Birds Bounce Back: Orioles Shake Off Tigers Loss, Crush Angels at Camden

Jordan Westburg’s Return Sparks Wins Against Lefties

2025 Orioles: Historically Bad vs. Left-Handed Pitching

When Jordan Westburg returned from the IL, the Orioles were desperate for right-handed firepower. Heading into the homestand, Baltimore ranked dead last in baseball in OPS vs. left-handed pitchers. Not just in 2025, but in MLB history.

Per reporter Jacob Calvin Meyer, here’s where the Orioles stood as of June 12:

1. 2025 Orioles, .553 OPS

2. 1963 Colt .45s, .565 OPS

3. 1971 Brewers, .574 OPS

4. 1972 Rangers, .577 OPS

5. 1972 Indians, .580 OPS

6. 1968 Dodgers, .583 OPS

7. 1958 Senators, .594 OPS

It’s no surprise, then, that the team was 3–14 when facing a left-handed starter. And the schedule wasn’t easing up - the homestand featured four southpaw starters across six games: Brant Hurter and Tarik Skubal for Detroit, and Tyler Anderson and Yusei Kikuchi for Los Angeles.

Somehow, the Orioles won two of those games and scored double-digit runs twice during the week, the first time they’d done that since Opening Day. So what changed?

They got healthy. And they got help.

Gary Sánchez’s IL Return: Father’s Day Grand Slam

The Orioles didn’t just get one big bat back this week — they got two. Gary Sánchez returned from the IL for the Angels series and wasted no time reminding fans why the team brought him in. After missing three weeks with a rib injury, Sánchez delivered the loudest moment of the homestand: a seventh-inning grand slam on Father’s Day that broke the game wide open and capped off a dominant series sweep.

The blast, his second as an Oriole, was vintage Sánchez. He turned on a two-out fastball from Angels reliever Connor Brogdon and crushed it to left-center, a no-doubt shot that put Baltimore up 9-2. It was his sixth career grand slam, and his first since August 2023.

But that wasn’t his only contribution.

Sánchez also homered in Saturday’s one-run win, part of a back-to-back combo with Cedric Mullins that erased a deficit and gave the O’s a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. In two days, Sánchez drove in six runs and flipped the script on what had been a painfully inconsistent offense.

Behind the plate, he looked comfortable calling games, and more importantly, the Orioles looked settled with him back in rhythm. With Adley Rutschman often DH’ing, Sánchez’s ability to handle pitchers and offer pop at the bottom of the lineup is a luxury Baltimore hasn’t had since James McCann’s brief hot streak last year.

Sánchez’s return, paired with Mullins and Westburg, gave the Orioles a boost they didn’t just need… they desperately required. And if he can stay healthy, it’s expected that Sánchez plays himself into a regular role down the stretch, especially against lefties.

Bautista’s Heat, Morton’s Precision: Orioles Pitching Shows Signs of Life

For most of the 2025 season, the Orioles’ pitching staff has been defined by inconsistency. Short outings, scattered command, and a bullpen stretched thin have all contributed to one of the worst team ERAs in the American League. But during the Angels series, the staff offered a rare stretch of stability and even dominance.

It started on Friday night with Charlie Morton, who delivered his best outing in an Orioles uniform. The veteran right-hander struck out a season-high 10 batters over five innings, working around two early singles and navigating a pair of rain delays with veteran composure. He used all four pitches effectively, keeping the Angels off balance and handing the ball to the bullpen with a 2-0 lead.

Baltimore’s relievers took it from there. Yennier Cano, Gregory Soto, Bryan Baker, and Félix Bautista combined for four scoreless innings to secure the shutout. The group allowed just two hits and struck out four, giving the Orioles their fifth shutout win of the season and one of their cleanest pitching performances in recent memory.

The next night brought even more drama. In a tense ninth inning, Félix Bautista reminded everyone why he's called “The Mountain.” Facing Mike Trout with the tying run at first, Bautista fired a 100.1 mph fastball, the first time he had hit triple digits since returning from Tommy John surgery. Trout flew out, and after a walk and a long battle with Logan O’Hoppe, Bautista ended the game with a 22-pitch strikeout to earn the save.

Bautista’s velocity return wasn’t the only bright spot. Keegan Akin pitched through a bases-loaded jam in Game 2. Seranthony Domínguez struck out two batters to strand the bases full in a huge Game 3 moment. Dean Kremer, who entered in long relief on Thursday against the Tigers after the Orioles used an opener, gave Baltimore seven strong innings after a rough start to the fourth.

Even if the overall staff ERA still ranks among the worst in the league, this stretch against Los Angeles showed what the Orioles are capable of when their pitching clicks. With a tough road trip ahead, the team will need to carry this momentum forward—and hope the confidence built at Camden Yards can travel with them.

Next Up: Orioles Begin Key 7-Game Stretch vs. Rays and Yankees

At 30–40, the Orioles enter the week six games back of the final AL Wild Card spot, and they’re about to face two teams standing in their way.

The road trip begins with a four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays, who currently hold one of those Wild Card spots and are trending in the right direction. Tampa Bay has won three straight, fresh off a sweep of the New York Mets, and sits second in the AL East at 39–32. The Rays are 7–3 in their last 10 games and have one of the better home records in the league.

This series offers Baltimore a golden opportunity to make up ground directly against a playoff rival. It also begins a brutal seven-game road gauntlet that continues next weekend in New York against the first-place Yankees.

Projected Pitching Matchups vs. Tampa Bay:

Baltimore will rely on its recent momentum — and the return of key contributors — to stay afloat. If Eflin can stay sharp, and if Kremer rebounds from his last start, the Orioles have a shot to keep things competitive.

But the margin for error is thin. The Orioles can’t afford to fall further behind in the Wild Card race. This week won’t just test their pitching depth and lineup balance — it may reveal whether this roster still has October potential or if it’s time to start thinking about 2026.