Other than Terps star Derik Queen firing his ceremonial first pitch over Ryan O’Hearn’s head, Opening Day at Camden Yards could not have gotten off to a better start. (Queen’s fellow Sweet 16 Terps—Julian Reese from the men’s team, as well as Allie Kubek and Shyanne Seller from the women’s squad—all hit their targets.)
With the sun shining and short-sleeve temperatures reaching the low 80s, the O’s jumped to a 4-0 first inning lead on the visiting Boston Red Sox behind four straight hits from Jordan Westburg, Adley Rutschman, Tyler O’Neill, and Ryan Mountcastle—followed by a clutch, two-out RBI double from Cedric Mullins.
Those four, first-inning runs would be all the O’s scored until they added five insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning behind singles from O’Neill, Mountcastle, and Heston Kjerstad. Then there was another big, two-run shot from Mullins—a liner that glanced off the mound before bouncing into center field. Jackson Holliday later plated a final O’s run with an opposite-field single.
Orioles closer Felix Bautista, returning from surgery after missing all of 2024, pitched the final inning and allowed two runs before preserving an 8-5 victory. With the win, the O’s moved to 3-2 after five games. Entering the game, Boston’s bullpen had not yet allowed a run this season.
“It was awesome, I was really taking it in,” Mullins said afterward, describing the home opener win before a packed house. “Great team effort.”
Starting pitcher Cade Povich had a bit of an up-and-down 2025 debut. He allowed three runs over the first three innings, ultimately going 4.1 innings while throwing 94 pitches and striking out eight. The 24-year-old southpaw posted just a 3-9 record for the O’s last season in 16 starts, but he pitched better toward the end of 2024 and won the last spot in the rotation with a solid performance in Sarasota—after projected top starter Grayson Rodriquez was placed on the injured reserve with spring training elbow inflammation.
The O’s attack is still missing potential MVP candidate Gunnar Henderson, who has begun the season in Norfolk after suffering an intercostal rib cage injury in spring training. But manager Brandon Hyde said before Monday’s game that he is expected to be back in Baltimore and in the O’s lineup this Thursday.
Also currently benched is outfielder Colton Cowser, who will miss the next six to eight weeks due to a fractured thumb, which he broke while diving into first base in Toronto. He joins young stars Rodriguez and Henderson—plus pitcher Alberto Suarez, out with early-season shoulder inflammation—in an unlucky start for the Birds in terms of injuries.
However, the Orioles’ offense, which slammed the most homers in baseball last year after the Yankees, is still scoring runs in bunches without Henderson, their young All-Star shortstop. In their four-game split against the Blue Jays in Toronto, they hit 10 balls out of the Rogers Centre and put up 24 runs.
After a strong road Opening Day start from veteran righty Zach Elfin, who went six innings and allowed just two earned runs, the O’s starting rotation has been inconsistent through the first week of the season. Veteran Charlie Morton, 41 this season, lasted just 3.1 innings in Game 2 versus the Blue Jays. Dean Kremer earned the win in Game 3 in Toronto, but allowed five runs over 5.1 innings. Japanese newcomer Tomoyuki Sugano, 35 this season, did not pitch badly in his first Major League start, allowing two runs over four innings. However, he had to depart early with hand cramps.
So far, the O’s are playing to expected form—scoring plenty of runs while trying to get quality innings from their piecemeal rotation—in order stand out in what should be a very competitive AL East.
Overall, the O’s pounded out 15 hits in Monday’s win. O’Neill went for four for four and Mountcastle, Mullins, Holliday, and Ramón Urías each had two hits apiece. Matt Bowman, Serathony Dominguez—who picked up the win—Keegan Akin, and Yennier Cano combined for 3.2 scoreless innings of middle relief.
At the moment, the bats are carrying the load with O’Neill hitting .571, Westburg hitting .413, Mullins at .350, and O’Hearn and Urias, both at .400.
The O’s take on Boston next on Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. and then close the series at Camden Yards on Thursday with a daytime 1:05 p.m. start.