The Baltimore Orioles fired manager Brandon Hyde Saturday after the team’s slow start to the 2025 season after contending for the American League East title last season.

Baltimore lost Friday to the Washington Nationals, 4-3, and fell to 15-28 on the season. 

Entering Saturday’s game against the Nationals, Baltimore was in last place in the AL East.

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"As the head of baseball operations, the poor start to our season is ultimately my responsibility," Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias said in a news release. "Part of that responsibility is pursuing difficult changes in order to set a different course for the future.

"I want to thank Brandon for his hard work, dedication and passion all these years and for returning the team to the playoffs and winning an AL East championship. His many positive contributions to this organization and to Baltimore will remain, and we wish he and his family the best."

Hyde was in his seventh year as manager of the Orioles. He was with the team through the rebuilding years, going 54-108 in 2019 and 52-110 in 2021. The poor seasons allowed the team to acquire Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday and Adley Rutschman.

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The Orioles were 101-61 in 2023 and 91-71 in 2024.

The team lost in the AL Division Series in 2023 and AL Wild Card Series last year.

"Brandon Hyde is someone I have come to know and deeply admire, not only for his extensive knowledge of baseball, but also for his exceptional leadership as a manager," Orioles’ controlling owner David Rubenstein said. "I am sincerely grateful for his significant accomplishments over the past six years, which have greatly benefited both the Orioles and the City of Baltimore.

"However, as is sometimes the case in baseball, change becomes necessary, and we believe this is one of those moments. The Orioles organization is truly appreciative of everything Brandon has contributed during his tenure, and we wish him nothing but success in whatever path he chooses next in the world of baseball."

Baltimore third base coach Tony Mansolino was named interim manager.

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The Minnesota Twins already have had some bad luck being in a dominant AL Central, and their chances of winning the division took a hit on Thursday.

Minnesota entered Thursday at 24-20 and riding a 10-game winning streak – but still in fourth place in the division behind everyone but the Chicago White Sox.

The Twins were on the road in Baltimore to face the struggling Orioles, and they were up 3-0 in the bottom of the third when Cedric Mullins came to the dish.

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The O's outfielder hit a blooper into shallow center, that both Carlos Correa at shortstop and Byron Buxton in center field chased down – both running directly toward each other.

Mullins made the catch, but the two ran right into each other, and both lay on the outfield grass for several minutes. Correa left the game while Buxton stayed in before exiting in the fourth. The team said both were in concussion protocol.

Both All-Stars have had their fair share of injuries. Correa has played 140-plus games in a season just twice in his MLB career, and not since 2021, and he played in just 86 games last season.

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As for Buxton, the Twins have made him a designated hitter numerous times because he's played in over 100 games just once (last year with 102) since 2018.

Buxton had contributed earlier in the game, hitting back-to-back home runs with DaShawn Keirsey Jr.

Thankfully for Minnesota, Chris Paddack was dominant on the bump, tossing 11 scoreless innings to give Minnesota their 11th consecutive victory.

The Twins swept the season series 6-0 after being swept by the Orioles 6-0 last year. This is also Minnesota's fourth-longest winning streak in franchise history. They won 12 straight at a point last year.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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After an awkward collision during the fourth inning of the Baltimore Orioles' 5-4 win over the New York Yankees on Wednesday, tempers flared, and the benches cleared. 

Orioles’ outfielder Heston Kjerstad stole second base, and as he slid, Yankees second baseman Pablo Reyes landed on Kjerstad’s head and neck area after he jumped in an attempt to corral catcher Austin Wells’ errant throw. 

Kjerstad stood up and aired his frustrations towards Reyes. An umpire got in between Reyes and Kjerstad, while Yankees’ starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco came off the mound and hustled toward Kjerstad.

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As Carrasco hustled over to second base, the team's benches and relief pitchers streamed out of their respective dugouts and bullpens and hustled toward the action. No punches were thrown, as only words were exchanged, and the situation was de-escalated quickly. 

"We got tangled up there, emotions from both sides kind of went off," Kjerstad said postgame. "I don't think it was too much."

Reyes said he felt disrespected by Kjerstad’s comments following the play. 

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"A couple words there that I felt like disrespected me in the heat of the moment," Reyes said through a translator postgame. "Later on, he kind of toned down a little bit."

"Maybe at the beginning, he thought I did it on purpose," Reyes said. "But obviously, he couldn’t see the throw or how the play really developed."

The Orioles would go on to win the game, and win the series as they took two of three games from the Yankees. The series win over the Yankees was just their second series win of the season, as the Orioles had scuffled to begin the season. 

