After winning the first game of their series at Dodger Stadium, the Orioles lost the next two games, losing the series to the Dodgers. They need a win today to avoid the same fate at Coors Field.

The Orioles beat the Rockies 5-3 in the series-opener on Friday night, but they lost 7-5 last night. So the O’s and Rockies play the rubber match game to end this series and road trip. The Orioles are 8-5 in rubber match games.

At 78-59, the Orioles begin play today 1.5 games behind the New York Yankees. They are 39-29 on the road and 2-3 on this trip.

The Orioles have lost three of four, six of 10 and 11 of their past 19 games. The O’s are 20-21 since the All-Star game after going 58-38 in the second half.

The Orioles have now played 137 games:

With last night’s game, a 7-5 loss at Colorado, the Orioles have played 137 games with 25 to go in the 2024 regular season.

If we count March as its own month and we will as the Orioles played three games then, they’ve now completed six months of baseball.

Here is a statistical look at each month with the team record, the staff ERA and OPS against and the offense’s runs per game each month with the OPS on offense by the club.

* March, 2-1 record: 3.00 ERA, .533 OPS against, 8.33 runs per game & .823 OPS.

* April, 17-9 record: 3.75 ERA, .695 OPS against, 5.08 runs per game & .755 OPS.

The Orioles West Coast trip moved a bit inland but still far away from Camden Yards. The O's have moved from Los Angeles to Denver and tonight will begin a three-game series at Coors Field versus the Colorado Rockies.

The Orioles (77-58) begin play this weekend 1.5 games behind the New York Yankees (78-56) who this weekend host the St. Louis Cardinals. 

The Rockies (50-85, .370) have the second-worst record in the National League, ahead of only Miami. Colorado just split four games versus Miami, scoring eight runs each of the last three games and 27 runs in the series.

Colorado has lost six of nine and 10 of their past 16 games. The Rockies are 12-20 since July 26 with a -49 run differential in that span.

But while the Rockies are 19-50 (.275) on the road, they are much better at home at 31-35 (.470). In their past 26 games at home, they are 15-11.

LOS ANGELES – The Orioles won by 3-2 on Tuesday night. They beat the Los Angeles Dodgers with a shutdown bullpen and a go-ahead homer by Ramon Urias.

They were in excellent shape to win the series from the club with the best record in the majors and one with a great home record. But two losses followed, and the Orioles fell to 1.5 games back of the idle Yankees for the AL East lead.

Their bullpen had a strong series, how about that? But their starters and batters did not.

The win one, lose one mode might be enough to get the Orioles to the playoffs but they will need to play better when they get there.

The O’s offense hit .182 this series, scoring 10 runs with six extra-base hits in Los Angeles and they went 3-for-20 with runners in scoring position.

LOS ANGELES – In the early innings tonight, Orioles lefty Cade Povich was getting into and out of trouble. But he could not keep escaping damage.

The Dodgers scored four off him in the last of the fourth to open a 5-0 lead. They beat the Orioles 6-3 to take two of three in this series pitting two of baseball’s best clubs against each other.

Los Angeles (80-54) becomes the first team in the majors to hit the 80-win mark and has won eight of 10, 14 of 19 and 17 of its last 24.

The Dodgers are 5-0 this year in series versus American League East teams, going 11-4 over 15 games.

At 77-58, the Orioles have lost three of four and eight of 13 games. They end a two-series stretch versus the first-place Astros and Dodgers going 3-4. And they are now 1 1/2 games behind the Yankees, who had tonight off.

LOS ANGELES – With one uplifting win followed by a disappointing loss for the Orioles in this series, the Birds and Dodgers play the rubber match game tonight at Dodger Stadium.

The first two games featured big and loud crowds as the clubs have seen 105,672 fans this series.

The Orioles (77-57) could have tied for first place in the American League East but lost 6-4 last night. They have lost two of three, four of seven and seven of the last 12 games. They are 8-12 all-time versus the Dodgers and 3-5 at Dodger Stadium, where the Orioles won the first two games of the 1966 World Series.

