BALTIMORE – For over two years, the Baltimore Orioles trajectory seemed only to improve as they brought a stream of young talent to Camden Yards while also addressing their weaknesses, achieving one of the best record in the major leagues.

However, this group now finds itself confronting its first significant challenges, and time is running out for them to adapt.

“Baseball doesn’t reward you for trying too hard at times,” notes Mike Elias, the Orioles’ executive vice president and general manager, who rebuilt the team from scratch and established a successful foundation, leading to a remarkable 101-win season last year.

“The game can be unforgiving when you push too hard.”

As the Orioles started their final homestand of the season on Tuesday, Elias took the unusual step of addressing the media, focusing not on the team’s injury woes but rather on their overall struggles. Though Baltimore holds an 84-67 record and is nearly assured of a playoff berth for the second straight year, it seems more likely to end up as the No. 1 wild card spot rather than defending their title in the American League East.

Despite being in playoff contention, the atmosphere at Camden Yards has been disheartening. The team, once celebrated for its youthful energy, is now struggling as they face a prolonged slump for the third month in a row, with only 11 games left in the season, making it unlikely they can overcome a four-game gap behind the New York Yankees.

Moreover, there’s limited opportunity to reintegrate sidelined players into the lineup and to get their struggling All-Stars performing well again.

This shift in fortune is quite astonishing:

On July 7, the Orioles stood at 57-33, leading the major leagues in slugging percentage (.480) and weighted runs created plus (120), boasting a three-game advantage in the AL East.

Since that date, they have recorded a disappointing 27-34, ranking 20^th in MLB slugging (.399) and 15^th in WRC+, which reflects a near-average offensive performance (104). They are now closer to losing wild-card home-field advantage than catching the Yankees for first place.

However, baseball is unpredictable, and on Tuesday, the Orioles’ organization, from management to players, sought to change their fortunes.

The whole team altered their walk-up music, with All-Star Gunnar Henderson making a notable switch from Gwen Stefani’s “Sweet Escape” to 50 Cent’s “Magic Stick.” This was especially significant considering the upbeat nature of his usual choice, coinciding with the visit of the struggling San Francisco Giants.

“We decided to mix things up a bit to lift everyone’s spirits,” says Henderson, who boasts 37 home runs and a .904 OPS, ranking fifth and seventh in the AL, respectively. “It may not be my long-term choice, but it’s for the team. We’re aiming to change the mood in any way we can to win.”

It was a moment for both reflection and optimism.

“It’s been challenging for all of us. This is the first time this group has had to cope with such struggles since we became a winning team,” states Elias, now in his sixth season with the team. “This grouping has a proven history of success – among players and staff. Yet, within a few months, it feels like things have slipped away.”

“We’re committed to overcoming this, and I believe it will start tonight.”

Unfortunately, despite all the intelligence from Yale-educated Elias and the determination from Gunnar and the team, it’s never a smart move to claim a fresh start when a former Cy Young Award winner is pitching against you. Blake Snell dominated the Orioles, striking out 12 batters over six innings while allowing just one hit. The 10-0 defeat marked the ninth time in 11 games that Baltimore was held to three runs or fewer.

The lack of offensive production has numerous contributors, and certainly several players believing that this slump will eventually end.

‘Hanging in there has been tough’

The reality is that their almost three-month slump might not matter if the team can find its rhythm during the short sample of the playoffs.

The playoffs, where the Orioles – who last won their division in 2014 – saw firsthand how unpredictable results can be. They experienced a quick elimination last year, swept by a Texas Rangers wild card team that consistently won on the road and went on to claim their first World Series title.

Baseball players are inherently attuned to the fact that fortunes can shift swiftly. But this ongoing slump is pushing that belief to the limit.

“That has been a challenge at every turn,” says center fielder Cedric Mullins, who has seen a resurgence in the second half as many teammates struggle. “We’re all going through new experiences we haven’t faced before.

In the last year or so, we’ve seen varying levels of success and reliability in baseball, which is something we have to accept as part of the game.