The Orioles (12-18) will play the Kansas City Royals (16-15) on Friday at 7:05 p.m. ET following a day off on Thursday. 

The Yankees (18-13) also have a day off on Thursday, and their next game will be against the Tampa Bay Rays (14-16) on Friday at 7:05 p.m. ET.  

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The New York Yankees made home run history in their 15-3 rout of the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night. 

They became the first team in MLB history to open a game with three consecutive home runs to begin a game twice in a season. 

Orioles’ Kyle Gibson was greeted rudely by the Yankees’ top of the lineup in his first start of the season. 

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On the second pitch of the game, center fielder Trent Grisham demolished a hanging cutter into the right field seats to put the Yankees up 1-0. It was Grisham’s eighth home run of the season. 

Aaron Judge was up next and wasted no time as he smoked the first pitch he saw, a high fastball that caught a lot of the plate, over the scoreboard in right field for his ninth home run of the season to give the Yankees a 2-0 lead. 

Then, on Gibson’s fifth pitch of the game, designated hitter Ben Rice went yard to make it 3-0. It was the first of two home runs Rice would hit in the game. 

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The home run barrage did not stop after the first three hitters. Gibson recorded the first out of the inning, and then Cody Bellinger drilled a high fastball to make it 4-0 in the first inning, as they hit four home runs in a span of five batters.

"Grish got it going for us and set the tone for us early on," Judge said postgame. "When he goes up there and ... sends one to Eutaw Street, it's pretty impressive and gets you going."

Gibson’s final line ended being 3 2/3 innings with nine runs on 11 hits.  Every Yankees starter recorded a hit in the win. 

Yankees starting pitcher Carlos Rodon's outing was a lot different from Gibson’s as he carried a perfect game into the sixth inning. His final line was 6.0+ innings and gave up two earned runs on two hits while he struck out seven batters. 

The first time the Yankees hit three home runs to begin the game was against the Milwaukee Brewers on March 29. 

The Yankees (18-12) and Orioles (11-18) are set to play the third game of their three-game series on Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. ET. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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Chito Martinez, the only MLB player to ever hail from Belize, has died, the Baltimore Orioles announced on Tuesday. He was 59.

Martinez played three years in the majors for the Orioles as an outfielder from 1991 to 1993. He played in 158 career games, hitting .259 with 18 home runs, 58 RBI and 22 doubles.

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"We mourn the passing of former Orioles outfielder Chito Martinez, the only native of Belize to play in the majors," the Orioles said in a post on X.

Dalton Martinez, Chito’s son, wrote on X that his father passed away on Easter.

"Sunday night on Easter, my dad was taken away off this earth unexpectedly," he wrote. "We desperately need help in this time. My father was one of the best men. Taught the game of baseball the right way. Taught young men how to be better. His presence in my life can never be replaced. As I pick up the pieces to my life, please consider helping.

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"A kind soul has left us too soon."

The cause of death was not made known.

Chito Martinez was a sixth-round pick in the 1984 Draft by the Kansas City Royals out of Brother Martin High School in New Orleans.

The Royals released him in 1990 and he signed with the Orioles days later. The Orioles released him after the 1993 season and he later joined the Minnesota Twins. But he never made an appearance with the Twins.

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Max Scherzer's Toronto Blue Jays debut ended earlier than many likely expected.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner threw 45 pitches before an apparent thumb injury forced him to exit the game after just three innings. 

The Blue Jays later said Scherzer was dealing with right lat soreness.

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The eight-time MLB All-Star appeared to be frustrated in the Toronto dugout, presumably after he learned he would not take the mound to start the fourth inning.

After the game, Scherzer shared his belief that the right lat problem was related to his ongoing thumb issue. On Wednesday, Jays manager John Schneider told reporters Scherzer was "still going in the right direction."

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Scherzer has dealt with some discomfort in his thumb since spring training. On Saturday, he suggested the lingering issue forced his body to overcompensate.

He hinted that pushing past the third inning in the game against the Baltimore Orioles could have led to more issues.

"After that third inning, I could just kind of tell we were in imminent danger," Scherzer said. "If you pitch through this and you keep pitching as the arm fatigues, this is going to go."

Scherzer also admitted he did not feel completely comfortable when he threw in the bullpen before Saturday's game. 

"Today warming up, I could feel my lat was tight. … Let (Schneider) know kind of before the game, ‘Hey, work with me here. Just know that something could be happening,’" he said.