In Game 2 of that World Series, current O’s broadcaster Jim Palmer pitched a four-hitter in a 6-0 victory where he got the win and Sandy Koufax took the loss. Palmer was just 20 and Koufax had posted an ERA of 1.73 during the season. That turned out to be the last game for Koufax, who retired following the World Series.

But back to present day ...

LOS ANGELES – With 28 games left in the regular season, the chase is on for the Orioles. They are chasing a playoff berth and an American League East title, but also chasing the calendar in terms of getting their injured players back with enough time both to perform at their previous levels and also impact the playoff race.

In that regard, Sunday could be a big day for the team in their series finale at Colorado. Right-hander Zach Eflin can return from the injured list that day. He is 4-0 with an ERA of 2.13 in four O’s starts. The last one was Aug. 15 and he went on the IL with right shoulder inflammation after that game.

But now, without a rehab assignment or even having faced any hitters in a simulated game, he is on the verge of rejoining the rotation.

“He is a possibility for Sunday, yeah,” manager Brandon Hyde confirmed today. “I know he was going to throw today, but yeah, there is a chance he can pitch Sunday.”

Meanwhile right-hander Grayson Rodriguez threw off flat ground pregame twice during this series with the Dodgers on Tuesday and again today. Rodriguez, 13-4 with a 3.86 ERA, last pitched July 31 and is on the IL with right lat/teres discomfort. 

LOS ANGELES – The Orioles and Dodgers have split the first two games of this three-game series and tonight's winner will take the series at Dodger Stadium.

Los Angeles (79-54, .594) has the best record in the major leagues and has won seven of nine, 13 of 18 and 16 of its last 23 games. In the 23 games, the Dodgers are scoring 5.1 runs per game with a team ERA of 3.19.

The Dodgers are 44-24 at home and 26-14 versus American League teams.

The O's lineup tonight is a look we've seen a lot versus right-handers with Colton Cowser leading off, Adley Rutschman catching and Gunnar Henderson at shortstop. Eloy Jiménez is the designated hitter and Cedric Mullins is back in center field and batting seventh.

The Orioles (77-57) begin play today one game behind the Yankees, who are off, for the AL East lead with 28 games remaining. The two games this series have been decided by three total runs. The O's have played a lot of close games lately, with seven of their past 10 decided by one or two runs. They are 4-3 in those contests.

LOS ANGELES – Orioles right-hander Corbin Burnes, who had an ERA of 8.71 his previous four starts, gave up six runs last night as the Orioles lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers. But just one run was earned over five innings.

Does that make it challenging to evaluate how Burnes pitched?

In the Dodgers third, with the O’s leading 3-1 and one out, an error was charged to third baseman Ramon Urias. They could have had two outs and none on, but the Dodgers went on to score four unearned runs – three on Teoscar Hernández’s 431-foot home run.

The fault of the pitching or the defense? Both to blame?

Said manager Brandon Hyde: “He only gave up that one earned run, the (Shohei) Ohtani homer. Pitched much better than the line. Like I said we didn’t play our cleanest defensively. We had some chances to get out of innings. But we’re not scoring a ton of runs either and helping our guys out.”

LOS ANGELES – With a chance to win this series and ruin Shohei Ohtani and Decoy (his dog) bobblehead night at Dodger Stadium, the Orioles took an early 3-1 in the second inning.

But by the last of third, they trailed 5-3 and were wondering again why right-hander Corbin Burnes suddenly began pitching poorly a few starts ago.

Burnes allowed six runs, just one earned, including Teoscar Hernández’s long three-run homer in the third, as the Dodgers beat the Orioles 6-4 to even this series.

Another sellout crowd was on hand with 53,290 at Dodger Stadium as Los Angeles improved to 79-54 with its 13th win in 18 games. Los Angeles is now 44-24 at home and 10-4 versus American League East clubs.

A win would have moved the Orioles into a first-place tie with the Yankees, who lost again at Washington. But the O’s could not get it, now sitting at 77-57 and one game out.

