The Orioles have a chance at a sweep coming out of the break.
The Orioles enter the third game of this series against the Rangers with two wins already in the bank. They’ve won it already. That’s fun. It’s good any time that you can go on the road and win a series. The Rangers may not be as good as they were last year, and may in fact be heading towards being trade deadline sellers. Getting swept by the Orioles would leave them at seven games below .500 with nine days to go until the deadline and would seem to settle it for them.
It’s not the end of the world if the Orioles don’t get the sweep. If they did, that would be nice. They’re in a bit of a softer stretch of schedule through the end of July before things get harder. Any wins they can get in the bank here will help them stay on top of the division. They bring a two game lead into today. The Yankees game against the Rays starts about an hour before the O’s, since the O’s are in the Central time zone and the Yankees aren’t.
Orioles lineup
- Gunnar Henderson – SS
- Adley Rutschman – DH
- Anthony Santander – RF
- Ryan Mountcastle – 1B
- Jordan Westburg – 3B
- Austin Hays – LF
- Colton Cowser – CF
- Jorge Mateo – 2B
- James McCann – C
Initially, a lineup that did not include Henderson was posted by the Orioles. That was changed about an hour before first pitch and replaced with the one above. It was a curious decision, given that we just had the All-Star break – though Henderson, admittedly, got less of a break than most with participating in the Home Run Derby and starting in the All-Star Game itself. The Orioles also have a day off tomorrow for some rest.
No reason was ever indicated for why Henderson was out and then he was in. One might wonder if he talked his way out of the day off. Not surprisingly, the lineup that has Henderson in it looks better than the one that didn’t have Henderson in it.
Taking the mound for the Orioles is Dean Kremer. The last time he pitched in this stadium, it was the postseason, and his getting lit up was a big part of what sealed the final outcome of the 2023 O’s. Obviously, I hope that he accomplishes something much better today.
Rangers lineup
- Marcus Semien – 2B
- Corey Seager – SS
- Josh Smith – 3B
- Wyatt Langford – LF
- Adolis García – RF
- Nathaniel Lowe – 1B
- Jonah Heim – C
- Justin Foscue – DH
- Leody Taveras – CF
Lefty Andrew Heaney makes the start for the Rangers. Perhaps that’s part of why the O’s initially had Henderson getting the day off.