Baltimore Orioles

Baltimore Orioles ace Corbin Burnes will start the 2024 MLB All-Star Game for the American League.

Burnes will oppose Pittsburgh Pirates rookie sensation Paul Skenes, who was confirmed as the National League starter last week.

Your 2024 #AllStarGame starting pitchers:

AL: Corbin Burnes
NL: Paul Skenes pic.twitter.com/nTLRkvxPf3

— MLB (@MLB) July 15, 2024

.@45PedroMartinez calls Corbin Burnes to tell him he's the starting pitcher for the American League in the #AllStarGame 👏 pic.twitter.com/Pao0iyTER1

— MLB (@MLB) July 15, 2024

The Orioles right-hander is 9-4 in 19 appearances with a 2.43 ERA and a 3.36 FIP. His 15 quality starts are tied for second in the AL, and his ERA trails only Detroit Tigers southpaw Tarik Skubal (2.41).

Burnes isn't dominating on the mound in the same way he did during the height of his Milwaukee Brewers run. His 8.34 strikeouts per nine innings are on pace to be the second-lowest of his career, per FanGraphs, and his whiff rate (29.2 percent) is below his career average (33.1), according to Baseball Savant.

The 29-year-old's All-Star nod is a testament to his continued effectiveness, though. His walk rate (1.90 per nine innings) is down significantly from 2023 (1.90), and he's inducing ground balls at his highest clip ever (49.4 percent).

Speaking to Steve Melewski of MASNsports.com in May, Burnes chalked his relatively low strikeout numbers to how batters are attacking him in addition to his slightly different mindset.

"We are seeing a different approach against me," he said. "It was easy to see that Blue Jays lineup approach was, if they get to two strikes, they were doing all that they can to put the ball in play. I think that is kind of how the game is changing. You are seeing lineups change to more of a contact approach. Things tend to happen more when the ball is put in play.

"That is one thing you are seeing. Also, pitch-mix-wise I am a little bit different. Pitch sequencing is one of the things I've been looking into recently to try and combat this approach when they get to two strikes and just kind of throw the bat at it to put the ball in play."

The Orioles took a little bit of a risk when they acquired Burnes when he was just one year away from free agency. That put the onus on him to deliver right away and for Baltimore to contend in what might be the only season he's on the roster.

The trade has worked on both fronts with 2021 NL Cy Young winner helping the team to a first-place position in the division heading into the All-Star break.

Baltimore Orioles rookie Heston Kjerstad was placed on the seven-day concussion injured list on Saturday, a day after he was hit in the head by a pitch against the New York Yankees.

Kjerstad was originally set to play on Saturday, but Andy Kostka of the Baltimore Banner reported that Kjerstad had been scratched from the lineup due to not "feeling 100 percent during pregame work."

Heston Kjerstad has been scratched from the lineup. Austin Hays enters. Kjerstad wasn't feeling 100% during pregame work https://t.co/Okyj8oKGQB

— Andy Kostka (@afkostka) July 13, 2024

Hjerstand left Friday night's game in the ninth inning after getting hit in the head by a pitch from Yankees closer Clay Holmes. The fastball registered at 97 miles per hour and the aftermath saw the benches clear.

The incident occurred during the ninth inning and Kjerstad faced an 0-2 count. Holmes would remain in the game and would shut the door, leading to a 4-1 victory for New York.

While the game situation and the rainy conditions make the plunking appear like a true coincidence, it is a trend that has been frequent when the Yankees and Orioles face off this season. 10 Orioles have been hit by Yankee pitchers in 2024, while Baltimore has only hit three Yankee batters.

Orioles plunked by Yankees:

Henderson, April 19
Kjerstad, May 1
Mateo, May 2
Santander, May 2
Cowser, May 2
Cowser, June 19
Henderson, June 19
Hays, June 20
Westburg, June 20
Kjerstad, July 12

Yankees plunked by Orioles:

Rizzo, May 2
Judge, June 18
Torres, June 18

— Dan Clark (@DanClarkSports) July 13, 2024

The two teams are in a heated battle for first place in the AL East. Baltimore currently holds a one-game lead over New York for that spot, but every game going forward could have implications on who takes home the coveted division crown.

As Baltimore looks to avenge Friday's loss, it will also hope Kjerstad's recovery is swift. The 25-year-old is hitting .314/.417./529 in 21 games in 2024.

