Slumping O's look to get back on track
Depleted by injuries and entrenched in a prolonged hitting slump, the Baltimore Orioles are desperate to regain their winning ways as they stumble to the finish of the regular season.
The Orioles owned a 57-33 record and led the AL East by three games on July 8. They were 70-48 and still in first place on Aug. 10, but since then Baltimore has gone 14-18 and now trails the New York Yankees by three games with 12 to go.
“The mojo that we've had has just drifted away from us the last few months,” Orioles general manager Mike Elias said Tuesday. “There are reasons for it that are obvious, but a lot of it is we've got people here that are experiencing a downturn — whether it's themselves or the team.”
Those obvious reasons Elias referred to are injuries. A whole lot of them. The Orioles have been trying most of the season to make up for the loss of three members of the starting rotation (John Means, Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells). Starter Grayson Rodriguez is also sidelined, although the team hopes to get him back before October.
Injuries have also impacted the offense. Allstar infielder Jordan Westburg (hand fracture) and first baseman Ryan Mountcastle (wrist sprain) have been out for several weeks, and the infield was further depleted by the loss of Ramon Urias (ankle sprain) and Jorge Mateo (dislocated elbow).
RECORD FOR WITT JR.
The Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. became the first shortstop in major league history with multiple seasons of at least 30 homers and 30 steals when the All-star swiped second base in the first inning of Tuesday night's game against the Detroit Tigers.
Witt has 31 homers this season, including a grand slam in the series-opener Monday night, to go with 30 steals. The 24-year-old superstar had 49 steals last season, when he hit the homer he needed to reach 30 with three games left in the season. The son of longtime big league pitcher Bobby Witt also became the first player with multiple 30-30 seasons in his first three years in the big leagues. In fact, only six other players have had one within their first three seasons.
MCCLANAHAN TO RETURN
Tampa Bay Rays ace Shane Mcclanahan is set to face hitters for the first time next week since undergoing Tommy John surgery last year.
Rays manager Kevin Cash before Tuesday night's game against Boston said the lefthander will take the mound on Sept. 26. Cash expects Mcclanahan will be ready for the 2025 season.
Mcclanahan left an Aug. 2, 2023, loss to the New York Yankees after four innings because the outside of his forearm tightened while he was warming up. He underwent surgery that Aug. 21.