On the first full day after the trade deadline, Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias expressed optimism that his roster was “fortified,” his pitching staff improved and that his team has “as good a shot as anybody.”

This morning the O’s began the process of retooling their roster after the flurry of deadline trades for the stretch run and trying to turn a recent small stretch of winning into a larger one.

With three wins in their past four games scoring 29 runs, the O’s took the field amid the Baltimore sunshine today looking for yet another American League East series win.

Ryan Mountcastle’s two-run triple to right in the last of the first got the Orioles off to a good start. They built an early 3-0 lead.

The deadline deals opened the door for Jackson Holliday’s return to this team. He electrified the crowd today when his first major league homer was a grand slam in the last of the fifth. It opened an 8-3 lead and led to a Holliday curtain call. The crowd was on its feet and roaring for Holliday, who went 2-for-34 with the Orioles in 10 April games.

The trade deadline clock is ticking louder. Pencils are down at 6 p.m., though deals tend to trickle in after it. A clean getaway from the incremental non-updates, rumors and speculation.

Who’s gonna miss it?

The Orioles are missing a second starter, reliever and right-handed hitting outfielder. They have one of each so far with Zach Eflin, Seranthony Domínguez and Cristian Pache. Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias is trying to find more matches.

The only players surrendered have been outfielder Austin Hays and mid-level prospects Jackson Baumeister, Mac Horvath and Matthew Etzel. MLB Pipeline ranked Horvath 10^th in the organization and Baseball America has him 13^th.

Elias has to climb up that list to get a top-tier arm, but other starters could slot in the middle of the rotation at a less painful cost.

Colton Cowser laid into a fastball, watched it soar to right field and raised his right leg. It probably won’t become his signature home run pose, but he was in the moment.

Jordan Westburg wasn’t as confident in the outcome of his fly ball the following inning until it landed in the bullpen area to tie Game 2. He went the more conventional route, with bat dropped and feet motoring.

The Orioles brought early power to the back end of the doubleheader, but lapses on the mound and in the field cost them a chance at a sweep.

Cade Povich didn’t make it through the fifth inning, the walks hurting him again, and the Orioles lost to the last-place Blue Jays 8-4. The twinbill drew an announced crowd of 22,272, with the nightcap starting late due to rain.

An 11^th loss in 17 games lowered the Orioles' record to 63-44. The Yankees are a half-game back for the division lead after hammering the Phillies 14-4.

Zach Eflin will pitch in front of much larger crowds and with a lot more at stake. He won't always watch his battery mate bleed at home plate and refuse to leave. Today’s debut with the Orioles unfolded in the mid-afternoon opener of a doubleheader, a makeup from the May 14 rainout. Empty seats were spread at every level throughout the ballpark.

The start still seemed like a big deal. The scene just didn’t match it.

Eflin allowed three runs over six innings and equaled his season high with seven strikeouts, Anthony Santander hit his 30^th homer, and the Orioles took everything the Blue Jays gave them in an 11-5 win at Camden Yards in a game that will be remembered more for James McCann’s toughness than the right-hander’s first outing with his new team.

The veteran pitcher liked his results overall and loved his catcher.

Eflin carried a shutout bid into the fifth and surrendered a three-run homer to Addison Barger, the rookie’s first in the majors. Barger entered the game after the Blue Jays removed Justin Turner and traded him to the Mariners. Just some of the weirdness from today.

A normal day at Camden Yards would have led the visiting media to Manny Machado’s locker. He would have been the most interesting story. And eventually, I would have remembered that Connor Norby was making his home debut.

But mostly Manny.

Machado’s arrival in Baltimore, his second in a Padres uniform, is bound to conjure memories of his departure. Rumors surfacing of his pending trade to the Dodgers during the 2018 All-Star game in D.C. For me, a text message from a team official stating that the deal wasn’t done despite reports to the contrary, and he was right.

Machado knew that he was a goner and had a member of the public relations staff summon the beat writers to a private area at Nats Park for goodbyes and a group photo. Away from the other writers who surrounded his locker and got nothing substantial.

I’ll never forget Machado thanking us for understanding that he was “different.” He wasn’t always the easiest player to cover, but he appreciated the relationship that developed.

The Orioles traded for another starting pitcher and might not be done. The rotation was targeted as an area of need. Surgeries and struggles left them no choice.

Grayson Rodriguez wanted to provide the latest example that the top portion is in good hands, and he did it for a while. Corbin Burnes registered his 17^th quality start yesterday in Miami and Rodriguez carried a shutout into the sixth tonight, but Jurickson Profar hit a game-tying, two-run homer and manager Brandon Hyde went to his bullpen.

Another area that's under some construction.

Burnes and Rodriguez remain a formidable one-two punch, but the Orioles had to get off the canvas again like they did yesterday in extras. They managed it briefly and went down again, this time unable to scramble back to their feet.

The defense let down reliever Burch Smith in the sixth. The Orioles tied the game in the eighth, but Craig Kimbrel surrendered a two-run homer to Profar with two outs in the ninth in the Orioles’ 6-4 loss to the Padres before an announced sellout crowd of 43,692 at Camden Yards.

