The opener of the three-game series between two streaking teams was a disappointment for the Orioles. Now they’ll get two chances today to redeem themselves.
After the Birds’ four-error, one-run loss on Monday snapped their seven-game winning streak — and extended Boston’s to 14 — last night’s rainout has led to a split doubleheader to finish the series. Dean Kremer and Jake Bennett, who were originally slated to start the regularly scheduled 7:10 game, have both been moved up to the afternoon contest.
Kyle Bradish will make his second-half debut in the nightcap.
If Kremer hopes to cool down the red-hot Red Sox, he’ll need to work a little further into the game than he has recently. He went just four innings in Houston last Friday and five against the Cubs the week before. He has pitched well in his most recent outings against the Sox, working 5.1 scoreless innings against them last season and 7.1 frames of one-run ball in 2024. Kremer has held Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela in check (1-for-8 each) but has struggled against Masataka Yoshida (5-for-10) and Jarren Duran (5-for-11).
The Orioles will get their first look at Bennett, a 25-year-old who was Boston’s second-round pick in 2022. He’s had a fantastic introduction to the majors, posting a 2.35 ERA in nine starts since debuting May 1. With the O’s facing a lefty for the second straight game, Craig Albernaz is running it back with the same lineup he used against Payton Tolle on Monday, except with Jackson Holliday starting at second instead of Jeremiah Jackson.
Can the Orioles find enough spark to snap Boston’s epic streak? It would help if the O’s could actually play defense today.
Orioles lineup:
LF Taylor Ward
1B Pete Alonso
SS Gunnar Henderson
RF Tyler O’Neill
DH Coby Mayo
CF Leody Taveras
3B Christian Encarnacion-Strand
2B Jackson Holliday
C Sam Huff
RHP Dean Kremer
Red Sox lineup:
DH Masataka Yoshida
CF Ceddanne Rafaela
RF Wilyer Abreu
1B Willson Contreras
3B Caleb Durbin
2B Romy Gonzalez
LF Jarren Duran
C Connor Wong
SS Tsung-Che Cheng
LHP Jake Bennett
