Orioles Get Set for Nine-Game Homestand Amid Early-Season Struggles
The Baltimore Orioles are getting set for a critical nine-game homestand, which gets underway Friday night against the Toronto Blue Jays, following a rough start to the 2025 season. The team is coming off a less-than-ideal 2-4 road trip that included series losses to the Kansas City Royals and Arizona Diamondbacks, capped off by a demoralizing shutout loss on Wednesday afternoon. As part of their early-season struggles, offensive inconsistencies have plagued the Orioles, who are winless when scoring fewer than five runs so far this season. On top of that, their pitching staff has struggled to contain opposing lineups, with the starting rotation posting a combined 5.37 ERA, one of the league’s worst through 13 games, with Dean Kremer and Charlie Morton each carrying an ERA over eight. Despite these setbacks, manager Brandon Hyde and his players remain optimistic, emphasizing that it’s a long season and expressing confidence in the team’s potential.
The upcoming homestand serves as an opportunity for Baltimore to regain momentum in front of its home crowd against the Blue Jays, Guardians, and Reds. With a 5-8 record and no series wins thus far, the Orioles need to find consistency on both sides of the ball. The offense, led by stars such as Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman, must begin capitalizing on scoring opportunities after struggling against strong pitching during their most recent road trip. At the same time, the pitching staff must step up, especially with injuries continuing to mount. Zach Eflin, one of Baltimore’s most reliable starters, was recently placed on the 15-day IL due to a low-grade right lat strain after leaving his last start in Arizona early with shoulder fatigue, further depleting the Orioles’ rotation.
The Orioles’ ability to turn their season around may hinge on this homestand. Facing divisional rival Toronto right off the bat adds urgency to their goal of improving performance. The Blue Jays enter the weekend having started the season strong, leading the AL East and riding a three-game win streak. With a tough schedule ahead and key players either on the IL or underperforming, the Orioles must use these nine games to establish confidence and rhythm. A successful homestand could set the tone for a rebound in what has been an uncharacteristically slow start for a team aiming for its third straight postseason appearance.
