The O’s are back home but still facing some west coast competition as they begin a series against the Oakland Athletics.
Going into the season, this series looked like a relatively simple one for the Orioles. A home set against a floundering team with no home themselves felt rather straightforward. But a month into the 2024 season these Athletics are far more competitive than anticipated.
A record of 10-16 won’t have anyone confusing the A’s for a contender. But they are far from a laughing stock. In fact, they are rather comfortably situated in fourth place of the AL West, a division that seemingly no team wants to take control of. Plus, they just wrapped up a four-game split in the Bronx against the vaunted Yankees, which has to have this rag-tag roster feeling pretty good about itself.
With all of that said, the Orioles should be winning tonight. While the A’s as a whole have been more compelling than anticipated, the offense has been about as putrid as you can imagine. Over 26 games they have scored just 74 runs, an average of 2.8 per game. It’s the second-worst mark in MLB (lol, White Sox). And they have a tall task against Corbin Burnes, a potential Cy Young candidate.
Oakland/Sacramento/Las Vegas’ pitching has been better. In fact, it’s in the top half of the league in FIP (9th, 3.76). And that includes tonight’s starter, Ross Stripling. His 5.34 ERA looks bad. But his 3.35 FIP and 3.88 xERA are far more attractive.
What the Orioles do not want is to be trailing late in the game. The A’s closer, Mason Miller, is amazing. He averages 101 mph on his fastball, he has racked up 18.25 strikeouts per nine innings, and he owns a 0.14 FIP. Injuries have held back the 25-year-old’s career. But he’s healthy now, and he looks it.
Orioles lineup
- Gunnar Henderson, SS
- Adley Rutschman, C
- Ryan O’Hearn, DH
- Anthony Santander, RF
- Ryan Mountcastle, 1B
- Cedric Mullins, CF
- Jordan Westburg, 2B
- Colton Cowser, LF
- Ramón Urías, 3B
RHP Corbin Burnes (1-0, 2.76 ERA)
Athletics lineup
- Esteury Ruiz, LF
- Tyler Nevin, 1B
- Shea Langeliers, C
- Brent Rooker, DH
- JJ Bleday, CF
- Abraham Toro, 3B
- Darell Hernaiz, SS
- Lawrence Butler, RF
- Max Schuemann, 2B
RHP Ross Stripling (0-5, 5.34 ERA)