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The Baltimore Orioles avoided a major setback Sunday after Pete Alonso was cleared to remain in the lineup following a calf cramp that briefly raised concerns during Saturday’s win over the Tampa Bay Rays.
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Alonso appeared to hurt himself while running to first base after singling in the 10th inning of Baltimore’s 4-3 extra-inning victory. He was checked by trainers but remained in the game as the Orioles finished the win.
After the game, manager Craig Albernaz said Alonso was dealing with a right calf cramp rather than a structural injury. Alonso also downplayed the scare, saying he expected to be back in the lineup Sunday.
Alonso followed through on that plan, with Baltimore listing him as the designated hitter for Sunday’s series finale. The move allows the first baseman to stay in the lineup while reducing the physical demands on his calf.
Sunday plans
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The injury scare came after another productive night for Alonso. He went 3-for-5 with a home run and a run scored, giving him 27 homers and 78 RBIs through 123 games this season.
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The Orioles have little reason to take unnecessary risks with their biggest offensive contributor. Alonso is batting .264 with a .356 on-base percentage and .487 slugging percentage in his first season with Baltimore.
Baltimore entered Sunday at 60-63 and fifth in the American League East, 14.5 games behind the first-place Rays. With the postseason race still developing, keeping Alonso available remains important for the Orioles.
For now, the team’s decision is straightforward: Alonso will remain in the lineup, but the designated-hitter assignment gives Baltimore a way to monitor his calf without removing his bat from the order.
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This story was originally published August 16, 2026 at 10:10 AM.