Gunnar Henderson is headed to the 2024 Home Run Derby.

The 2023 AL Rookie of the Year confirmed during Sunday Night Baseball that he would be in the Home Run Derby field during All-Star festivities.

We’ve got our first #HRDerby participant!@Orioles slugger Gunnar Henderson confirms HE’S IN!

(MLB x @TMobile) pic.twitter.com/gt2zuJfgNx

— MLB (@MLB) June 30, 2024

Gunnar Henderson is taking his talents to the Home Run Derby this year! 💪 pic.twitter.com/j5mHBh9ghj

— MLB (@MLB) June 30, 2024

Henderson is currently hitting .290/.388/.612 with 26 home runs and 58 RBIs in 81 games.

---

His 26 home runs are currently second in MLB behind New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, who has 31. Judge notably won the 2017 Home Run Derby.

Henderson should be one of the bigger names in the event, as he is a true MVP candidate on a team with big playoff aspirations.

Baltimore is currently 53-30 and holds a 0.5 game lead over the Yankees for first place in the American League East.

The 2024 MLB Home Run Derby will take place Monday July 15 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

After losing starting pitcher Kyle Bradish to season-ending Tommy John surgery, the Baltimore Orioles reportedly aren't panicking.

According to The Athletic's Patrick Mooney, Will Sammon, Katie Woo and Ken Rosenthal, the Orioles' "timeline for potentially acting in the starting pitcher market hasn't changed" following Bradish's injury.

Bradish made eight starts this season and had a 2-0 record with a 2.75 ERA, a 1.07 WHIP and 53 strikeouts in 39.1 innings pitched. After being placed on the 15-day injured list due to a sprained right UCL last week, he opted to undergo surgery on Wednesday.

In addition to Bradish being lost for the season, Baltimore's pitching staff has been fighting the injury bug throughout the 2024 campaign. Starters John Means and Tyler Wells were already sidelined with season-ending elbow injuries. Closer Felix Bautista also underwent Tommy John surgery, and reliever Danny Coulombe had elbow surgery that is expected to keep him out until at least September.

The Athletic noted that a previous report said Orioles general manager Mike Elias had been "telling clubs he will weigh the addition of a starting pitcher perhaps up to the deadline." It was also stated that the Orioles "still plan to let the next handful of weeks further inform their decision-making, and, for now, they may be able to afford to wait."

The emergence of Albert Suarez and Cole Povich has helped stabilize Baltimore's starting rotation, which also includes Corbin Burnes, Grayson Rodriguez and Cole Irvin.

The Orioles improved to 48-25 with Wednesday's win over the first-place New York Yankees. Irvin will be taking the mound in Thursday's series finale as Baltimore tries to earn a victory in the rubber game.

Amid their battle with the New York Yankees for American League East supremacy, the Baltimore Orioles are reportedly making plans for the July 30 MLB trade deadline.

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Orioles are "intently exploring" the trade market for bullpen help and could be in the market for a right-handed hitting outfielder as well.

Rosenthal added that Orioles general manager Mike Elias has told opposing teams he could also be interested in acquiring a starting pitcher, although that may not happen unless further injuries strike Baltimore's rotation.

After going 101-61 last season and winning the AL East for the first time since 2014, the Orioles are off to a 44-22 start this season, placing them 2.5 games behind the Yankees for the AL East lead.

While the Orioles are a solid fourth in Major League Baseball with a bullpen ERA of 3.24 this season, they would undoubtedly benefit from another solid reliever.

Félix Bautista, who was the Orioles' closer last season and was in the Cy Young Award mix before getting injured, will not pitch this season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Baltimore brought in 36-year-old veteran Craig Kimbrel to replace him as closer, and he has performed admirably, posting a 2.70 ERA and converting 15 out of a possible 18 saves.

Jacob Webb and Yennier Canó have also shown the ability to get the job done in late-game situations with 1.76 and 2.37 ERAs, respectively.

Baltimore's biggest bullpen need may be a lefty, as top southpaw Danny Coulombe was placed on the injured list Tuesday with elbow inflammation.

Offensively, the likes of Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Jordan Westburg, Ryan Mountcastle and Ryan O'Hearn are enjoying strong years, but Baltimore's outfield production has been lacking.

