For only the seventh time this season, Colton Cowser, Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday, Adley Rutschman and Jordan Westburg started a game together. The Orioles, with as complete a lineup they’ve had all year, showed what could’ve been in 2025.
Baltimore’s offense mashed in the series opener against Toronto — six batters notched multiple hits, four crushed home runs and all but one reached base. The Orioles topped the Blue Jays at home, 11-4, on July 28 for their third straight win.
The win was a reminder of Baltimore’s success the past two seasons and what the potential was for this year. But injuries and underperformance have resulted in the Orioles selling at the trade deadline. Monday was a highlight in what’s been a disappointing campaign.
“Having them all together helps, it’s better than not,” interim manager Tony Mansolino said. “I do feel like they have been trending in the right direction for a while. And then you have a big night like tonight against a first-place team, and then it just kind of stands out a little bit more.”
Cedric Mullins’ days as an Oriole could be coming to an end very shortly. In his final season of arbitration eligibility, the center fielder is a trade candidate with the deadline three days away. Mullins has given Baltimore fans plenty to cheer for in what could be his final homestand.
Mullins had a 3-for-10 series against the Rockies that featured a fabulous full-speed diving catch on the warning track in center field the same night he hit a three-run home run, which prompted a standing ovation from the home faithful. He became just the third Oriole in franchise history to hit 100 home runs and steal 100 bases.
The 30-year-old blasted a two-run homer onto the right field flag court to give the Orioles a 2-0 lead in the series opener against the Blue Jays. Mullins robbed a home run in the fourth inning with a full-leap grab over the center field wall to keep Baltimore ahead. The fans treated him to another ovation.
Coby Mayo followed Mullins’ second-inning home run with one of his own, a 413-foot no-doubter. It was the eighth time this season the Orioles have hit back-to-back homers.
Mayo, who later added a pair of singles, is slashing .500/.632/1.071 in the past week. He is starting to look like the hitter that made him one of the top prospects in all of baseball entering the season. An adjustment to both his load and stance, aiming for more simplicity to see the ball longer, has led to the success, according to Mayo.
Rutschman crushed a middle-middle sinker off the wall in right-center for two more runs in the third inning. The 390-foot double came in just Rutschman’s second at-bat back from the injured list. He had been out since June 19 with a left oblique injury and struggled prior to the injured list stint, hitting .227 with a .691 OPS.
Rutschman batted cleanup in his return, just the fifth time this year he has hit in that spot. Mansolino said pregame he was “fascinated” by slotting Rutschman behind Gunnar Henderson, referencing the former’s ability to switch hit.
The decision lengthened Baltimore’s lineup. All the runs came from Rutschman through the bottom of the order, as the catcher both set up scoring and did damage himself.
“It’s awesome, I missed these guys so much,” Rutschman said. “To be able to get back out there again today is just the best.”
Zach Eflin needed the run support, as he allowed eight hits and four runs in 4.1 innings. The damage could’ve been worse if not for Mullins’ marvelous catch.
Eflin has allowed at least four runs in all but one of his past five starts, unable to pitch further than five innings in any of them. He has an 11.44 ERA during the stretch and 5.93 for the season.
The struggles haven’t helped Eflin’s trade value as a deadline candidate, but he could have still made his final start as an Oriole.
“It’s been an absolute pleasure to wear this uniform, and I don’t take that for granted,” Eflin said. “But I don’t want to speak ahead of anything. I don’t know what’s going to happen. I don’t think anybody knows what’s going to happen, but if something does happen, I’ll forever appreciate my time here and just how much of a family this clubhouse is.”
Injury updates
Rutschman wasn’t the only impact piece that returned for the Orioles ahead of the series opener against the Jays. Reliever Keegan Akin, who last pitched for Baltimore on June 30 due to shoulder inflammation, returned to a bullpen that needed a reliable lefty arm with the trade of Gregory Soto. Akin has had a strong 2025, pitching to a 3.32 ERA in 38 innings.
Akin is one of the relievers who may get save chances in the final two months of the season. Mansolino said before the game that closer FĂ©lix Bautista will “be out a while.”
Bautista landed on the injured list July 24 with right shoulder discomfort. His MRI showed a lot of swelling in the shoulder, Mansolino said, and he’ll need another scan once the swelling goes down.
For the rotation, Kyle Bradish (Tuesday) and Tyler Wells (Wednesday) are set for rehab outings for Double-A Chesapeake. There is no update on Grayson Rodriguez following the setback he suffered that forced the team “pull back” his throwing program. Albert SuĂĄrez, who hasn’t pitched since March 28 due to a right shoulder injury, will face live hitters later in the week.
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