Daily News 19

Tag: Baltimore Orioles

  • Colton Cowser’s Walk-Off Home Run Robbery Stuns Rockies as Orioles Stay in AL Wild-Card Race

    Colton Cowser’s Walk-Off Home Run Robbery Stuns Rockies as Orioles Stay in AL Wild-Card Race

    Jake McCarthy appeared poised to deliver a walk-off home run for the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Monday night. Instead, Baltimore Orioles center fielder Colton Cowser produced a remarkable ninth-inning home run robbery to preserve a 2-1 victory.

    With a runner on second base and two outs in the bottom of the ninth, McCarthy needed a base hit to tie the game and force extra innings. He squared up an Andrew Kittredge pitch and sent it toward the deepest part of center field, approximately 415 feet from home plate.

    Cowser tracked the ball throughout its flight, moving toward the wall and timing his leap as it continued to carry toward the fence. McCarthy had already begun rounding the bases, hoping the ball would clear the wall, but Cowser reached over the fence and made the catch to end the game.

    Cowser landed on the warning track and immediately celebrated, shouting after making a spectacular catch to deny the Rockies. McCarthy could only smirk as he returned to the dugout, while Colorado was left stunned by the highlight-reel defensive play.

    The catch quickly went viral on social media, with baseball fans expressing disbelief at what they had witnessed. Orioles great Adam Jones also praised Cowser’s effort.

    “Wow what an amazing catch by Cowser to end the game. One of the best catches I’ve ever seen,” Jones wrote on X. “Defense and speed are things that can’t slump! Helluva athlete.”

    The play was significant not only because it ended the game but also because of its potential impact on Baltimore’s playoff hopes. The Orioles improved to 69-69 after Cowser’s heroics.

    Baltimore is just half a game behind the Cleveland Guardians, who entered the day 69-68 and held the American League’s third Wild Card spot. The Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays were each 1.5 games back, while the Minnesota Twins were 3.5 games out as the final month of the regular season began Tuesday.

    Cowser’s catch could prove especially valuable if the Orioles remain in contention for a postseason berth and continue chasing a chance to reach the World Series in October.

    Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

    Source: www.foxnews.com

  • Orioles-Athletics Lineups and Notes Ahead of Series’ Second Game in Sacramento

    Orioles-Athletics Lineups and Notes Ahead of Series’ Second Game in Sacramento

    The Baltimore Orioles have won five of their last seven games after a 4-3, 10-inning victory over the Athletics in Sacramento. They entered today two games behind the final American League Wild Card position.

    Baltimore also received a boost with Blaze Alexander’s reinstatement from the injured list. Alexander led off in the win and went 1-for-5, but he is not in tonight’s lineup. Jackson Holliday moves back into the leadoff spot, while Gunnar Henderson bats third after serving as a pinch-runner last night.

    Orioles lineup and recent hitting trends

    Pete Alonso is the designated hitter for a second consecutive game, with Coby Mayo starting at first base. Alonso is 0-for-8 with five strikeouts over his last two games and 1-for-24 against the Athletics across his last six games.

    Mayo is 6-for-19 with one home run and five RBIs in his last five games. Samuel Basallo starts behind the plate, and Dylan Beavers returns to left field. Beavers is batting .346 (9-for-26) with three doubles and three home runs over his last nine games.

    Holliday is 2-for-14 over his last three games and 5-for-24 over his last five. He went 3-for-6 and 2-for-4 in two games against the Cardinals in St. Louis.

    Shane Baz seeks run support against Oakland

    Shane Baz will look for the run support that has been difficult to find. He has received 15 runs over 12 starts since June 18. Among pitchers with at least 50 innings during that span, Baz’s 1.95 run-support average is the lowest in the majors.

    The right-hander is 4-14 with a 4.04 ERA in 26 starts. His 14 losses are tied with Tanner Bibee for the most in the majors. Baz is seeking his first win since June 12 against the Padres, and his eight-decision losing streak matches his career high.

    One encouraging statistic is Baz’s home-run rate. He has allowed 0.65 home runs per nine innings this season, the lowest mark by an Orioles starter with at least 20 appearances since Kevin Gausman posted a 0.56 rate in 2014.

    Baz started against the Athletics on May 9 and allowed five runs in 4 2/3 innings, leaving him with a 5.48 ERA. He has a 4.10 career ERA in four starts against Oakland. In his only appearance at Sutter Health Park, he allowed four earned runs and five total runs over seven innings.

    Max Muncy is 2-for-3 with a home run against Baz, while Lawrence Butler is 2-for-12 with a double.

