The Orioles look to bounce back from a lackluster performance in Game 1 as Corbin Burnes takes on a familiar old foe.
There’s no way around it, Game 1 vs. the Cubs was a stinker. Dean Kremer got roughed up for seven runs in four innings, the offense had very little to offer and the NL Central’s last-place team squarely beat the O’s. It’s a good thing that the Orioles know how to bounce back. In 10 series this season, the Orioles lost Game 1. In Game 2 of those series, the Orioles are 6-4.
It’s always easier bouncing back too when you have your ace on the mound. While this is the first time Corbin Burnes will take on the Cubs as a member of the O’s, he’s extremely familiar with the South Siders. Historically Burnes has dominated his former NL Central rivals, to the the tune of a 3.26 ERA over 69 innings with 95 Ks.
The O’s ace also may have a bit of revenge on his mind after getting unlucky in two starts vs. Chicago last year. In his Opening Day 2023 in Wrigley Field, he was a deserving loser after giving up four runs in five innings in a 4-0 Cubs win. However, when he returned to Chicago in August Burnes was his normally brilliant self—tossing seven innings of one-run ball with 7 Ks. That dominance wasn’t enough to get a win though as the Brewers lost 1-0.
While plenty of the Cubs are familiar with Burnes, this will be the first time any of the Orioles face Chicago rookie Shota Imanaga. The 30-year-old lefty from Japan looked like one of the best pitchers in baseball through the first two months of the season, posting a 0.84 ERA over his first nine starts. Since then, the man they call Mike has been much more hittable. Over his last seven starts, Imanaga has a 6.51 ERA and opponents are hitting .295 against him. That stretch includes a start against the Brewers where he allowed seven runs in 4.1 innings and another start vs. the Mets where he allowed 10 runs over three innings.
Imanaga relies heavily on his fastball, which sits between 90-94mph, and his splitter. The matchup with Imanaga could be the perfect moment for Adley Rutschman to break out of his mini-slump. The AL’s starting catcher in the summer’s All-Star game is hitting .167 over his last 10 games with only two extra-base hits. Rutschman not only crushes left-handed pitch—sitting second in the MLB with a .400 average against southpaws—but also loves attacking four-seamers. Rutschman is hitting .359 with a .621 slugging percentage against four-seam fastballs—good enough for the 11th best Run Value against fastballs in the entire MLB.
Orioles lineup
- Gunnar Henderson (L) SS
- Adley Rutschman (S) C
- Ryan Mountcastle (R) 1B
- Anthony Santander (S) RF
- Jordan Westburg (R) 3B
- Austin Hays (R) LF
- Jorge Mateo (R) 2B
- Colton Cowser (L) CF
- James McCann (R) C
Starting pitcher: RHP Corbin Burnes (9-3, 2.32 ERA, 105 K)
Cubs lineup
- Nico Hoerner (R) 2B
- Michael Busch (L) 1B
- Cody Bellinger (L) RF
- Seiya Suzuki (R) DH
- Ian Happ (S) LF
- Christopher Morel (R) 3B
- Dansby Swanson (R) SS
- Peter Crow-Armstrong (L) CF
- Miguel Amaya (R) C
Starting pitcher: LHP Shota Imanaga (7-2, 3.16 ERA, 92 Ks)