Orioles' Trevor Rogers exits with injury in 6-1 loss to Blue Jays

TORONTO — Trevor Rogers was once again delivering an excellent start, making it through five innings without allowing an earned run Friday night against the Blue Jays.

But during that fifth frame, his velocity was noticeably down. Instead of averaging 93 mph, Rogers’ fastball was sitting 90.5 mph, including several below 90 mph. He got through the inning with only one unearned run allowed, but he didn’t go back out for the sixth, exiting early at only 79 pitches. An inning later, the Orioles announced Rogers left with left toe discomfort.

Rogers’ bullpen couldn’t keep the Blue Jays’ bats at bay as Dietrich Enns and Shawn Dubin combined to allow five runs, and Baltimore’s bats couldn’t mount a comeback in a 6-1 loss to the American League East’s first-place ballclub.

The severity of Rogers’ injury is unknown. Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino might provide an update postgame. As a left-hander, Rogers pushes off the rubber with his left foot, a critical part of of the pitching delivery that allows a pitcher to gain momentum down the mound. Rogers, 27, wasn’t as sharp as he’s been most of this season, walking four and getting into jams in the third and fifth innings. But he still didn’t allow an earned run and struck out six to lower his season ERA to a sparkling 1.43 across 16 starts.

The game’s first run was a result of teamwork from the Orioles’ two youngest players. In the third inning, Samuel Basallo, 21, led off and showcased his showstopping power with a 370-foot double to left-center field, lining a low-and-away sinker from Blue Jays starter Chris Bassitt at 100.2 mph off the bat. He then scored on an RBI single from 21-year-old Jackson Holliday, who’s been the Orioles’ best hitter with a 1.096 OPS over the past two weeks.

The Orioles did not record another hit until Dylan Beavers’ single with two outs in the ninth, totaling only three in 29 at-bats against Bassitt and the five relievers who followed him.

Rogers ran into trouble in the third inning when he walked the bases loaded. But he got catcher Alejandro Kirk to ground out on the 29th pitch of the frame to strand all three runners. After a scoreless fourth, Rogers wasn’t as fortunate in the fifth because of an error by center fielder Colton Cowser. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. clobbered a 115.2 mph single to right-center field that Cowser couldn’t glove, allowing the ball to roll to the wall and score Davis Schneider, who reached on a walk. But Rogers once again got Kirk to ground out to end the threat and make the run unearned.

Enns, whose two scoreless innings in extras Tuesday helped deliver the Orioles’ fourth walk-off win in five games, didn’t have the same magic Friday. He gave up an RBI double to Myles Straw in the sixth and an inning later allowed a leadoff single to George Springer, who scored on Ernie Clement’s two-out single off Dubin. Daulton Varsho and Guerrero then provided insurance in the eighth off Dubin with a two-run double and an RBI single, respectively.

The Orioles entered Canada winners of eight of their past nine games, but they’ll have to win the next two contests if they want to play spoiler to a Blue Jays (85-62) team that is three games up on the New York Yankees in the division. Baltimore (69-78) is in last place in the AL East and was officially eliminated Friday from winning the division.

Instant analysis

What Rogers is doing isn’t normal — but not just for the obvious reasons.

It would be one thing if he was similarly dominant each time out and posting a sub-1.50 ERA. But what’s remarkable about Rogers is that in about half of his starts over the past month, he hasn’t looked sharp. A few of them have looked like it would finally be the one in which he starts to show some cracks. Each time, though, he buckles down and delivers yet another quality start.

A year ago, Rogers looked broken both physically and mentally, a pitcher whose confidence was visibly shaken. Now, he’s unflappable.

What they’re saying

The Orioles on Friday activated Tyler O’Neill off the injured list after he missed the past five weeks with a wrist injury, and outfielder Daniel Johnson was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. O’Neill, who signed a three-year, $49.5 million contract over the winter, has played only 44 games this season. Here’s what Mansolino said when asked about the importance of keeping O’Neill healthy:

“Our training staff and our strength staff, they are second to none. They’re incredibly good. Those discussions started before spring training even started. With all of our players, we are incredibly proactive trying to keep guys healthy. We are never in a reactive situation. If a guy gets hurt, he gets hurt and we’re going to rehab it. It’s not things that surprise us. We are constantly doing everything we can before the injury happens to make sure that guys are healthy and on the field. Tyler’s the same way.

“Tyler knows his body well. He’s been through it a lot of years. This has just been an unfortunate year for him. There’s been a lot of bad luck in a lot of ways, with his body and with his health. I do feel strong and I’m confident that Tyler and then our medical group and our strength group going forward in ’26 will get things taken care of and find a way to keep the kid on the field.”

By the numbers

The Orioles aren’t contending for a playoff spot because of their starting pitching. But it’s been months since the Orioles’ rotation was a weakness. Before the Trevor Rogers Game on May 24, the Orioles’ rotation had a 5.84 ERA that ranked 29th of 30 MLB teams. Since Rogers’ season debut in Boston and entering Friday, they’ve ranked 15th with a 4.21 ERA.

It’s been even better recently. Since the All-Star break, the Orioles’ starting corps has a 3.99 ERA that ranks 12th. Since Aug. 1, they’ve recorded a 3.79 mark, which ranks ninth. Since Sept. 1 with Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells back healthy, Baltimore has ranked eighth in rotation ERA at 3.43.

On deck

Tomoyuki Sugano has allowed four or more runs in eight of his 27 starts this season, but he’s done so in each of his past three starts. One of those outings was marred by poor defense behind him, and another was cut short by a grounder that struck his foot. The 35-year-old Sugano (10-8, 4.51 ERA) will pitch opposite 41-year-old Max Scherzer (5-3, 4.36 ERA).

Around the horn

— Orioles infielder Jordan Westburg (ankle) began a minor league rehabilitation assignment Friday with Triple-A Norfolk and went 0-for-3 at the plate. Mansolino said it’s possible that Westburg, who’s been on the IL since mid-August, could return during the Orioles’ series in Chicago next week.

— Mansolino said “everybody’s going to lose a little bit” of playing time with O’Neill’s return. That group could include Jeremiah Jackson, Coby Mayo and Ryan Mountcastle.

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