Corbin Burnes makes his final start of the year at Camden Yards as the O’s take Game 1 against Detroit.
Orioles fans have been treated to plenty of highs and suffered through a couple of lows when watching Corbin Burnes pitch at Camden Yards. From the 11 Ks on Opening Day to the 8 ER disaster vs. the Red Sox, Burnes has given the Orioles fans the full experience in his first season in Baltimore. Outside of a bumpy August, the former Cy Young winner has been every bit of the ace he was acquired to be for this Baltimore staff. So who better to start Game 1 of what feels like a September playoff series?
The math in this series with Detroit is simple. If the Orioles can sweep the Tigers, they’ll clinch a playoff spot on Sunday and eliminate Detroit from playoff contention. The only way to earn a sweep is to win Game 1, and having Burnes on the mound gives the Birds a decided advantage tonight. The All-Star is coming off his best start of the season, throwing seven scoreless innings last Saturday in the Motor City. The Tigers are perhaps Burnes’ favorite opponent to face; in four career appearances against Detroit, he has a 0.82 ERA, a .135 BAA and 13 Ks in 14 innings.
The Tigers make two changes from the lineup that only managed two hits against Burnes six days ago. Matt Vierling comes in for Jace Jung at 3B while Zach McKinstry replaces Wenceel Pérez. Detroit again goes with a left-handed heavy lineup vs. Burnes—a somewhat odd approach given that righties hit 30 points higher off the Burnes’ cutter and he threw 59% cutters to the Tigers last time. Vierling may prove to be the toughest out for Burnes, as the right-handed hitting infielder comes in hitting .286 with two HRs on cutters this season.
Just as they did in Game 1 in Detroit, the Tigers will use an opener—this time Tyler Holton—before turning to a long man out of the open. Thanks to their day off yesterday, Detroit has the option of pitching Brant Hurter or Ty Madden as the first guy out of the pen. The left-hander Hurter was excellent in his appearance last Friday vs. the O’s, pitching 5.2 no-hit innings while racking up 8 Ks. However, with the lefty Holton getting opener duties, manager AJ Hinch may decide to counter the Orioles lineup with the right-hander Madden in long relief.
Orioles lineup
- Gunnar Henderson (L) SS
- Austin Slater (R) LF
- Adley Rutschman (S) DH
- Anthony Santander (S) RF
- Emmanuel Rivera (R) 3B
- Colton Cowser (L) LF
- Coby Mayo (R) 1B
- Jackson Holliday (L) 2B
- James McCann (R) C
Starting pitcher: RHP Corbin Burnes (14-8, 3.06 ERA, 164 Ks)
Tigers lineup
- Parker Meadows (L) CF
- Kerry Carpenter (L) RF
- Matt Vierling (R) 3B
- Riley Greene (L) LF
- Colt Keith (L) DH
- Spencer Torkelson (R) 1B
- Zach McKinstry (L) 2B
- Trey Sweeney (L) SS
- Jake Rogers (R) C
Starting pitcher: LHP Tyler Holton (7-1, 2.12 ERA, 70 Ks)