    Orioles bullpen and Oakland matchup

    Baltimore’s home-run streak ended at 15 games after last night’s victory. Alex Hoppe became the 10th Orioles pitcher to record a save this season, tying the franchise record set in 1987.

    Athletics right-hander Jack Perkins, a fifth-round pick in the 2022 draft out of Indiana University, is 3-9 with a 6.68 ERA and a 1.483 WHIP in 31 games, including 11 starts. He has struck out 104 batters in 90 1/3 innings.

    Perkins earned a “hold” on May 8 in Baltimore after retiring two batters in the ninth inning. He allowed one run and one hit, walked one batter and recorded two strikeouts. He also started against the Orioles last summer at Camden Yards and earned the win after allowing three runs and three hits over six innings. All three runs scored on Henderson’s first-inning home run.

    In his most recent start, on Aug. 12, Perkins surrendered six earned runs and seven total runs on 12 hits in five innings against the Rays. He then followed with 3 2/3 scoreless relief innings in Kansas City and allowed one earned run, three total, over five relief innings in Houston.

    Perkins has a 7.56 ERA and a 1.600 WHIP in 17 home games, compared with a 5.58 ERA and a 1.339 WHIP in 14 road games. He is allowing 1.69 home runs per nine innings this season after posting a 0.93 mark last year.

    Butler is hitting .355 (22-for-62) with five home runs, 11 RBIs and nine walks over his last 17 games. The Athletics are 8-20 over their last 28 games.

    Starting lineups

    For the Orioles

    • Jackson Holliday, 2B
    • Pete Alonso, DH
    • Gunnar Henderson, SS
    • Christian Encarnacion-Strand, 3B
    • Samuel Basallo, C
    • Dylan Beavers, LF
    • Coby Mayo, 1B
    • Colton Cowser, CF
    • Leody Taveras, RF

    Starting pitcher: Shane Baz, RHP

    For the Athletics

    • Henry Bolte, CF
    • Jeff McNeil, 1B
    • Zack Gelof, 2B
    • Lawrence Butler, RF
    • Tommy White, 3B
    • Donavan Walton, SS
    • Max Muncy, DH
    • Carlos Cortes, LF
    • Jonah Heim, C

    Starting pitcher: Jack Perkins, RHP

    Source: www.masnsports.com

  • Orioles Bullpen Shines in Win Over Athletics

    Orioles Bullpen Shines in Win Over Athletics

    Yennier Cano delivered a defining moment in the Orioles’ 5-3 win over the Athletics on Saturday, striking out Zack Gelof and Lawrence Butler with the bases loaded in the seventh inning before striking his trademark post-strikeout pose at Sutter Health Park.

    With Baltimore leading 4-2, one out and the bases full, Cano entered in his usual fireman role. The right-hander, who is not typically known as a strikeout pitcher, said he was looking for a double play to end the threat. Instead, he used splitters to strike out Gelof and Butler back to back, escaping a dangerous inning in dominant fashion.

    “That was fun to watch,” Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said. “That was electric, and we needed it.”

    Orioles bullpen repeatedly escapes trouble

    Cano’s performance highlighted the Orioles’ bend-but-don’t-break bullpen. Baltimore allowed multiple baserunners in each of the final four innings but avoided major damage every time while protecting its narrow lead.

    Right-hander Alex Hoppe escaped a bases-loaded jam in the sixth before Cano repeated the feat in the seventh. With runners on the corners in a one-run game in the eighth, Cam Sanders relied on a crucial around-the-horn double play. In the ninth, closer Andrew Kittredge stranded two more runners to secure the victory.

    “You really feel good [with] everybody running out of the bullpen,” said starter Shane Baz, who allowed two runs over 5 2/3 innings. “It’s awesome.”

    Baz cruised through five scoreless innings before losing his command in the sixth. A bases-loaded walk and a hit-by-pitch brought home two Athletics runs.

    Hoppe, who recorded his first Major League save in Friday’s extra-inning victory, appeared ready to escape again after opening the at-bat against Athletics designated hitter Max Muncy with three pitches well outside the strike zone. He settled down, however, getting Muncy to hit a tapper to third base to end the inning.

    Christian Encarnacion-Strand makes key defensive plays

    That was the first of several important plays by Christian Encarnacion-Strand, who started at third base for Baltimore. Primarily a first baseman during his time with the Reds, Encarnacion-Strand started the Orioles’ do-or-die 5-6-3 double play in the eighth inning.

    He then stayed back on a chopper to third in the ninth, leaving runners on second and third and ending the game.

