Pete Alonso Is Drowning in Strikeouts and the Orioles' $155 Million Investment Is Already in Trouble

Baltimore's bats went completely silent on Saturday, and it was ugly. The Orioles managed just four hits, two of them homers, while striking out 16 times in a 4-2 loss to the Guardians. Worse? The guys they're counting on most are the ones flailing the hardest.

Pete Alonso struck out in all four at-bats. Colton Cowser did the same thing. Dylan Beavers fanned three times. This isn't just a bad night at the plate. This is a pattern, and it's getting harder to ignore.

The $155 Million Question Nobody Wants to Ask Yet

Alonso signed a five-year, $155 million deal to be Baltimore's marquee addition. So far, he's hitting .208 with two homers and eight RBIs while striking out 26 times in 78 at-bats. Those aren't numbers that justify that kind of investment, not even close.

Cowser, the fifth overall pick from the 2021 draft, isn't faring much better. He's at .178 with 16 strikeouts in 45 at-bats and hasn't hit a homer yet. Manager Craig Albernaz is trying to stay positive, saying Cowser is "dangerous" and "our guy," but the results say something different right now.

Albernaz pointed to Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams' dominance as the culprit. Williams struck out 11 in seven innings, allowing just one run and three hits while walking one. "They couldn't see the breaking ball early enough to either make an adjustment or hold off on it," Albernaz said. Williams now leads the majors with 40 strikeouts, though he downplayed the milestone. "I'm just trying to help the team win games," Williams said. "I don't think it's necessary to have to punch that many people out."

Sunday's Finale: Can Baltimore's Bats Wake Up?

Cleveland took two of the first three games, with Brayan Rocchio smacking a three-run homer and Bo Naylor adding a solo shot on Saturday. Rocchio said a more patient approach is paying off. He has three homers in 63 at-bats after posting just five in 344 at-bats last season.

Baltimore counters with left-hander Trevor Rogers (2-1, 3.04 ERA), who got roughed up by Arizona on Tuesday and took the loss after giving up four runs and nine hits in 4 2/3 innings. He's 0-1 with a 5.79 ERA in two career starts against Cleveland. The Guardians will send left-hander Joey Cantillo (1-0, 2.61 ERA) to the mound. Cantillo received a no-decision against St. Louis on Tuesday.

This series finale is a chance for Baltimore to prove Saturday wasn't a total disaster. But with Alonso and Cowser struggling this badly, the Orioles are going to need someone else to carry the load.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.