 months. And Nick Kyrgios, 30, will play in the singles draw and team up with two-time major semifinalist Gaël Monfils in doubles after missing the second half of 2023 and the first 10 months of 2024 because of injuries.

There are five former DC Open champions. They are Sebastian Korda (2024), Daniel Evans (2023), Kyrgios (2019 and 2022), Pegula (2019) and Monfils (2016).

Players with local ties

Frances Tiafoe

The Maryland native returns to his home area with a chance to claim his fourth career singles title. The No. 11-ranked player in the world is coming off a quarterfinals appearance at the French Open, where he lost to Musetti.

Last year, “Big Foe” lost in the semifinals at the D.C. Classic to Sebastian Korda in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4. He made his debut at the tournament as a 16-year-old in 2014 when it was known as the Citi Open. The 27-year-old has an emphatic game, which should play well in front of a crowd that figures to be favoring the hometown star.

Tiafoe is 18-15 and has yet to win a title this year. He’s one of the highest-seeded players at the tournament, which will result in a favorable draw. The Hyattsville native has made several quarterfinals and semifinals over the years, but has come up short a majority of the time. A win in the nation’s capital could catapult him back into the top 10 for just the second time in his career.

Hailey Baptiste

Baptiste debuted at 17 years old at this tournament and secured perhaps the biggest win of her career, defeating the No. 2 seed and former world No. 7 Madison Keys in the first round in 2019.

A Washington native, she grew up just five minutes away from the Rock Creek Park Tennis Center. Baptiste started playing with the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation, which is the beneficiary of the Citi Open, before training in College Park.

Baptise, who’s coached by Tiafoe’s twin brother Franklin Tiafoe and is close friends with Frances, has never risen into the top 50 of the singles ranking. But in a relatively open field, the 23-year-old could play her way into the later rounds next week.

Robin Montgomery

At 21, Montgomery has a 126-82 career record. She joined the top 100 as the No. 95 player in the world in June. She qualified for the 2024 Wimbledon Championships and reached the quarterfinals at the 2024 DC Open ​after defeating Shelby Rogers and receiving a walkover from fourth seed Ons Jabeur.

Montgomery was born in Washington. She trains at the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park.

Have a news tip? Contact Edward Lee at eklee@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/EdwardLeeSun. Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230.

The Marlins outfielder hit three home runs in three consecutive at-bats against Orioles right-hander Brandon Young, leading Miami to a 11-1 win in Stowers’ return to Camden Yards. He became the fourth Marlin all-time to hit three homers in a game, joining Mike Lowell in 2004, Cody Ross in 2006 and Brian Anderson in 2020.

His five hits Sunday also tied the Marlins’ single-game record, and he became the first player in franchise history to record five hits, four runs, three homers and six RBIs in a game.

“Couldn’t have dreamt it up any better,” Stowers said.

Stowers smashed a splitter 403 feet for a solo shot in the second inning, then hit a two-out, two-run homer off a curveball in the following frame. That 398-foot blast capped off a four-run third for the Marlins, who took a 4-0 lead.

With the game out of reach and Stowers flying to Atlanta tonight for the All-Star game, Marlins manager Clayton McCullough asked Stowers if he wanted a chance at another homer. He grinned and said, “yeah.”

The 27-year-old then drilled a fastball from Young down the right-field line in the fifth, taking a moment to admire his third homer of the game that stunned the home crowd. All three homers were hit harder than 100 mph and came on three different pitches.

He was so good that his teammates booed him when he returned to the dugout after his fourth and fifth hit.

Young tried a splitter, a curveball and a fastball against Stowers, and he hit all of them out of the ballpark. The third homer knocked the Orioles’ 26-year-old rookie out of the game. Seeking to become only the 20th MLB player to hit four homers in a game, Stowers lined a 110 mph single to right field off reliver Colin Selby in the seventh.

“[Young] paid dearly for some of the mistakes that he made,” Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino said.

