The Baltimore Orioles return to Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 14, 2025, looking to avoid a sweep and snap out of a frustrating stretch that has dropped them to 15–24 on the season, as they prepare to face a surging Minnesota Twins squad that has won eight straight. Baltimore has struggled to find its footing over the last few weeks, and much of their trouble begins on the mound, where inconsistent starting pitching has put the team in early deficits that their offense has rarely been able to overcome. Dean Kremer will get the start, entering with a 3–4 record and a 5.24 ERA, and while he’s capable of working through lineups with swing-and-miss stuff when he’s locating, too often this season he’s fallen victim to big innings caused by missed locations and untimely walks. Kremer’s performance will be critical against a Twins team that’s suddenly firing on all cylinders and punishing mistakes, and if Baltimore hopes to salvage the final game of this series, he’ll need to work deeper into the game and keep the ball in the park—something he’s struggled to do in recent outings. Offensively, the Orioles have relied heavily on Cedric Mullins and Ryan O’Hearn, who continue to grind out at-bats and provide run production, but beyond that, the lineup has lacked consistent contributions from key hitters like Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman, who have yet to find a steady rhythm in May. Baltimore’s .238 team batting average and .373 slugging percentage reflect a team capable of occasional power but lacking in situational hitting, and their inability to capitalize with runners in scoring position has stymied their ability to come from behind or maintain momentum after scoring early.

Defensively, the Orioles have been serviceable, but lapses in focus at crucial moments—whether it’s an error in the field or a missed cutoff—have cost them innings and led to extended rallies by opponents. Manager Brandon Hyde continues to search for a spark, shuffling the lineup in hopes of igniting an offense that has been mostly stagnant against higher-tier starting pitching, and with Minnesota’s Bailey Ober taking the mound, Hyde will need his hitters to be aggressive early in counts and avoid falling behind where Ober thrives. The bullpen has also been taxed, forced into high-leverage situations due to short outings by the rotation, and unless Kremer can give them at least six strong innings, the pressure will fall once again on a relief corps that has shown signs of fatigue. With their backs against the wall and the standings slipping further out of reach, the Orioles must treat this game as a potential turning point—not just to avoid a sweep, but to stop the bleeding and reestablish some level of consistency on both sides of the ball. A win against a red-hot Twins team could restore some much-needed confidence in the clubhouse and begin the slow climb back toward competitiveness, but that will require cleaner execution, a sharper start from Kremer, and more timely offense than they’ve shown over the past two weeks.