Orioles lose 6-3 to the Guardians on July 23, 2025, extending their slump. Brandon Young falls to 0-5, but hope looms with Kyle Bradish's return.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Another night, another frustrating result. The Orioles' post-All-Star break struggles deepened with a 6-3 loss to the Cleveland Guardians, marking their fourth defeat in the last five games. Despite a solo shot from Ramón Laureano, the bats couldn't string together enough timely hits, leaving the team and its fans searching for a spark to break out of this mid-season funk.
The Orioles have now dropped four of their five games since the All-Star break, falling to 44-56 on the season.
The game script felt painfully familiar. Starter Brandon Young, still searching for his first win of the season, fell to 0-5 after being tagged for a first-inning homer by José Ramírez. He battled through 5.1 innings but ultimately allowed five earned runs. The offense showed signs of life, with Ramón Urías breaking up a no-hit bid in the fifth and collecting seven hits as a team, but couldn't deliver the knockout blow. Leaving eight runners stranded on base tells the story of a team just out of sync, a problem highlighted when a seventh-inning sacrifice bunt by Cleveland extended their lead and put the game out of reach.
While the big league club struggles for wins, the most encouraging news for Birdland is brewing down on the farm. The cavalry is getting closer. The Orioles' pitching depth, hit hard by injuries, is showing significant signs of life. Right-hander Kyle Bradish, recovering from Tommy John surgery, is slated for his first rehab start with High-A Aberdeen on July 24. He's not alone; lefty Cade Povich is expected to make another Triple-A start this week after a successful outing on July 19, and Tyler Wells has progressed to facing live hitters. This isn't just good news; it's a potential season-altering development if these key arms can return to form.
The immediate task is to stop the bleeding. The O's will send Zach Eflin (6-5, 5.95 ERA) to the mound to face Cleveland's Slade Cecconi in a bid to salvage the series and snap this losing streak. While the present feels challenging, the promising rehab reports for Bradish and Povich provide a critical glimmer of hope. A win tomorrow could be the first step in bridging the gap between the team's current struggles and its much brighter, healthier future.
