Orioles' Heston Kjerstad: Taking seat for series opener
Rotowire
Kjerstad is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Brewers.
Though his playing-time outlook appears to have improved in the wake of Tyler O'Neill (shoulder) returning to the injured list, Kjerstad isn't yet locked back into a regular spot in the lineup versus right-handed pitching. The newly recalled Dylan Carlson will join Ramon Laureano and Cedric Mullins in the outfield in place of Kjerstad, who has gone 3-for-19 at the dish over his last seven games to bring his average down to .211 on the season.
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Orioles' Heston Kjerstad: Snaps homer drought Wednesday
Rotowire
Kjerstad went 1-for-2 with a walk and a solo home run in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Twins.
After drawing a walk as a pinch hitter in the matinee, Kjerstad got the start in right field for the nightcap and crushed a Simeon Woods Richardson fastball to right field in the third inning, snapping a 17-game homer drought in the process. Kjerstad has struggled to make a consistent contribution in the majors this season, and through 99 plate appearances he has a .212/.262/.364 slash line with four home runs and 14 RBI.
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Orioles' Heston Kjerstad: Idle against righty
Rotowire
Kjerstad is out of the lineup for the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader versus the Twins.
Though he has been playing fairly regularly versus right-handed pitching since Colton Cowser (thumb) landed on the injured list in late March, Kjerstad will hit the bench for the second time in the Orioles' last three matchups with righties while Bailey Ober toes the rubber for Minnesota. With Kjerstad producing a .573 OPS on the season and with Tyler O'Neill recently returning from the IL to make the Baltimore outfield more crowded, Kjerstad could be at risk of ceding playing time to Ramon Laureano, who has supplied a .746 OPS through 29 games.
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Orioles' Heston Kjerstad: Retreats to bench against lefty
Rotowire
Kjerstad is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.
Though he was included in the lineup the last time the Orioles faced a lefty starter (Kris Bubic) on May 3, the lefty-hitting Kjerstad will retreat to the bench Sunday while southpaw Tyler Anderson takes the hill for the Angels. With Tyler O'Neill (neck) returning from the injured list Friday and likely to fill a full-time role in the corner outfield moving forward, Kjerstad could be deployed in a platoon at the other corner spot with the right-handed-hitting Ramon Laureano until Colton Cowser (thumb) returns from the injured list.
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Orioles' Heston Kjerstad: Not in Friday's lineup
Rotowire
Kjerstad is not in the Orioles' starting lineup against the Angels on Friday, Cordell Woodland of 105.7 The Fan Baltimore reports.
Kjerstad will begin Friday's game in the dugout while the returning Tyler O'Neill (neck) joins Cedric Mullins and Ramon Laureano in the outfield. Kjerstad started in the Orioles' last seven games, going 7-for-24 (.292) with one stolen base and one RBI over that span.
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Orioles' Heston Kjerstad: Absent from lineup against lefty
Rotowire
Kjerstad is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Yankees.
With lefty Carlos Rodon on the bump for the Yankees, the left-handed hitting Kjerstad will yield to switch hitter Dylan Carlson in left field. Kjerstad is 2-for-17 against lefties this season.
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Orioles' Heston Kjerstad: Back in action Tuesday
Rotowire
Kjerstad (elbow) is starting in left field and batting sixth Tuesday against the Nationals, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.
The 26-year-old sustained the elbow bruise Saturday against the Reds and sat out Sunday's contest, but he's good to go following the Orioles' team day off Monday. Kjerstad has enjoyed a hot start to the campaign and has a .261/.300/.500 slash line with three homers, 12 RBI and nine runs in 18 games.
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Orioles' Heston Kjerstad: Not in lineup Sunday
Rotowire
Kjerstad (elbow) isn't in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against Cincinnati, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Kjerstad was lifted in the third inning of Saturday's contest after getting hit in the elbow by a Hunter Greene fastball. X-rays came back negative, so Kjerstad may have escaped a serious injury. Baltimore doesn't play Monday and next hits the road for a series in Washington beginning Tuesday.
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Orioles' Heston Kjerstad: Leaves after getting hit on elbow
Rotowire
Kjerstad left Saturday's game against the Reds in the third inning after getting hit by a Hunter Greene fastball on the elbow in the first inning, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.