    “The way he’s been playing third base has been outstanding for us,” Albernaz said. “Those plays were huge — in big moments, too.”

    Shane Baz ends lengthy winless stretch

    The Orioles’ late-inning escapes gave Baz his first win in more than two months. The right-hander had lost his previous five starts and had gone winless in 13 outings since defeating the Padres on June 12.

    To Baz, the drought felt even longer.

    “[Brandon Young] made a joke to me that I haven’t had a win since ’Nam,” Baz said. “It kind of feels true. Sometimes it takes one, you know? It just takes one to get rolling.”

    Baz and the Orioles picked an important time to get moving. Saturday’s victory clinched Baltimore’s third consecutive series win and continued its rise in the American League standings. At 67-69, the Orioles entered Sunday’s series finale one game behind the third and final AL Wild Card spot.

    After what Baz acknowledged was a “rocky start” to the season that included plenty of sloppy play, Baltimore likes its position in the playoff race.

    “We’ve done such a good job of not pressing and panicking and trying to do too much,” Baz said. “It’s fun to be in this spot. I think we have all the tools to make a run. We’ve got great leadership. We’ve got a great team with a lot of talent.”

    Baltimore bullpen showing depth

    The Orioles’ bullpen has been central to their recent surge, combining veteran experience from pitchers such as Cano and Kittredge with younger arms including Hoppe, Sanders and Anthony Nunez.

    “They’ve done a terrific job, and I think they deserve a lot of credit for coming in here and getting their job done,” Cano said. “We still have some pieces on the way and some help that might be needed, but with that being said, I feel really proud of the work that we’ve been doing here as a group and really happy with the way that the guys have come in and gotten the job done.”

  • Underachieving Teams That Could Become Playoff Dark Horses

    Underachieving Teams That Could Become Playoff Dark Horses

    Rarely has a Major League Baseball season been more forgiving to mediocre teams. According to FanGraphs projections entering Thursday, 18 teams had at least a 10% chance of reaching the playoffs, meaning 60% of the league remained meaningfully alive in the postseason race.

    Half the league — 15 teams — had at least a 30% playoff probability. Only the Brewers were on pace for 100 wins, while just six teams were projected to reach 90 victories, including only two American League clubs: the Rays and Yankees. Since 1998, an average of 8.2 teams have won at least 90 games in a full season.

    The American League is particularly wide open. Sub-.500 teams such as the Orioles, Twins and Mariners still had double-digit playoff chances entering Thursday.

    The more interesting question is not which fringe contenders are most likely to qualify. It is which underperforming teams could become the most dangerous if they reach the postseason in such a relatively flat year.

    Several traits can make a team more dangerous in October than during the regular season.

    What makes a team dangerous in the MLB playoffs?

    Top-end starting pitching

    In the playoffs, innings are concentrated around a team’s best pitchers. When the Diamondbacks won the World Series as a 92-win team in 2001, Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling accounted for 34.7% of Arizona’s regular-season innings but 58.2% of its postseason innings. The Dodgers followed a similar blueprint last year, although their postseason innings were spread more evenly across a group of starters.

    Strikeout-focused bullpens

    Relievers absorb an increasing share of postseason innings, and the best bullpen arms are used disproportionately in the highest-leverage situations.

    Strong playoff pitching also makes it difficult to string hits together, which increases the value of power. Each of the last 10 World Series champions finished above average in slugging percentage, and many ranked among the elite offensive teams.

    Among the fringe contenders, the following teams have underperformed so far but could have the greatest upside if they reach the postseason.

    Cleveland Guardians

    The Guardians’ regular-season record understates how dangerous their potential October roster could be.

    Cleveland has one of the stronger rotations among the fringe contenders. The rotation is tied for sixth in ERA at 3.74, tied for eighth in xERA at 3.96 and 11th in fWAR at 10.5.

    The rotation looks even stronger when its weakest links are removed, as could happen in October when added urgency and playoff off-days allow innings to be concentrated among the top arms.

    Entering Thursday, the Guardians ranked seventh in fWAR from their three best starting pitchers currently on the roster: Parker Messick, Gavin Williams and deadline acquisition Foster Griffin. Only the Phillies, Brewers, Dodgers, Yankees, Red Sox and Pirates ranked ahead of them.

    Lowe addresses first-base production. Adell addresses lacking power from the right side.

    This is a stronger group than it was before the trade deadline — and stronger than its record might suggest.

    Houston Astros

    The Astros have been in a gradual decline from their peak years last decade, but they could still do damage in October if they qualify.