LOS ANGELES – With a 3-2 win secured in the opener, the Orioles could secure a series victory if they can win tonight at Dodger Stadium.

Ryan O'Hearn hit a solo homer and Ramón Urías added a two-run go-ahead shot. Then the O's pitching made it stand up in a victory Tuesday night in front of the 15th sellout of the year of 52,382 at Los Angeles.

After lefty Cole Irvin allowed five hits and two runs over 4 1/3 innings, the Baltimore bullpen took it from there. Matt Bowman, Cionel Pérez, Yennier Cano and Seranthony Domínguez pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings. Dodgers hitters went 2-for-16 versus the 'pen, going 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.

The previously struggling bullpen has now pitched scoreless ball in four of the last five O's games with an ERA of 0.98 (two earned runs in 18 1/3 innings) in that span.

The Orioles (77-56) have won three of four and five of nine games. They are trying to get on a late-season roll and Irvin believes they will. 

LOS ANGELES – Orioles manager Brandon Hyde, already with a group of 12 on the club's injured list, found out today that infielder Jorge Mateo will not make it back for any of the remaining part of the 2024 season.

Today he had a left elbow ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction (Tommy John surgery) with internal brace and flexor repair. The surgery was performed by Dr. Keith Meister at Trinity Park Surgery Center in Arlington, Texas. 

“He had successful surgery today. We’re happy about that,” said Hyde. “That everything went really well. Hoping he is back by the regular season next year, but we’re happy the surgery went well.

“He’s a big loss, just like Westy’s (Jordan Westburg) a big loss also. What we lose (with the) speed factor, the defense, the stolen base threat. Everything he does bring. You know, when he’s going well he’s tough to get out and if you don’t get him out he’s going to score because of the threat he is on the bases. Losing Jorgie is a big loss for us.”

Mateo becomes the fifth player on the O's IL list of 12 that will not return this year, joining Félix Bautista, Kyle Bradish, John Means and Tyler Wells. 

LOS ANGELES – Orioles infielder Jorge Mateo, on the injured list since July 25 with a left elbow subluxation, had surgery today and will miss the rest of the 2024 season.

The O's, until this news, held out longshot hope he might return late this year and possibly for the postseason. 

But today he had successful left elbow ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction with internal brace and flexor repair. 

The surgery was performed by Dr. Keith Meister at Trinity Park Surgery Center in Arlington, Texas. 

Mateo has one more year of arbitration eligibility coming this winter and could be a free agent at the end of the 2025 season.

LOS ANGELES – In front of a sellout crowd on the road, with a chance to gain a game on the Yankees, against a hot team with the best record in baseball, the Orioles pitching made three runs stand up. 

The Orioles bullpen – the much-maligned O’s bullpen – stood tall.

They had repeated chances to give up the big hit, the soul-crushing hit, the hit to blow the game. But they did not.

The same bullpen that had struggled so badly in recent weeks? Yes, that bullpen.

In what had to qualify as one of the O’s best and most impressive wins of the year, they beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 Tuesday to open a big three-game series.

LOS ANGELES – Beginning a series against the team with the best record in Major League Baseball on the road was going to be a real challenge for the Orioles.

They had just completed a 2-2 series with the Astros but had lost three of five and six of their last 10. Now they faced Shoehei Ohtani and the Dodgers at a time when they had won six of seven and 15 of their last 21. They were 43-23 this year at home and 9-3 against American League East teams.

A sellout crowd of 52,382 came to see two of baseball’s best match up.

On a night when they got another big home run from Ramón Urías and some heavy lifting from their beleaguered bullpen, the Orioles won the series opener 3-2 to move to within a game of the Yankees, who lost earlier in Washington.

The Orioles (77-56) have gone 3-2 against two hot clubs in the Astros and Dodgers.

LOS ANGELES – It's the Orioles' first trip to Dodger Stadium since 2016 as they begin a six-game road trip tonight versus the Dodgers. 

Los Angeles (78-53) took two of three over the weekend from Tampa Bay and has won six of seven, 12 of 16 and 15 of the last 21 games.

