BALTIMORE -- Eighteen innings of baseball were played Wednesday at Camden Yards, where the Orioles’ tough start to the 2025 season continued.
Baltimore couldn’t cool off red-hot Minnesota, which extended its winning streak to 10 by sweeping a doubleheader. The O’s took a 6-3 loss in the opener, then they were handed an 8-6 defeat later in the day.
The Orioles (15-26) fell to a season-worst 11 games below .500, their worst mark since June 10, 2022, when they were 24-35. They haven’t been 12 games below .500 since the end of the ‘21 season, which they finished at 52-110.
“We’ve got to put today behind us,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “That was a long day, and a really disappointing day. Got to flush it and come back tomorrow.”
Most Baltimore players will try to forget the day, but likely not Chayce McDermott. The O’s No. 4 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, was brought up from Triple-A Norfolk to serve as the 27th man for the doubleheader and make his second big league start in the twin-bill finale.
For McDermott, the game served as a learning experience. The 26-year-old right-hander’s only previous MLB experience came last July 24 -- a four-inning spot start in Miami -- and he had never before stepped onto the mound at Camden Yards.
“I’m nervous before every start, doesn’t matter where it’s at,” said McDermott, who allowed four earned runs on four hits and three walks in three innings. “Once I got into the first inning, though, I settled down.”
McDermott’s nerves were apparent during his 28-pitch opening frame that had ups and downs. He issued two walks and gave up two hits (including a two-out RBI infield single to Harrison Bader), but he struck out three, including Kody Clemens to strand the bases loaded.
In the second, McDermott yielded a two-run homer to Trevor Larnach. And in the third, he gave up a two-out RBI single to Clemens, who then ran into an out on the basepaths to end McDermott’s 65-pitch outing.
It was planned to be a shorter start for McDermott, who opened the season on the injured list with a right lat strain that first sidelined him in Spring Training in mid-February. He didn’t pitch more than four innings or throw more than 65 pitches in any of his first three Minor League starts this year.
However, McDermott could have pitched deeper against Minnesota had he been more efficient, as he delivered nearly as many balls (31) as strikes (34). That was his biggest lesson learned.
“Command is the big thing. Execute pitches. It’s as simple as that. Just didn’t do that,” McDermott said. “Pitching is executing.”
Still, McDermott recorded five strikeouts and showed the stuff that makes him the top pitching prospect in the Orioles’ farm system. He generated seven whiffs, including five via his four-seam fastball, which averaged 93.1 mph and maxed out at 95.3.
If McDermott can better locate his pitches, his future in Baltimore could be bright.
“I thought command was the problem,” Hyde said. “He's got to be able to throw more strikes than that up here, and be able to work ahead.”
Although McDermott was returned to Triple-A Norfolk following the doubleheader, he should return to the big leagues sometime this year. Baltimore has a 5.66 rotation ERA (28th in MLB) as the performance of its starters has been chief among the issues it has endured thus far.
If the O’s continue to slide, it could be wise to give longer looks to younger hurlers (such as McDermott) and allow them to gain big league experience.
The Orioles haven’t reached that point yet, though, despite their disappointing record. They remain focused on digging out of their early-season hole and getting to the postseason for a third consecutive year, even if the mathematical odds of them doing so continue to drop.
“We’re grinding out there, trying to scrape out wins,” said center fielder Cedric Mullins, who hit a grand slam during a six-run third inning in Game 2. “I’m not one to give up. And I’m going to continue to bring that energy and that confidence and the desire to win every single day to the team, and going to continue to go out there and put our best foot forward. ...
“You know you’re coming from a deficit, but it’s a long process and it’s going to take one day at a time, every guy being diligent with their work and their confidence in themselves -- go out there and be their best. So, got a long way, got a hard road ahead, but continue to push.”