Orioles manager Craig Albernaz wasn’t a fan of follow-up questions on Pete Alonso’s mysterious calf issue. 

After Tuesday night’s 13-1 blowout over the Cardinals, in which Alonso went 4-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs before exiting early, Albernaz said the decision to remove the slugger was “precautionary.”

“Game state, get him off his feet,” Albernaz said. “Obviously, he was dealing with his calf, so there’s no point to push him there…”

Alonso dealt with a calf cramp during a game against the Rays earlier this month, with Albernaz himself telling MLB.com’s Jake Rill that was, in fact, the case, which opened up Albernaz to a natural next question from a reporter at the post-game presser: “Is this the same calf that was bothering him in Tampa?”

Albernaz didn’t take kindly to the follow-up.

“I didn’t say anything was bothering him,” Albernaz said. “Just said, ‘Took him off his feet because of the Tampa outing.’”

“So nothing’s bothering him?” the reporter asked.

Pete Alonso rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the fourth inning of the Orioles’ win over tghe Rangers on Aug. 9, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. MLB Photos via Getty Images

“Please don’t put words in my mouth,” Albernaz replied. “Thank you.”

Alonso has yet to miss an Orioles game since the initial Aug. 15 scare, but it appears Baltimore is staying cautious with him.

Calf issue or not, Alonso has been red-hot for the Orioles after a slow start to his tenure with the franchise. 

Craig Albernaz looks on durkng teh Orioles’ loss to the Rays on Aug. 23, 2026, in Baltimore. Getty Images

Since the All-Star break, Alonso is hitting .341/.415/.615 with 10 home runs heading into Wednesday’s play. 

The ex-Mets slugger signed a five-year, $155 million contract to head to Baltimore last winter. 

The Orioles entered Wednesday with a 64-68, three games back of the third and final American League wild-card spot.