Let’s choose to look on the bright side today. John Means is back and ready for action, the Orioles’ ace is on the mound tonight, and with a win here they will take early-season control of the AL East. Things aren’t perfect, but it still feels pretty good to be an O’s fan.
Heston Kjerstad has found his way back into a starting lineup for the first time since April 23. The rookie is still searching for his first big league hit of the season. This will give Anthony Santander a night off for the first time since April 15. Maybe that will give the switch-hitter a chance to rest up and turn his doubles back into homers. He hasn’t gone deep in two weeks.
If Burnes can get through the first inning unscathed, then we should be in for a treat. The big righty has allowed a 1.293 OPS against him in the first inning this season, by far his worst frame. And much of that trouble has come on the long ball. Of the five homers has allowed this season, four have come in first innings. Even still, he has looked like a Cy Young candidate overall and been everything the Orioles could have hoped for.
I suppose we should keep an eye on Juan Soto for multiple reasons. First, he is very good. That’s important to know! Second, he does this shuffle thing, and apparently he felt that the O’s starter on Tuesday, Dean Kremer, didn’t care for it. So, after Soto hit a huge home run he stared at Kremer—multiple times—throughout his ensuing trot around the bases. Will the Orioles care to retaliate? Does this matter at all? I, for one, would like to seem them just retire Soto every single time he steps to the plate.
Orioles lineup
- Gunnar Henderson, SS
- Adley Rutschman, C
- Ryan O’Hearn, DH
- Ryan Mountcastle, 1B
- Colton Cowser, LF
- Jordan Westburg, 2B
- Cedric Mullins, CF
- Heston Kjerstad, RF
- Ramón Urías, 3B
RHP Corbin Burnes (3-0, 2.55 ERA)
Yankees lineup
- Anthony Volpe, SS
- Juan Soto, RF
- Aaron Judge, LF
- Giancarlo Stanton, DH
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B
- Gleyber Torres, 2B
- Trent Grisham, CF
- Jose Trevino, C
- Oswaldo Cabrera, 3B
RHP Luis Gil (1-1, 4.01 ERA)