Orioles’ 24-2 Defeat to Reds Puts Focus on Morton, Ailing Rotation

The Baltimore Orioles entered the 2025 season with a mix of high expectations and cautious optimism. Coming off a strong 2024 campaign and boasting one of the more exciting young rosters in baseball, the Orioles hoped to take another step forward this year. But Sunday’s 24-2 drubbing at the hands of the Cincinnati Reds has sent shockwaves through the clubhouse, with fingers now pointing squarely at the team’s biggest concern: the starting rotation.

The blowout defeat — one of the worst in franchise history — wasn’t just a bad day at the office. It was a full-blown crisis moment, exposing flaws that have lingered for weeks but exploded in grand fashion against a Reds team that took advantage of every missed pitch and mistake. While the offensive struggles were noticeable, the pitching — particularly starter Charlie Morton’s performance — proved to be the unraveling thread.

Morton’s Meltdown: A Bad Start, Worse Finish

When the Orioles signed 40-year-old Charlie Morton in the offseason to a one-year deal worth $14 million, the move was seen as a bridge signing — a veteran arm to provide leadership and eat innings while Baltimore continued grooming its next wave of young pitchers. The hope was that Morton’s playoff pedigree and reliability would give the O’s stability.

Instead, the veteran right-hander has stumbled through April. And on Sunday, the struggles reached a boiling point. Morton lasted just 1.1 innings, giving up 9 runs (8 earned) on 7 hits and 3 walks. He struck out one and threw only 41 pitches before being pulled. His ERA ballooned to 9.64 — a jarring number for a pitcher who was once among the most consistent postseason performers in the National League.

Manager Brandon Hyde didn’t mince words after the game.

“We needed length, and we didn’t get it. Charlie’s a pro, but that wasn’t the outing we needed,” Hyde said. “It put our bullpen in a terrible spot.”

Morton, visibly frustrated, took responsibility in his postgame comments.

“It’s on me. I wasn’t locating, and they made me pay for it. I’ve got to be better,” he said. “That’s not the guy I want to be out there.”

Morton’s velocity was down slightly, and his curveball — usually his out pitch — lacked its signature depth. The Reds teed off, with Nick Martini and Christian Encarnacion-Strand each hitting three-run home runs during the onslaught.

The Rotation Woes Go Beyond Morton

While Morton’s meltdown grabbed the headlines, Sunday’s beatdown was merely the latest chapter in a troubling story for Baltimore’s rotation. Entering the game, Orioles starters had posted a combined 5.97 ERA — worst in the American League. Only the Rockies and A’s had worse numbers overall. And even more concerning is the lack of depth.

Injuries have decimated the rotation. Left-hander John Means, who was expected to anchor the staff, remains sidelined with elbow inflammation and has yet to throw off a mound in 2025. Kyle Bradish, one of the breakout stars of last year, is recovering from a lat strain and is not expected back until late May at the earliest. Dean Kremer has shown flashes but lacks consistency, while Grayson Rodriguez has battled command issues in his sophomore season.

Without those key arms, Hyde has had to lean on journeymen, rookies, and inconsistent veterans. The results have been disastrous.

Cole Irvin, acquired in 2023, has failed to regain his Oakland form. Bruce Zimmermann has been inconsistent in spot starts. And top prospect Cade Povich, while highly touted, is still not ready for full-time MLB innings. The Orioles are facing a dangerous reality: they may not have five reliable arms to run out every week.

Hyde’s Bullpen Dilemma

The pitching disaster on Sunday forced Hyde to go to the bullpen early — and often. By the time the game mercifully ended, Baltimore had used seven pitchers. Every single one gave up at least one run. Middle relievers Bryan Baker and Keegan Akin were shelled for a combined 10 runs over 2.2 innings. Even long reliever Jonathan Heasley, who was called up just days earlier, was tagged for five hits and four earned runs.

The ripple effects from such a game are massive. With a three-game set against the Yankees starting Monday, Baltimore’s bullpen is gassed. Hyde acknowledged the challenge.

“We’ve got to find a way to reset. The guys are tired, and we’ve got a tough stretch coming,” he said.

Without fresh arms and no off days on the immediate horizon, the Orioles may be forced to make emergency roster moves just to survive the week. Expect the team to dip into Triple-A Norfolk and bring up fresh bullpen bodies. But the larger issue — the lack of rotation stability — will remain unresolved.

