BALTIMORE—The Trevor Rogers that Oriole fans have seen in 2026 bears little resemblance to the pitcher who had a 1.81 ERA in 18 starts and was voted Most Valuable Oriole last year.
Rogers came off the injured list after a difficult case of the flu and gave up a home run to Paul Goldschmidt on the first pitch, and things got worse after that.
After three rough starts before his time on the IL, Rogers gave up five more runs in the third. Trent Grisham’s three-run home run was the key hit, and Rogers was removed after four innings.
“He had the layoff,” manager Craig Albernaz said of Rogers. “Tough to navigate that third inning, I believe … Twenty-seven pitches. Three walks. I mean, wasn’t as sharp as he usually is, but it was good to see him back out there.”
The Orioles’ 6-2 loss to the New York Yankees before 20,344 at Camden Yards followed a busy pregame time. In the hour before Wednesday night’s game, the Orioles made a dizzying series of announcements.
Left-handed reliever Grant Wolfram, who’d been extremely effective, went on the injured list with a lower back strain. Outfielder Dylan Beavers, who was scratched from the starting lineup with a strained right oblique, could join Wolfram on the injured list.
If Beavers is added to the IL, the Orioles would have 13 players unavailable.
Then the Orioles announced that Wednesday’s game, originally scheduled for 6:35 p.m., had been moved up to 1:05 p.m. because of an unfavorable weather forecast.
Just before gametime, the Orioles saluted head groundskeeper Nicole Sherry, who’s leaving the organization after 24 years. Sherry threw out the first pitch and ran through a gauntlet of her grounds crew team, who cheered heartily.
In the third inning, Austin Wells singled, and with one out, Rogers walked Aaron Judge and Ben Rice. Cody Bellinger hit into a force play, scoring Wells. Amed Rosario hit a slow roller down the line to third baseman Coby Mayo, whose quick throw to first pulled first baseman Pete Alonso off the bag, allowing Judge to score. Grisham followed with a homer, and it was 6-0.
Albernaz and Rogers were hoping Bellinger would hit into a double play, but it didn’t happen. Shortstop Gunnar Henderson fielded the hard-hit ball behind the base but had to run to the bag for the force and make a leaping throw to first that was late.
“It’s a tough play with Gunnar up the middle,” Albernaz said. “Line drive, one-hop, Gunnar did everything he could to try to turn the double play. And then the one with Rosario down the line, really tough play by Coby, and he made it close. Thought he might have had him. I was kind of hoping for the replay to come through. But, yeah, other than that, it’s tough. They found the ability to make contact and put the ball in play and got some baserunners.”
Rogers said he didn’t get down after the Orioles failed to convert the double play.
“I think in years past it would have, but I did my job,” Rogers said. “I got a ground ball when I needed to. Gunn made a really great play and Bellinger just beat it out.
“So I’m just gonna continue to do what I’m doing and not really try to chase down any rabbit holes. I think that’s where I got in trouble in years past. Just continue to execute my process. Again, I like where I’m at and I’m gonna keep competing and just try to help these guys win.”
Rogers (2-4) allowed six runs on six hits, walking three and striking out three.
The Orioles (19-24) have lost nine of their last 13 and couldn’t capitalize on a great opportunity in the third. After they loaded the bases, thanks to a walk to Mayo and two sloppy infield plays by the Yankees, Taylor Ward flied to Judge in shallow right, causing third base coach Buck Britton to hold Mayo at third. Adley Rutschman then grounded into an inning-ending double play.
“Ward hit the fly ball. Short-ish,” Albernaz said. “Then the ground ball double play. Yeah, it was tough. Adley put a good swing on it, though. But Warren did a good job making pitches.”
The Orioles finally broke through in the sixth when Ward doubled, breaking an 0-for-19 skid. He scored on Samuel Basallo’s RBI single and Tyler O’Neill’s double against Will Warren (4-2).
The Orioles were 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position.
New York (27-16) ended a four-game losing streak.
What does Rogers think has gone wrong? “I think probably the only thing is I’m not quote, unquote, surprising people anymore,” Rogers said. “Like, they know my pitches, they know what I’m gonna throw. Obviously, they’re not gonna know in what order I’m gonna throw them. At the end of the day, I love where my stuff’s at. I love where my stuff was at today.”
Rogers knows there’s pressure on the team and the rotation.
“I think it’s there,” he said. “That’s when you get into the point of, like, ‘I have to go and perform. I have to do this, I have to do that.’ I’ll still put this rotation up against anyone in the league. It’s just things just aren’t going our way. Like Bassitt, unbelievable start, so I think things are starting to turn over. Keep doing what we can control, keep doing what we need to do. I have no doubt that this is going to turn around, for me especially, so I’m not worried at all.”
What does it mean? The injuries keep mounting for the Orioles and show no signs of abating.
“Baseball’s going to beat you up sometimes, and hate to hear that for Beavers,” Rogers said. “He was really starting to play well and get his footing, and hopefully it’s nothing serious.
“But then again, it’s kind of that next-man-up mentality and just continue to grind and put games together and just try to figure out a way to win. I have no doubt in my mind that we’ll get there.”
What’s the word? “Just got to keep controlling what I can control. Not really caring what the scoreboard says. Obviously, want to minimize damage as best I can, but it just comes down to executing pitches better and just continue to keep doing what I’m doing and it’ll turn around. We’ve got a lot of baseball ahead of me.”– Rogers on his struggles.
What’s the stat of the day? 41. Left-handed pitcher Josh Walker pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Rogers, allowing one hit, striking out three and walking one. Walker is the 41st player used by the Orioles this season. Last season, they used a team record 70.
What’s going on in the minor leagues? Third baseman Jackson Holliday was hitless in four at-bats while Heston Kjerstad had two hits and an RBI in Norfolk’s 9-6 win over Charlotte.
Reed Trimble hit a three-run home run. José Barrero hit a two-run homer.
Griff O’Ferrell had three hits in Double-A Chesapeake’s 6-3 loss to Akron.
Victor Figueroa hit a grand slam and tripled, driving in six runs in High-A Frederick’s 9-3 win over Hudson Valley.
Stiven Martinez homered twice and drove in four runs in Single-A Delmarva’s 6-2 win over Fayetteville.
Caden Hunter pitched 4 2/3 hitless innings, striking out 10.
Right-handed pitcher Lou Trivino passed through waivers and opted for free agency instead of accepting an assignment to Norfolk.
What’s next? Kyle Bradish (1-5, 4.83) will start for the Orioles against Max Fried (4-2, 2.91) on Wednesday. Game time has been changed from 6:35 p.m. to 1:05 p.m.
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