One-time All-Star Cedric Mullins is having a miserable year with a .174 batting average, 24-year-old Colton Cowser is hitting just .230, Anthony Santander is second on the team with 14 home runs, but is hitting just .224, and Austin Hays is hitting .234 with only two homers.

The Orioles have one of the top lineups in baseball even with those issues, but adding a quality righty bat to the outfield mix could make the lineup even deeper and more well-rounded.

As for the Orioles' starting rotation, they have a formidable group of Corbin Burnes, Grayson Rodriguez, Kyle Bradish and Cole Irvin, all of whom have an ERA of 3.27 or lower.

They also have a solid fifth starter in Dean Kremer, although he is currently on the IL with a triceps injury.

Baltimore has already lost two starting pitchers for the season due to injury in Tyler Wells and John Means, and if one more starter suffers an injury of significance, then acquiring a starting pitcher will likely become a far more realistic option for the organization.

The Baltimore Orioles were swept for the first time in 106 regular-season series on Wednesday after they dropped a pair of games to the host St. Louis Cardinals, 3-1 and 5-4.

https://twitter.com/TalkinBaseball_/status/1793397610176254269

St. Louis began the series with a 6-3 win on Monday. The Cardinals and Orioles then played five-and-a-half innings on Tuesday before heavy rain forced the game's suspension with the score tied at one. The two squads finished that one Wednesday, and the Cardinals won thanks to Nolan Gorman hitting a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth.

The Cardinals then overcame a 3-0 deficit to win the final game of the three-matchup set. With runners on first and second in the sixth inning, Brendan Donovan hit a double. The Orioles threw home in an attempt to stop the second runner from scoring, but it was too late, and it allowed Donovan to break for third. Catcher James McCann's throw to third got away, allowing Donovan to score in what is often described as a Little League homer. That sequence gave St. Louis a 4-3 lead, and Masyn Winn's seventh-inning solo homer gave the Cardinals a much-needed insurance run to hold on for the win.

It's obviously a disappointing result for the young Orioles, but this team has been on the rise ever since a rough start to the 2022 season (24-35).

That O's team ended up going 15 games over .500 the rest of that campaign. And then in 2023, Baltimore finished 100-62, good enough for the AL East crown. However, the eventual World Series champion Texas Rangers swept the O's 3-0 in the AL Division Series.

Despite the sweep, this year's squad is faring quite well, landing at 29-18 thus far, good enough for second place in the American League East. Baltimore will look to get back on the winning track Thursday with a four-game road series at the Chicago White Sox.

There's an 81 percent chance the 2024 American League East title will be won by the New York Yankees or the Baltimore Orioles.

That's according to FanGraphs, and it sounds about right. The Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays are in uncertain places, while Yankees vs. Orioles feels like Rocky Balboa vs. Ivan Drago: two heavyweights squaring off in their primes.

Ah, but what about the next five years?

It's a fun question to ponder while the Yankees (19-12) and Orioles (19-10) jockey for first place in the AL East amid their first head-to-head showdown of the season. The early advantage belongs to Baltimore, which permitted New York just two runs in winning the first two of a four-game series at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

The urgency for both teams to put crucial wins on the board against one another won't fade any time soon. But then again, the same is likely true of each club's status as a favorite in MLB's best division.

So, let's stretch our gaze to the next five years and weigh how these two clubs might continue to loom large in the AL East. It's about the talent they have now, the talent they have coming up, who's calling the shots and how deep each franchise's pockets go.

---

Weighing Their Present Outlooks

The Yankees and Orioles are just a game apart in the standings and outscoring their opponents by roughly the same margin. As such, records and run differentials won't be much help here.

Nor, for that matter, will simply name-dropping each team's stars.

Juan Soto is awesome, but so is Gunnar Henderson. Aaron Judge is a tremendous leader, but so is Adley Rutschman. Anthony Volpe is an exciting young infielder, but so is Jordan Westburg. Corbin Burnes is off to a great start, but so is Carlos Rodón.

Thinking wins above replacement could be the ultimate arbiter for this situation? Well, think again. As they are in the standings, these two teams are neck-and-neck in WAR:

• Yankees: 9.1 WAR
• Orioles: 9.1 WAR

Plus, the personnel the Yankees and Orioles have right now won't be the same personnel they'll have all season. It's therefore instructive to consult the ZiPS projection system for how much WAR they figure to get going forward.

