The day started with bad Orioles news but maybe they could make us feel a little better by winning
It’s already a gloomy day in Birdland with the news that Kyle Bradish is on the injured list with a sprain of the UCL in his throwing elbow. This is what nobody wanted to hear after he came out of last night’s game with Jim Palmer having noticed Bradish shaking out his elbow before he left the game, but it’s what happened. Whatever it is, it’s bad enough that he’s on the injured list right away and it’s not a give him a couple of extra days rest situation.
Winning today’s game won’t exactly even out that bad news, but it’s the only thing that the Orioles can do today to make anybody feel a little bit better. So, hopefully they’re up for the task. Friday’s loss was a close-fought heartbreaker, with the first game of this Orioles-Phillies series really seeming to live up to its clash of the titans billing.
This is the one game of the weekend’s series where the Orioles have some kind of theoretical, on-paper advantage. That’s mostly the result of Phillies starting pitcher Taijuan Walker having been bad up to this point in the 2024 season, bringing a 5.40 ERA and 5.12 FIP into the game. He isn’t striking out many people and he’s giving up a lot of homers. As good as the O’s have been this season, they’ve also had games where they’ve inexplicably stunk against bad pitchers.
Orioles lineup
- Gunnar Henderson – SS
- Adley Rutschman – C
- Ryan Mountcastle – 1B
- Ryan O’Hearn – DH
- Anthony Santander – RF
- Jordan Westburg – 2B
- Cedric Mullins – CF
- Colton Cowser – LF
- Ramón Urías – 3B
These guys will be trying to score some runs off of Walker (and whoever relievers him) in support of Grayson Rodriguez. The 24-year-old righty is having a fine sophomore season. The Phillies lineup is tough to everyone.
Phillies lineup
- Kyle Schwarber – DH
- Nick Castellanos – RF
- Bryce Harper – 1B
- Alec Bohm – 3B
- Bryson Stott – 2B
- Edmundo Sosa – SS
- Brandon Marsh – LF
- Garrett Stubbs – C
- Johan Rojas – CF
Three of the worst Phillies hitters (Castellanos, Stubbs, and Rojas) are in this one. The other guys have been tough outs in 2024.