The Texas Rangers’ Josh Hamilton hit four homers against the Orioles at Camden Yards on May 8, 2012, and Cleveland’s Rocky Colavito did it at Memorial Stadium on June 10, 1959. No Oriole has ever hit four homers in a game.

“I imagine it meant a little bit more to do it here,” McCullough said.

Stowers was named to his first All-Star game this year, entering Sunday slashing .281/.351/.505. He’s now hit 19 home runs and has a .904 OPS this season, which would both lead the Orioles. Stowers homered four times in 67 games for Baltimore between 2022 and 2024, but has thrived with more consistent playing time in Miami.

Stowers was picked out of Stanford by Baltimore in the second round of the 2019 MLB draft. He rose through the farm system with other young players such as Gunnar Henderson, Colton Cowser and Jordan Westburg, now the core of the Orioles’ lineup.

But on July 30, 2024, Stowers and infielder Connor Norby were traded to the Marlins in exchange for left-handed pitcher Trevor Rogers. Baltimore was in the midst of a playoff push and decided that the outfielder was expendable after he batted just .229 with four homers in his three seasons as an Oriole.

Given consistent playing time in Miami, he’s turned into one of the best young hitters in MLB. Stowers has raised his barrel rate by 8%, is hitting more than .100 points better against fastballs and has lowered his strikeout percentage this season.

He’s worth 1.7 Wins Above Replacement according to Baseball-Reference this year and is one of the best players that Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias has traded away.

“It’s just where I was drafted, I just keep going back to the people, just because those are the guys that I came up with in the minor leagues, and some of my best friends in the world,” Stowers said Friday.

Two days ago, Baltimore won its third straight game and had a chance to pull within 5 1/2 games of the final wild-card spot. Instead, the Orioles got blown out twice by Miami, and are back to nine games under .500.

“It’s very frustrating, especially coming at the All-Star break, trying to get off… having good vibes for the break,” Young said. “It’s disappointing to say the least.”

Now, the organization enters the midsummer break and the MLB draft at an inflection point. This will perhaps be the most complicated month that executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias has faced in his six-year tenure. He’ll have an extra four days to ponder.

Instant analysis

There are reasons to be optimistic about the Orioles entering the second half. They are 22-16 since June, with a positive run differential.

Catcher Adley Rutschman, right-hander Zach Eflin and left-hander Cade Povich will return shortly after the All-Star break, barring a setback. Starting pitchers Kyle Bradish and Grayson Rodriguez could potentially come back this season.

But they’re also a team that was blown out twice by the lowly Marlins, got shut out for the third time this month and is spiraling down the standings.

Baltimore sits 7 1/2 games out of the final wild-card spot held by Seattle, with six teams ahead of the Orioles in the standings. They will play those teams — the Mariners, Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Angels, Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers, Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Guardians — a combined 13 times the rest of the way. They have a 18-19 record against those opponents this season.

“It’s disappointing. I don’t think anybody going into the season thought we were going to be in the situation we are [in] now,” third baseman Jordan Westburg said.

The Orioles also have the fourth-hardest remaining strength of schedule in baseball, the most difficult slate among the wild-card contenders. They still have to face the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Houston Astros and the Chicago Cubs, along with the difficult AL East.

With immense ground to make up, every game becomes a “must-win” feel, Mansolino said. Baltimore can ill afford a slow start after the break, especially in its seven-game road stretch against the Rays and Guardians.

“We just got to come out of [the break] good. You see teams kind of drag themselves out of it in the wrong ways,” Mansolino said. “Come Friday, we got to play well [with] where we’re at right now.”

It’s why the playoffs are a difficult preposition. The Orioles need to play at an approximately 105-win pace, convince their front office to not sell off key players at the trade deadline and also have teams in front of them falter.

