The Baltimore Orioles are in a rough patch, dropping their third straight game on Saturday to their fierce American League East rivals, the New York Yankees. What started as a promising May has quickly turned into a month of frustration for a team that had high hopes for the season.

After a busy winter that saw the front office reshape the roster with major additions like Pete Alonso, Taylor Ward, Ryan Helsley, and Shane Baz, the Orioles were expected to be serious contenders. Instead, they find themselves at 15-18, three games below .500, and searching for answers. Consistency has been elusive, and the losses are piling up.

But rather than point fingers at injuries or bad luck, first-year manager Craig Albernaz is looking in the mirror. "Not concerned. It's more, on my end, more frustrating, just because that group is really talented. And I feel like we should not be three games below .500. That's on me," Albernaz said after Saturday's defeat. "I've got to do a better job of leading these guys and getting the most out of them because the talent in that room, we should not be where we are right now, as far as the record."

It's a moment of accountability from a manager still finding his footing in his first full season. Albernaz was officially hired in October, taking over after a disappointing 2025 campaign and replacing interim manager Tony Mansolino. President of baseball operations Mike Elias believed Albernaz's leadership and communication skills—honed during his time with the Cleveland Guardians—would be the perfect fit for a roster built to win now.

But the challenges have been steep. The Orioles have been hit hard by injuries, with Trevor Rogers and Dean Kremer on the 15-day injured list, and Zach Eflin also sidelined. While the talent is undeniable, the results have not matched the expectations. For now, Albernaz is taking the blame, but the clock is ticking for this team to turn things around.