Which, unfortunately, reveals a relatively small gap:

• Yankees: 34.5 WAR
• Orioles: 35.9 WAR

For their part, the Yankees can hope for Judge, who only has a .754 OPS, to get hot and for Gerrit Cole, who won the AL Cy Young Award in 2023, to make a full recovery from elbow discomfort.

For theirs, the Orioles will get Kyle Bradish and John Means back from arm injuries this month. And despite his disappointing first stint, Jackson Holliday, 20, remains an X-factor. He's sure to be seen again, at which point the hope will be that he'll actually live up to being MLB's No. 1 prospect.

Ultimately, it's hard to point to either one of these teams and definitively conclude, "Ah, yes, surely this will be the one that pulls away." They're both very good and likely haven't peaked yet.

Advantage: Push

---

Weighing Future Outlooks

Call that last conclusion a punt if you want, but I think we all know where this part is going.

If it's a question of which 20-something players these teams have locked up through 2028, we see one pretty good list and another significantly better list:

• Yankees: SS Anthony Volpe, 3B Oswaldo Cabrera, C Austin Wells, RHP Luis Gil, RHP Ian Hamilton
• Orioles: SS Gunnar Henderson, 3B Jordan Westburg, LF Colton Cowser, RHP Grayson Rodriguez, RHP Kyle Bradish

The only player in the Yankees' set who can be fairly called a star is Volpe, who won a Gold Glove last year and is now working on a 91-point improvement to his OPS relative to 2023.

In the Orioles' set, meanwhile, are three of their four best position players, an ascendant top-of-the-rotation starter and another hurler who finished fourth in the 2023 AL Cy Young Award voting.

That's a Gunnar. pic.twitter.com/QbxJ0wG6va

— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) April 29, 2024

This isn't even counting Rutschman, who's eligible for free agency after 2027. Nor is it counting the best prospects in a farm system that B/R's Joel Reuter has ranked at No. 2 in MLB. Not just Holliday, but also four top-100 types: C Samuel Basallo (No. 12), 3B Coby Mayo (No. 14) , OF Heston Kjerstad (No. 41) and OF Enrique Bradfield Jr. (No. 78).

Granted, the Yankees' also has five top-100 guys. Jasson Domínguez (No. 20) should be back from Tommy John surgery in June or July. In the meantime, fellow outfielder Spencer Jones (No. 43) is following up a hot spring with a .922 OPS for Double-A Somerset.

However, if this is the exciting aspect of the Yankees' future, the alarming part is that they're also on the hook to pay a ton of money to 30-something stars. Judge, Cole and Rodón will make a hair under $520 million between 2024 and 2028, and they also owe the husk of Giancarlo Stanton over $100 million through 2027.

Advantage: Orioles

---

Weighing Their Front Offices

Brian Cashman has been the Yankees' general manager since 1998, overseeing four World Series championships and 26 of the organization's 31 straight winning seasons.

The odds of an executive lucking into a resume like that aren't great, and it's not like it takes much effort to point out Cashman's achievements. He helped build the "Core Four" and drafted Judge, and the trade for Soto alone doesn't explain why the Yankees have the most improved offense of 2024.

But as we'll get to, what the 56-year-old has that most GMs don't is access to as much money as he could ask for. What he doesn't have as much of, apparently, is as much respect as Orioles GM Mike Elias.

This is according to a poll of MLB executives by The Athletic, which was meant to rank the league's top 10 front offices. The Orioles landed at No. 5, but the Yankees barely cracked the top 10.

The mic that Elias, now in his sixth year on the job, is within his rights to drop concerns how his Orioles rank fourth in MLB in wins since 2022 (the Yankees are fifth, for the record) despite opening said seasons ranked 30th, 29th and 26th in payroll.

That Elias had top-five draft picks to use on Rutschman, Kjerstad, Cowser and Holliday can't be ignored, but it's notable that Henderson (No. 42) and Westburg (No. 30) were lower selections. Nor can it be ignored that the Orioles are significantly better than the Oakland Athletics despite having something in common with them: Only two free agents on their 26-man roster.

This, of course, is to say nothing of Cashman's cloudy future. Though he's under contract through 2026, it was just last year that his leadership was coming under fire from every possible direction.

