The Baltimore Orioles’ September surge has hit a rough patch in Toronto, leaving fans and pundits alike wondering what’s next as the regular season barrels toward its dramatic conclusion. Saturday’s 4-3 walkoff loss to the Blue Jays—a gut punch delivered in the bottom of the ninth—has Orioles supporters shaking their heads, especially after a string of promising series wins to start the month. The defeat, marred by bullpen woes and a controversial managerial decision, has set the stage for a tense series finale and raised questions about the team’s direction as injuries and roster shuffles continue to shape the narrative.
Let’s rewind to Saturday’s pivotal contest. Tomoyuki Sugano, the Orioles’ right-handed starter, delivered a solid outing, allowing just one earned run on four hits while striking out four over six innings. He was pulled after only 63 pitches, a move that drew immediate scrutiny. Interim manager Tony Mansolino explained the decision, saying, “You’ve got Vlad leading off the top of the 7th, we’re going for the win right there. Just kind of knowing that lineup, third time through, it’s an important game for us to try to win a game and stay in this series.” The intent was clear: avoid letting Vladimir Guerrero Jr. face Sugano a third time and play the matchups. But the plan backfired spectacularly.
The Orioles’ bullpen—already a source of anxiety for fans—couldn’t hold the line. Kade Strowd surrendered a run in the eighth, and then Keegan Akin and Yennier Cano combined to give up three runs in the ninth, sealing the Orioles’ fate in walkoff fashion. The frustration was palpable. As one local columnist put it, “There are no relievers worth trusting in the Orioles bullpen. That should weigh in decisions to try to dodge the times through the order penalty.” It’s hard to argue with that after Saturday’s unraveling.
Looking at Sugano’s season as a whole, the right-hander now sports a 4.39 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP, with a 10-8 record across 28 starts. While he’s shown flashes of brilliance, he’s also allowed three or more runs in three of his last four starts, a trend that has contributed to the Orioles’ recent inconsistency. Still, Saturday’s performance was a step in the right direction, especially considering Sugano was less than a week removed from an ankle injury suffered against the Dodgers. X-rays came back clean after he was struck by a ground ball, and Mansolino confirmed after Saturday’s game that the early hook was purely tactical, not health-related.
As the Orioles prepare to avoid a sweep in Sunday’s series finale, the pitching situation remains fluid. With a bullpen game on tap, Albert Suárez will get the nod to start, and the team will likely lean on a mix of relievers—including newly recalled Carson Ragsdale if multiple innings are needed. Ragsdale, plucked off waivers from the Giants in August and recently pitching for Triple-A Norfolk, boasts a 3.47 ERA and 18 strikeouts in seven appearances at that level. If he makes his big league debut Sunday, he’ll become the 68th player to suit up for Baltimore this season—a testament to the club’s injury struggles and constant roster churn.
Speaking of injuries, the Orioles’ medical updates continue to be a major subplot. Catcher Adley Rutschman, sidelined since August 17 with an oblique injury, is expected to begin a rehab assignment next week after taking batting practice during the Toronto series. His return can’t come soon enough for a club desperate for stability behind the plate. Meanwhile, reliever Shawn Dubin was placed on the 15-day injured list with right elbow discomfort and sent back to Baltimore for an MRI. Dubin, who joined the Orioles from Houston in late August, had posted a 3.38 ERA in seven appearances but now faces an uncertain timetable. “Some concern there” is how Mansolino described the situation, hinting that the bullpen’s depth could be tested even further in the coming weeks.
There is, however, some good news on the pitching front. Trevor Rogers, the Orioles’ emerging ace, is dealing with a blood blister on his left big toe but will make his next scheduled start. Rogers has dazzled with a 1.43 ERA across 16 starts this season and was just named American League Pitcher of the Month for August—a bright spot in an otherwise turbulent stretch for Baltimore’s rotation. Mansolino’s updates suggest the club will continue to lean heavily on Rogers and a hopefully healthy Sugano as the season winds down.
Chayce McDermott, who was on the medical taxi squad during Saturday’s game, is expected to join the team on Monday, giving the Orioles another potential arm as they navigate a relentless schedule and a bullpen in flux. The constant shuffling has made it difficult for the team to find a rhythm, but it’s also given opportunities to a wide array of players—some of whom could be part of next season’s core.
Looking back at Orioles history, September 14 holds a bittersweet place in the franchise’s lore. On this day in 1987, Cal Ripken Jr.’s record-setting streak of 8,264 consecutive innings at shortstop came to an end in a game that saw Baltimore lose 18-3 to the Blue Jays, surrendering ten home runs in the process. The echoes of that lopsided defeat linger as the Orioles once again find themselves battling Toronto, fighting to avoid a sweep and keep their postseason hopes alive.
As the dust settles from Saturday’s loss, the focus shifts to Sunday’s bullpen game and the larger questions facing the club. Interim manager Tony Mansolino’s tactical moves have come under fire, especially his handling of Sugano and the bullpen, and it remains to be seen if he’ll be part of the Orioles’ future beyond this season. Injuries, roster moves, and the relentless grind of the schedule have tested this team’s resolve, but there’s still a chance for redemption—and maybe a little magic—before the curtain falls on 2025.
For now, the Orioles’ fate hangs in the balance. With Suárez set to start and the bullpen on high alert, Sunday’s finale in Toronto promises to be anything but dull. Will Baltimore find a way to stop the bleeding and salvage a win, or will the Blue Jays complete the sweep? Stay tuned—this story is far from over.
