The O’s play the first of two straight nationally televised games, looking to clinch a series win against Texas.
If the best way to make up for a five-game losing streak is to rattle off a five-game winning streak, then the Orioles are well on their way. They’ve taken three in a row, including the first two of their four-game set against the Rangers, and will look to claim the series win in front of a sellout crowd for Hawaiian Shirt Night in Baltimore.
Cade Povich takes the hill for his fifth major league start, and so far (in an extremely small sample size) he has much preferred the friendly confines of Camden Yards as opposed to the road. In his two away starts, he’s been tagged for seven runs and issued nine walks in 10 innings. At home, he’s delivered two strong outings, giving up just three runs and walking only one in 11.2 innings. He’s also fanned 11 batters at home and just three on the road.
In both Baltimore outings, Povich pitched well enough to earn his first major league win, only for circumstances outside his control (a bullpen implosion one night, an offensive blackout the other) to deny him. Perhaps he’ll have better luck tonight.
Jordan Westburg is in the lineup for the Orioles, somewhat surprising after he was seen working with the trainers before the game — and Connor Norby was summoned to the taxi squad — leading to speculation that he might be IL-bound. Brandon Hyde told reporters that Westburg is dealing with a sore knee but will play through it tonight. Also among the walking wounded is Austin Hays, who has a gash on his knee from a play on Tuesday. He hasn’t started any of the last four games, but they were all against right-handers, so he probably wouldn’t have started even if healthy.
Heston Kjerstad is back in the lineup for this one, with Ryan Mountcastle getting a day off against Rangers right-hander Michael Lorenzen. This game will air nationally on Fox, a precursor to tomorrow’s Sunday Night Baseball game on ESPN.
Orioles lineup:
SS Gunnar Henderson
C Adley Rutschman
1B Ryan O’Hearn
RF Anthony Santander
DH Heston Kjerstad
2B Jordan Westburg
LF Colton Cowser
CF Cedric Mullins
3B Ramón Urías
LHP Cade Povich
Rangers lineup:
2B Marcus Semien
SS Corey Seager
3B Josh Smith
RF Adolis García
LF Wyatt Langford
DH Robbie Grossman
1B Nathaniel Lowe
C Jonah Heim
CF Derek Hill
RHP Michael Lorenzen