Hello, friends.
As is often referenced in GIF form, “Oh no, we suck again!” Two days of playing the Yankees has made it feel as if the list of Orioles problems is proving insurmountable, that nothing is going to go right this year, that the theory of the case that Mike Elias had for this roster being able to compete was once again fatally flawed. Check out Alex Church’s recap of yesterday’s game for more of the not-so-lovely totals.
Two games remain in the series. This feels more like a threat than something to inspire hope of an in-series turnaround. For just one example of why it feels like a threat, the Orioles are facing left-handed starting pitcher Max Fried today. They remain winless in games started by lefty pitchers this season, a stretch of futility that’s gone on long enough to be alarming. Their right-handed batters are, collectively, not hitting lefties.
Also happening today, which will be news to you if you missed hearing about it yesterday, is the MLB debut of pitching prospect Trey Gibson. The team scratched him from starting for Norfolk on Saturday in case they wanted to use him today, and sure enough, it’s going to happen. The 23-year-old Gibson joined the Orioles as an undrafted free agent out of college and has made himself into a prospect who has some believers in his arsenal and his ability to use it to get through lineups.
I am not one of the believers, so I don’t have high expectations for today. There will probably be the standard stories about how a number of family members have come to New York to see him and I almost won’t be able to watch because I fear it will go badly. My non-belief in Gibson is mostly about his Triple-A results to date. Between last season and this season, he’s got a 6.17 ERA at the level. He has made a tweak to his pitch mix over the offseason. 2026 may go better for him, and if so, that’s great.
Still, Gibson is only here right now out of desperation. I think the ideal scenario for the Orioles would be that none of Gibson, Nestor German, or Levi Wells needed to be tried out any time sooner than July. Here Gibson is on May 3. That’s because Zach Eflin’s elbow blew out in his first start, because Dean Kremer strained his calf, and because Trevor Rogers got the flu so bad that he had to go on the injured list.
Even more recently, it’s because Cade Povich was so bad on Friday night that Albert Suárez, who I think otherwise might have made the start, had to pitch. Instead, Suárez was designated for assignment yesterday for roster flexibility. Tough business when you’re on the fringes of it. All of which adds up to Gibson today, facing down a Yankees lineup that has put up runs against the Orioles in this series. I just don’t think it’s going to go great. I’ll be happy if I’m proven wrong. The series continues at 1:35 today. One more game awaits on Monday night.
Orioles stuff you might have missed
The rotation comes under the microscope after Orioles lose another to the Yankees (The Baltimore Banner)
Andy Kostka’s gamer from yesterday puts some deserving focus on a struggling starting rotation. I’m down on the group, though I continue to wonder how much better things would go with even an average level of defense.
Three Orioles takeaways: Craig Albernaz takes ownership of 15-18 start (The Baltimore Sun)
Also in the takeaways are concerns about Kyle Bradish’s command and general issues with the offense. There’s a lot going on here and not a lot of it is good.
Get to know Trey Gibson: Orioles 2025 minor league pitcher of the year makes MLB debut today (Steve Melewski)
Longtime Orioles prospect writer Steve Melewski has been following Gibson’s career in the system in recent years. He’s more excited than I am.
Rutschman, Basallo are coexisting on Orioles roster just fine (Orioles.com)
The hitting of their catching duo is one of the few things that there’s no need to worry about, at least up to this point, with the 2026 Orioles.
Saturday roster summary: Wells optioned, Suárez cut, Enns and Raquet return (Baltimore Baseball)
A lot went on yesterday in the quest for fresh arms. Raquet’s stay will likely be brief, as someone has to come off the roster to make room for Gibson when he is activated today.
Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries
In their 33rd game a year ago, the Orioles were beaten by the Royals, 11-6, to fall to 13-20 on the season. This comparison would really feel a lot better if the Orioles had won either of the first two games here in New York. Instead, they remain merely two wins better than last year’s performance. The O’s managed to lose that game despite Jackson Holliday hitting a pair of homers; three relievers gave up two runs in one inning in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings. That was a bad team. To be determined if this one is much better.
There are a few former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 2008-09 pitcher Bob McCrory, 1999-2000 pitcher Gabe Molina, and 1986-87 pitcher Tony Arnold. Today is Arnold’s 67th birthday, so an extra happy birthday to him.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: philosopher Niccoló Machiavelli, baseball Hall of Famer Eppa Rixey (1891), singer Bing Crosby (1903), baseball Hall of Famer Red Ruffing (1905), musician Pete Seeger (1919), musician James Brown (1933), Four Seasons singer Frankie Valli (1934), actress Christina Hendricks (1975), and golf guy Brooks Koepka (1990).
On this day in history…
In 1715, a total solar eclipse occurred, with the path of totality crossing much of northern Europe and Asia. This was a notable eclipse because astronomer Edmond Halley – the one the comet is named after – had predicted the start time of the eclipse within four minutes.
In 1815, a Neapolitan army led by Joachim Murat, who had contrived to become king of Naples, was defeated by the Austrians in the Battle of Tolentino. Murat was ousted by a post-war treaty before the end of the month.
In 1921, a British law passed the previous year took effect, partitioning Ireland between Northern Ireland, which has remained a part of the United Kingdom, and Southern Ireland. This occurred within the ongoing Irish War of Independence, which by the end of the following year led to the establishment of an Irish Free State.
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And that’s the way it is in Birdland on May 3. Have a safe Sunday. Go O’s!