Things seem pretty bleak in Birdland right now, but the O’s can salvage a .500 road trip with a win today.
Last night in Arizona the Orioles had a chance to win consecutive games for the first time all year. Due to another disappointing offensive performance, another too-short outing from a starter, and some seventh-inning chicanery, they once again failed.
Today the news got worse when Zach Eflin, the Birds’ only competent starting pitcher so far, was placed on the 15-day injured list with a lat strain. His absence throws the Orioles’ rotation into further chaos and will make it that much harder for the O’s to put together an extended winning stretch.
While Eflin is out, somebody — or preferably multiple somebodies — will need to step up. Will that person be Dean Kremer? I’m not betting on it, but it’s his turn to pitch this afternoon, so might as well start somewhere. We’re not asking for much. Just a halfway decent outing that ideally will be backed by some O’s run support. Kremer faced the Diamondbacks once last year, giving up six runs in 5.2 innings, though some sloppy defense behind him didn’t help matters.
A victory would give the Birds their first series win of the year and salvage a 3-3 road trip. It would also build some momentum as the O’s head into a nine-game homestand, their longest of 2025. Let’s go, guys, give us some good news for a change.
Orioles lineup:
SS Gunnar Henderson
C Adley Rutschman
DH Ryan O’Hearn
RF Tyler O’Neill
CF Cedric Mullins
1B Ryan Mountcastle
LF Heston Kjerstad
3B Ramón Urías
2B Jackson Holliday
RHP Dean Kremer
Diamondbacks lineup:
RF Corbin Carroll
SS Geraldo Perdomo
1B Pavin Smith
DH Josh Naylor
3B Eugenio Suárez
CF Alek Thomas
LF Jake McCarthy
2B Tim Tawa
C Jose Herrera
RHP Brandon Pfaadt