Fresh off a 7-3 homestand, the O’s open their June schedule with three games in Boston against a reeling Red Sox team. The Orioles are just 9-17 on the road, while the Red Sox are 9-15 at home, so neither team is happy to be there. It’s a movable force against a stoppable object. But somebody has to win.
So why not the Orioles? Their hitting and their pitching (minus some bullpen slip-ups) were both on point during their just-concluded homestand, and tonight’s starter, Shane Baz, is coming off two
consecutive excellent outings against his former team, the Rays. This is his first time facing the Red Sox this year but historically he’s been excellent against them, with a 2.64 ERA in five career starts. He’s held Jarren Duran, Boston’s leadoff hitter tonight, to a 2-for-14.
Scoring runs could be a problem for the Birds, considering they’re facing their Kryptonite, a left-handed starter. This is a pretty good one in rookie Connelly Early, who’s got a 2.95 ERA in 11 starts this year, though his 4.16 FIP indicates he’s been benefiting from some good luck. The Orioles will be unleashing their lefty-facing lineup that often fails to actually hit lefties, including Tyler O’Neill, who is 4-for-45 this year against southpaws. I’d sooner give Colton Cowser the start coming off his monster homestand instead of wasting more time with O’Neill, but what do I know? At least Samuel Basallo is in the lineup.
The Orioles right now have the most momentum they’ve had all season. Will they keep it going on the road, or immediately squander it?
Orioles lineup:
LF Taylor Ward
SS Gunnar Henderson
C Adley Rutschman
1B Pete Alonso
DH Samuel Basallo
3B Coby Mayo
RF Tyler O’Neill
CF Leody Taveras
2B Blaze Alexander
RHP Shane Baz
Red Sox lineup:
LF Jarren Duran
CF Ceddanne Rafaela
RF Wilyer Abreu
1B Willson Contreras
DH Masataka Yoshida
C Mickey Gasper
2B Isiah Kiner-Falefa
SS Marcelo Mayer
3B Caleb Durbin
LHP Connelly Early
