Gibson is on the bump, and Mayo is manning the hot corner as the O’s look to snag the weekend series from the visiting Royals.
After another failure against a left-handed starter on Saturday, the Orioles will get back to their comfort zone in the weekend series finale. They face veteran righty Michael Lorenzen.
The 33-year-old Lorenzen won’t be an easy match up. He has allowed just two runs over his last 12 innings, which have spanned two starts. Those starts were against the Rockies and Rays, two of the weaker offenses in the sport, but it’s not like the Orioles are some juggernaut at the moment.
Coby Mayo will be in the O’s starting lineup for the first time since September. He was recalled on Saturday—after Ramón Urías was placed on the IL—and apparently just made it to the park before first pitch. That kept him on the bench until pinch hitting for Heston Kjerstad in the seventh inning. The 23-year-old is still trying to get his footing in the majors. Through 48 plate appearances he has 23 strikeouts, four walks, four hits, and no extra-base knocks.
Maverick Handley will make the first start of his career. The 27-year-old has been in the Orioles system since 2019 and just got called up last week when backup catcher Gáry Sanchez went on the shelf. Handley will be catching for a pitcher 10 years his senior.
Kyle Gibson has nowhere to go but up after his season debut against the Yankees. He allowed three straight home runs to begin the game and four home runs in the first five batters he faced. In may ways it was amazing that he still managed to throw 3.2 innings, but the overall line was putrid. In a season of bad starts, Gibson’s was probably the worst the Orioles have suffered through. The fact that you have to think about it, though, is such an indictment on the staff as a whole.
Weather could be a factor in this one. It has been raining all weekend in the Baltimore area, and there is a chance for more throughout the game. Will it be enough to pause the action? The Orioles have an off day on Monday, so won’t feel too much pressure to get things moving. The Royals, on the other hand, play in Kansas City tomorrow evening, so don’t expect them to be interested in a drawn out day at the Yard.
On that note, let’s go get a series win, folks!
Orioles lineup
- Cedric Mullins, CF
- Gunnar Henderson, SS
- Adley Rutschman, DH
- Ryan O’Hearn, RF
- Ryan Mountcastle, 1B
- Jackson Holliday, 2B
- Coby Mayo, 3B
- Heston Kjerstad, LF
- Maverick Handley, C
RHP Kyle Gibson (0-1, 22.09 ERA)
Royals lineup
- Jonathan India, LF
- Bobby Witt Jr., SS
- Vinnie Pasquantino, 1B
- Salvador Perez, DH
- Maikel Garcia, 3B
- Michael Massey, 2B
- Hunter Renfroe, RF
- Drew Waters, CF
- Luke Maile, C
RHP Michael Lorenzen (3-3, 3.48 ERA)