The Baltimore Orioles didn’t just invest millions—they invested in a spectacle. But instead of a dominant debut, they got an unscripted horror show. One inning, everything seemed fine; the next, panic set in. Trainers rushed, concerned faces gathered, and just like that, the Orioles’ prized arm was walking off.

Turns out, money buys talent, not durability.

We are not even 5 games into the 2025 season, and it looks like the Baltimore Orioles rotation is already falling apart. The Orioles IL list might have a new candidate. After pitchers like Grayson Rodriguez, Andrew Kittredge, and Trevor Rogers got injured, it looks like their new signing, Tomoyuki Sugano might be injured as well.

Their new pitcher, Tomoyuki Sugano, made his MLB debut against the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday, and it was going very well. When he came out in the 5th inning, he was stopped by the manager and the physio. He was seen flexing his shoulder and was taken off the mound and replaced by Matt Bowman.

In the 4 innings Sugano pitched, he gave away 2 runs and allowed just 4 hits. Tomoyuki Sugano threw a total of 73 pitches, of which 45 were strikes, but managed to get only K throughout. The two runs he earned came off George Springer in the first inning, and he was disciplined in his pitching till he was taken off.

For debut years in the making, Sugano’s first MLB outing had everything—control, composure, and an abrupt, ominous ending. The Orioles wanted a seasoned arm to stabilize their rotation, but stability doesn’t come in four-inning increments. If this is a sign of things to come, Baltimore might need more than just bullpen depth—it might need a prayer.

The Baltimore Orioles lose the last game of the series against the Blue Jays

The Orioles had a chance to end the series on a high note—but instead, they walked away with frustration. Missed opportunities, shaky execution, and a few too many mistakes sealed their fate. While fans hoped for fireworks, they got a fizzle, proving once again that baseball doesn’t always follow the script Baltimore wants.

The Orioles let go of a good opportunity to take the series win over the Blue Jays and make a statement start to the new season. But instead, they got humbled by the Blue Jays as they lost 3-1 in the final game of the series. The Blue Jays got 2 runs on the board right in the 1st inning as George Springer showed why he is a World Series winner. But after that Tomoyuki Sugano put on a show as he allowed just 4 hits in his 4 innings pitched.

To back his pitching, the Orioles offense got off to a good start as they got a run in the 1st inning. But could not muster up their strength and get runs on board after that. Chris Bassitt showed why he is such a valued member of the Blue Jays setup as he pitched for 6 innings and gave away just one run with 7 strikeouts. The Jays bullpen also backed up that performance as they allowed just 1 hit in the next 3 innings.

The Orioles had their chances, but baseball isn’t about “almost.” Strong pitching kept them in the fight, but the bats fell silent when it mattered most. If they want to make noise this season, they’ll need more than just glimpses of promise. Because in the AL East, moral victories don’t count in the standings.