Advantage: Orioles

---

Weighing Their Resources

In the last 25 years, there's been one instance of the Yankees opening with a payroll outside of MLB's top five. In this same span, the Orioles have crept into the top 10 just twice.

The hope in Baltimore is that David Rubenstein, whose purchase of the Orioles from the Angelos family was finalized on March 27, will usher in a new era of spending. Whereas the late Peter Angelos was reportedly worth $2 billion as of 2020, Forbes puts Rubenstein's net worth at $3.9 billion.

A big-money extension for Rutschman? That seems plausible. A big-money deal for Burnes in free agency this winter? That, too.

But as easy as it is to daydream about such things, let's not mistake an owner's net worth for a team's revenue. Especially not in this case, as one of these teams pulled in more than twice as much money as the other in 2023:

• Yankees: $679 million
• Orioles: $328 million

You know, just in case anyone was wondering what makes the Yankees' spending possible. And the dollars are bound to keep flowing, especially if Cashman makes good on his threat to prevent Soto from making his own free-agent exodus.

Advantage: Yankees

---

Overall Advantage: Orioles

The scoring consists of one push and twice as many advantages for the Orioles, and I'll even wager that the Yankees' resources don't fully cancel out Baltimore's front-office advantage.

The almighty dollar only matters so much on the diamond, after all. Of this, that the Yankees have just one championship to show for their last 23 full seasons despite spending more money than any other team is telling proof.

Talent is the currency that really matters, and the Orioles have already procured a ton for both now and later despite stifling stinginess on the part of their former owners. If Rubenstein indeed proves to be less stingy, the organization's penchant for talent procurement only figures to get better.

Either way, this already feels like a golden age for what's historically been a one-sided rivalry.

The Yankees have a .596 all-time winning percentage against the Orioles and, save for in 1996 and 2012, the two clubs have a history of misaligned eras. It's a crime that Derek Jeter and Cal Ripken Jr. had their primes in different eras. Ditto for Mickey Mantle and Brooks Robinson, or Whitey Ford and Jim Palmer.

That's what feels so different about right now, especially with the Orioles having won nine of 15 head-to-head matchups since the start of last year. The underdog is rewriting the script.

If the Yankees want to even the score, well, they know where to find them.

---

Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference, FanGraphs and Baseball Savant.

Second baseman Jackson Holliday has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk after 10 games with the Baltimore Orioles, the team announced Friday.

The No. 1 pick of the 2022 draft recorded the second hit of his regular-season MLB career Tuesday during the Orioles' 7-4 loss to the Los Angeles Angels.

He batted .059 in 36 appearances at the plate, striking out 18 times and walking twice.

Orioles general manager Mike Elias discussed what Friday's decision means for the young player:

Mike Elias just spoke for 20 minutes about the decision to denote Holliday. I found him remarkable candid about how hard it can be for people in his position to know when a kid is ready. pic.twitter.com/AqITdlqwDa

— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) April 26, 2024

Holliday was coming off of a strong performance in Orioles spring training, during which he batted .311 with two triples and a pair of home runs in 15 games.

The 20-year-old will now return for further development in the minors, where he was batting .333 in 10 games prior to his call-up.

The Orioles also announced the recall of Ryan McKenna from Triple-A Norfolk, while designating catcher David Bañuelos for reassignment.

The MLB's top prospect connected with the ball in his final appearance for Baltimore prior to reassignment with a single that clocked in at 104.4 miles per hour.

Jackson Holliday's 2nd MLB hit had a 104.4 mph ev pic.twitter.com/deGRtKmOFM

— Kelsie Heneghan (@Kelsie_Heneghan) April 24, 2024

Holliday will leave the Orioles with a .059/.111/.059 slash line.

The top prospect said he "wasn't expecting" his early-career struggles at the plate when speaking earlier this week with The Athletic's Sam Blum.

"I'm just making some adjustments, because you got to. It's a lot more difficult than Triple A," Holliday told Blum. "I don't think there's very many people in the big leagues who haven't struggled. It just happens to be at the beginning.

"I knew what I was getting myself into. It's the best of the best of the best for a reason. I guess I haven't had a challenge yet, and this is the first one. … It's obviously challenging, but I feel like I'm handling it the best that I can.

The team has reason to stay confident Holliday will eventually succeed against MLB pitchers. This isn't the first time Baltimore has seen a top prospect go through ups and downs before becoming a roster regular.

