It’s a true two-for-one doubleheader as the Orioles and Twins make up yesterday’s rainout and play another.
Only a week ago, the Orioles had a pathetic series against the Twins and got swept in three games. They’ll try to change that today as they play a doubleheader against these same Twins, a single admission affair brought on by yesterday’s rain. It’s not exactly the best weather, but they’ll be playing two anyway, having to start at this early time because it might rain later. What a week.
There’s a bit of roster movement for the Orioles before the game. Ramón Urías has been reinstated from the injured list, with the team choosing not to send him on a rehab assignment after he missed two weeks with a hamstring strain. Outfielder Dylan Carlson has been optioned back to Norfolk. Additionally, pitching prospect Chayce McDermott is around, presumably to be named the extra 27th man on the roster for the doubleheader.
Not all of the news was good on the injury front. Manager Brandon Hyde told Orioles reporters before the game that Jordan Westburg has had a setback in his recovery from his own hamstring injury and he’s been shut down from further progression for the time being. The question of how the Orioles will adjust the roster on Westburg’s return keeps being pushed farther into the future.
As of this writing, the Orioles haven’t listed a game 2 starting pitcher, so it could end up being McDermott. Cade Povich was scheduled to start the Tuesday rainout. Dean Kremer, who was already scheduled to start on Wednesday, is starting game 1. Povich, according to Hyde, is being pushed back in order to keep the Orioles from not having a starting pitcher ready to go on Sunday, which would have happened if two of their regular starters both pitched on today’s doubleheader.
The Orioles have to play better than they did last week. That’s really all there is to it. If they don’t, they will once again have pulled the “get people’s hopes up for one series and then return to stinking” move that they have done every other time this year. The longer it takes for the real, sustained upward momentum, the less likely they will actually be able to pull it off, if they ever even do start an ascent.
Orioles Game 1 lineup
- Jackson Holliday – 2B
- Ryan Mountcastle – 1B
- Gunnar Henderson – SS
- Ryan O’Hearn – DH
- Adley Rutschman – C
- Tyler O’Neill – RF
- Cedric Mullins – CF
- Ramón Laureano – LF
- Ramón Urías – 3B
The lineup doesn’t look great. It’s basically not possible to put together a good-looking lineup until a couple more guys start hitting better. I hope Mountcastle in particular can play well enough that putting him and his sub-.600 OPS in the #2 slot doesn’t look as bad as it does at first glance.
Twins Game 1 lineup
- Byron Buxton – CF
- Trevor Larnach – DH
- Ty France – 1B
- Brooks Lee – 2B
- Carlos Correa – SS
- Willi Castro – RF
- Royce Lewis – 3B
- Harrison Bader – LF
- Christian Vázquez – C
Bailey Ober is the Twins starting pitcher for game 1. He held the Orioles to two runs (one earned) in five innings on May 8. It comes down to this again and again for the O’s: They just need to be better.