Christian Encarnacion-Strand sits against Rangers

The homer came off Aroldis Chapman in the ninth, but the Orioles, unfortunately, were down by three at the time and lost by one. Still, it was another impressive showing from Encarnacion-Strand, who could be playing his way into the Orioles’ 2027 plans. He’s hit .269/.314/.508 with eight homers and 30 RBI in 141 plate appearances. That’s as many RBI as Taylor Ward had in 506 plate appearances before being traded, two more than Jackson Holliday has in 316 plate appearances and seven more than Tyler O’Neill has in 260 plate appearances.

Basallo’s return comes at a fortuitous time for fantasy managers with Baltimore kicking off a three-game series at high-octane Coors Field. He’s back in the lineup after missing Sunday’s game with a hand contusion. The 22-year-old backstop’s presence at DH pushes Christian Encarnacion-Strand to the bench with Blaze Alexander getting the nod at third base. Things are only going to get more crowded with Luis Robert Jr. coming over from the Mets off waivers in the next few days.

This is a bit of a surprise. Robert is hitting well in August, slashing .267/.321/.520 with six home runs, 10 runs scored, and 11 RBI; however, the Orioles have been getting solid production from Dylan Beavers, Colton Cowser, and Leody Taveras in the outfield. Their DH spot has also been filled by Coby Mayo since Christian Encarnacion-Strand has emerged as the regular third baseman. Somebody who is playing well is going to be bumped from the starting lineup now, and you have to wonder if this is a sign that the Orioles plan to pick up Robert’s $20 million team option for 2027.

Mayo got the Orioles back into the game with a three-run homer off Jeffrey Springs that made it 5-4 A’s in the fourth inning. It gives Mayo his 19th homer in his first full season, and he’s driven in 55 runs. The .218 average leaves a lot to be desired, but Mayo’s power is readily apparent.

The homer was Mayo’s 14th off a left-hander, which ties him with Matt Olson for first in the majors. He’s also first with an 1.109 OPS against southpaws (min. 100 PA), with Andrew Vaughn second at 1.041. And the homer today was projected at 446 feet, making him one of just eight players this year to exceed 440 feet four or more times (Junior Caminero and Kyle Schwarber are tops at six times apiece). Unfortunately, Mayo is still at a pretty horrible .199/.227/.272 in 225 plate appearances against righties this year, leaving his future as a regular rather murky. The power spike would be more promising if it wasn’t coming with a 32.5 percent strikeout rate. He finished at 28.6 percent as a rookie last year.

Four at-bats and four line drives from Encarnacion-Strand, with three of them leaving his bat at 103-106 mph. He also homered and knocked in three on Tuesday, and he’s now up to 27 RBI in 26 starts and five pinch-hit appearances for the Orioles. That he’s been in and out of the lineup makes him a tough play in mixed leagues, but his play this series figures to ensure that he stays in the lineup this weekend for a series against the A’s in Sacramento that offers big-time scoring potential.

O’Neill told reporters an MRI revealed a rotator cuff strain in his right shoulder. It’s unclear whether it’s serious enough to require surgery, but it feels like his season is over. He suffered the injury while trying to make a diving catch over the weekend. The power-hitting 31-year-old has hit .212/.300/.377 with 10 homers, 23 RBI and one steal in 260 plate appearances this season. He’s under contract for $16.5 million for 2027.

It’s a bit surprising that O’Neill hasn’t hit the injured list already, but there doesn’t seem to be a ton of urgency from the Orioles to make a decision here. The 31-year-old has been diagnosed with a rotator cuff strain in his right shoulder and appears likely to miss at least a couple weeks.

Thanks to Tyler O’Neill’s absence, Encarnacion-Strand and Coby Mayo have both gotten to start the last three games. Things are about to get crowded, though, with Blaze Alexander returning from the IL this weekend. CES has done solid work in hitting .238/.278/.485, particularly with his 25 RBI in 101 plate appearances. Still, he’s likely looking at a reduced role or maybe even a trip back to the minors soon.

O’Neill hurt his shoulder on a diving catch attempt over the weekend. He’s been held out of the lineup for two consecutive games and will undergo imaging to determine whether he’s dealing with any structural damage. There should be some additional clarity on his status later this week.