Baltimore - If the second half of 2024 is a reality check for the Baltimore Orioles - their first real mediocrity as they become contenders again - the season starts with a near-crisis.

The young Baltimore team barely failed when they won 101 games in 2023, but now the Orioles are aware of what the humbler side of baseball is like.

“We became more familiar than we wanted (to adversity) than we wanted,” General Manager Mike Elias said before Friday night’s game against Kansas City.

Elias met with reporters to resolve his team's 12-18 record in April. The Orioles are not only at the last spot in Al East, but also at the worst difference in the American League.

The young core of the frightening batsman early last year has been working hard in 2025.

Zach Eflin, Grayson Rodriguez and Albert Suarez are on the injury list, and Dean Kremer starts the 7.04 ERA on Friday. Tomoyuki Sugano is good, but Charlie Morton's era was 9.45 and will now work in the bullpen. Kyle Gibson allowed home runs to four of the top five batsmen on Tuesday in his first major league game of the season.

"It's hard to compete with that level of injury, but other than that, they started poorly and that's my responsibility. I'm responsible for baseball surgery," Erias said. "When we start a year with bad records, it's my responsibility."

Elias opened up his second speculation in the offseason when the Orioles lost Corbin Burnes' free agent and GM signed a one-year contract with Sukarno, Morton and Gibson. A year-long transaction is often considered safe - even if they have a bad job, they will expire soon. But Baltimore has invested more than $33 million in trio, so if they do not perform well as a group, it would constitute a real resource abuse.

To be fair, Rodriguez, Eflin, Sugano, Kremer and Cade Povich could have been useful - Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells are expected to return sometime during the elbow surgery - but Eflrin and Rodriguez forced Morton and Gibson to produce Morton and Gibson, so there isn't.

Baltimore's 5.47 ERA entered Friday, ranking 29th out of 30 teams, down from Miami's 5.89.

The Orioles managed to score two of three points from the New York Yankees first earlier this week, but even then, a one-on-one-on-one single victory was required to beat a 15-3 loss. Due to poor pitching, Baltimore simply has too many games in finding itself behind.

"No one is happy with how we've performed so far. We expect more from ourselves," said manager Brandon Hyde. "I talk to Mike many times a day. We're at least not satisfied. We know our team can be better than us."

Erias said he still has confidence in Hyde.

“When things go well – sometimes they sometimes have that – and then when we get a failure, it’s also important in this job and my job to align with your approach,” Elias said. “He’s doing that.”

Eflin (LAT strain) and rescuer Andrew Kittrech (knee) are expected to hold a minor league rehabilitation game on Sunday, and Elias said Rodriguez (inflammatory elbow) may be able to throw by the end of the month.

“We all work very hard and we have confidence in this very talented group,” Erias said. “Step by step, we will make men healthier; we will enable people to perform more according to their norms. If we can solve some problems through the players, then we will work.”