The O’s open up the series against a Reds team that’s given them problems over the last couple years.
Cole Irvin is in the middle of the best stretch of his career, and he’ll look to ride that wave of success into Cincinnati to face the Reds. After making the rotation out of spring training largely due to the injuries of Kyle Bradish and John Means, there was little thought that the veteran lefty would still be in the rotation once Bradish and Means got healthy. The fact that Irvin kept his rotation spot after those two were recalled from rehab assignments speaks to just how much the former Oakland Athletic is enjoying his time with the O’s right now.
And why wouldn’t he be enjoying himself, as Irvin comes into Cincinnati off back-to-back scoreless quality starts? The scoreless outing in Boston and home against the A’s was the first time in Irvin’s career that he’s had back-to-back scoreless outings as a starter.
Much of that success has come thanks to throwing more four-seamers and throwing better four-seamers. Early in the season, Irvin was primarily a sinker/curveball pitcher but has largely ditched the sinker of later for the four-seam fastball. Since that switch, the xBA against his fastball has steadily declined—bottoming out at .021 against Oakland. It also helps that Irvin has been much better of late locating his curveball, effectively working both the inner and outer thirds with his breaking ball.
While Cincinnati batters will see a true 4-5 pitch mix out of the lighter-tossing Irvin, Baltimore’s lineup needs to prepare themselves a steady diet of hard fastballs and sliders. That’s what Reds’ starter Hunter Greene brings to the table, as he’s thrown fastball or slider on 93% of his pitches this season. It’s hard to blame Greene for being so fastball-reliant when his heater averages 98 mph and opponents only hit .175 against it. The matchup with Greene should be particularly fruitful for Adley Rutschman, who comes into the game against the Reds hitting .417 with a .694 slugging percentage against four-seamers.
The Orioles will hope Irvin’s hot streak and the best lineup in the American League can help end a recent run of bad results against the Reds. The O’s are 2-6 against Cincinnati over the last two seasons but did win the series opener in each of those meetings.
Orioles Lineup
- Gunnar Henderson (L) SS
- Adley Rutschman (S) C
- Ryan O’Hearn (L) DH
- Ryan Mountcastle (R) 1B
- Anthony Santander (S) RF
- Cedric Mullins (L) CF
- Jordan Westburg (R) 3B
- Heston Kjerstad (L) LF
- Jorge Mateo (R) 2B
Starting pitcher: LHP Cole Irvin (2-1, 3.49 ERA, 18 Ks)
Reds Lineup
- Jonathan India (R) DH
- Elly De La Cruz (S) SS
- Spencer Steer (R) LF
- Tyler Stephenson (R) C
- Christian Encarnacion-Strand (R) 1B
- Jeimer Candelario (S) 3B
- Santiago Espinal (R) 2B
- Jake Fraley (L) RF
- Stuart Fairchild (R) CF
Starting pitcher: RHP Hunter Greene (1-2, 3.63 ERA, 42 Ks)