The Orioles were crushed 11-1 by the Marlins on July 13, 2025, as former Oriole Kyle Stowers hit 3 HRs. Can the O's fix their pitching woes after the break?
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
The All-Star break is supposed to be a time for rest and reset, but for the Baltimore Orioles, it feels more like a desperate, much-needed escape. A lopsided 11-1 thrashing at the hands of the Miami Marlins on Sunday night capped a sour end to the first half, sending the team stumbling into the midsummer pause on a two-game losing streak and searching for answers.
Kyle Stowers, a name once part of the Orioles' future, haunted their present with three home runs and six RBIs in a single game against his former club.
Any hope for a positive finish to the first half was extinguished early and often. Starting pitcher Brandon Young had a disastrous outing, surrendering a career-high seven runs and four home runs in just 4 1/3 innings. On the other side, Marlins ace Eury Pérez was masterful, carving up the Orioles' lineup for seven shutout innings while allowing just three hits. To add insult to injury, the offensive onslaught was led by former Oriole Kyle Stowers, who tormented his old team with three homers. The O's lone run felt like an afterthought, coming in the eighth inning of a game long out of reach after an hour-plus rain delay only prolonged the agony.
The struggles on the mound Sunday were a reflection of a larger, persistent issue: pitching depth. Just before the game, the team announced another series of roster moves, placing RHP Scott Blewett on the 15-day IL with elbow discomfort and designating RHP Corbin Martin for assignment. Catcher David Bañuelos and LHP Grant Wolfram were called up from Norfolk to fill the gaps. This constant shuffling underscores the challenge the Orioles face in finding healthy, effective arms, a problem that has plagued them all season and contributed to their slide in the standings.
Reinforcements aren't coming any time soon. The latest updates on the injury front confirmed that two key players remain sidelined indefinitely. Infielder Jorge Mateo, who was working his way back from a hamstring strain, suffered a setback in a rehab game and is now not expected to return until September. Meanwhile, there is still no updated timeline for the return of starting pitcher Zach Eflin. With a 43-52 record and sitting in fifth place in the AL East, the absence of these key contributors makes the path forward even more difficult.
The All-Star break couldn't have arrived at a better moment for the battered and bruised Orioles. At 43-52 and fading in the AL East, the second half will be a test of resilience. The front office must navigate a thin pitching staff, the training staff needs to get key players like Mateo and Eflin back on the field, and the team needs to find a spark. The break offers a brief respite, but the challenges facing this club will be waiting for them on the other side.
