The Orioles are doing a good job of playing spoiler lately. Tonight they have a chance to continue their winning ways — and annoy a division rival in the process — by completing a two-game sweep in Boston.
They’ll have to do it, though, without Samuel Basallo, who is getting a day off after making his catching debut last night. It’s a bummer that it’s only his third day in the majors and he’s already riding the pine, but it’s worth mentioning that Basallo must stay below 130 at-bats this year to retain
his rookie eligibility for next season. If he were to play all of the Orioles’ remaining 37 games, he’d likely surpass that mark. So expect to see him get a handful of days off for the remainder of 2025. The same rule applies to Dylan Beavers, but he’s in the lineup tonight for a fourth straight game.
Basallo isn’t the only big name missing from the lineup. Also on the bench is Jordan Westburg, who left last night’s game with ankle discomfort. According to beat reporters, Westburg was in a walking boot in the clubhouse this afternoon, which doesn’t seem like a great sign. Interestingly, Luis Vázquez — not Jeremiah Jackson — is getting the start at third base, his first major league start since July 10. The O’s have really gone out of their way not to play Jackson in the infield, even though that’s where he exclusively played in the minors. (As for why Vázquez is batting second tonight, I have no idea.)
Not long before game time, the Orioles also scratched Adley Rutschman from the lineup with right abdominal discomfort, replacing him with Alex Jackson. Not great. Perhaps tomorrow’s rare off day on a Wednesday will give Rutschman and Westburg some time to recover, but we could be looking at an IL situation for one or both of them before the Birds’ homestand starts on Thursday, because this season truly is cursed.
Orioles lineup:
2B Jackson Holliday
3B Luis Vázquez
SS Gunnar Henderson
DH Ryan Mountcastle
CF Colton Cowser
1B Coby Mayo
RF Dylan Beavers
LF Dylan Carlson
C Alex Jackson
RHP Tomoyuki Sugano
Red Sox lineup:
RF Roman Anthony
3B Alex Bregman
CF Jarren Duran
SS Trevor Story
LF Masataka Yoshida
2B Romy Gonzalez
DH Nathaniel Lowe
1B Abraham Toro
C Connor Wong
RHP Walker Buehler