But the Dodgers' lead in the National League West is just three games over the Diamondbacks and four games over the Padres.

The Dodgers have won their division every year since 2013, except in 2021 when 106 wins only got them second place. They won 100 last year but lost three straight to the D-backs in the NL Division Series.

Chasing back-to-back American League East titles for the first time since 1973 and 1974, the Orioles (76-56) are coming off a four-game split with the Astros. They began play today two games behind the Yankees in the division. But with the Nationals 4-2 win over the Yankees, the O's would move to 1 game back with a win tonight. 

LOS ANGELES – The Orioles are slowly getting healthier and manager Brandon Hyde would say “knock on wood” when you mention that. His team currently has 12 players on the injured list. 

Righty reliever Jacob Webb is reporting to Triple-A Norfolk to soon throw for the Tides. Perhaps as soon as early next week, the O’s could get a key piece in their bullpen back. Meanwhile, starter Zach Eflin is eligible to return from the injured list on Sunday and Hyde today confirmed what Eflin earlier told reporters – he will not need a rehab assignment. Perhaps he gets that Sunday start in Colorado.

Eflin and right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (on the IL with right lat discomfort) both did some light tossing pregame today in the Dodger Stadium outfield.

As for Webb, he last pitched on Aug. 2 and went on the IL a few days later due to right shoulder inflammation.

“He’s going to throw here in the next few days,” Hyde said of Webb, who has a 3.08 ERA and .188 batting average against over 53 games. “If all goes well, could be anytime. Sometime beginning of September. Which would be huge.”

LOS ANGELES – As the Orioles get ready to play at Dodger Stadium for the first time since 2016 tonight, we can look back at a week of baseball and realize it’s not very dull around here.

Two walk-off losses at Citi Field against the Mets and two come-from-behind wins with huge bases-loaded hits versus Houston at Camden Yards.

Some big ups and downs in the last seven games as the Orioles went 3-4.

If the O’s can win this series against the club with the current best record in the majors and take two of three from the Dodgers, a 4-3 mark against Houston and L.A. would be quite solid.

And maybe mean the Orioles are getting back on track for the playoff push in the final weeks.

Since he burst onto top 100 prospects lists during the 2023 season, O’s catching prospect Samuel Basallo became a marked man. Everyone knew his name and opponent pitchers worked hard to make their mark by getting him out.

He likes that actually.

“I embrace it. It’s a challenge and I like to compete. Guys fighting to get me out, I take that as a challenge. I look forward to the competition,” said Basallo, who we found out yesterday, is being promoted by the Orioles from Double-A Bowie to Triple-A Norfolk. This was from an interview in July, right before he played in the All-Star Futures Game representing the Orioles and Bowie Baysox.

Now, 12 days after he turned 20, Basallo will become the youngest player in Triple-A when he takes the field tomorrow with Norfolk at Jacksonville. He has 24 games left to show his stuff at the minor’s highest level.

Basallo’s first two pro seasons, in 2021 and 2022, were in short-season ball. He began last year at Low-A Delmarva and after 83 games there he moved to High-A Aberdeen. After just 27 games with the IronBirds, he ended last season with four games at Bowie.

The Orioles last three-game win streak came over 30 games ago. They won three straight July 14-20, wrapping around the All-Star break with a win to end the first half and two to start the second half.

They have not won three straight over a three-day period since taking four in a row from June 26-29. With two wins in the first three games versus Houston, the Orioles tonight look for their first home series win over the Astros since May 25-27, 2015. And a win would give them another three-game win streak.

The Orioles ended Houston's nine-game road winning streak 7-5 Friday night and won again yesterday 3-2.

Earlier today the Yankees beat Colorado 10-3 to improve to 77-54. They lead the Orioles (76-55) by one game pending the O's result tonight. Aaron Judge hit two homers today for New York, hitting No. 50 and No. 51.

Jackson Holliday's three-run, pinch-hit double in the sixth inning Saturday afternoon provided all the O's runs in their 3-2 win. It was Holliday's first pinch-hit appearance in MLB.