After a disappointing weekend at the plate, the Orioles continue their quest for an AL East crown with three more games against a division foe.
The Orioles have an opportunity to win the AL East for the second consecutive season. To accomplish the feat, the O’s need to take care of business against other division opponents. After three disappointing games with Tampa, the Birds head to Boston for three more against the Sox.
Boston enters the series slightly above .500 and still in contention for the final AL Wild Card spot. The Red Sox face an uphill battle to reach the postseason, but their players should remain motivated.
Corbin Burnes and Zach Eflin worked the weekend, so the Orioles will need to get things done with the back end of their rotation. Grayson Rodriguez remains on the injured list, but reliever Jacob Webb could return for the end of the series.
The Red Sox recently recalled pitching prospect Richard Fitts to make a start for top starter Tanner Houck. Neither are scheduled to pitch in this series.
Baltimore could certainly use a spark at the plate after combining for three runs over the weekend.
Game 1: Monday, September 9, 7:10, MASN
LHP Cade Povich (2-7, 5.76 ERA) vs. RHP Brayan Bello (12-7, 4.75 ERA)
Cade Povich absolutely dazzled his last time out against the White Sox. The rookie limited Chicago to five hits over 7.1 scoreless frames. He struck out 10 batters and did not issue a walk. Now, the lefty will look to prove he can shove like that against a team not on pace to set MLB losing records.
Povich performed well against Boston last month. The 24-year-old held the Red Sox to two runs while pitching into the seventh inning on August 17. He struck out six, and posted another zero in the walk column. The Red Sox rank in the middle of the pack (16th) for team walks taken this season.
Brayan Bello is a ground ball pitcher that throws his splitter nearly 40% of the time. He’s allowed four earned runs in 10.1 innings against the Orioles this season.
Game 2: Tuesday, September 10, 7:10, MASN/TBS
RHP Albert Suárez (7-5, 3.49 ERA) vs. RHP Kutter Crawford (8-13, 4.08 ERA)
Big Al has come up big time and time again this season. He stumbled his last time out against Chicago, but he’ll look to get back on track against a different shade of sox. Unlike Bello, Suárez rarely generates ground balls. The veteran will look to keep the ball in the ballpark against a Boston team that entered Sunday ranked eighth in baseball with 175 home runs.
The Orioles have faced Crawford three times this season. The righty blanked Baltimore for five innings back in April. The O’s tagged Crawford for five runs over six frames at the end of May, and Crawford allowed three runs over 5.1 innings last month. Henderson hit a grand slam off Crawford on May 29, and Adley Rutschman took the righty deep in their last matchup.
Game 3: Wednesday, September 11, 7:10, MASN
RHP Dean Kremer (7-9, 4.27 ERA) vs. RHP Nick Pivetta (5-10, 4.38 ERA)
Dean Kremer nearly missed his last start after taking a line drive off his forearm. Instead, Kremer carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning against the Rays. The 28-year-old has made a case to start in the postseason behind Corbin Burnes and Zach Eflin. The Orioles need Kremer to continue his impressive stretch with Grayson Rodriguez on the IL.
Nick Pivetta took the loss against Baltimore last month. Henderson and Cedric Mullins both took Pivetta deep in a 5-1 victory.