Tuesday: Orioles attempt to complete a .500 month of May

[SteveA]

Gametime:  7:05 pm

Weather:  almost 90 at gametime, no precipitation expected

Roster Move:  Cody Sedlock optioned to Norfolk, Zac Lowther recalled

Matchup:  George Kirby (R) vs Bryan Baker (R)

Lineups

1. Jesse Winker (L) DH

2. Ty France (R) 1B

3. Julio Rodriguez (R) CF

4. J.P. Crawford (L) SS

5. Eugenio Suarez (R) 3B

6. Adam Frazier (L) 2B

7. Dylan Moore (R) LF

8. Taylor Trammell (L) RF

9. Cal Raleigh (S) C

1. Cedric Mullins (L) CF
2. Trey Mancini (R) DH
3. Anthony Santander (S) RF
4. Austin Hays (R) LF
5. Adley Rutschman (S) C
6. Ryan Mountcastle (R) 1B
7. Rougned Odor (L) 2B
8. Ramon Urias (R) 3B
9. Jorge Mateo (R) SS

 

Orioles Bench
Robinson Chirinos (R)
Ryan McKenna (R)
Chris Owings (R)
 

Bullpen Availability

Available
Felix Bautista  1.2 IP, 24p Saturday
Logan Gillaspie  1.0 IP, 15p last night;  0.1 IP, 3p Friday 
Joey Krehbiel  1.0 IP, 12p last night; 1.1 IP, 21p Saturday 
Jorge Lopez 11 IP, 17p Saturday;  1.0 IP, 12p Friday
Zac Lowther  (L) 5.0 IP, 76p last Wednesday
Cionel Perez (L)  1.0 IP, 14p Saturday;  0.1 IP, 1p Friday
Dillon Tate 1.0 IP, 12p last night;  0.2 IP, 12p Friday

Maybe Available
Keegan Akin (L)  2.1 IP, 46p Saturday
Marcos Diplan 1.0 IP, 38p Sunday;  2.0 IP, 35p Friday; 
 

[nevadaO]

No Owings, so we already have an advantage 

[SteveA]

Game Notes

• Bryan Baker is an opener who will likely not go much more than 2 innings.  This is the second time he has been used in that role.   The first was May 12, and the Orioles won the game at St Louis 3-2.
• Zac Lowther is a likely candidate to provide bulk innings in this game, as this would be his normal turn in the rotation at Norfolk.   He has not had a good season at Norfolk, but did have a good start last time out.
• A win would give the Orioles a 15-15 record in May, their first .500 month since July 2019 when they were 12-12.   They have not had a winning month since August 2017.
• The Orioles are 15-15 in their last 30 games dating to April 30.  This ties their second longest stretch of .500 play since 2017.  Their only longer stretch was in 2020, when they had a 20-20 stretch from July 26 to September 8.   Note that in a post on the mean Weams board i made a mistake and missed that 20-20 stretch. 
• Seattle starter George Kirby was a 1st round pick of the Mariners in 2019 out of Elon University.  He is 24 and made his major league debut earlier this month.   He pitched 6 4-hit shutout innings vs the Rays in his MLB debut on May 8.   His 3 subsequent starts have not been as good:  14 innings, 19 hits, 2 walks, 12 strikeouts, 10 runs for a 6.43 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP.
• Rougned Odor has a 11 game hitting streak.   Austin Hays has a 10 game hitting streak.  Ty France of the Mariners also has a 11 game hitting streak.
• Seattle is 20-28, but 12-10 at home and a very poor 8-18 on the road.  They have only won one road series all year, taking 2 of 3 from the Mets at Citi Field earlier this month.  After an 8-4 start to the season, they have gone 12-24 in their last 36 games.
• The Orioles are 12-11 at home.   They have not had a winning home season since 2017.
• The Orioles are 5 games into a 17 game stretch against teams with losing records.   They are 3-2 so far in that stretch.
• This lineup, in some order, with Mateo at SS, Odor at 2B, Rutschman catching, and Urias at 3B, as well as Mancini, Mountcastle, Hays, Mullins, and Santander, is probably the strongest the Orioles can field.  This is the third time they have fielded a lineup with those 9 guys in it, and it has produced 18 runs the first time games.  They have fielded this lineup on May 24 (lost 7-6 in extra innings to the Yankees) and on May 27 (beat Boston 12-8).

[OsFanSinceThe80s]

23 minutes ago, nevadaO said:

No Owings, so we already have an advantage 

I read “no Owings” and thought he got DFA-ed for a moment. Got my hopes up for a second. 

[nevadaO]

Melanie broadcasting tonight...

Perhaps this is a good series to check out the opposition's broadcasting team?? 

[Can_of_corn]

3 minutes ago, nevadaO said:

Melanie broadcasting tonight...

Perhaps this is a good series to check out the opposition's broadcasting team?? 

You could watch the O's while listening to the Rangers' broadcast.  I hear their team is excellent.

[nevadaO]

1 minute ago, Can_of_corn said:

You could watch the O's while listening to the Rangers' broadcast.  I hear their team is excellent.

That would be really confusing considering we're playing the Mariners!

[Can_of_corn]

1 minute ago, nevadaO said:

That would be really confusing considering we're playing the Mariners!

I think that as long as you are aware of that it wouldn't be too high a price to pay for a quality broadcast.

[Morgan423]

Not the most encouraging start.

[PHRESH]

[PHRESH]

Oof. Just missed 

[PHRESH]

97 up and in. Lucky if he caught that elbow guard. 

[Yossarian]

Maybe it's time to try Urias or Mateo at leadoff hitter for a while and take some pressure off Mullins.  He is obviously griping right now. 

[Can_of_corn]

A pickoff throw?

Trey had two career stolen bases.

[Can_of_corn]

Just now, Yossarian said:

Maybe it's time to try Urias or Mateo at leadoff hitter for a while and take some pressure off Mullins.  He is obviously griping right now. 

Griping?

Not familiar with that one.