Thursday, September 23: Orioles begin last homestand of the year vs the Rangers

[SteveA]

Gametime:  7:05 pm

Forecast:  70 degrees, looks like most of today's rain has moved through

Matchup:  Glenn Otto (R) vs Zac Lowther (L)

Lineups

1. Leody Taveras (S) CF

2. Isiah Kiner-Falefa (R) DH

3. Andy Ibanez (R) 3B

4. Adolis Garcia (R) RF

5. Nathaniel Lowe (L) 1B

6. Nick Solak (R) 2B

7. DJ Peters (R) LF

8. Jonah Heim (S) C

9. Yonny Hernandez (S) SS

 

1. Cedric Mullins (L) CF

2. Ryan Mountcastle (R) 1B

3. Austin Hays (R) LF

4. Trey Mancini (R) DH

5. Ryan McKenna (R) RF

6. Jahmai Jones (R) 2B

7. Richie Martin (R) SS

8. Kelvin Gutierrez (R) 3B

9. Austin Wynns (R) C

 

Orioles Bench
Anthony Santander (S) -- sore hamstring
Pedro Severino (R)
Pat Valaika (R)
 

Bullpen Availability

Available
    Michael Baumann 2.0 IP, 46p Saturday
    Brooks Kriske 0.1 IP, 3p yesterday
    Cole Sulser  1.1 IP, 12p Monday;  0.1 IP, 13p Sunday 
    Dillon Tate   1.1 IP, 18p Tueday;  1.1 IP, 15p Sunday 
    Konner Wade just recalled from Norfolk
    Tyler Wells  1.0 IP, 16p Tuesday;  1.0 IP, 7p Monday

May Be Available
    Marcos Diplan 2.0 IP, 34p Tuesday
    Thomas Eshelman 2.2 IP, 39p Tuesday

Not Available
    Fernando Abad*  1.0 IP, 16p yesterday;  0.2 IP, 6p Tuesday  
    Connor Greene 0.2 IP, 18p yesterday;  1.0 IP, 24p Tuesday, 0.1 IP 7p Sunday, 0.2 IP, 5p Saturday
    Eric Hanhold 0.2 IP, 15p yesterday;  0.1 IP, 5p Tuesday;  1.0 IP, 12p Sunday

*denotes lefthander

Current Rotation (T=today, A=announced, G=guess)
Lowther(T), Alex Wells(A), Means(G), Ellis(G), day off, Akin (G)
(Note:  Hyde says Means will start either Saturday or Sunday but has not announced which;  Ellis missed his last start with a tired arm and his status is unknown)

[SteveA]

I expect this crowd will be as small as those two tiny crowds we had vs KC, given that it's a weeknight after school started and an uninteresting opponent.   We set the record for lowest crowd ever at OPACY when attendance wasn't limited, on back to back nights.  This one will be in that neighborhood.  We'll have more over the weekend just because it's the weekend, and more next week because it's Boston.

[SteveA]

Fastball has been 90-92 so far for Lowther.

[jdwilde1]

10 games to go.  I am really hoping Mullins, Mountcastle, and Hays finish strong.  Especially Mullins.  He needs 1 HR to reach 30 and 4 doubles to reach 40.

[SteveA]

Lowther strikes out the side on just 23 pitches.

[SteveA]

Just now, jdwilde1 said:

10 games to go.  I am really hoping Mullins, Mountcastle, and Hays finish strong.  Especially Mullins.  He needs 1 HR to reach 30 and 4 doubles to reach 40.

Yep, there have been something like 65 30/30 seasons.   But only about 15 of those had 40 doubles too.  And only 8 of them had a .300 average and 40 doubles.

[Ruzious]

Just now, SteveA said:

Lowther strikes out the side on just 23 pitches.

3K's and an infield single.  I'll take that every time - even if it comes with a wild pitch.  

[LA2]

I thought I saw somewhere that Kriske was announced for an upcoming start. Maybe it was just about being called up?

[LA2]

2 minutes ago, SteveA said:

Yep, there have been something like 65 30/30 seasons.   But only about 15 of those had 40 doubles too.  And only 8 of them had a .300 average and 40 doubles.

And I would assume fewer yet by a player who held down a key defensive position well. Although I guess the 30 steals implies a fleet player who has an important tool for playing CF or SS.

[Philip]

The Ranger radio guys said they’d never been in Baltimore this late in the season, and they’d NEVER seen a crowd this small.

BTW, for those who wonder, check out the Rangers radio guys…

[SteveA]

4 minutes ago, LA2 said:

I thought I saw somewhere that Kriske was announced for an upcoming start. Maybe it was just about being called up?

Not that I have heard.   He pitched last night.  Hyde says Means will go this weekend and hopes Ellis will.   He hasn't talked about Boston yet.

[Philip]

Eric Nadel made some glowing comments about Mullins, and I had to laugh when he said,” however, here he strikes out.”

[Philip]

6 minutes ago, SteveA said:

Yep, there have been something like 65 30/30 seasons.   But only about 15 of those had 40 doubles too.  And only 8 of them had a .300 average and 40 doubles.

Yeah but how many triples did they get?

[SteveA]

On pace for the rare 54 strikeout 9 inning game.   Just what you would expect when both pitchers come in with ERAs over 9.

[Ruzious]

1 minute ago, SteveA said:

On pace for the rare 54 strikeout 9 inning game.   Just what you would expect when both pitchers come in with ERAs over 9.

Lol.  All swinging SO's except for Mullins'.