Corbin Burnes looks to get back on track as the O’s go for a series win against the Dodgers.
To all of my fellow sickos who intend to stay up until 1 in the morning watching the Orioles, let’s hope they give us a good one tonight.
They certainly did so in last night’s game, squeaking out a 3-2 victory thanks to a couple of dingers and shockingly good performances by Cole Irvin and the O’s bullpen. It’s no easy feat to contain this potent Dodgers lineup to just two runs, so kudos to the Birds for stealing a win in the opener of the three-game set.
If there’s any Orioles pitcher who’s capable of holding the L.A. offense in check again, it’s Corbin Burnes. That is, of course, if we get the Corbin Burnes who dominated to a 2.47 ERA through the end of July, and not the Corbin Burnes who has posted an awful 8.71 ERA in four August starts. Tonight is his last chance to put up a decent outing this month before the calendar flips to September.
Opposing Burnes will be Walker Buehler, a former top-of-the-rotation hurler whose career has been torpedoed by injuries. He missed all of 2023 after undergoing Tommy John surgery, then missed another two months this season with a right hip injury. All the time away has left him rusty, and he’s struggled to a 6.09 ERA. He’s allowed 11.6 H/9 and carries a 1.67 WHIP, and only four times in 10 starts this year has he even lasted five innings.
Tonight would be an excellent night for several struggling O’s hitters to bust out of their recent funk, or for Burnes to return to his ace-like form. Actually, how about both? If we’re staying up this late to watch them, it’s the least the Orioles could do.
Orioles lineup:
LF Colton Cowser
DH Adley Rutschman
SS Gunnar Henderson
RF Anthony Santander
1B Ryan O’Hearn
CF Cedric Mullins
3B Ramón Urías
2B Jackson Holliday
C James McCann
RHP Corbin Burnes
Dodgers lineup:
DH Shohei Ohtani
RF Mookie Betts
2B Gavin Lux
LF Teoscar Hernandez
3B Max Muncy
C Will Smith
SS Tommy Edman
CF Kevin Kiermaier
1B Enrique Hernández
RHP Walker Buehler