“Looking back at teams that have clinched the World Series, like the Texas Rangers last year, it’s clear they weren’t favorites to win. Yet, they found their winning rhythm when it mattered most,” he noted.

As the upcoming spring training in February approaches, it remains uncertain whether some Orioles players will regain their form.

Adley Rutschman, an All-Star catcher, has recently faced a tough time. He was hitting .300 (95 hits in 317 at-bats) with 15 home runs and an .830 OPS up until June 27, the same night he hit a home run but got hit by a pitch on his hand.

Since then, his performance has dropped, with a batting average of .182 (39 hits in 214 at-bats), only hitting four home runs and recording a .568 OPS.

Rutschman was a critical player for the Orioles, making a splash with his highly anticipated debut in May 2022. The team finished that season with a record of 67-55 and followed it up with a 101-win season. Despite their struggles in the second half, the Orioles have maintained a .600 win rate (225-150) since Rutschman joined the team.

However, now that Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, Jordan Westburg, and this year’s Colton Cowser have made the transition to the big leagues look effortless, the learning curve is appearing more challenging. Jackson Holliday, formerly the top prospect, is batting .169 in 171 at-bats. Meanwhile, Coby Mayo, a promising young infielder with a reputation for power hitting, has struggled significantly. After failing to connect in both his at-bats on Tuesday, he’s recorded just 3 hits in 37 at-bats (.081), along with 21 strikeouts.

This hasn’t been a situation where inexperienced players are blindly trying to navigate the slump, especially with veterans like Cedric Mullins and Anthony Santander – who recently set a career-high with 41 home runs – still contributing to the team.

The core of the Orioles lineup, made up of young talents, holds high expectations: Holliday and Rutschman were both first overall picks, and Henderson was considered the top prospect shortly after being taken in the second round.

At this moment, the pressure is on this group of players.

“It’s easy to say just relax,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “But it doesn’t work that way. We’ve had numerous individual discussions and team meetings. Just recently, our hitters held a productive meeting focusing on the right mindset and maintaining positivity. It’s all about controlling what you can.”

“We’re still holding a position in the top four of the American League in terms of wins, which isn’t easy. Several players have faced challenges in the latter part of the season and this is their first experience with such struggles.”

As the chance to make adjustments is narrowing.

‘We’re poised for playoff success’

The reinforcements might not arrive as expected. However, the Orioles can look forward to several players rejoining the team just before the regular season concludes or maybe in time for the postseason.

In terms of the roster, first baseman Ryan Mountcastle is set to start his rehabilitation soon after recovering from a wrist injury. Notably, infielder Jordan Westburg, an All-Star in his second season, is also anticipated to return after suffering a hand injury that looked quite serious.

Just as Elias had bolstered the pitching department at the trade deadline, Westburg was injured by a pitch the very next day, resulting in the team going 19-23 since his absence.

Prior to his injury, Westburg had made quite an impact with 48 extra-base hits and an .815 OPS across 390 at-bats. He could make a brief appearance towards the end of the season – a challenging task given the high stakes of postseason play.

Still, Baltimore is ready to embrace any improvement it can achieve, while remaining hopeful that fortunes can shift in even the slightest ways – especially when it matters most.

“I believe we’ll make the playoffs and perform well in them,” Elias remarked. “The players have been feeling a lot of pressure to pull the rest of the team up – but I trust they’ll find the right mindset, and with some players returning, we’ll rediscover our form before it’s too late. That’s our aim.

“I have faith in these guys and in our coaching staff. The end of summer has been tough for everyone. We’re all handling it in our own way, but we’re committed to uniting as a team again.”

“And I truly believe we will.”

The current Orioles team has 10 players who were either acquired or promoted after the trade deadline. Finding consistency has been challenging, and although injuries won’t be used as an excuse, the reshaped lineup hasn’t had time to mesh together effectively.

Now, with time running out, the moment has come for the team to demonstrate that their determination isn’t just talk.

“This final stretch has felt unusual,” Henderson noted. “We seem a bit out of sync. We know we can do better. There are new faces, but they’re all excellent players. It’s unusual to be struggling, yet we must keep pushing forward.

“Because eventually, things will turn in our favor.”