Why Orioles' Brandon Hyde may have hottest seat of any MLB manager

Coming off back-to-back postseason appearances and carrying a talent-loaded roster into 2025, expectations were high for the Baltimore Orioles heading into this season. 

However, the Orioles have had their wings clipped early in the campaign, entering Wednesday's play with a 6-10 mark and last-place spot in the American League East.

With Baltimore's early struggles, and the preseason expectations for the franchise, manager Brandon Hyde may well have the hottest seat of any MLB skipper through roughly the first 10 percent of the schedule. 

Jim Bowden, MLB insider for The Athletic, believes Hyde could be out in Baltimore around the All-Star break if it seems the Orioles don't appear capable of making a run to get into playoff contention.

Hyde has come under fire early in the season for not maintaining a consistent lineup, fielding a different lineup in each of Baltimore's first 15 games. It's not unusual for Hyde to swap out batting positions, however, as he penciled in 144 different batting orders over the Orioles' 162 regular-season games last season.

However, when the Orioles were winning, mixing and matching lineups was accepted. This season, with Baltimore struggling, Hyde's inability to find a consistent lineup has come under the microscope.

One of the things that Hyde must figure out, along with a regular lineup, is how to keep his offense from being such a Jekyll and Hyde at the plate. In Baltimore's six wins this season, the Orioles are slashing .308/.379/.548 with just 43 strikeouts (7.17 strikeouts per game) and 12 home runs. However, in Baltimore's 10 losses, the Orioles are slashing a paltry .184/.244/.274 with 91 strikeouts (9.1 strikeouts per game) and just five homers.

Baltimore's up-and-down offense has been one of the reasons why the Orioles have yet to win consecutive games this season.

Granted, the Orioles have been hit hard early this season with injuries (including starting pitchers Zach Eflin and Grayson Rodriguez as well as outfielder Colton Cowser). However, Baltimore's slow start to the season is sounding alarm bells in a tough AL East where the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays each have 10 wins, two of just four AL teams to reach that mark as of Wednesday.

Hyde has been blunt about his team's struggles, telling reporters that the Orioles are "not playing our best baseball." With the clock ticking and patience wearing thin, all eyes are on Hyde on how to turn things around, get the Orioles into playoff position and keep his job.