Orioles lose 5-2 to the Rangers on June 23, 2025, as Trevor Rogers' strong start is wasted and Ryan Mountcastle hits the 60-day IL. Get the full injury update.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a night of tough breaks for the Baltimore Orioles, both on the field and on the transaction wire. A strong start from Trevor Rogers went to waste in a 5-2 loss to the Texas Rangers, but the final score was almost secondary to the bigger story: a cascade of injuries that saw a key power bat moved to the 60-day IL and a catcher sidelined by a jarring home plate collision.
He got hit pretty hard. We haven't seen a collision like that at the plate probably since all the new rules came in.
The game itself felt like a microcosm of the team's current struggles. Starter Trevor Rogers was sharp, dealing for six innings while racking up seven strikeouts and allowing just two earned runs. The offense, however, couldn't find its rhythm. Jackson Holliday provided a spark from the leadoff spot, going 2-for-4 with a double, and Gunnar Henderson managed to drive in a run with a sacrifice fly. But the big hit never came. The game unraveled in the eighth when reliever Yennier Cano surrendered a tie-breaking two-run homer to Adolis García, sealing the Orioles' fate in the series opener.
The most significant news of the day came before the first pitch. First baseman Ryan Mountcastle was transferred from the 10-day to the 60-day injured list with his lingering right hamstring strain. The move, which rules him out for several more weeks, is a massive blow to a lineup desperate for right-handed power. With Mountcastle not yet resuming baseball activities, his absence will be felt deeply as the team tries to generate offense.
In a dramatic and concerning development, catcher Maverick Handley was placed on the 7-day concussion IL following a violent collision at the plate in Sunday's game. 'He got hit pretty hard,' said interim manager Tony Mansolino, highlighting the rarity of such an impact in modern baseball. To fill the void, the Orioles called up veteran backstop Chadwick Tromp from Triple-A Norfolk, who will now share catching duties.
The infield is also being held together with grit and determination. With Jordan Westburg still sidelined by a sprained index finger, Ramon Urias made his fourth consecutive start at third base. Hitting second in the lineup, Urias is providing much-needed stability at the hot corner as the Orioles navigate yet another injury to a key player.
With a 33-45 record and a roster depleted by injuries, the Orioles are facing a significant test of their depth and resilience. The pitching, led by starters like Rogers, is holding its own, but it can't carry the load alone. As the series against the Rangers continues, the bats will need to wake up and provide some support. It's a tough stretch for the Birds, but navigating this kind of adversity is what defines a season.
