'I'll never quit': Rogers to meet with coaches after recent 2-out struggles

ST. PETERSBURG -- Trevor Rogers was clearly trying to hold back some emotion as he spoke in the visiting clubhouse following the Orioles’ 16-6 loss Monday to the Rays at Tropicana Field.

He did not hold back on what he thought about his latest frustrating start.

“Excuse my French, but [the Rays] beat my ass tonight,” he said. “I let down everyone in this room. I’m just not doing my job right now, and this loss is on me.”

Rogers allowed eight runs [seven earned] on eight hits and two walks over 3 2/3 innings versus Tampa Bay. It was his third consecutive start that didn’t go more than four innings. The winner of the 2025 Most Valuable Oriole Award now has a season ERA of 6.87 over 38 innings in 2026.

What has gone so wrong? Even he isn’t sure, and that’s what makes the past five starts that much more vexing for the right-hander.

“I wish I had an answer for you,” Rogers said when asked about his recent struggles. “I don’t know. I just try to keep making pitches. It’s just not going my way.

“Try to put up as many zeroes and go as deep into games as I can, just to give the bullpen a break. I didn’t do that very well today, and it really pisses me off.”

Including Monday’s outing, Rogers has given up 25 earned runs over his past five starts, spanning just 19 innings. Yet, manager Craig Albernaz said after the game that he believes Rogers is close to being the pitcher who turned in a skinny 1.81 ERA over 18 starts last year.

But does Rogers believe he is close to being that guy? He was asked that question directly postgame. He then stood silently at his locker for nearly 10 seconds before remarking, “I’ll try to be as professional as I can.”

“Deep down, I think so. The past four or five starts, it’s just been one inning where it’s gone off the rails with two outs. Just nothing has gone my way. I feel like I’m really close. I still have the belief in myself. I know how good I can be. I’m just doing the complete opposite right now.”

Rogers’ one bad inning on Monday was the second. The Rays picked up five runs on six hits in the frame. Four of those hits came with two outs, including RBIs singles by Yandy Díaz and Junior Caminero, and a humpback liner up the middle by Jonny DeLuca that deflected off of the glove of an outstretched Jeremiah Jackson and resulted in a two-run double.

The Rays were 5-for-8 against Rogers with two outs. With two strikes, they were 4-for-10. And this has been a major theme of his past five turns. Since April 14, Rogers has faced 38 batters with two outs and has given up 16 hits. In that span, opponents are slashing .500/.579/.750 with two outs.

With two strikes, it’s not much better. Opposing hitters have a .362 average and a 1.003 OPS against Rogers in those counts through his past five starts. Last year, his opponents’ OPS with two outs was .405. With two strikes, it was .350.

“I’ve got to do a better job for this team, because I’m not doing that right now,” he said. “It’s very, very frustrating. I’ve just got to keep showing up for the guys, and hopefully this turns around, because we’ve got a lot of baseball ahead of us.”

Rogers will meet with pitching coach Drew French and pitching strategy coach Ryan Klimek on Tuesday to figure out how to get this all straightened out. When asked if he believes he’s tipping pitches, Rogers left open the possibility of that being the case.

But any explanation would help the 28-year-old right now -- anything that points to how his season has been turned upside down after three decent starts to open the year. Right now, he’s still searching.

“I’ll never quit,” Rogers said. “The day I quit is the day I stop playing this game. I’m going to keep working for the boys. Just keep working -- I’ve said that multiple times, and that’s all I can do at this point.”