What they’re saying

Stowers on how he’ll remember today 10 years from now:

“Each player that remembers those individual games. But to me, the stuff that you never forget is the relationships. Who you share it is what it’s all about, the guys in the clubhouse. I don’t think I’ll ever forget my teammates booing me as I’m coming back in the dugout from my fourth and fifth at-bat because I only hit a single.”

On deck

The Orioles will have a four-day break before they return against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday. Baltimore will likely pitch Charlie Morton, Dean Kremer and Trevor Rogers against the Rays, Mansolino said. Baltimore is 4-3 against Tampa Bay this season.

Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230.

The Orioles first baseman discovered a bronze eagle inside the box, with a small note attached to it. Mountcastle stared at the bird, pondered and placed it at the top of his locker. It has sat there since. He still has not found out who sent him the gift.

“I was like ‘OK, that’s awesome,’” Mountcastle said.

The bird has become part of an exclusive clubhouse collection — the personal items tucked into Orioles players’ lockers.

Each locker has a few ubiquitous objects: cleats, jerseys and hygiene products are common throughout the entire clubhouse. But players use the lockers at least 81 times for home games during the season. There’s bound to be something unique in them.

Right-hander Seranthony Domínguez — who brews his own coffee — has a personal coffee maker, right-handed reliever Andrew Kittredge has a President Donald Trump rubber duck and a drawing from his child and first baseman Ryan O’Hearn keeps a purple jockstrap.

“It’s just a little something for the boys,” O’Hearn said.

Right-hander Kyle Bradish has a crocheted “emotional support pickle.” Mountcastle keeps a box of Rice Krispies cereal as a superstition and starter Zach Eflin brought his fog machine from Tampa Bay. Right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano had a bag of Japanese candies that he planned to distribute to his teammates.

Bobbleheads are a popular collectible among players. Left-hander Cade Povich has a one-armed Grayson Rodriguez, second baseman Jackson Holliday has one of his father, seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday, and third baseman Ramón Urías is collecting various figurines. Reliever Scott Blewett said that he’s seen teammates keep Jobu spirit dolls from the popular baseball movie “Major League.”

“Different guys would decorate Jobu, guys would put insects above him, LED lights,” Blewett said.

Spring water boxes are also popular. The team will order them for players, and Mountcastle and Ramón Laureano each have a large box of Mountain Valley bottles.

Baltimore’s clubhouse is outdated compared with other MLB stadiums. It is largely the same clubhouse as when Camden Yards was built in 1992, and while the organization has made minor changes — moving the kitchen inside the clubhouse, adding extra rooms that are inaccessible to the media and remodeling the aesthetic — it’s still roughly 4,000 square feet, just as it was in 1992.

Other teams have modernized their clubhouses. The Cleveland Guardians recently tripled the size of their clubhouse, the Los Angeles Dodgers renovated after their World Series win and the Blue Jays added a barbershop in their clubhouse in 2023.

“It’s hard to put into words,” Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy told the Los Angeles Times. “You get so used to something being there and you come in and you have no idea where you’re at. It’s really cool. It’s what you’d expect out of the Dodgers.”

But Baltimore’s players, while acknowledging that their home locker room is older, said that it fulfills their needs. Catchers Adley Rutschman and Gary Sánchez each have two locker spaces, which most players don’t get, most likely because of the extra catching equipment.

“It’s got some charm to it,” O’Hearn said of the space.

Players clean out their items at the end of the year, resetting for the next season. Some keep the same locker, while others hope for an upgrade. Povich wants to be moved from the corner of the room to a different spot.

“Maybe next year, if someone’s gone, I can push closer towards [the middle],” Povich said.

There are certain staples, though. The billiards table and dominoes are popular pregame activities and boombox speakers line the corners of the room.

In fact, Mountcastle’s bird isn’t the only winged animal in the locker room. A large, mysterious orange and black wooden bird sits atop O’Hearn’s locker. Perched above the Orioles’ clubhouse, it surveys the rest of the locker room, but the All-Star first baseman insisted on keeping its origin a secret.

“No comment on that one,” he said with a laugh.

Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230.