CHICAGO — It’s hard to point to the exact moment when the Orioles’ playoff hopes faded.
Perhaps it was April 20, the day they suffered a 24-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds for their most lopsided defeat since 2007. Maybe it was May 17 when they fired manager Brandon Hyde, or a week later when they fell to a season-worst 18 games under .500. It could’ve been June 18 when they coughed up an eight-run lead to the Tampa Bay Rays. The fire sale they held ahead of the Aug. 1 trade deadline is as worthy a suggestion as any.
But one consistent theme across every phase of the Orioles’ season, from their starting pitching woes that dominated the first half to their offensive struggles down the stretch, is the number of injuries they’ve been forced to weather.
“It’s got to be a huge part of it in a lot of ways,” interim manager Tony Mansolino said Wednesday, a day after Baltimore was eliminated from playoff contention. “We’re not going to blame it all on injuries. I think that’s a little bit of a cop out and it’s not very accountable from our perspective to do that. But yeah, it’s hard when all your players aren’t on the field at the same time.”
They began the season without Grayson Rodriguez, a pitcher who they hoped could lead their rotation, and Trevor Rogers, the pitcher who actually did. Their opening day starter Zach Eflin began the first of his three injured list stints before the season was two weeks old. Reigning All-Star Jordan Westburg has an injury report resembling the game board of Operation and Tyler O’Neill was nicknamed “General Soreness” on social media for his various setbacks.
Félix Bautista, Adley Rutschman, Colton Cowser, Andrew Kittredge, Ryan Mountcastle, Gary Sánchez, Albert Suárez. The list goes on. Not to mention Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells spent the first four to five months working their way back from 2024 elbow surgeries. Baseball Prospectus estimated that Baltimore has lost the second most wins above replacement to injuries of any team in baseball behind only the Houston Astros.
It has the Orioles on the brink of some unfortunate history. They’ve used 68 players so far this season, two short of the all-time record set by the Miami Marlins last year. Left-hander José Castillo, claimed off waivers Monday, will be the 69th when he makes his team debut.
Baltimore still has yet to field a batting order that includes Gunnar Henderson, Rutschman, Westburg, Cowser, Mountcastle and O’Neill all in the same lineup — six players who were projected to be everyday starters in spring training. At one point, half of all catchers on the IL across the league were employed by the Orioles. It’s been a daily ask of the club for some depth player to step up and help fill the role left behind by their injured teammate.
No, it doesn’t excuse the underwhelming results, which have the Orioles two losses away from their first losing season since their 52-110 campaign in 2021. After all, the Astros have been hit even harder and are right in the thick of the playoff race with a week and a half left to play.
The rotation needed more punch at the top to account for the losses of Bradish and the departed Corbin Burnes. What appeared to be a blossoming young core of hitters hit a snag in its development, with some taking a step in the wrong direction. The disastrous start under Hyde, his fault or not, proved insurmountable.
But injuries are a critical part of the story for the 2025 Orioles. They made every step of the club’s attempts to put a stop to its slow start and climb out of it more difficult. Some of them, such as the season-ending shoulder surgery for Bautista, will bleed into next season as well.
With a full offseason, plenty of payroll space and a restocked farm system with which to build out the roster, the Orioles have plenty of reasons to believe that 2026 will produce better results. Rogers, Bradish and Wells will be part of their plans going in this time. Rodriguez only has to complete one start to make a bigger impact than he did this year. Westburg, O’Neill (if he opts into his contract) and Cowser will hope for some positive regression.
The Orioles’ offseason moves will dictate the kind of expectations the club will carry heading into next season. Better injury luck will be just as important in helping Baltimore meet them.
Have a news tip? Contact Matt Weyrich at mweyrich@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/ByMattWeyrich and instagram.com/bymattweyrich.
