Can the O’s keep the margin of defeat at less than 14 runs this time?
Once again, Orioles fans, let’s play two.
That, of course, was originally the plan yesterday, when the O’s and Red Sox were slated for a doubleheader to make up for Thursday’s rainout. But the first game of that twin bill went so poorly for the Birds — a 19-5 travesty — that the Red Sox canceled the nightcap out of pity. Or because it was raining, either way.
They’ll again try to play a split doubleheader today, with the games scheduled for 1:35 and 6:35. The Orioles at least have Zach Eflin on the mound for the opener, so their chances are good of allowing less than 19 runs this time. That doesn’t mean they’ll win, of course. They probably won’t. The Birds haven’t announced a starter for the second game yet; it might depend on how used up the bullpen gets in the opener.
The Orioles recalled Trevor Rogers as their 27th man for the doubleheader, so he could start the second game if he’s not used in the first. Rogers, who had a 7.11 ERA in four starts for the Birds last year, is currently posting an 8.10 mark in four starts at Triple-A Norfolk this year. The pitching depth in this organization is nonexistent, friends. Right-handers Hunter Dobbins and Lucas Giolito will start the two games for the Red Sox.
The O’s suffered some more bad injury news when they placed Ramón Laureano, one of their few decent hitters, on the 10-day IL with a left ankle sprain earlier in the day. Laureano hurt his ankle during the Brewers series and was considered to be day-to-day, but apparently that was an overly optimistic timeline. The assignment is backdated to May 21 but he’ll still be out for at least another week, further weakening an already terrible O’s lineup. Terrin Vavra, who last played for the Orioles two years ago, was called up to replace him, because apparently the Orioles’ position player depth is nonexistent, too.
GAME 2 LINEUPS:
Orioles
SS Gunnar Henderson
DH Adley Rutschman
1B Ryan O’Hearn
2B Ramón Urías
3B Emmanuel Rivera
LF Heston Kjerstad
CF Jorge Mateo
RF Dylan Carlson
C Maverick Handley
LHP Trevor Rogers
Red Sox
LF Jarren Duran
DH Rafael Devers
RF Rob Refsnyder
2B Kristian Campbell
SS Trevor Story
3B Marcelo Mayer
1B Nick Sogard
C Connor Wong
CF Ceddanne Rafaela
RHP Lucas Giolito