Ace Corbin Burnes gets his first crack at Boston in Camden Yards as the Orioles push for a series win.
Having a successful baseball season really boils down not to how many home runs you hit or opposing hitters you strike out, but how many series you win. After an excellent showing on Monday and a disappointing loss on Tuesday, the Orioles square off in the rubber match with the Red Sox looking for their 12th series win of the season.
When general manager Mike Elias swung the deal for former Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes, I’m sure he imagined him starting big games in September and October—but maybe not so much in May. And yet tonight feels like a big game as the Orioles try and remain neck and neck with the Yankees atop the AL East. A win tonight and the O’s will have actually picked up at least a half-game on New York this series. A loss and Baltimore drops a series at home to a team they’re better than and potentially loses ground in the division race.
All the more reason to take comfort in the fact that Burnes gets the ball in this rubber match. After plying his trade in the NL for most of his career, this will only be Burnes’ third career start vs. the Red Sox and the first in Camden Yards. His first taste of the AL East rivalry went really well, as Burnes tossed seven innings of two-hit, one-run ball on the way to a 7-1 Orioles win. Baltimore’s big offseason acquisition has also settled in nicely in front of the Camden Yards faithful, putting up a 1.99 ERA and 9.7 K/9 in seven home starts this year.
Despite the stellar numbers, Burnes has suffered some unlucky losses in Baltimore this season. The King of the Cutter has started three losses in Camden Yards this season, and put up a Quality Start in every outing. Many of those tough losses came due to a lack of run support.
If the Orioles don’t score a win tonight, that lack of offense may once again be part of the storyline. With Adley Rutschman getting a scheduled day off and Jordan Westburg banged up, Brandon Hyde has rolled out a non-traditional lineup tonight. Ryan Mountcastle hits in the two-hole for the first time this year and Colton Cowser will hit cleanup for the second day in a row.
While the Orioles send the King of the Cutter to the mound, the Red Sox counter with Kutter Crawford. The matchup with Crawford hasn’t been great recently for the Orioles, as the Red Sox starter comes in with a personal 11-inning scoreless streak against Baltimore. Anthony Santander has the best history against the former 16th-round draft pick, having gone 3-8 with a HR and two RBIs in previous meetings.
Orioles lineup
- Gunnar Henderson (L) SS
- Ryan Mountcastle (R) 1B
- Ryan O’Hearn (L) DH
- Colton Cowser (L) LF
- Anthony Santander (S) RF
- Cedric Mullins (L) CF
- Jorge Mateo (R) 2B
- Ramón Urías (R) 3B
- James McCann (R) C
Starting pitcher: RHP Corbin Burnes (4-2, 2.60 ERA, 66 Ks)
Red Sox Lineup
- Jarren Duran (L) LF
- Wilyer Abreu (L) RF
- Rob Refsnynder (R) DH
- Rafael Devers (L) 3B
- Connor Wong (R) C
- Dominic Smith (L) 1B
- Vaughn Grissom (R) 2B
- David Hamilton (L) SS
- Ceddanne Rafaela (R) CF
Starting pitcher: RHP Kutter Crawford (2-3, 2.89 ERA, 61 Ks)