ARLINGTON, Texas – The Orioles were a little more patient tonight before pouncing on a Rangers veteran starting pitcher. They actually waited until the second inning.

For the post-break Orioles, that’s considered slow out of the gate.

Nine batters came to the plate against three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer and four runs scored to match last night’s total in the first against Nathan Eovaldi.

Scherzer was removed before the third, Texas native Grayson Rodriguez celebrated his homecoming with a quality start and the Orioles continued to thrive at Globe Life Field with an 8-4 victory before an announced crowd of 38,410.

Cedric Mullins hit his 10^th home run, Jordan Westburg his 16th and Ryan O'Hearn his 12th, and the Orioles posted their 60^th win, a total they reached last season on July 22. Their lead in the division increased to two games.

ARLINGTON, Texas – The next time that the Orioles begin the second half of their season in the same city that hosted the All-Star Game, please let it be Honolulu or Rome. I’d take New York or Chicago right now.

How much longer until Las Vegas?

Pausing at the break allows teams and the media to regroup. We still find the Orioles with a one-game lead over the Yankees. They didn’t lose ground after Sunday.

Other realities remain untouched, like a pair of five-game losing streaks since leaving the Bronx, and how they needed two Yankees blunders with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning Sunday to eek out a 6-5 win.

Going 2-for-39 with runners in scoring position on the last homestand is hard to comprehend. Saw it happen and still don’t fully grasp it.

ARLINGTON, Texas – The lights on the 2024 baseball season are dimmed for a few days. Teams can conduct business, but they aren’t playing until Friday.

The trade deadline is July 30. Trust me, they haven’t shut down completely.

The 94^th All-Star Game is history, with the American League winning 5-3 in 2 hours and 28 minutes, the quickest since 1988. Letting the Rangers host at Life Globe Field provided coverage.

A roof, I mean. The media was gonna cover it anyway.

The high temperature yesterday was 102 degrees, edging out Baltimore if the weather app on my phone was accurate. And this was an issue on Monday with unnecessarily long lines to pick up credentials and to enter through the media gate.

ARLINGTON, Texas – Corbin Burnes is having an All-Star experience that’s more like a flyby.

Burnes arrived in Dallas around 11 a.m. this morning and he’s boarding a flight back to Phoenix as soon as his start is over and he can shower and change clothes. The entire experience will last fewer than 12 hours if the plan is executed.

Get three outs and get back to his wife Brooke and twin daughters Charlotte and Harper.

Burnes is making his first career start among four consecutive selections to the All-Star Game. He’s the first Orioles pitcher to receive the honor since Steve Stone in 1980.

“It’s awesome to find out I was going to get the opportunity to start the game,” Burnes said. “There’s very few people that have gotten to start All-Star Games for the length that the All-Star Game’s been around. The join that group is special, and obviously there’s some pretty cool names that have been able to do it. Getting that opportunity to do that was awesome, and excited to get out there.”

ARLINGTON, Texas – The Orioles haven’t hosted baseball’s All-Star Game since 1993, the second year of Camden Yards' existence. Back when they wanted to show it off to the world.

They’re on the radar again, which promises nothing but keeps them in the conversation.

Commissioner Rob Manfred said this morning that the club has “definitely” expressed an interest in the Midsummer Classic. The next available date is 2027, after Atlanta next year and Philadelphia in 2026.

A new ownership group headed by David Rubenstein has made securing the event a priority.

“We hope by that time the stadium will be rehabilitated a bit, and therefore, we’d like to show it off,” Rubenstein said on March 28. “Once we have the rehabilitated Camden Yards, I think it would be a great time to then show it off. We’ll make sure we have it completed, though, but we are interested in it and I am familiar with the situation.”

ARLINGTON, Texas – The All-Stars will walk the red carpet this afternoon in their fanciest attire and try to make it inside Globe Life Field in under 20 sweat stains.

Players will change into their uniforms and take batting practice before tonight’s game. The roof is closed. Not a single complaint beneath it.

The media gets a little clubhouse time rather than pulling quotes on the field. And finally, the Midsummer Classic will commence.

Here are some leftovers from yesterday:

* The All-Star break didn’t force Jordan Westburg into doing much traveling.

ARLINGTON, Texas – The smile came before the response.

Anthony Santander gave it away, failing to offer a spoiler alert, during today’s on-field media session at the All-Star Game.

Where are his father, Roger, and mother, Yoleida? Are they back in Venezuela or maybe at his Miami home?

Santander lit up, the way he’d react to a fastball down the middle of the plate. But he didn’t swing. He spoke.

“They’re here in Texas,” he said. “I can’t be here without them, you know?”

ARLINGTON, Texas - The decision was made. Corbin Burnes would accept his fourth consecutive invitation to the All-Star Game. Hug his wife Brooke, hold his newborn twin daughters one more time and board a flight. A piece of him left behind.

With that honor, however, came his first start.

American League manager Bruce Bochy is handing the ball to Burnes Tuesday night at Globe Life Park.

Bochy considered what Burnes has done in his career, including the previous selections and a Cy Young Award with the Brewers in 2021, and the veteran's impact on the 2024 Orioles.