Scherzer has contended with numerous injuries throughout his career. 

He pitched for the Texas Rangers last season but started the year on the injured list as he recovered from back surgery. His 2024 debut was further delayed by a nerve issue. Scherzer made nine starts last season.

Scherzer gave up three hits and a pair of earned runs before he exited Saturday's game. The Blue Jays lost 9-5. The final game of the four-game series is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at Rogers Centre.

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Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider was caught disagreeing with home plate umpire Will Little during the team’s 8-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles Friday, and it was all caught on a broadcast.

Blue Jays second baseman Andrés Giménez was at the plate with runners on first and third base, no outs and the score tied at 0-0. 

With the count 2-2, Orioles starting pitcher Charlie Morton threw a breaking ball down and in to the lefty hitter. Gimenez tried to check his swing, but Little said he went around and struck out. 

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Giménez then motioned to the bench that he was grazed by the pitch and should be awarded first base. As Giménez began discussing the potential hit by pitch with Little, Schneider emerged from the dugout to join the conversation that Apple TV+ microphones picked up. 

"He’s saying the ball hit him," Little told Scheider. "But we’ve got a swing, so we’ve got a dead ball."

"How the f--- are you gonna call that?" Schneider said in disbelief at Little’s call on the swing. 

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Giménez ended up striking out, and the Blue Jays did not score in the bottom of the inning. Despite the conversation between Schneider and Little, the Blue Jays manager was not ejected. 

Despite the scoreless first inning, the Blue Jays bats came alive, and they roughed up Morton with seven hits and four runs over 3⅓ innings. The Blue Jays' win was their first of the season, and the Orioles' loss was their first.

Five hitters had two hits apiece for the Blue Jays in the win — Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Anthony Santander, George Springer and Will Wagner. 

The teams, both 1-1, play Saturday at 3:07 p.m. ET. Max Scherzer will start for the Blue Jays, while Dean Kremer will take the bump for the Orioles. 

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Tyler O'Neill's name has become synonymous with MLB Opening Day home runs. 

The outfielder hit a three-run homer during his Baltimore Orioles debut on Thursday. O'Neill extended his big league record by homering for a sixth consecutive opening day. O'Neill accomplished the feat in the third inning in his native Canada as the Toronto Blue Jays hosted the Orioles at Rogers Centre.

O'Neill's homer drove in his teammates Colton Cowser and Adley Rutschman. The big hit also gave the Orioles a 4-0 lead over the Blue Jays.

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"When he hit it, I think everyone was just going crazy because that’s just such an amazing feat," Rutschman said. "It was just so cool to see."

O’Neill had three hits and two walks in his five appearances at the plate. The left fielder scored three runs and said it was meaningful to have a strong performance in front of his family and friends.

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"Very special," he said. "I’ve had a great day so far. Playing in Toronto is always special for me."

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde called O’Neill’s Opening Day streak "mind-boggling," adding that he has quickly learned to appreciate everything his new outfielder brings to the clubhouse.

"Awesome personality," Hyde said of O’Neill. "I love how hard-nosed he is. He’s a team guy."

O’Neill’s opening day home run streak began with St. Louis in 2020 and continued for four seasons, matching a mark held by Todd Hundley (1994-97), Gary Carter (1977-80) and Yogi Berra (1955-58).

O’Neill took sole possession of the mark when he connected on his lone Opening Day with the Boston Red Sox in 2024.

O’Neill arrived at the stadium on Thursday carrying two boxes of donuts from the popular Canadian chain Tim Hortons to share with his Baltimore teammates. He did the same thing when visiting Toronto with the Red Sox last season.

Hyde said he would have no problem with O’Neill repeating the donut delivery on Friday.

"Whatever works," Hyde said. "Wear the same clothes. Whatever he did today, do it tomorrow."

The Orioles ultimately opened the 2025 season by cruising to a 12-2 lead over the Blue Jays. Charlie Morton will take the pitching mound for Baltimore on Friday night for Game 2 of the four-game series. Kevin Gausman will start for the Blue Jays.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Rich Dauer, who was a key member of the Houston Astros World Series winning coaching staff, died earlier this week. He was 72.

The Baltimore Orioles announced Dauer's death on Monday. Dauer made his Major League debut with the Orioles in 1976 and spent the next decade as an infielder with the franchise. 

A cause of death was not immediately released. 

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Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer paid tribute to Dauer.