Offensive Collapse Adds to Pressure

While the focus is rightfully on pitching, the Orioles’ offense didn’t do the club any favors. In a hitter-friendly park like Great American Ball Park, scoring just two runs is unacceptable — especially against a Reds pitching staff that entered the game with a collective ERA over 5.00.

Baltimore’s lineup struck out 13 times and managed just six hits. The only bright spot was a solo home run from Gunnar Henderson in the sixth inning, a no-doubter to right-center. The rest of the offense looked lifeless, lacking both patience and power. Adley Rutschman, Cedric Mullins, and Anthony Santander combined to go 1-for-12.

Even in a lost game, there’s an expectation of competitive at-bats. Hyde didn’t hide his disappointment.

“You still want to see fight. You want to see guys grinding out at-bats. We didn’t see enough of that,” he said.

Fans Sound Off: “Embarrassing” and “Unwatchable”

Orioles fans are passionate — and patient — but Sunday’s defeat tested the limits of both. Social media exploded with criticism, not just of Morton, but of the front office’s offseason decisions. Many fans questioned whether the team did enough to address the rotation in free agency.

“You can’t run a playoff-caliber offense out there with a Triple-A pitching staff,” one user posted on X. “This is embarrassing.”

Another fan chimed in, “We finally spend money — on a 40-year-old who looks washed. What did we expect?”

Camden Yards has seen its share of low points over the last decade, but this team was supposed to represent the turning of the tide. One blowout loss doesn’t define a season — but it can become symbolic if it reflects a deeper truth.

What Comes Next: Fixes, Call-Ups, or Trades?

So where do the Orioles go from here?

First, the internal options. Povich may be thrust into action sooner than expected. Another possibility is Chayce McDermott, who has been sharp in Triple-A and boasts a high strikeout rate. The front office might also consider giving veteran Julio Teherán a short leash opportunity, though his velocity has dipped considerably.

Externally, the trade market is thin this early in the season, but that could change quickly. Teams like the White Sox and Marlins could become sellers by late May, and Baltimore has the farm system to acquire a mid-rotation arm. Names like Erick Fedde, Jesús Luzardo, and even Michael Lorenzen could become targets.

Then there’s Morton. If he doesn’t show improvement soon, the Orioles may have no choice but to cut bait — despite the sunk cost. The team can’t afford to carry a starter who gives them little chance to win.

Leadership Void or Growing Pains?

The Orioles are still among the youngest teams in MLB, with several core players under 25. With that youth comes growing pains. But Sunday’s game highlighted another issue — the absence of a vocal clubhouse leader on the pitching staff.

Means, when healthy, filled that role. So did veteran Kyle Gibson last year. Morton was expected to carry that torch in 2025. But if his struggles continue, the Orioles may be not only lacking production — but also leadership.

Rutschman, as the team’s catcher and emotional anchor, has tried to shoulder that burden, but it’s a heavy lift for a position already responsible for so much on the field.

“We’re still figuring out who we are,” Rutschman said after the game. “That game doesn’t represent us. But we’ve got to prove that with how we respond.”

The Silver Lining: It’s Still April

As catastrophic as the 24-2 defeat felt, it’s worth remembering that the season is still young. The Orioles are 9-11, sitting just below .500 with 142 games to go. The offense remains potent, and reinforcements — especially Bradish and Means — are expected to return.

This is not a team in free fall. It’s a team navigating turbulence. The good news? They’re not alone. The AL East has been underwhelming so far, with even the Yankees and Rays dealing with their own issues.

But the next stretch will be critical. The Orioles play 14 straight games against division opponents. If they don’t stabilize their rotation — and quickly — they risk digging a hole too deep to escape.

A Wake-Up Call

Every season has its gut-check moment. For the 2025 Orioles, it may have arrived in Cincinnati on a warm April afternoon that turned into a nightmare. The scoreboard read 24-2, but the message was more severe: something has to change.

The pitching must improve. The veterans must lead. And the front office may need to act sooner than later.

Because if Sunday’s disaster becomes a pattern instead of an outlier, the promise of the Orioles’ season will fade faster than anyone expected — and the excitement that once filled Camden Yards could give way to frustration all too familiar.