"I think you have to look at his résumé, what he's done in baseball," Bochy said. "He's had an incredible career. This is his fourth consecutive All-Star Game. What he's done this year in Baltimore, you know, they're leading their division. He's a big reason for that.

The break begins today for most players in the majors.

The exceptions already are gathering in Arlington, Texas.

Gunnar Henderson is prepping for tonight’s Home Run Derby, attempting to become the third Orioles representative to win it after Cal Ripken Jr. in 1991 and Miguel Tejada in 2004. Triple-A Norfolk manager Buck Britton will pitch to Henderson following their practice session at Camden Yards.

Britton passed through the clubhouse yesterday morning and joked how the Tides won their past two games and might not want him back. Fundamentals coach Ramón Sambo and hitting coach Mike Montville have managed the club in Britton’s absence.

Not at the same time, though.

Leading the American League East by two games over the Yankees, the Orioles take the field as a first-place team tonight, but one that is looking to avoid a three-game sweep.

The Cubs have beaten the Orioles by 9-2 and 4-0 the past two nights and could hand the Orioles their first home sweep this year. Baltimore has been swept twice on the road - May 20-22 at St. Louis and June 21-23 at Houston.

The Orioles have not been swept at home in a series of at least two games since Aug. 27-29, 2021 versus Tampa Bay when they lost three straight.

With last night's loss, the O's have lost this series, falling to 20-7-3 in series play and they have lost three of their past six series.

At 57-35, the Orioles have lost three of four and four of the last six games. They are 8-10 since June 21 with a team ERA of 5.68 in this span while scoring 4.2 runs per game.

Make that five All-Star representatives for the Orioles.

Outfielder Anthony Santander has made the American League club as an injury replacement for Houston’s Kyle Tucker. He'll also head out early to Arlington, Texas.

Santander joins starters Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman, pitcher Corbin Burnes and infielder Jordan Westburg. This is the highest total for the Orioles since 2016 with Manny Machado, Matt Wieters, Mark Trumbo, Zack Britton and Brad Brach. They had four representatives last year in Seattle.

The honor for Santander comes in his free agency year and seven seasons after his major league debut as a Rule 5 pick from Single-A Lynchburg in Cleveland’s organization.

Santander goes into tonight’s game batting .233/.298/.492 with 15 doubles, a triple, 23 home runs and 57 RBIs in 366 plate appearances, and he’s playing an exceptional right field. He was a finalist on the ballot but finished one spot behind the starters.

The Orioles acquired right-hander Colin Selby, 26, from the Royals today for cash considerations and optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk. Kyle Bradish was moved to the 60-day injured list to make room on a full 40-man roster.

Selby, a Virginia native, made two relief appearances with the Royals and allowed two earned runs (three total) in three innings. He appeared in 21 games with the Pirates last season, making five starts, and had a 9.00 ERA and 1.833 WHIP in 24 innings.

He’s averaged 5.7 walks and 10 strikeouts per nine innings in the majors.

Austin Hays remains in left field, as the Orioles try to avoid being swept by the Cubs in their three-game series.

Hays is slashing .340/.379/.574 (32-for-94) with 13 doubles, three home runs, 12 RBIs, three walks, four hit-by-pitches and 14 runs in 35 games since returning from the injured list on May 13.

When they play the All-Star game next Tuesday night in Arlington, Texas, the O’s participants will have a homegrown flavor.

Three of the four players repping the Orioles were drafted and developed by the Orioles in Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson and Jordan Westburg.

The fourth player going, pitcher Corbin Burnes, was acquired in a trade of O’s prospects they drafted and developed. They sent lefty DL Hall to Milwaukee in that deal, their first round pick (No 21 overall) in 2017. They also sent infielder Joey Ortiz, their fourth round pick in 2019 and a draft pick this year to the Brewers. They will have the No. 34 pick in this coming draft from the Burnes deal.

The first two selections Mike Elias ever made as O’s executive vice president and general in the 2019 MLB Draft were Rutschman taken No. 1 overall and Henderson at No. 42.

“That credit goes to Mike. Mike and his team,” manager Brandon Hyde said Wednesday pregame marveling at the O’s success in the draft under Elias. “What they’ve done in the draft since we’ve been here is unbelievable. To have Gunner, Adley and Jordan Westburg going to the All-Star game that just got drafted so many years ago that he drafted, that’s unbelievably rare.

Take it one day at a time. Worry about today’s game. Don’t look too far ahead or much ahead at all.

It can be a bit boring creed, but for the Orioles it is working.

Their latest example of how they quickly deal with adversity and then move past it just happened Sunday at Oakland. After giving up 19 runs the day before, they scored four in the first the next day and won. They got swept by at St. Louis in May, ending the sweepless streak and then went on a 16-4 run the next 20 games.

Guess what, more adversity last night as they allowed 14 hits in a 9-2 loss to the Cubs and Dean Kremer gave up seven runs in four innings. In their second game after allowing 19 runs, the O's allowed nine.

Now they have to overcome another down game. They've responded well to tough times most of this year. How do they do that?