After coming within one game of sweeping the Rays over the weekend, the Orioles are now the team in danger of being swept. This series is a letdown no matter what, but a win tonight would help things. Not just in the standings, where the Orioles are currently 1.5 games out of the final Wild Card (behind four teams), but also for our mental well-being.
It won’t be easy. I mean, it’s never easy. But tonight the Orioles must face Gerrit Cole. Cole has been limited to 15 starts this season as he returned
from Tommy John surgery, but they have been good. He was a 3.22 ERA overall; since July 1st, it’s just 2.57. So that will be a challenge.
Some good news: Pete Alonso is back at first base! Alonso and Samuel Basallo are switching spots tonight, with Basallo DH’ing. Tyler O’Neill is getting the night off, though I expect we will see him if a lefty reliever comes in.
Pitching for the Orioles is Kyle Bradish. Bradish battled through six innings against the Rays over the weekend. He allowed just two runs but walked four and had a lot of traffic on the bases. Bradish’s strikeouts have been down this season, I’d love to see him with rack up 10 or so tonight.
Orioles lineup
Jackson Holliday (L) 2B
Pete Alonso (R) 1B
Gunnar Henderson (L) SS
Samuel Basallo (L) DH
Christian Encarnacion-Strand (R) 3B
Dylan Beavers (L) LF
Leody Taveras (S) RF
Colton Cowser (L) CF
Carlos Narváez (R) C
Yankees lineup
Trent Grisham (L) CF
Ben Rice (L) DH
Heliot Ramos (R) LF
Luis García Jr. (L) 1B
Jazz Chisholm Jr. (L) 2B
George Lombard Jr. (R) SS
Spencer Jones (L) RF
Austin Wells (L) C
José Caballero (R) 3B
Let’s go O’s!
