The Orioles focus for much of today is on the future. They made a few draft picks, including seventh overall pick Eric Booth Jr., a high school outfielder from Mississippi. Hopefully a few of the youngsters they call on this weekend will turn into quality Orioles a few years from now.
The 2026 Orioles, however, are still hoping that they can win on the field right now. At seven games under .500, things aren’t great. But they have won two in a row, and are only three games out of the final wild card
spot, which is currently occupied by the sub-.500 Seattle Mariners. The AL is so poor that a bad team (or two) is probably going to play meaningful October baseball.
In order for the Orioles to be that bad team, they need to beat up on the few teams that are currently below them in the standings. They did that in game one with the Royals on Friday. Another win tonight would make it three in a row.
The pitching matchup favors them. Kyle Bradish, when on, is a stud atop the rotation. Noah Cameron hasn’t been as good this year as he was in his debut last year. But he throws with his left hand, and sometimes that is enough to take the Orioles down.
Craig Albernaz mostly has his lineup for left-handed starters on display tonight. That means Coby Mayo and Tyler ONeill get prominent spots. But it’s the left-handed Jackson Holliday at second base rather than right-handed Blaze Alexander. Hollliday has been hot lately, and actually has better numbers again southpaws than he does righties. Alexander has been torching righties, not lefties. So, it’s a logical decision.
Go get that series win, fellas!
Orioles lineup
- Gunnar Henderson, SS
- Adley Rutschman, C
- Taylor Ward, LF
- Pete Alonso, 1B
- Samuel Basallo, DH
- Tyler O’Neill, RF
- Coby Mayo, 3B
- Jackson Holliday, 2B
- Leody Taveras, CF
RHP Kyle Bradish (5-9, 3.75 ERA)
Royals lineup
- Carter Jensen, C
- Bobby Witt Jr., SS
- Jac Caglianone, RF
- Lane Thomas, CF
- Vinnie Pasquantino, 1B
- Salvador Perez, DH
- Michael Massey, 2B
- Nick Loftin, 3B
- Isaac Collins, LF
LHP Noah Cameron (5-6, 4.77 ERA)
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