Just when we started feeling good about the Orioles, they’re on the brink of getting swept by the lowly Tigers. Save us, Tyler Wells.
Welp, it’s safe to say this Detroit series has not turned out as planned for the Orioles.
The O’s cruised into Motown this weekend playing better than at almost any point in the Mike Elias era, with eight wins in their previous 12 games and four straight series without a series loss. They had a chance to keep the momentum rolling against the worst team in the American League, the punchless Tigers, to clinch a winning road trip.
Instead, it’s the Orioles who have been punchless. They’ve totaled only two runs in the first two games of the series, both on solo homers, while going just 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position. The injuries to Ryan Mountcastle and Austin Hays have wreaked havoc on a lineup that lacks the depth to replace them. And Adley Rutschman might not be up soon enough to rescue the club. He’s in the Triple-A Norfolk lineup this afternoon, an indication that the O’s probably aren’t planning to call him up tomorrow to begin their next homestand.
So the Orioles’ streak of successful series has been halted. Their dream of a winning road trip has been shattered. But they can still get out of town on an optimistic note if they’re able to salvage a win in today’s finale. Tyler Wells is coming off his best outing as a big league starter, holding the Royals to one run in six innings last time out. But even if he pitches well again today, the bigger question is: will the O’s score him any runs? The lineup they’re running out there today against lefty Tarik Skubal isn’t particularly inspiring, but maybe they’ll surprise us.
Orioles lineup:
CF Cedric Mullins
2B Ramon Urias
1B Trey Mancini
RF Anthony Santander
SS Jorge Mateo
3B Tyler Nevin
LF Ryan McKenna
C Robinson Chirinos
DH Rylan Bannon
RHP Tyler Wells
Tigers lineup:
LF Robbie Grossman
SS Javier Baez
RF Austin Meadows
DH Miguel Cabrera
2B Jonathan Schoop
CF Victor Reyes
3B Harold Castro
1B Spencer Torkelson
C Tucker Barnhart
LHP Tarik Skubal