"My long time teammate Richie Dauer passes. Was part of the Oriole way, where you didn’t have to be a star to help the O’s win," Palmer wrote on social media. "Richie had an infectious personality that kept us loose, yet focused. Another reason I was so blessed to be an Oriole for life. RIP."

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Dauer served as the Astros first base coach when Houston defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2017 World Series. He underwent emergency surgery following that season to address a blood clot in his brain. MLB.com reported in 2023 that he had recently had a significant stroke.

"Baseball has brought incredible people into my life. Loved him when he coached me and learned from him when he was on my staff in Houston," former Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "RIP, my friend. And thank you for being you."

Two-time MLB All-Star Alex Bregman took to Instagram on Monday to honor Dauer. "RIP my brother. We love you," Bregman wrote. "You will be missed."

Dauer homered to open the scoring in Game 7 of the 1979 World Series between the Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates. Baltimore ultimately suffered a 4-3 series defeat, but the Orioles returned to the World Series in 1983 and defeated the Philadelphia Phillies.

Dauer was inducted into the Orioles Hall of Fame in 2012. He was also part of the 2021 class for the College Baseball Hall of Fame. He helped Southern California win national titles in 1973 and 1974.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Former MLB pitcher Brian Matusz reportedly died of a drug overdose in Arizona earlier this month.

The former Baltimore Orioles player was found dead in his home by his mother with a white substance in his mouth and drug paraphernalia near him on the floor, the Baltimore Banner reported, citing a Phoenix police report.

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Matusz’s mother, Elizabeth, told authorities that the former athlete was battling drug issues and had made remarks like "there’s nothing left for me" and he "used to have it all."

She told police he had been clean for eight months, according to the Baltimore Banner. Two days before his death, on Jan. 4, Matusz was taken to the emergency room for reasons unclear. He was reportedly discharged that day and was advised to seek a mental health professional. He was taken to a facility but was not admitted.

He died on Jan. 6.

The Orioles announced Matusz’s death last week.

"A staple in our clubhouse from 2009-2016, Brian was beloved throughout Birdland, and his passion for baseball and our community was unmatched. He dedicated his time to connecting with any fan he could, was a cherished teammate, and always had a smile on his face," the team said.

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"Brian’s family and loved ones are in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time."

The Orioles selected the Colorado native in the first round of the 2008 MLB Draft out of the University of San Diego. He made his major league debut in August 2009 against the Detroit Tigers, going five innings with five strikeouts and getting the win.

He became a full-time starter in 2010 and finished fifth in American League Rookie of the Year voting after he recorded 143 strikeouts and a 10-12 record in 32 starts.

He missed two months of the 2011 regular season, and by 2012, he was demoted to the bullpen.

Matusz played well in his bullpen role, lowering his ERA to under 4.00 in the 2013 season. He had an ERA of 2.94 during the 2015 season.

He was traded to the Atlanta Braves in May 2016 but never appeared for them. He signed with the Chicago Cubs and appeared in only one game for them as they snapped the Curse of the Billy Goat and won the World Series.

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Brian Matusz, a former MLB pitcher who played for the Baltimore Orioles for most of his career, has died. He was 37.

The Orioles made the announcement on Tuesday in a post on social media.

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"A staple in our clubhouse from 2009-2016, Brian was beloved throughout Birdland, and his passion for baseball and our community was unmatched. He dedicated his time to connecting with any fan he could, was a cherished teammate, and always had a smile on his face," the team said.

"Brian’s family and loved ones are in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time."

The Orioles selected the Colorado native in the first round of the 2008 MLB Draft out of the University of San Diego. He made his major league debut in August 2009 against the Detroit Tigers, going five innings with five strikeouts and getting the win.

He became a full-time starter in 2010 and finished fifth in American League Rookie of the Year voting after he recorded 143 strikeouts and a 10-12 record in 32 starts.

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He missed two months of the 2011 regular season and by 2012 he was demoted to the bullpen.

Matusz played well in his bullpen role, lowering his ERA to under 4.00 in the 2013 season. He had an ERA of 2.94 during the 2015 season.

He was traded to the Atlanta Braves in May 2016 but never appeared for them. He signed with the Chicago Cubs and appeared in only one game for them as they snapped the Curse of the Billy Goat and won the World Series.

Matusz’s cause of death was unclear.

Former Orioles pitcher Matt Hobgood remembered the pitcher in a post on X.

"Just heard the news about Brian Matusz passing away this morning," he wrote. "This is awful…he was one of the first people to call me after I signed in 09’. Took the time to call, encourage me and wish me well in my career and it always meant a lot that he did that. RIP, my friend."

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