Orioles know seasons aren’t won or lost in 1st month

BALTIMORE—It’s been a month since the Orioles played their first game of 2026. They’re 13-15, the eighth-best record in the American League.

Their record may be disappointing, but it’s not disheartening.

“I think we all wish our record was better, but a lot of positive things are happening with the play,” president of baseball operations Mike Elias said on Friday.

“I think the effort and the character and the resiliency we’re seeing on the field is good. The talent level on the team is impressive to me and has me really being optimistic. The flow of the play, there’s a lot we can do to be more consistent and kind of clean up and get working better as a machine. That’s a process for a lot of teams early it seems like this year, and I’d count us among them. We’re okay, but we wish we were doing better.”

After Elias conducted his first in-season press briefing, the Orioles played a series against the Boston Red Sox, the first three of 52 games against the American League East.

The first month has featured two exciting comebacks, the 9-7 win over Arizona on the night that manager Craig Albernaz’s jaw was broken, and a 6-4 win in Cleveland. Both games featured crucial home runs by second baseman Jeremiah Jackson.

There have been some lows, too. They struck out 16 times twice, and on Saturday lost 17-1, giving up 10 runs in the ninth in an already lopsided game.

“It’s a pretty good start because we’ve had a lot of comebacks,” first baseman Pete Alonso said. “Outside of [Saturday], I feel like we’ve been in every ballgame, up or down. I think we do a good job of playing a complete ballgame. This team doesn’t quit. We don’t give away free innings. I think that’s a hallmark of a good club.”

Alonso seems happy in Baltimore, and he’s shown leadership, calling meetings on the mound and leading the infielders. He’s hitting just .196 with a .637 OPS, three home runs and 10 RBIs, figures far below his career averages.

“Pitching or hitting, that could be better, but I think collectively as a group, we’ve played really good baseball,” Alonso said “We’re still settling in. Our synergy and how we’re working together and figuring out pieces and understanding with all the newness, whether it be staff, players, I think we’re doing a really good job of sticking together, playing together and playing complete ballgames. We’ve got [three] games left in the month. I think we’ve got a great opportunity here into the next couple of weeks.”

The next couple of weeks feature seven games against the New York Yankees, who have the best record in the American League, and three with Tampa Bay, which has the second-best mark.

“It’s been up and down a little bit,” bullpen coach Hank Conger said. “I think for us it’s been really positive. The upside for us is knowing that he have the pieces, that everybody can click and then when it gets going from there, I think we’ll be in a good spot.”

In the first 28 games, the Orioles haven’t been shut out. Nor have they thrown a shutout.

“So many teams are trying to figure out their identity,” starting pitcher Chris Bassitt said. “So many teams are trying to figure out what’s going right, what’s going wrong. It’s always same story every year, first month panic or first month we’re really, really, really good, and all of a sudden the regular season gets into it much deeper, then all of a sudden you find out who you are.”

Two key players, second baseman Jackson Holliday and third baseman Jordan Westburg, haven’t played because of injuries. Their absence has allowed Jackson to play well at second base but prevented the Orioles from showing a diversified offense.

Bassitt, a large presence in the clubhouse, preaches patience to his teammates. He knows what’s important.

“Just getting off on the right front and making adjustments and making changes and not panicking,” Bassitt said. “Keep on trying to be a professional. Keep on trying to do things the right way and build the right way.”

The Orioles haven’t had a winning or losing streak of more than three games. That’s likely to change as the season goes along.

“I don’t ever look into the first month and be like, ‘We’re a great team or a really bad team,’ because it’s irrelevant,” Bassitt said. “I don’t think I ever had a year in the big leagues, where I was like, ‘Dang, the first month told us everything.’ It’s so far from that.”

Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com