The Baltimore Orioles have been showcasing a glimpse of their potential in the 2025 MLB season, highlighted by a powerful offensive display and strategic lineup decisions that have energized their fanbase. On July 28, 2025, the Orioles secured an 11-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays at Camden Yards, marking their third straight win and a rare occasion where key young players Colton Cowser, Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday, Adley Rutschman, and Jordan Westburg started together for only the seventh time this season.
Interim manager Tony Mansolino expressed enthusiasm about the lineup's cohesion, stating, "Having them all together helps, it’s better than not. 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." This comment underscores how the Orioles are beginning to harness their talent despite a challenging season that has seen injuries and underperformance lead to trade deadline moves.
Among the standout performers was Cedric Mullins, whose days as an Oriole may soon be numbered with the trade deadline looming on August 2. In his final arbitration-eligible season, Mullins has given fans memorable moments, including a 3-for-10 series against the Rockies featuring a spectacular full-speed diving catch and a three-run home run that earned him a standing ovation. Notably, Mullins became just the third player in Orioles history to reach 100 home runs and 100 stolen bases, a testament to his all-around skill.
During the game against the Blue Jays, Mullins blasted a two-run homer to give Baltimore an early 2-0 lead and later robbed a potential home run with a full-leap grab over the center field wall, thrilling the home crowd once again. Coby Mayo supported Mullins' efforts by launching a 413-foot homer immediately after, marking the eighth time this season the Orioles have hit back-to-back homers. Mayo's recent surge, slashing .500/.632/1.071 over the past week, is attributed to adjustments in his load and stance aimed at simplifying his swing and improving pitch recognition.
Adley Rutschman, returning from a left oblique injury that sidelined him since June 19, made a significant impact by crushing a 390-foot double in his second at-bat back. Batting cleanup for only the fifth time this season, Rutschman contributed both by setting up scoring opportunities and driving in runs himself. "It’s awesome, I missed these guys so much," he said. "To be able to get back out there again today is just the best." His return adds depth to Baltimore’s lineup, especially with his switch-hitting ability complementing Gunnar Henderson's presence.
On the mound, Zach Eflin struggled, allowing eight hits and four runs over 4.1 innings, continuing a rough stretch with an 11.44 ERA over his last five starts. Despite these struggles, Eflin remains a trade candidate and expressed gratitude for his time with the Orioles: "It’s been an absolute pleasure to wear this uniform, and I don’t take that for granted. 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."
Reliever Keegan Akin also returned to the bullpen after battling shoulder inflammation since June 30. Akin, who has pitched to a 3.32 ERA over 38 innings this season, could fill in save opportunities amid the absence of closer Félix Bautista, who was placed on the injured list on July 24 with right shoulder discomfort. Mansolino noted Bautista "will be out a while," with swelling in the shoulder requiring further scans. The Orioles’ pitching staff also awaits rehab outings from Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells, set for late July, while Albert Suárez is preparing to face live hitters after a lengthy shoulder injury absence.
The momentum continued on July 29 in the opener of a doubleheader against the Blue Jays, where the Orioles delivered a commanding 16-4 victory that included tying a major league record with five sacrifice flies. Tyler O’Neill homered for the fourth straight game, while Ramón Urías hit two home runs and Gunnar Henderson added another, fueling Baltimore's offensive onslaught.
In this game, Baltimore loaded the bases with no outs in the first and third innings, capitalizing with sacrifice flies from O’Neill, Cedric Mullins, Ramón Urías, and Jackson Holliday. The Orioles executed seven plate appearances with a man on third and fewer than two outs, converting five into runs via sacrifice flies, a rare feat only matched by a handful of teams since the rule's inception in 1954. Mansolino praised the situational hitting, saying, "They came out, they competed. Those are the at-bats that winning teams have right there when you have that many. We’ve talked about it all year. That’s a runner in scoring position, those are really positive at-bats right there. So just proud of the guys. That’s winning baseball."
Charlie Morton, the seasoned Orioles starter, delivered six innings while allowing three runs and surpassing 100 strikeouts for the 10th time in his career. The Orioles' offense, which has outscored the AL East-leading Blue Jays 27-8 over the first two games of the series, showed no signs of letting up, scoring six runs in the sixth inning alone with contributions from Henderson, O’Neill, and Urías. Jordan Westburg and Ramon Laureano also made significant impacts, with Westburg collecting four hits and scoring four runs, while Laureano contributed three hits and four runs scored.
Toronto’s pitching struggled, with Easton Lucas taking the loss after giving up four runs in 2 2/3 innings and reliever Lazaro Estrada allowing six runs over 3 1/3 innings. Despite the lopsided score, the Blue Jays managed solo homers from Joey Loperfido and Addison Barger.
The Orioles’ offensive explosion and strategic execution have injected new energy into their season, providing fans with hope and a preview of what this young team can achieve when firing on all cylinders. With key players returning from injury and others hitting their stride, Baltimore’s lineup is shaping into a formidable force as they navigate the remainder of the 2025 campaign.
