Labor Day afternoon game thread: vs. Guardians, 1:35 ET

DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 2: Starting pitcher Trevor Rogers #28 of the Baltimore Orioles delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 2, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images Happy Labor Day, Camden Chat! I hope

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Happy Labor Day, Camden Chat! I hope the Orioles don’t give you a back-breaking loss that seals their season. I’d understand if you didn’t feel great about their chances: the O’s are 0-6 in September, four games back of the Guardians, and couldn’t even achieve a series win against the Colorado Rockies!! For Pete’s sake.

Well, hope springs eternal. Today, it’s a battle of two lefties—Cleveland’s Joey Cantillo (9-8, 3.91) vs. our own Trevor Rogers (9-9, 4.30)—as these two teams attempt to elbow their

way into the postseason.

Cantillo is a swing man turned full-time starter this season. The Honolulu-born lefty has been just average this year—barring his poor control, as attested to by a league-leading 72 walks. He’s good at getting whiffs, particularly with his curveball and changeup. A lefty with offspeed stuff? Sounds like it could be trouble.

The Orioles are actually letting a few lefties hit off of Castillo: Jackson Holliday, Gunnar Henderson, Samuel Basallo and Dylan Beavers. Also Rece Hinds was called up just yesterday, so you’ll be meeting him. Hope he’ll be a spark of something.

The O’s’ myriad frustrations this year don’t really fall at the feet of the starting rotation, which includes Trevor Rogers. The lefty’s season-long numbers aren’t wow, but they are mitigated by two things: a bad start he’s since transcended, and bad batted-ball luck/bad defense, suggested by a .301 BABIP for opposing hitters. His strikeout and walk numbers are mostly the same as his brilliant 2025. For me, at least, it’s always nice to see Trevor Rogers out on the mound. Last time we did, he racked up a career-high 11 strikeouts in Colorado (the O’s managed to lose that one, anyway, with a bullpen collapse). The future Hall of Famer José Ramírez loves to hit Rogers, though, so watch out for him.

Orioles lineup