BALTIMORE -- From the moment Shane Baz took the mound at Camden Yards on Tuesday night, it was clear the 27-year-old was braced for a good performance. The Orioles right-hander showcased some of his best stuff this season, making things tough on a good Yankees lineup.
But if you’ve watched many of Baz’s outings in 2026, it’s unsurprising to learn he didn’t get a ton of support.
Although Baz racked up a season-high 10 strikeouts over 6 1/3 quality innings, Baltimore took a 3-1 loss in the series opener vs. New York. The O’s lone run of the contest came on Coby Mayo’s solo home run off left-hander Carlos Rodón in the third.
The Orioles (61-65) have dropped back-to-back games after losing Monday night’s finale vs. the Rays, and they’re no longer sitting in the third American League Wild Card spot. However, they remain right in the thick of a crowded race.
“It’s no secret that we’re in it,” Baz said, “and I think that makes it more fun.”
Baz again kept his team in it for the entire time he was in Tuesday’s game. The only run that scored while the righty was on the hill came in the top of the third, when Trent Grisham parked a two-out solo home run onto the right-field flag court.
By the start of the fifth, Baz had retired 12 of 14 Yankees batters, eight of them by strikeout.
“Baz was outstanding. Just that one mistake, the changeup that came back in to Grisham. Outside of that, he was outstanding,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “It was good to see him back out there pounding the strike zone with really good stuff.”
Baz recorded 16 whiffs, the second most he has had in 25 starts this season behind only the 19 he recorded on July 12 vs. the Royals. His 10 K’s were one shy of his career high and marked the fourth double-digit-strikeout performance of his five-year, 79-game MLB career, with the previous three all coming last year when he was with the Rays.
The most effective offering in Baz’s four-pitch mix was his knuckle curve, which generated a career-high 10 whiffs.
“The locations were really good today. If you go back and watch, all of those are probably like middle-down,” Baz said. “They’re not glove side or arm side, they’re just down. And I think it just makes it really hard to hit that and my fastball when they’re kind of playing off each other in that lane. It was just good tonight. The command of it was really good.”
Baz ended up getting charged with three runs, however, as he exited a 1-1 game in the seventh with runners on first and second and one out. Left-hander Josh Walker could not preserve the tie, as he allowed a two-out, two-run single to Grisham that proved to be the decisive knock in the contest.
The Orioles had opportunities against a Yankees bullpen that combined for five scoreless frames. Their best scoring chance came in the seventh, when they had runners on first and second and no outs. But pinch-hitter Jeremiah Jackson struck out, then Jackson Holliday and Pete Alonso both flied out.
No starting pitcher who has made multiple starts for Baltimore this season has received less run support than Baz. Entering Tuesday, the O’s averaged 3.36 runs scored per nine innings when Baz is in the game -- no other starter currently on the team is below 4.73.
“We had some good swings, nothing to show for it,” Albernaz said. “Tonight wasn’t our night.”
It’ll be important for the Orioles to try to regroup, as plenty more challenges lie ahead this week. They have two more to play against the Yankees, then the AL-best Rays will come to town seeking revenge after losing three of four to the O’s this past weekend at Tropicana Field.
“You’ve got to turn the page, even though it’s that time of year where we’re playing meaningful games and the wins and losses feel different right now,” Albernaz said. “But it’s also been our mantra all year to turn the page quickly and focus on the next day. So it’s nothing new for these guys in this clubhouse. We’ll be ready to go tomorrow and go out there and compete.”