    One major reason is an improving bullpen. Houston’s K-BB% by month was:

    • March/April: 6.9%
    • May: 10%
    • June: 17.6%
    • July: 20.7%
    • August: 18.8%

    July and August were well above-average marks. The trend makes sense because elite closer Josh Hader did not return to full health until June. Bryan Abreu has a 1.45 ERA in the second half compared with 5.81 in the first half, while Steven Okert has also been better after the All-Star break, posting a 1.93 ERA.

    As a pitching staff, the Astros rank 12th in strikeout rate at 22.7%. Staff ace Hunter Brown is also back leading the rotation after missing most of the first half.

    Houston has another trait that can matter in October: offensive star power.

    Triple Crown contender Yordan Alvarez, who has a 185 wRC+, can carry a team for stretches. His bat is a major reason the Astros are tied for seventh in season-long wRC+ at 104. Over the last 30 days, Houston ranks sixth in slugging percentage.

    Jeremy Peña is having an excellent season, while Isaac Paredes, Christian Walker and Jose Altuve remain average-to-above-average regulars.

    Seattle Mariners

    For a team that nearly reached the World Series a year ago, sitting six games below .500 with a minus-57 run differential as September approached was perhaps the most disappointing campaign in the majors to that point.

    In the 2026 American League, however, the Mariners still had a 41.1% chance of making the playoffs, according to FanGraphs. Their biggest problem was run production. After tying for the ninth-most runs in baseball a year earlier, Seattle had scored the fewest this season.

    The Mariners have also experienced poor offensive fortune. Their expected batting average, slugging percentage and wOBA are all better than their actual figures. They have posted an MLB-worst .272 batting average on balls in play.

    Cal Raleigh is the clearest example of that misfortune. He suffered a dramatic decline after finishing runner-up for the MVP award, but he may be emerging from a season-long slump.

    Over the last 30 days, three Mariners hitters ranked among baseball’s hottest performers. Raleigh was joined by Randy Arozarena, who had a 146 wRC+ and seven home runs during the month, and Josh Naylor, who had a 132 wRC+.

    If Seattle’s offense improves, its pitching can remain the foundation. The Mariners once again have one of baseball’s deepest and most talented rotations. In the postseason, an arm such as Bryce Miller could also become a bullpen weapon if his stuff plays up in shorter appearances.

    Baltimore Orioles

    As noted earlier, the Orioles have one of the stronger rotations among the contenders. Shane Baz has a 3.63 ERA and a 16% K-BB%, while Trevor Rogers has a 3.40 ERA. Both pitchers have performed much better in the second half than in the first.

    Baltimore ranks in the top 10 in wRC+ and home runs. Pete Alonso, the underperforming but talented Gunnar Henderson and 22-year-old Samuel Basallo provide offensive upside and power.

    The bullpen has been uneven, and Jackson Holliday has struggled. Still, this is an underperforming roster that could have significant upside if it plays closer to its true talent level. Baltimore could save its best baseball for last.

    Pittsburgh Pirates

    The Pirates are the longest shot on the list. They trail the Padres by 7 1/2 games for the final National League Wild Card spot and would need to pass three other teams to get there. FanGraphs gives Pittsburgh a 1% chance of making the playoffs.

    But if Pittsburgh produces a minor miracle, the Pirates could become a fascinating postseason team.

    After a concerning mult-week stretch, Paul Skenes’ velocity increased and his stuff and performance looked significantly better during six shutout innings Tuesday in San Diego. Pittsburgh has a pitching staff loaded with power arms, including Jared Jones, Braxton Ashcraft and Bubba Chandler.

    In the same game, Oneil Cruz, who had recently returned from the injured list, homered against elite San Diego closer Mason Miller. The home run showcased Cruz’s game-changing bat speed. An injury derailed his potential breakout season, but he remains a 30-30 talent now back in the lineup.

    Uber-prospect Konnor Griffin is ramping up his baseball activities and could return when eligible to come off the 60-day injured list on Sept. 4. He was a difference-maker as a 20-year-old before injuring his left ring finger.

    The Pirates are not a perfect team. Their defense is shaky, and too many members of their talented rotation have been inconsistent. However, Pittsburgh ranks sixth in pitcher strikeout rate at 24.1%, a trait that plays well in the postseason, and its offense still ranks fifth in runs scored.

    What happens if a team that has limped to a 65-71 record suddenly gets Skenes, Cruz, Griffin, Montgomery, Doval and Weaver contributing near their best?

    Pittsburgh is by far the least likely of these teams to reach the postseason. But if the Pirates earn a playoff spot, they may also have the largest gap between their regular-season record and their potential October ceiling.