Catcher Adley Rutschman, the No. 1 pick of the 2019 draft who hit his first career grand slam last Friday, was sent down from his first spring training with the team.

After a successful 2022 debut, top prospect Gunnar Henderson also got off to a slow batting start to his career at the beginning of last season.

The Orioles will now hope Holliday can now follow their paths to becoming successful MLB hitters after another stint in the minors.

Highly regarded Baltimore Orioles prospect Jackson Holliday has the blessing of the Ripken family when it comes to wearing No. 7.

Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr. expressed his excitement to watch Holliday play for the organization and said the family is "thrilled" he will be wearing the same No. 7 that Ripken's father, Cal Ripken Sr., did:

Our family is thrilled that @J_Holliday7 will be wearing dad's #7 ... Excited to watch him play!

— Cal Ripken, Jr. (@CalRipkenJr) April 10, 2024

Bill Ripken shared the conversation he had with his brother, Cal, about it and said, "If anybody's going to do it, I think that family is going to honor the fact that Sr. was a part of that. And it gives us another opportunity to throw Sr. out there. So I'm all on board with it."

Bill Ripken shares the backstory and today's conversation with his brother Cal as Jackson Holliday becomes the first @Orioles player to wear #7 since the passing of Cal Ripken Sr. 🧡🖤 pic.twitter.com/w9bxS4694L

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) April 10, 2024

Like the Ripkens, the Hollidays are a baseball family. Jackson is the son of seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday and will now have the opportunity to write his own legacy.

ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Tuesday the Orioles were calling the younger Holliday up to the major leagues ahead of Wednesday's game against the Boston Red Sox. Holliday is the No. 1 prospect in the entire league, per MLB.com's rankings, and figures to provide a significant boost for a franchise chasing a second consecutive American League East crown.

As for the number, Holliday will be the first Orioles player to wear it since Ripken Sr. died in 1999. Ripken Sr. played in the minor leagues and managed for Baltimore, while Ripken Jr. wore No. 8 as arguably the best player in franchise history.

Ripken Jr. is a Hall of Famer who won a World Series and two MVPs during a career that included 19 All-Star selections.

Now it will be Holliday looking to lead Baltimore back to a World Series crown.

The Baltimore Orioles released a video Wednesday of the moment when top prospect Jackson Holliday learned he was getting called up to the big leagues.

In the video, Holliday is speaking to Norfolk Tides manager Buck Britton, who is out of frame. After initially attempting to throw Holliday off the scent, Britton told Holliday to call his father and tell him he was getting called up to the O's:

Call your dad 🧡 pic.twitter.com/a7wUO13W9A

— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) April 10, 2024

The 20-year-old Holliday, who is the son of seven-time MLB All-Star outfielder Matt Holliday, was the No. 1 pick in the 2022 MLB draft and is rated as the No. 1 prospect in baseball, per MLB.com.

Despite being just 19 years old at the time, Holliday was an instant superstar in his first full minor league season last year.

Playing across four different minor league levels, he hit .323 with 12 home runs, 75 RBI, 113 runs scored and 24 stolen bases in 125 games.

Because of that performance, Holliday entered spring training with a legitimate chance to make the Orioles' Opening Day roster. He didn't look at all out of place during the spring, hitting .297 with one homer, five RBI and two steals.

Even so, the Orioles decided to send Holliday down so he could gain more experience at the Triple-A level.

It quickly became apparent that Holliday had already outgrown Triple-A, as he hit .333 with two home runs, nine RBI and one stolen base in 10 games.

Holliday plays both second base and shortstop, and to make room for him on the major league roster, the Orioles designated veteran utility man Tony Kemp for assignment.

Calling up Holliday likely means that Baltimore intends on playing him regularly, and that could require some lineup shuffling.

Jordan Westburg and Gunnar Henderson have been the Orioles' primary starting middle infielders this season. Both of them are also capable of playing third base, though, and it is likely one of them will be moved to the hot corner full time in place of Ramón Urias, who is hitting just .091 this season.

Last season, the Orioles had the best record in the American League at 101-61 and reached the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

They entered 2024 as a top contender to reach the World Series, and although they are off to an uneven 6-4 start, they still have the potential to be an elite team.

If Holliday hits the ground running in the big leagues, an already talented Orioles team will become even more dangerous.