X-rays on Kjerstad's elbow came back negative after he was pulled, per Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com, so he seems to have escaped with only a bruise. Ramon Laureano replaced Kjerstad in left field and could be in for more playing time if the latter ends up needing to sit another game or two. The 26-year-old Kjerstad is off to a strong start at the plate, hitting .261/.300/.500 with three homers so far, and he's now been hit by seven pitches in 70 career major-league games.
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Orioles' Heston Kjerstad: Smacks another home run
Rotowire
Kjerstad went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer in Friday's 8-3 loss to the Reds.
Kjerstad was responsible for driving in the final runs of Friday's game, as he took the second pitch he saw from Scott Barlow deep to right-center field for a two-run home run in the eighth inning. Kjerstad has belted a home run in back-to-back games and has logged two RBI in each of his last three outings. He's slashing .261/.268/.500 with nine runs scored, three home runs and 12 RBI across 49 plate appearances so far this season.
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Orioles' Heston Kjerstad: Belts two-run homer vs. Cleveland
Rotowire
Kjerstad went 1-for-2 with one walk and a two-run homer in Thursday's 6-2 win over the Guardians.
Kjerstad extended the Orioles' lead to four runs in the sixth inning, when he smacked an 80-mph changeup from Tanner Bibee deep to center field for a two-run home run. It was the third time Kjerstad has tallied two RBI in his last five games, and he has two long balls over that span.
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Orioles' Heston Kjerstad: Cracks two-run shot
Rotowire
Kjerstad went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer in Saturday's 5-4 win over the Blue Jays.
Kjerstad was able to break Bowden Francis' shutout in the fifth frame, with the former taking a splitter deep to center field for a 409-foot, two-run home run. It was Kjerstad's first home run of the 2025 season and his seventh in his major-league career. He's started the season slashing .219/.235/.344 with five runs scored, one home run and six RBI across 34 plate appearances.
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Orioles' Heston Kjerstad: Idle versus lefty
Rotowire
Kjerstad is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals.
Kjerstad will head to the bench along with fellow left-handed hitters Jackson Holliday, Cedric Mullins and Ryan O'Hearn as the Orioles look for platoon advantages to counter Royals southpaw Kris Bubic.
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Orioles' Heston Kjerstad: Sitting against southpaw
Rotowire
Kjerstad is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox.
Kjerstad will head to the bench along with fellow left-handed hitters Ryan O'Hearn and Jackson Holliday while the Red Sox send southpaw Garrett Crochet to the bump. Ramon Laureano will join Cedric Mullins and Tyler O'Neill in the outfield while Kjerstad sits.
Orioles' Heston Kjerstad: In line for playing-time boost
Rotowire
Kjerstad is expected to play more frequently versus right-handed pitching after Colton Cowser (thumb) was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Kjerstad started just one of four games -- all which came against right-handed starters -- in the Orioles' opening series against the Blue Jays. However, with Cowser set for an extended absence due to a fractured thumb, Kjerstad should be a regular in the lineup versus right-handers for several weeks. The 26-year-old Kjerstad had a .998 OPS at Triple-A Norfolk and a .745 OPS with four home runs in limited playing time with Baltimore last season. He should be added in most fantasy leagues, but keep in mind that the Orioles are tentatively slated to face three lefties during the upcoming week.
Orioles' Heston Kjerstad: Pushing to maintain roster spot
Rotowire
Kjerstad went 1-for-4 with an RBI in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against Detroit and is now batting .257 (9-for-35) with one home run, six RBI and one stolen base this spring.
The 2020 first-rounder appears to be on track for a bench role to begin 2025, but Kjerstad's most likely pathway to regular at-bats looks to be blocked at the moment by veteran slugger Ryan O'Hearn at designated hitter. With that said, O'Hearn has gone just 4-for-30 with a lone extra-base hit during spring training, and he could start to feel Kjerstad nipping at his heels for work at some point if his struggles carry into the regular season. Kjerstad could be hard-pressed to find reps in the outfield early on, with Colton Cowser going 12-for-31 with two homers, six RBI and two steals in exhibition action.
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