The Diamondbacks recently locked up their young talent and signed Corbin Burnes. The Orioles cannot say the same.
The Orioles have a losing record 10 games into the season. At 4-6, it’s not time to press the panic button quite yet. A difficult schedule has proved more challenging without Colton Cowser and Grayson Rodriguez. Gunnar Henderson returned late last week, but the Birds still dropped two of three in Kansas City.
The road trip continues with Baltimore set to play three games in Arizona. The rotation has struggled with Game 1 starter Zach Eflin marking the only exception. The Birds have felt the loss of new Diamondback Corbin Burnes. Fortunately for the Orioles, the team will not face their former ace in the three game set.
Arizona dropped its weekend series with a pair of defeats in Washington. The D-backs allowed multiple runs in the first inning of all three contests. The Orioles would certainly welcome an early lead or two this week.
The Diamondbacks are paced by their two young franchise players Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte. Unlike Baltimore, Arizona inked both of their stars to long term deals. Carroll signed an eight-year, $111 million deal in 2023, and the Diamondbacks signed Marte to a six-year, $116.5 million extension last week.
Arizona replaced Christian Walker with a trade for Josh Naylor over the offseason. Power hitter Eugenio Suárez already has five long balls this season after a 30-homer 2024.
Game 1: Monday, 9:40, MASN 2
RHP Zach Eflin (1-1, 3.75 ERA) vs. RHP Zac Gallen (1-1, 3.38 ERA)
The premier pitching matchup of the series comes in a battle of the Zac(h)s. Gallen has been the subject of trade rumors ever since the D-backs signed Burnes, but he remains in an Arizona uniform for this one. Gallen struck out 13 batters over 6.2 scoreless frames against the Yankees last week.
Eflin delivered a pair of quality starts in his first two outings. He earned the win on Opening Day with two runs allowed in Toronto, but the righty took the loss after surrendering three runs to Boston last week. Eflin does not qualify as an “ace,” but the current state of the rotation places extra emphasis on the Orioles taking advantage of strong starts on the mound.
Game 2: Tuesday, 9:40, MASN 2
RHP Charlie Morton (0-2, 9.72 ERA) vs. RHP Merrill Kelly (1-1, 10.00 ERA)
Charlie Morton’s tenure in Baltimore has gotten off to an abysmal start. Morton failed to complete four innings in his first start against the Jays, and he allowed five runs in his second appearance against the Sox. A strong showing on Tuesday would set some minds at ease around the thought of Morton and Father Time.
Speaking of pitchers looking to right the ship, Kelly allowed a career-high nine runs his last time out against the Yankees. Kelly allowed nine hits, walked three batters, and coughed up three long balls. The O’s should have their heavy hitters in the lineup against the righty on Tuesday.
Game 3: Wednesday, 3:40, MASN 2
RHP Dean Kremer (1-1, 6.52 ERA) vs. RHP Brandon Pfaadt (1-1, 5.25 ERA)
Dean Kremer has teetered on the line of a mid-rotation and back-end starter. The Orioles may be asking Dean to pitch above his pedigree without Rodriguez and Kyle Bradish, but the club needs the 29-year-old to meet the moment. Kremer allowed five runs in a victory his first time out, but he failed to complete five innings against the Royals on Friday.
The Diamondbacks are not only locking up their young position players. Arizona signed Brandon Pfaadt to a five-year, $45 million extension at the beginning of the season. Pfaadt has yet to produce quality numbers at the big league level (15-20, 5.06 ERA), but the team’s front office believes Pfaadt will exceed the value of the contract in the long run.