BALTIMORE -- The 2025 version of Trevor Rogers appears to be back in Baltimore.
After a difficult start to 2026, Rogers has been putting everything back together in mid-June. The 28-year-old left-hander continued his recent run of success on Friday night, when he tossed 6 1/3 stellar innings during the Orioles’ 3-1 win over the Nationals at Camden Yards.
Rogers allowed only one run on five hits -- including Keibert Ruiz’s two-out RBI single in the fifth that accounted for Washington’s lone run -- while recording seven strikeouts without issuing a walk. Ruiz’s knock ended a 15-inning scoreless streak for the southpaw.
Since the beginning of June, Rogers owns a 2.05 ERA in 30 2/3 innings over five outings, with each of the past three being quality starts. He allowed two runs in six innings during a tough-luck loss to the Padres on June 14, then tossed seven scoreless innings in a win over the Dodgers last Saturday in Los Angeles.
The key to Rogers’ resurgence? The heat.
Rogers has dialed up his fastball usage of late, and he continued that trend against the Nats. Last Saturday, he threw 51 four-seamers among his 96 pitches (53.1%, second most this season). On Friday, he delivered 46 four-seamers in 87 pitches (52.9%, third most).
Not only is Rogers throwing a lot of fastballs, but he’s now getting them past hitters at a higher rate. Of the 16 whiffs he generated vs. Washington, 13 came via his four-seam fastball. That tied his second-most four-seam whiffs of his seven-year MLB career -- he had 14 on June 30, 2025, at Texas and also had 13 on April 5, 2021, vs. the Cardinals while pitching for the Marlins.
Rogers, who was the 2025 Most Valuable Oriole Award winner and Baltimore’s ‘26 Opening Day starter, now has a 4.99 ERA through 15 starts. It’s the first time his ERA has been below 5.00 since it sat at 4.75 following his April 25 outing against the Red Sox.
Blaze Alexander’s bases-loaded two-run single with two outs in the bottom of the fourth proved to be enough support for Rogers. The O’s tacked on another run via Coby Mayo’s one-out RBI double in the seventh.